ELECTRONIC AND AUTOMATIC AWNING

Abstract

An innovative foldable self-supporting retractable awning system has been developed to address the limitations of traditional fixed and mounted awning designs. The key features include a versatile, column-like structure that can transition between a compact closed state and a fully deployed shading configuration without requiring permanent wall or structural attachments. The system consists of a retractable awning, a mechanical structure with a movable rod and arm assembly, and an electronic control system. This allows the awning to be positioned as needed to provide shading for vehicles, outdoor seating areas, and other spaces. The design incorporates safety features like wind sensors and obstacle detection to automatically adjust the awning based on environmental conditions. This novel approach offers increased flexibility and convenience compared to conventional awning solutions, making it well-suited for a wide range of residential and commercial applications.

Description

FIELD

The present invention relates to a self-supporting, foldable and retractable smart awning system that can transition between a column-like shape when closed and a fully deployed shading configuration to cover vehicles, without requiring permanent wall or structural mounting.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to the field of retractable awning systems, with a focus on developing a smart awning solution that can effectively shade vehicles or people without requiring fixed wall.

Traditional retractable awnings are designed to be mounted directly onto the walls of buildings or other permanent structures. This approach works well for shading windows, doorways, or patio areas adjacent to a home or office. However, when it comes to shading vehicles, the existing awning designs present several challenges.

Firstly, the width required to adequately cover a parked car, typically around 5.5 meters, necessitates the construction of a dedicated support structure, such as metal or concrete frames. This not only adds significant complexity and cost to the installation process but can also create unsightly visual obstructions, detracting from the aesthetic appeal of the surrounding environment.

Furthermore, the fixed nature of these wall-mounted or structure-supported awnings can result in optical distortions, both for the street view and the homeowner's perspective. This visual impairment can be particularly problematic in residential settings where the awning may obstruct the line of sight or create unwanted shadows.

The invention described herein aims to address these limitations by introducing a smart awning system that does not require any fixed wall. The key innovation lies in the development of a specialized mechanism that allows the retracted awning to be self-supported, appearing as a discrete column-like structure when closed, and then seamlessly transitioning into a fully functional, retractable shading solution when opened.

By eliminating the need for dedicated support structures, this smart awning system offers a more versatile and visually appealing solution for shading vehicles or people, while also simplifying the installation process for homeowners. The technical details and the specific mechanisms that enable this functionality will be discussed in the following sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, aspects and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams of a sunshade in a closed position, according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an awning fully opened, according to an example embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating electric components inside a control box, according to an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of example embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the implementations. Further, one or more features or components of one embodiment may be incorporated into or combined with another embodiment (or one or more features of another embodiment). Additionally, in the flowcharts and descriptions of operations provided below, it is understood that one or more operations may be omitted, one or more operations may be added, one or more operations may be performed simultaneously (at least in part), and the order of one or more operations may be switched.

It will be apparent that systems and/or methods, described herein, may be implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. The actual specialized control hardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methods is not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and/or methods were described herein without reference to specific software code. It is understood that software and hardware may be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based on the description herein.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of possible implementations. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of possible implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.

No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” “include,” “including,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. Furthermore, expressions such as “at least one of [A] and [B]”, “[A] and/or [B]”, or “at least one of [A] or [B]” are to be understood as including only A, only B, or both A and B.

Innovative Smart Self-Supporting Foldable Retractable Awning System according to one or more example embodiments is described hereinbelow.

In response to the growing demand for effective shading solutions for vehicles and outdoor spaces, the present invention introduces an innovative, smart, foldable self-supporting retractable awning machine. This novel approach addresses the limitations of traditional fixed awnings and existing retractable solutions, which often require permanent wall or structural mounting.

The key challenges faced by current awning designs include:

• • 1. Restrictions on fixed awnings in certain regions due to concerns over obstructing views and traffic flow like Saudi Arabia.
  • 2. Difficulties in securing and stabilizing awnings in locations without readily available wall or pillar attachments, such as for shading outdoor seating areas.
  • 3. The requirement for existing retractable awnings to be directly mounted onto buildings or fences, which may not align with the placement of the vehicle or outdoor space that needs shading.

