Patent Application
20190137978
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to improvements in intelligent umbrella and/or robotic shading system mechanical assemblies and tracking methods for use in intelligent umbrellas and/or robotic shading systems.
Intelligent umbrellas and robotic shading systems have limitations as to being portable and also determining location. Accordingly, a need exists for improved mechanical assemblies being utilized in intelligent umbrellas or robotic shading systems and for such devices to be accurately located.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subject matter. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, systems and/or configurations are set forth, for example. However, it should be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art having benefit of this disclosure that claimed subject matter may be practiced without specific details. In other instances, well-known features may be omitted and/or simplified so as not to obscure claimed subject matter. While certain features have been illustrated and/or described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and/or equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that appended claims are intended to cover any and all modifications and/or changes as fall within claimed subject matter.
References throughout this specification to one implementation, an implementation, one embodiment, embodiments, an embodiment and/or the like means that a particular feature, structure, and/or characteristic described in connection with a particular implementation and/or embodiment is included in at least one implementation and/or embodiment of claimed subject matter. Thus, appearances of such phrases, for example, in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily intended to refer to the same implementation or to any one particular implementation described. Furthermore, it is to be understood that particular features, structures, and/or characteristics described are capable of being combined in various ways in one or more implementations and, therefore, are within intended claim scope, for example. In general, of course, these and other issues vary with context. Therefore, particular context of description and/or usage provides helpful guidance regarding inferences to be drawn.
With advances in technology, it has become more typical to employ distributed computing approaches in which portions of a problem, such as signal processing of signal samples, for example, may be allocated among computing devices, including one or more clients and/or one or more servers, via a computing and/or communications network, for example. A network may comprise two or more network devices and/or may couple network devices so that signal communications, such as in the form of signal packets and/or frames (e.g., comprising one or more signal samples), for example, may be exchanged, such as between a server and a client device and/or other types of devices, including between wireless devices coupled via a wireless network, for example.
A network may comprise two or more network and/or computing devices and/or may couple network and/or computing devices so that signal communications, such as in the form of signal packets, for example, may be exchanged, such as between a server and a client device and/or other types of devices, including between wireless devices coupled via a wireless network, for example.
In this context, the term network device refers to any device capable of communicating via and/or as part of a network and may comprise a computing device. While network devices may be capable of sending and/or receiving signals (e.g., signal packets and/or frames), such as via a wired and/or wireless network, they may also be capable of performing arithmetic and/or logic operations, processing and/or storing signals (e.g., signal samples), such as in memory as physical memory states, and/or may, for example, operate as a server in various embodiments.
Computing devices, mobile computing devices, and/or network devices capable of operating as a server, or otherwise, may include, as examples, rack-mounted servers, desktop computers, laptop computers, set top boxes, tablets, netbooks, smart phones, wearable devices, integrated devices combining two or more features of the foregoing devices, the like or any combination thereof. As mentioned, signal packets and/or frames, for example, may be exchanged, such as between a server and a client device and/or other types of network devices, including between wireless devices coupled via a wireless network, for example. It is noted that the terms, server, server device, server computing device, server computing platform and/or similar terms are used interchangeably. Similarly, the terms client, client device, client computing device, client computing platform and/or similar terms are also used interchangeably. While in some instances, for ease of description, these terms may be used in the singular, such as by referring to a “client device” or a “server device,” the description is intended to encompass one or more client devices and/or one or more server devices, as appropriate. Along similar lines, references to a “database” are understood to mean, one or more databases, database servers, application data servers, proxy servers, and/or portions thereof, as appropriate.
It should be understood that for ease of description a network device may be embodied and/or described in terms of a computing device and/or mobile computing device. However, it should further be understood that this description should in no way be construed that claimed subject matter is limited to one embodiment, such as a computing device or a network device, and, instead, may be embodied as a variety of devices or combinations thereof, including, for example, one or more illustrative examples.
Operations and/or processing, such as in association with networks, such as computing and/or communications networks, for example, may involve physical manipulations of physical quantities. Typically, although not necessarily, these quantities may take the form of electrical and/or magnetic signals capable of, for example, being stored, transferred, combined, processed, compared and/or otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient, at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, data, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, numerals and/or the like.
