Aspects of the embodiments described herein relate generally to an integrated home automation system, and more specifically to systems, methods, and modes for providing power through cables in a concealed manner to motorized shades in a residential home.
As those of skill in the art can no doubt appreciate, the installation of motorized window treatments for use with a sophisticated home automation system can be a challenge. Trying to mount a tube with fabric attached into a small pocket or window frame is hard enough, but before the shade is hung, wire connections must be made for power and data, and then the wire must be “dressed” in such a way that it keeps the wire(s) away from the roller tube. If the wires are not dressed properly, there is a chance that the wire(s) and/or connector(s) can rub on the roller shade as it moves up and down, creating noise. Worse, the wire itself can get tangled around the tube damaging the fabric or even the shade motor itself. Further, if the insulation around the wiring is worn off, an electrical fire hazard can present itself.
Another problem is that the wire is typically hanging out of the wall or ceiling. Installers are always trying to determine the best way of concealing the wire. Oftentimes, the wire and connectors are hidden on top of the roller or behind it. While such constructive techniques can be aesthetically pleasing from the inside of the home, the wires might actually not be hidden from the outside of the home; further, the efforts to hide the wires include increased time and effort, and thus additional costs are incurred. Further still, if the shade is replaced the ad-hoc concealment of the wiring/connectors can become undone.
Still further, another problem that frequently arises is maintenance of the shades. As those of skill in the art can appreciate, from time-to-time shades will need to be cleaned and/or repaired. While typically not frequent, dust and dirt can accumulate and cause degradation of different types of materials that shades are made of, or can just plain cause the shade to become unsightly or seem “worn-out.” Therefore, from time-to-time, technicians will need to take the shades down for one or more of cleaning, disassemble, and repairs to wiring or other components. Disconnecting and then reconnecting wiring can take time, and if incorrectly done can lead to further issues, and additional repairs.
Thus, there is a need to provide systems, methods, and modes for providing power, and command and data signals through cables in a concealed manner to motorized shades in a residential home.
It is to be understood that both the general and detailed descriptions that follow are explanatory only and are not restrictive of the embodiments.
It is an object of the embodiments to substantially solve at least the problems and/or disadvantages discussed above, and to provide at least one or more of the advantages described below.
It is therefore a general aspect of the embodiments to provide systems, methods, and modes for providing power, and command and data signals through cables in a concealed manner to motorized shades in a residential home.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Further features and advantages of the aspects of the embodiments, as well as the structure and operation of the various embodiments, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the aspects of the embodiments are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Such embodiments are presented herein for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein.
According to a first aspect of the embodiments, a shade motor power bracket assembly for a shade system is provided, comprising: a first electrical and mounting interface adapted to provide electrical power to a shade motor and to provide a quick connect-disconnect mounting surface for a shade system that comprises the shade motor.
According to the first aspect of the embodiments, first electrical and mounting interface comprises: a first bracket adapted to be mounted on a mounting surface and that comprises a plurality of first electrical contacts; and a shade end cap adapted to enclose a first end of a shade tube, the shade motor disposed within the shade tube, the shade end cap comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts adapted to electrically interface with respective ones of the plurality of first electrical contacts.
According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the shade motor power bracket assembly further comprises: a first cable that includes wires for carrying electrical power to a shade motor and that is adapted to electrically connect to the first electrical and mounting interface via the first bracket.
According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the mounting surface comprises a window frame.
According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the quick connect-disconnect mounting surface comprises: a plurality of spring mounted plugs on the shade end cap; and a plurality of receptacles correspondingly located on the first bracket to the plurality of spring mounted plugs located on the shade end cap.
According to the first aspect of the embodiments, shade bracket further comprises: one or more antennas adapted to receive wirelessly transmitted commands, and output the received commands to a transceiver that can generate electrical signals that can operate the shade motor.
According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the shade bracket further comprises: one or more buttons adapted to generate electrical signals that can operate the shade motor.
According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the shade end cap further comprises: an antenna adapted to receive wirelessly transmitted commands, and output the received commands to a transceiver that can generate electrical signals that can operate the shade motor.
According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the shade motor power bracket assembly further comprises: a first cable adapted to provide electrical power to a shade motor and a first connector.
According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the shade motor power bracket assembly further comprises: a battery adapted to be controlled to provide operating electrical power to the shade motor.
According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the battery comprises: a rechargeable battery adapted to accept recharging current from the first electrical and mounting interface, and which is further adapted to be controlled to provide operating electrical power to the shade motor, and wherein the shade motor power bracket assembly further comprises a recharging controller circuit adapted to control the charging and discharging of the battery.