The invention described herein overcomes these limitations by introducing a foldable, self-supporting mechanism that can transition between a discrete column-like shape when closed and a fully deployed shading configuration. This versatile design allows the awning system to be positioned as needed, enabling effective shading for vehicles and outdoor areas alike.

The invention consists of three main segments: the retractable awning, the mechanical structure, and the electronic and electrical system.

The retractable awning (an example of which is shown in FIG. 3) is responsible for providing shading. Its main components include a motor, arms, and fabric. It can be operated manually using a hand crank, which serves as an emergency feature in case of power outages, allowing the user to close the awning to avoid damage. The awning can be a double-sided, fully enclosed cassette design or any other type of retractable awning, such as a single-sided or semi-cassette model. The enclosed design shields the awning components from weathering effects, preserving the integrity of the system and maintaining a neat appearance even when fully closed.

The mechanical structure (examples of which are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) comprises the base sheet metal, main column, wheely connector, chain, sprockets, moving rod, and arms. The base sheet metal is used to secure the system to the ground using foundation bolts, and it also serves as the mounting point for the main column. The main column is composed of two U-shaped channels or any shaped channel that create a track for the wheely connector to slide up and down. The wheely connector, equipped with wheels, is connected to the moving rod through a one-degree-of-freedom joint. The chain and sprocket system, driven by the main motor, controls the vertical movement of the wheely connector and, consequently, the positioning of the moving rod and the connected arms.

The electronic and electrical system is responsible for the control and automation of the invention. This system (an example of which is illustrated in FIG. 4) includes a main motor, an awning motor, LEDs, a microcontroller, a selector switch, push buttons, relays, an illumination sensor, a wind sensor, distance sensors, and a beam sensor. The main motor is connected to the shaft that drives the lower sprocket, controlling the vertical movement of the wheely connector. The awning motor is responsible for opening and closing the fabric of the awning.

The microcontroller is programmed to control the actuators and read the sensors, allowing the system to operate in both manual and automatic modes. The selector switch has four positions: one to stop the machine, two for manual operation using push buttons or remote control, and two for automatic modes. The “privacy automatic mode” opens the awning for vehicles with a compatible passive keyless entry system or any other wireless system and closes it at night or in high winds, ensuring safety through the use of distance and beam sensors. The “public automatic mode” operates similarly, but without the passive keyless entry or any other wireless system requirement, allowing the system to open for any vehicle detected by the distance sensors.

The illumination sensor allows the microcontroller to detect day and night cycles, triggering the awning to close at night. The wind sensor monitors wind speed and can automatically close the awning if the wind exceeds a predetermined threshold. The distance and beam sensors provide additional safety features, ensuring the system is clear of obstacles before opening or closing the awning.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams of a sunshade in a closed position, according to an example embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, the sunshade according to an example embodiment includes a base sheet metal 1, a manual ring 2 for the awning 3, the awning 3 (solar or non-solar), a beam sensor 4, a wind sensor 5, a photocell 6, an arm 7, a distance sensor 8, and a PKI sensor receiver 9.

Referring to FIG. 2, the sunshade according to an example embodiment includes the base sheet metal 1, a main motor shaft 2, a lower sprocket 4, a chain 5, a hand support 7, an arm 8, an upper sprocket 9, a support for installation 10, and a moving rod 11.

Referring to FIG. 3, a fully opened awning (solar or non-solar) according to an example embodiment includes fabric 1, a folding arm 2 for the awning, a connector (e.g., wheel connector) 3, a right cover 4, and a top cover 5.

Referring to FIG. 4, the electronic and electrical system according to an example embodiment includes a limit switch 39, a selector switch 57, a push button (down) 63, a push button (up) 76, a display (e.g., LCD screen) 87, a 220v to 12v transformer 113, a 220v to 24v transformer 114, a main circuit breaker 116, a joint 117, a printed circuit board (PCB) 160, an emergency switch button 162, a distance sensor 174, and the main motor 319.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the implementations.