Likewise, in this context, the terms “coupled”, “connected,” and/or similar terms are used generically. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms. Rather, “connected” is used generically to indicate that two or more components, for example, are in direct physical, including electrical, contact; while, “coupled” is used generically to mean that two or more components are potentially in direct physical, including electrical, contact; however, “coupled” is also used generically to also mean that two or more components are not necessarily in direct contact, but nonetheless are able to co-operate and/or interact. The term “coupled” is also understood generically to mean indirectly connected, for example, in an appropriate context. In a context of this application, if signals, instructions, and/or commands are transmitted from one component (e.g., a controller or processor) to another component (or assembly), it is understood that messages, signals, instructions, and/or commands may be transmitted directly to a component, or may pass through a number of other components on a way to a destination component. For example, a signal transmitted from a motor controller or processor to a motor (or other driving assembly) may pass through glue logic, an amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, another controller and/or processor, and/or an interface. Similarly, a signal communicated through a misting system may pass through an air conditioning and/or a heating module, and a signal communicated from any one or a number of sensors to a controller and/or processor may pass through a conditioning module, an analog-to-digital controller, and/or a comparison module, and/or a number of other electrical assemblies and/or components.
The terms, “and”, “or”, “and/or” and/or similar terms, as used herein, include a variety of meanings that also are expected to depend at least in part upon the particular context in which such terms are used. Typically, “or” if used to associate a list, such as A, B or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C, here used in the inclusive sense, as well as A, B or C, here used in the exclusive sense. In addition, the term “one or more” and/or similar terms is used to describe any feature, structure, and/or characteristic in the singular and/or is also used to describe a plurality and/or some other combination of features, structures and/or characteristics.
Likewise, the term “based on,” “based, at least in part on,” and/or similar terms (e.g., based at least in part on) are understood as not necessarily intending to convey an exclusive set of factors, but to allow for existence of additional factors not necessarily expressly described. Of course, for all of the foregoing, particular context of description and/or usage provides helpful guidance regarding inferences to be drawn. It should be noted that the following description merely provides one or more illustrative examples and claimed subject matter is not limited to these one or more illustrative examples; however, again, particular context of description and/or usage provides helpful guidance regarding inferences to be drawn.
A network may also include for example, past, present and/or future mass storage, such as cloud storage, cloud server farms, and/or other forms of computing and/or device readable media, for example. A network may include a portion of the Internet, one or more local area networks (LANs), one or more wide area networks (WANs), wire-line type connections, one or more personal area networks (PANs), wireless type connections, one or more mesh networks, one or more cellular communication networks, other connections, or any combination thereof. Thus, a network may be worldwide in scope and/or extent.
The Internet and/or a global communications network may refer to a decentralized global network of interoperable networks that comply with the Internet Protocol (IP). It is noted that there are several versions of the Internet Protocol. Here, the term Internet Protocol, IP, and/or similar terms, is intended to refer to any version, now known and/or later developed of the Internet Protocol. The Internet may include local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), wireless networks, and/or long haul public networks that, for example, may allow signal packets and/or frames to be communicated between LANs. The term World Wide Web (WWW or Web) and/or similar terms may also be used, although it refers to a part of the Internet that complies with the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). For example, network devices and/or computing devices may engage in an HTTP session through an exchange of appropriately compatible and/or compliant signal packets and/or frames. Here, the term Hypertext Transfer Protocol, HTTP, and/or similar terms is intended to refer to any version, now known and/or later developed. It is likewise noted that in various places in this document substitution of the term Internet with the term World Wide Web (‘Web’) may be made without a significant departure in meaning and may, therefore, not be inappropriate in that the statement would remain correct with such a substitution.
Although claimed subject matter is not in particular limited in scope to the Internet and/or to the Web; nonetheless, the Internet and/or the Web may without limitation provide a useful example of an embodiment at least for purposes of illustration. As indicated, the Internet and/or the Web may comprise a worldwide system of interoperable networks, including interoperable devices within those networks. A content delivery server and/or the Internet and/or the Web, therefore, in this context, may comprise an service that organizes stored content, such as, for example, text, images, video, etc., through the use of hypermedia, for example. A HyperText Markup Language (“HTML”), Cascading Style Sheets (“CSS”) or Extensible Markup Language (“XML”), for example, may be utilized to specify content and/or to specify a format for hypermedia type content, such as in the form of a file and/or an “electronic document,” such as a Web page, for example. HTML and/or XML are merely example languages provided as illustrations and intended to refer to any version, now known and/or developed at another time and claimed subject matter is not intended to be limited to examples provided as illustrations, of course.