The above and other objects and features of the embodiments will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the following figures. Different aspects of the embodiments are illustrated in reference figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the aspects of the embodiments. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The embodiments are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the inventive concept are shown. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. The scope of the embodiments is therefore defined by the appended claims. The detailed description that follows is written from the point of view of a control systems company, so it is to be understood that generally the concepts discussed herein are applicable to various subsystems and not limited to only a particular controlled device or class of devices, such as motorized roller shades.
Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the embodiments. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” on “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular feature, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
According to embodiments, the problems described above can be addressed by, for example, using a bracket that can be attached to a window frame and to which can be removably attached a roller shade, and which further provides an electrical interface that provides electrical power to the motor that is located within the shade tube of the window shade. The bracket that is attached to the window frame can include a connector to which is attached another connector that provides the alternating current power, as well as data and command/control signal cables.
The following is a list of the major elements in the drawings in numerical order.
The following is a list of the acronyms used in the specification in alphabetical order.
Shade assembly 111 is also shown in
Referring now to
As those of skill in the art can appreciate, shade brackets are typically installed prior to hanging the actual shades. The actual shades are typically installed after all “finish-work” in a home or building is complete (to minimize shade fabric getting damaged or dirty). Previously, the wiring and interconnects would also be installed after all the “finish work” is completed. Using aspects of the embodiments, the brackets are hung and wires are terminated during the construction phase. Once the home/building is finished, shades 106 can be installed by just attaching them to first and second brackets 118,122. No wiring termination needs to be done, and no special tools are required: Consequently, little or no mess will be made.
In addition, pins 202a-d (although four are shown, there can be fewer or more pins than that as illustrated) are also spring loaded so that they are kept in a compressive fitting with shade power I/F electrical contact receptacles (receptacles) 208. The number of receptacles 208 does not necessarily need to match the number of pins 202, but a suitable number of each do need to exist in order to transfer at least power to motor 114. According to further aspects of the embodiments, shade power and data/control signals wires 110 can be connected to pins 202 and their respective signals/voltage & current carried to motor 114 through pins 202 to receptacles 208 in shade power I/F 16 and then to motor 114, or other circuitry. Further shown in
Also shown in
Further shown in
First and second antennas 514a,b can be used with a transceiver, not shown, for implementing a wireless BlueTooth communication system, IEEE 802.11.nn Wi-Fi communication system, near field communication (NFC) communication system, a cellular communication system, among others. First and second antennas 514a,b (there can also be three or more antennas, using different communication systems, according to further aspects of the embodiments), can be used to remotely control shade motor 114 and operation thereof of shade 106.
Attention is now directed towards
To solve the aforementioned problems, the aspects of the embodiments are directed towards systems, methods, and modes for providing power and data through signals in a concealed manner to motorized shades in a residential home.
The disclosed embodiments provide a system, and method, for interfacing AC power and command/controls signals to a shade 106 according to aspects of the embodiments. It should be understood that this description is not intended to limit the embodiments. On the contrary, the embodiments are intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, which are included in the spirit and scope of the embodiments as defined by the appended claims. Further, in the detailed description of the embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive understanding of the claimed embodiments. However, one skilled in the art would understand that various embodiments may be practiced without such specific details.
Although the features and elements of aspects of the embodiments are described being in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone, without the other features and elements of the embodiments, or in various combinations with or without other features and elements disclosed herein.
This written description uses examples of the subject matter disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the same, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the subject matter is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims.
The above-described embodiments are intended to be illustrative in all respects, rather than restrictive, of the embodiments. Thus the embodiments are capable of many variations in detailed implementation that can be derived from the description contained herein by a person skilled in the art. No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the embodiments unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items.
All United States patents and applications, foreign patents, and publications discussed above are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the different aspects of the embodiments.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4045123 | Brown | Aug 1977 | A |
4974131 | Paradiso | Nov 1990 | A |
5848634 | Will | Dec 1998 | A |
7682039 | Kuo | Mar 2010 | B2 |
7723939 | Carmen, Jr. | May 2010 | B2 |
8006829 | Itoh | Aug 2011 | B2 |
9054475 | Hoffman | Jun 2015 | B2 |
20040129849 | Walker | Jul 2004 | A1 |
20070066112 | Tufano | Mar 2007 | A1 |
20100059341 | Itoh | Mar 2010 | A1 |
20130199735 | Colson | Aug 2013 | A1 |
20140224437 | Colson | Aug 2014 | A1 |
20140260443 | Grziwok | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20140262077 | Watkins | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20150008801 | Schadlich | Jan 2015 | A1 |
20150083351 | Campagna | Mar 2015 | A1 |
20150362896 | Feldstein | Dec 2015 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2476812 | Jul 2012 | EP |
06048548 | Feb 1994 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20180112463 A1 | Apr 2018 | US |