Some embodiments may relate to a system, a method, and/or a computer readable medium at any possible technical detail level of integration. Further, one or more of the above components described above may be implemented as instructions stored on a computer readable medium and executable by at least one processor (and/or may include at least one processor). The computer readable medium may include a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out operations.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program code/instructions for carrying out operations may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects or operations.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

It will be apparent that systems and/or methods, described herein, may be implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. The actual specialized control hardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methods is not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and/or methods were described herein without reference to specific software code—it being understood that software and hardware may be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based on the description herein.

It can be understood that numerous modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. It will be apparent that within the scope of the appended clauses, the present disclosures may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Claims

1. An electric awning, comprising: a pillar which is fixed on ground or on a wall, wherein, on opening, a cross-rail (A) extends from the fixed pillar, protrudes outward from the side, and then rises, there are one or more awnings (E) inside the cross-rail (A); after completing the height of the cross-rail (A), the cross-rail (A) is intercepted and hung to the pillar by two connections (B) to fix the cross rail, the cross-rail (A) is moved by a motor (I), the motor (I) is tied by an iron wire (N), the iron wire (N) is fixed by a chain (O), the chain (O) is fixed from the top to a toothed sprocket (J), the chain (O) is wound on the sprocket (J), the iron wire (N) is wound from the bottom on a toothless U-shaped pulley (L), the iron wire (N) is connected to the cross-rail (A) through a piece fixed to the bottom end (M) of the cross-rail (A), and the movement of the chain (O) and the iron wire (N) operates in a different direction as the chain (O) pulls the iron wire (N) to raise the cross-rail (A) to go out or pull it to come down; then, push an arm(S) fixed with two cylinders (Q) and a fabric (U) attached to the columns out in opposite directions (F); on closing, all the moving parts return to their place, then the cross-rail (A) returns to enter inside the pillar, and the pillar becomes a stable pillar without appendages or barriers.

2. The electric awning according to claim 1, wherein the electric awning is operated by pressing a button (C) attached to the awning, by a remote control, or by a device wirelessly connected to the electric awning.

3. The electric awning according to claim 1, wherein the pillar further comprises a code-reader sensor with radio frequency (K) or a passive keyless electronic sensor, when a vehicle approaches and stops next to the pillar, the code reader sensor (K) or the passive keyless electronic sensor reads a symbol inside the vehicle, recognizes the existence of the symbol, and then opens the electric awning.

4. The electric awning according to claim 1, wherein the pillar further comprises a sun sensor (H), the presence of the sunshine can be recognized by the sun sensor (H) fixed in the awning.

5. The electric awning according to claim 4, wherein the electric awning gets closed in case of the absence of the sunshine and opens again when the sun shines again.

6. The electric sun canopy according to claim 4, wherein the pillar further comprises a code-reader sensor with radio frequency (K) or a passive keyless electronic sensor, when a vehicle approaches and stops next to the pillar, the code reader sensor (K) or the passive keyless electronic sensor reads a symbol inside the vehicle, recognizes the existence of the symbol, and then opens the electric awning when the sun sensor (H) recognizes the presence of solar radiation.

7. The electric awning according to claim 1, wherein the pillar further comprises a wind sensor (G), and the electric awning is closed by the wind sensor (G) in the presence of strong winds and opened again when the wind stops.

8. The electric awning according to claim 7, wherein the electric awning is opened again when the wind sensor (G) recognizes the stop of the wind and the vehicle is under the awning.

9. The electric awning according to claim 1, wherein the arm(S) is composed of a spring and a compressed chain (T), held by fabric wrapped around two pillars (Q) inside the cross-rail (A), and there are two motors (R) inside the pillars to push and pull the arm(S) to open and close.

10. The electric awning according to claim 1, wherein openings can be made in the fabric (U).