Also as used herein, one or more parameters may be descriptive of a collection of signal samples, such as one or more electronic documents, and exist in the form of physical signals and/or physical states, such as memory states. For example, one or more parameters, such as referring to an electronic document comprising an image, may include parameters, such as 1) time of day at which an image was captured, latitude and longitude of an image capture device, such as a camera or where an intelligent umbrella and/or robotic shading system may be located; 2) time and day of when a sensor reading (e.g., humidity, temperature, air quality, UV radiation) was received and/or measurement taken; and/or 3) operating conditions of one or more motors or other components or assemblies in a modular umbrella shading system, intelligent umbrella and/or robotic shading system. Claimed subject matter is intended to embrace meaningful, descriptive parameters in any format, so long as the one or more parameters comprise physical signals and/or states, which may include, as parameter examples, name of the collection of signals and/or states.
Some portions of the detailed description which follow are presented in terms of algorithms or symbolic representations of operations on binary digital signals stored within a memory of a specific apparatus or special purpose computing device or platform. In the context of this particular specification, the term specific apparatus or the like includes a general purpose computer once it is programmed to perform particular functions pursuant to instructions from program software. In embodiments, a computing device may be installed within or as part of an intelligent umbrella and/or robotic shading system. Algorithmic descriptions or symbolic representations are examples of techniques used by those of ordinary skill in the signal processing or related arts to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, considered to be a self-consistent sequence of operations or similar signal processing leading to a desired result. In this context, operations or processing involve physical manipulation of physical quantities. Typically, although not necessarily, such quantities may take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared or otherwise manipulated.
It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to such signals as bits, data, values, elements, symbols, numbers, numerals or the like, and that these are conventional labels. Unless specifically stated otherwise, it is appreciated that throughout this specification discussions utilizing terms such as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining” or the like may refer to actions or processes of a specific apparatus, such as a special purpose computer or a similar special purpose electronic computing device (e.g., such as an artificial intelligence computing device). In the context of this specification, therefore, a special purpose computer or a similar special purpose electronic computing device (e.g., a computing device integrated within a robotic shading system and/or intelligent umbrealla) is capable of manipulating or transforming signals (electronic and/or magnetic) in memories (or components thereof), other storage devices, transmission devices sound reproduction devices, and/or display devices.
In an embodiment, a controller and/or a processor typically performs a series of instructions resulting in data manipulation. In an embodiment, a microcontroller or microprocessor may be a compact microcomputer designed to govern the operation of embedded systems in electronic devices, e.g., an Al computing device with a shading element and/or shading structure, an Al device with a shading element, and various other electronic and mechanical devices coupled thereto or installed thereon. Microcontrollers may include processors, microprocessors, and other electronic components. Controller may be a commercially available processor such as an Intel Pentium, Motorola PowerPC, SGI MIPS, Sun UltraSPARC, Ardino, single-board microcomputer, Linux based single board microcomputer, Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, or Hewlett-Packard PA-RISC processor, but may be any type of application-specific and/or specifically designed processor or controller. In an embodiment, a processor and/or controller may be connected to other system elements, including one or more memory devices, by a bus, a mesh network or other mesh components. Usually, a processor or controller, may execute an operating system which may be, for example, a Windows-based operating system (Microsoft), a MAC OS System X operating system (Apple Computer), one of many Linux-based operating system distributions (e.g., an open source operating system) a Solaris operating system (Sun), a portable electronic device operating system (e.g., mobile phone operating systems, iOS, Android, Microsoft Phone, etc.), microcomputer operating systems, single board computer operating systems, and/or a UNIX operating systems. Embodiments are not limited to any particular implementation and/or operating system.
In embodiments, a shading element and/or shading structure may further comprise solar cells and/or solar arrays to generate power for operation of the Al system with shading element. In embodiments, the shading element or shading structure may be a simple shading fabric, or a shading frame and shading fabric. In embodiments, the shading element or shading structure may be an automated and/or intelligent and may respond to commands, instructions and/or signals audibly spoken by a user/operator or generated by a processor upon execution of computer-readable instructions. The shading system, shading structure and/or shading element may be referred to as a parasol, an intelligent umbrella, a robotic shading system, an umbrella, a sun shade, sun screen, sun shelter, awning, sun cover, sun marquee, brolly and other similar names, which may all be utilized interchangeably in this application. These terms may be utilized interchangeably throughout the specification. In embodiments, a shading element or shading structure may be part of an intelligent umbrella and/or robotic shading system.
In embodiments, one or more motors may comprise or include encoders and/or limit switches, which provide positional data to smart motor drivers or controllers that may be placed within the motor housing and/or the umbrella, parasol or shading system housing. In embodiments, the improved actuator can reduce the load on a motor control unit or motion controller because less current is utilized to move the umbrella. This is especially true in moving an upper assembly (which has a significant weight) with respect to a lower assembly utilizing for example a hinging assembly. Normally that elevation movement causes not only current strain but also torque on the hinging assembly, motor assembly and/or actuator assembly. The spring wrapped around the actuator assembly is used to counteract these forces and reduce the strains placed on the system. In embodiments, wrapping such a spring about an actuator may also be utilized in other situations using actuators such as using an actuator to expand and retract arms (via arm support assemblies) or to expand and retracts a support frame for an umbrella, parasol, or shading device. In addition, this may be utilized in umbrellas, parasols or shading devices using actuators for pulley ropes, cables and/or telescoping.
In embodiments, an improved actuator may be utilized in an intelligent umbrella, robotic umbrella and/or robotic shading system. In embodiments, an actuator 100 comprise a threaded screw with traveling nut 110, a spring or tension spring 115, and/or a casing or an actuator casing 120. In embodiments, an actuator may sit, rest or be positioned in a channel (not shown) of a housing or housing assembly 105. In embodiments, a housing or housing assembly 105 may be comprised of a lightweight aluminum material. In embodiments, weight may be reduced overall in an intelligent umbrella, parasol or shading systems due to use of lightweight metal in housing assemblies 105 and/or other structural components.
In embodiment, a threaded screw with traveling nut 110 may comprise a nut coupled, connected, fastened and/or adhered to a threaded screw. In embodiments, a nut may be comprised or made of a nylon, plastic, metal or composite material. In embodiments, a threaded screw or rod may be comprised or made of a nylon, plastic, metal or composite material in order for the screw or rod to be durable and/or lightweight. In embodiments, an actuator 100 may be coupled and/or connected to a motor assembly 130. In embodiments, a motor shaft of a motor assembly 130 may be coupled and/or connected to a bottom section of an actuator 100. In embodiments, a motor (e.g., motor shaft) may be attached, coupled or connected to one end of the threaded screw either directly or indirectly (in some embodiments for example indirectly through a gear box). In embodiments, a motor in a motor assembly 130 may spin, which spins a motor shaft, which causes a threaded screw and the traveling nut 110 to rotate. In embodiments, a traveling nut and screw 110 may be restrained from spinning so a traveling nut may travel and/or move up and down a threaded screw and traveling nut 110.
In embodiments, a threaded screw and traveling nut 110 may be coupled, connected, fastened and/or adhered to a casing, housing or actuator casing 120. In embodiments, a threaded screw and traveling nut 110 may be fastened, adhered, coupled and/or connected to an interior or interior surface of an actuator casing 120. In embodiments, because a traveling nut up travels up and down a threaded screw, the actual casing 120 may be attached to the traveling nut may move up and down in response to a motor assembly operating and a shaft spinning. In embodiments, a linkage or housing 140 may be attached, connected, coupled and/or adhered to an end (e.g., upper end or second end) of a casing 120 (or to a threaded screw of the threaded screw and traveling nut 110). In such embodiments, a linkage or housing 140 may move based, at least in part, upon movements of the casing 120 and/or threaded screw and travelling nut). In embodiments, a linkage or housing 140 may move in an up and down direction (e.g., vertical direction) or in other directions depending on hinging or gearing assemblies included in a linkage assembly and/or housing 140. In embodiments, a linkage assembly or housing 140 may be coupled, connected, attached or fastened to a hinging assembly 150. In embodiments, movements caused by a motor assembly 130 may cause movement of the threaded screw and traveling nut 110 and this may cause movements of an actuator casing 120 and a linkage assembly 140. In addition, this may result in movement and/or rotation of a hinging assembly 150. In embodiments, a hinging assembly 150 may move and/or rotate in a clockwise and/or counterclockwise direction, as is illustrated by reference number 151 and associated arrow.
In embodiments, a spring, tension spring and/or compression spring 115 may be positioned and/or placed around a casing or housing 120, as is illustrated in
In embodiments, as shown by reference number 160 in
In embodiments, an intelligent umbrella and/or robotic shading system may have two detachable connections, with each connection having a pair of detachable connectors. In embodiments, a base assembly may be detachable from a middle or core assembly. In embodiments, a lower portion of a core assembly may be detachable from an upper portion of a core assembly and also an arm deployment and/or expansion assembly. In embodiments, this is advantageous because for example, an umbrella may need more or less arms in an arm deployment and/or expansion assembly and the upper portion of the core assembly and/or arm deployment and/or expansion assembly may be changed or swapped out. In embodiments, an intelligent umbrella and/or robotic shading system may have three detachable connections, utilizing a pair of detachable connectors at each connection. This makes it easier to swap out the arm deployment and/or expansion assembly. In embodiments, another advantage is that it is easier to replace a standard base assembly with a base assembly designed for sand or a base assembly designed to burrow or grip into a surface. In other words, different base assemblies may be swapped out and/or replaced. Further, by having detachable portions where an upper core assembly and/or an arm deployment and/or expansion assembly may be swapped out or replaced, an integrated computing device may be upgraded to a new computing device and/or motor controllers and/or motors may also be replaced with reside in the upper portion of a core assembly. In embodiments, a sensor assembly may be detachable from an upper portion of an intelligent umbrella and/or robotic shading system.
In embodiments, a main motor board and/or circuit 415 may comprise a motor controller. In embodiments, a motor controller may receive signals, messages, commands from a processor/controller (e.g., in a single board computer) instructing a motor assembly 420 to be activated and/or deactivated. In embodiments, a main motor board and/or circuit 415 may be electrically coupled and/or connected via wires and/or cables to a motor assembly 420. In embodiments, upon receiving command, instructions, messages and/or signals from a main motor board/circuitry 415, a motor may be turned on and/or off and may cause an output shaft to rotate in a clockwise and/or a counterclockwise direction. In embodiments, an output shaft of a motor assembly 420 may be connected, coupled and/or attached to an actuator assembly 425. In embodiments, an actuator assembly 425 operates in a manner as described as described in
In embodiments, computer-readable instructions executable by one or more processors may communicate with a global positioning receiver to obtain 705 current location measurements for an intelligent umbrella/robotic shading system. In embodiments, a global positioning receiver may be a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. In embodiments, other global positioning systems and/or networks may be utilized to calculate and/or determine location of an intelligent umbrella/robotic shading system and location receivers in the intelligent umbrella/robotic shading system may have to be compatible and have to receive signals and/or commands from the corresponding global location networks. In embodiments, other global positioning systems and/or networks may comprise the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), the European Union Galileo positioning system, China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, India's NAVIC System and Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System. Thus, in embodiments, location receivers in intelligent umbrella/robotic shading system may need to match and be able to receive signals and/or transmissions from the above-listed location and/or satellite systems. In embodiments, if GPS or other global location determination is not available, an intelligent umbrella system may utilize WiFi location determination to determine locations coordinates for itself that can be utilized in further calculations. For example, WiFi location determination may utilized methods such as RSSI and lateralization based localization; fingerprinting based localization and/or time of flight based localization. In embodiments, for example, RSSI localization techniques are based on measuring signal strength from an intelligent umbrella to several different access points, and then combining this information with a propagation model to determine the distance between the intelligent umbrella and the access points. Trilateration (sometimes called multi-lateralization) techniques can be used to calculate the estimated intelligent umbrella/robotic shading system position relative to the known position of access points. In embodiments, traditional fingerprinting localization techniques are also RSSI-based, but it simply relies on the recording of a signal strength from several access points in range and storing this information in a database along with the known coordinates of the client device in an offline phase. This information can be deterministic or probabilistic. During the online tracking phase, the current RSSI vector at an unknown location is compared to those stored in the fingerprint and the closest match is returned as the estimated user location. In embodiments, a time of flight localization approach utilizes timestamps provided by wireless interfaces to calculate the time of flight (ToF) of signals and then use this information to estimate the distance and relative position of one intelligent umbrella with respect to access points.
In embodiments, computer-readable instructions executable by one or more processors may communicate with a clock in an intelligent umbrella and may retrieve 710 a time and/or from the clock in the intelligent umbrella. In embodiments, a time and/or date may be retrieved from a clock in a mobile communication device coupled and/or connected to the intelligent umbrella.
In embodiments, computer-readable instructions executable by one or more processors may calculate 715 an elevation angle and azimuth position of a light source (e.g., the sun) with respect to an intelligent umbrella and/or robotic shading system, based at least in part, on the time and date and the geographical location received from the global location receiver (or determined via WiFi localization methods).
In embodiments, it is now important to identify and/or determine an orientation of an intelligent umbrella and/or robotic shading system in order to position a shading fabric in the best position to provide shade to a user. In embodiments, different portions of an intelligent umbrella (e.g., a top section of an intelligent umbrella and/or a base assembly of an intelligent umbrella) may have different orientations. In embodiments, a top portion of an intelligent umbrella may have a sensor module including a digital compass and/or a compass. In embodiments, computer-readable instructions executable by one or more processors may communicate with a digital compass and retrieve 720 a directional and/or angular heading of a top portion the intelligent umbrella from the digital compass. In embodiments, readings from a digital compass and/or compass may be notoriously unreliable and/or inaccurate. Plus, while an angular orientation has been determined for a top portion or upper portion of an umbrella, because the upper portion and/or middle portion of an intelligent umbrella/robotic shading system may rotate, a base assembly may have a different orientation (e.g., with respect to a light source).
In embodiments, in order to determine an angular orientation of a base assembly, an upper portion of an intelligent umbrella (e.g., a core assembly and/or an arm support and expansion assembly) may rotate 725 about a base assembly. In embodiments, a base assembly may comprise a magnet installed therein. In embodiments, an upper portion of an intelligent umbrella may comprise a sensor (e.g., a hall-effect sensor) that may identify 730 where a magnet is (e.g., a location of a magnet) in a base assembly. In other words, a hall-effect sensor may generate a reading and identify when an upper portion of an intelligent umbrella has the same heading and/or orientation as the base assembly, because the hall-effect sensor is on top of a magnet or at a same angular orientation as a magnet (which is installed in a base assembly). In embodiments, a top section of an umbrella may be aligned 735 with a base magnet. In embodiments, this may occur automatically or this may require manual movement of portions of an intelligent umbrella and/or robotic shading system. However, while the base assembly and/or the remainder of the intelligent umbrella now have a same or similar angular orientation, there is still no guarantee that an intelligent umbrella understands exactly where a reference direction is located (e.g., where a true north vector is located). As mentioned before, a digital compass in an intelligent umbrella may be unreliable. In embodiments, a user may utilize a compass of a mobile computing device to identify 740 which angular displacement is a reference direction (e.g., true north). In embodiments, a mobile phone may be placed on an intelligent umbrella, e.g., on a base assembly to identify true north. In embodiments, a user and/or operator may orient a base of an umbrella (e.g., a magnet in a base of an umbrella) to be aligned and/or oriented 745 with a compass reading/heading of a mobile communication device. In embodiments, a compass of a mobile communications device is utilized as a backup to a compass in an intelligent umbrella. In embodiments, if an umbrella is physically moved to another location, the calibration and/or adjustment process as described in
In embodiments, instructions stored in a memory of an extension assembly and/or sensor module 410 and executable by a microcontroller 408 in the extension assembly and/or sensor module 410 may include algorithms and/or processes for determining and/or calculating a desired azimuth and/or orientation of a modular umbrella system depending on a time of day. In alternative embodiments, a microcontroller 408 in an extension assembly and/or sensor module 410 may communicate heading measurements, geographic location measurements and or time measurement to a processor 412 in a motion control module 420. In an alternative embodiment, a portable computing device executing computer-readable instructions on a processor (e.g., a SMARTSHADE software app) and located in a vicinity of a modular umbrella system may retrieve coordinates utilizing a mobile computing device's GPS transceiver and may retrieve a time from a mobile computing device's processor clock and provide these geographic location measurements and/or time to an extension assembly and/or sensor module 410 (e.g., a microcontroller)
In embodiments, computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., memory 409) of a sensor module 410 may be executed by a microcontroller 408 and may calculate 350 a desired modular umbrella system elevation angle and/or azimuth angle utilizing received geographic location measurements, heading measurements, and/or time measurements. In embodiments, a microcontroller may transfer desired elevation angle measurements and/or azimuth angle measurements to a motion control module 420. In embodiments, computer-readable instructions stored in a memory of a motion control module 420 may compare 360 desired elevation angle measurements and azimuth angle measurements to a current elevation angle and azimuth angle of the modular umbrella system (calculated from gyroscope measurements, accelerometer measurements, and/or both) to determine movements that a modular umbrella system may make in order to move to a desired orientation. In embodiments, executed computer-readable instructions may calculate an azimuth adjustment measurement to provide to an azimuth motor and/or an elevation adjustment measurement to provide to an elevation motor.
In embodiments, in response to the comparison, computer-readable instructions executed by a processor 310 may communicate 370 a command, signal, message, and/or instructions to an azimuth motor assembly to cause a modular umbrella system 100 to rotate to a desired azimuth orientation by moving an azimuth adjustment measurement. In embodiments, in response to the comparison, computer-readable instructions executed by a processor 310 may communicate 380 to an elevation motor assembly to cause an upper core assembly to rotate with to a desired angle with respect to a lower core assembly (e.g., a desired elevation angle) by moving an elevation adjustment measurement.
In embodiments, in response to reaching a desired elevation angle and/or azimuth angle, computer-readable instructions executed by a processor may start 385 a timer (and/or clock) and after a predetermined time (or time threshold) may re-initiate 390 the modular umbrella orientation positioning process described above. In embodiments, a modular umbrella orientation positioning process may be reinitiated and/or checked every 5 to 7 minutes. In embodiments, a modular umbrella orientation positioning process may be initiated when a modular umbrella system is turned on and/or reset. In embodiments, adjustments may not be made every time a modular umbrella orientation positioning process is initiated because a modular umbrella system may not have moved significantly in a measurement timeframe.
A computing device may be a server, a computer, a laptop computer, a mobile computing device, a mobile communications device, and/or a tablet. A computing device may, for example, include a desktop computer or a portable device, such as a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a display pager, a radio frequency (RF) device, an infrared (IR) device, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a set top box, a wearable computer, an integrated device combining various features, such as features of the forgoing devices, or the like.
Internal architecture of a computing device includes one or more processors (also referred to herein as CPUs), which interface with at least one computer bus. Also interfacing with computer bus are persistent storage medium/media, network interface, memory, e.g., random access memory (RAM), run-time transient memory, read only memory (ROM), etc., media disk drive interface, an interface for a drive that can read and/or write to media including removable media such as floppy, CD-ROM, DVD, etc., media, display interface as interface for a monitor or other display device, keyboard interface as interface for a keyboard, mouse, trackball and/or pointing device, and other interfaces not shown individually, such as parallel and serial port interfaces, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and the like.
Memory, in a computing device and/or a modular umbrella shading system, interfaces with computer bus so as to provide information stored in memory to processor during execution of software programs such as an operating system, application programs, device drivers, and software modules that comprise program code or logic, and/or computer-executable process steps, incorporating functionality described herein, e.g., one or more of process flows described herein. CPU first loads computer-executable process steps or logic from storage, storage medium/media, removable media drive, and/or other storage device. CPU can then execute the stored process steps in order to execute the loaded computer-executable process steps. Stored data, e.g., data stored by a storage device, can be accessed by CPU during the execution of computer-executable process steps.
Non-volatile storage medium/media is a computer readable storage medium(s) that can be used to store software and data, e.g., an operating system and one or more application programs, in a computing device or storage subsystem of an intelligent shading object. Persistent storage medium/media also be used to store device drivers, such as one or more of a digital camera driver, monitor driver, printer driver, scanner driver, or other device drivers, web pages, content files, metadata, playlists and other files. Non-volatile storage medium/media can further include program modules/program logic in accordance with embodiments described herein and data files used to implement one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
A computing device or a processor or controller may include or may execute a variety of operating systems, including a personal computer operating system, such as a Windows, iOS or Linux, or a mobile operating system, such as iOS, Android, or Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, Google Phone, Amazon Phone, or the like. A computing device, or a processor or controller in an intelligent shading controller may include or may execute a variety of possible applications, such as a software applications enabling communication with other devices, such as communicating one or more messages such as via email, short message service (SMS), or multimedia message service (MMS), including via a network, such as a social network, including, for example, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Flickr, or Google+, to provide only a few possible examples. A computing device or a processor or controller in an intelligent shading object may also include or execute an application to communicate content, such as, for example, textual content, multimedia content, or the like. A computing device or a processor or controller in an intelligent shading object may also include or execute an application to perform a variety of possible tasks, such as browsing, searching, playing various forms of content, including locally stored or streamed content. The foregoing is provided to illustrate that claimed subject matter is intended to include a wide range of possible features or capabilities. A computing device or a processor or controller in an intelligent shading object may also include imaging software applications for capturing, processing, modifying and transmitting image files utilizing the optical device (e.g., camera, scanner, optical reader) within a mobile computing device.
Network link typically provides information communication using transmission media through one or more networks to other devices that use or process the information. For example, network link may provide a connection through a network (LAN, WAN, Internet, packet-based or circuit-switched network) to a server, which may be operated by a third party housing and/or hosting service. For example, the server may be the server described in detail above. The server hosts a process that provides services in response to information received over the network, for example, like application, database or storage services. It is contemplated that the components of system can be deployed in various configurations within other computer systems, e.g., host and server.
For the purposes of this disclosure a computer readable medium stores computer data, which data can include computer program code that is executable by a computer, in machine-readable form. By way of example, and not limitation, a computer-readable medium may comprise computer readable storage media, for tangible or fixed storage of data, or communication media for transient interpretation of code-containing signals. Computer readable storage media, as used herein, refers to physical or tangible storage (as opposed to signals) and includes without limitation volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for the tangible storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer readable storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid state memory technology, CD-ROM, DVD, or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other physical or material medium which can be used to tangibly store the desired information or data or instructions and which can be accessed by a computer or processor.
For the purposes of this disclosure a system or module is a software, hardware, or firmware (or combinations thereof), process or functionality, or component thereof, that performs or facilitates the processes, features, and/or functions described herein (with or without human interaction or augmentation). A module can include sub-modules. Software components of a module may be stored on a computer readable medium. Modules may be integral to one or more servers, or be loaded and executed by one or more servers. One or more modules may be grouped into an engine or an application.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the methods and systems of the present disclosure may be implemented in many manners and as such are not to be limited by the foregoing exemplary embodiments and examples. In other words, functional elements being performed by single or multiple components, in various combinations of hardware and software or firmware, and individual functions, may be distributed among software applications at either the client or server or both. In this regard, any number of the features of the different embodiments described herein may be combined into single or multiple embodiments, and alternate embodiments having fewer than, or more than, all of the features described herein are possible. Functionality may also be, in whole or in part, distributed among multiple components, in manners now known or to become known. Thus, myriad software/hardware/firmware combinations are possible in achieving the functions, features, interfaces and preferences described herein. Moreover, the scope of the present disclosure covers conventionally known manners for carrying out the described features and functions and interfaces, as well as those variations and modifications that may be made to the hardware or software or firmware components described herein as would be understood by those skilled in the art now and hereafter.
While certain exemplary techniques have been described and shown herein using various methods and systems, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various other modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from claimed subject matter. Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of claimed subject matter without departing from the central concept described herein. Therefore, it is intended that claimed subject matter not be limited to the particular examples disclosed, but that such claimed subject matter may also include all implementations falling within the scope of the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/552,976, filed Aug. 31, 2017 and entitled “Intelligent Umbrella and/or Robotic Shading System Mechanical and Tracking Improvements,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62552976 | Aug 2017 | US |
