EP0667440A1 - Device for the electronic control of a darkening device - Google Patents

Abstract

The electronically controlled blind or shutter (11) can be programmed to provide opening and closing at selected times of day. A selector (28) provides mode selection, e.g. manual, automatic, set times, set positions. The controller (27) provides output to operate the motor and positions are fixed by a position sensor (12) with the output compared (14) with the set reference. Values of time are stored in memories (18,19). Changeover between operating and programming modes are selected by operating switches (25,26).

Description

STATE OF THE ART

The invention relates to a device for electronically controlling the movements of a blackout device, such as a roller shutter, an awning, a blind, a slat curtain or the like, according to the preamble of the main claim.

From DE 33 04 962 C2, DE 40 08 940 A1 and EP-B-92118 electronic controls for a shutter drive according to the preamble of the main claim are known, which have a time control for an automatic opening and closing of the shutter at predetermined times to enable. For this purpose, the known devices have a built-in clock module and a clock display. The desired control times for closing and opening the roller shutter must be entered in the form of numerical values. Since numerical input keys are not provided for reasons of cost and space, the input using a few input keys is relatively complicated and the corresponding process has to be repeated if the control times are to be changed. In addition, the current time must be entered in a similar way, so that technically less experienced operators often have great difficulty with these setting processes. The required display for the time is expensive and takes up additional space on the front panel of a corresponding control housing, which is often difficult to implement due to space constraints or leads to compromises in design.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The device according to the invention with the characterizing features of the main claim has the advantage that a display for the control time can be completely dispensed with. This leads to cost savings and less space problems for the often very narrow and small user interface. In addition, the operation is greatly simplified, since no more times have to be entered and no time has to be set. When one or two buttons are pressed, the output signal of the encoder is automatically saved as the control time. The current time is irrelevant, the only important thing is the relation between the status of the internal encoder and the saved control times.

Advantageous further developments and improvements of the device specified in claim 1 are possible through the measures listed in the subclaims.

To specify the programming mode, continuous actuation of the at least one switching element can advantageously be provided at least for a predefinable period of time.

The same switching elements can advantageously be used for manual triggering of the motor movement in the two opposite directions of movement and for storing the control times, for example.

A more variable and more configurable device advantageously has a separate switching device for switching at least between the operating mode and the programming mode, which can expediently be designed as a step switch or forward key. A plurality of switching stages can be provided here, one of which is provided for specifying the manual operating mode, one for specifying the automatic, encoder-controlled operating mode and at least one for specifying the programming mode. In this embodiment it is possible without difficulty to provide further switching stages, for example for programming the two limit switch positions.

When the switching stage for programming the two limit switch positions has been set, it has proven to be advantageous to design the two switch elements with individual actuation for manual control of the drive motor in the two directions of movement and jointly for storing the current position as the limit switch position.

In order to be able to variably change entered tax times or to specify tax times without having to make entries at the desired tax time, a separate step switch or one or two separate advance keys are provided for the gradual change of these stored tax times. Preferably, one or more of the switching stages of the switching device serve for this step-by-step change of the stored control times, so that the stored control times can also be changed with the switching device already present. In this case, one switching stage expediently serves to gradually change one of the stored control times.

An expedient embodiment for simple operation consists in the fact that when the switching stage is set for the gradual change of a stored control time, the two switching elements are provided with individual actuation for gradual change of the control time to earlier control times and later control times and when actuated together to store the changed control time .

Several indicator lights are suitable for reproducing the stored deviation from the originally entered control time, these indicator lights being used in particular as light-emitting diodes are trained.

The sensor provided in the device is advantageously designed as a radio-controlled sensor, or such a sensor is used to correct the sensor provided for specifying the control times. On the one hand, this means that the entered tax times are maintained exactly, and at the same time the changeover between summer and winter time and their effects on the tax times take place automatically. For this reason, such radio-controlled timers can also be used advantageously for other devices for electronically controlling the movements of a blackout device.

In order to increase the ease of use and to achieve a greater variety of possibilities for operating the device, a light sensor for detecting the outside brightness and means for influencing or specifying the control times depending on the detected outside brightness are provided. The times of exceeding and falling below at least one predeterminable brightness value can be used for control times, that is, for example, a roller shutter opens and closes depending on the outside brightness. Alternatively or additionally, the measurement signals of the light sensor can also be used for automatic correction or setting of the time. For this purpose, a storage device for the data of the summer time / winter time changeover, means for date calculation from recorded periods during which the outside brightness is above a predeterminable brightness value, and means for the automatic changeover of the control times depending on the calculated data and the changeover data are provided. Since the daytime brightness is a function of the date, the date can be calculated by interpolating the measured values for the times of daytime brightness, so that an automatic changeover between summer and winter time can be carried out for the known date. Even after a power failure, this device will automatically reset itself to the correct value after a short learning phase.

DRAWING

• Fig. 1 ein Blockschaltbild eines Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur elektronischen Steuerung der Bewegungen eines Rollladens,
• Fig. 2 eine Draufsicht auf den Bedienungsteil der Vorrichtung,
• Fig. 3 eine weitere Ausgestaltung eines Bedienungsteils,
• Fig. 4 eine dritte Variante eines Bedienungsteils und
• Fig. 5 ein Blockschaltbild einer Vorrichtung zur Ermittlung und Korrektur der Uhrzeit in Abhängigkeit der Außenhelligkeit.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and explained in more detail in the following description. Show it:

• 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the device according to the invention for electronically controlling the movements of a roller shutter,
• 2 is a plan view of the operating part of the device,
• 3 shows a further embodiment of an operating part,
• Fig. 4 shows a third variant of an operating part and
• Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a device for determining and correcting the time depending on the outside brightness.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the block diagram shown in FIG. 1, an electric drive motor 10 for driving a roller shutter 11 is shown schematically. This drive can be done in a known manner in that the drive motor 10 is arranged as a tubular motor in the winding shaft for the roller shutter curtain, or the drive motor 10 drives the roller shutter indirectly via the roller shutter belt and is designed together with the belt winding device as a functional unit Pushing into the corresponding wall opening for the belt winding device, as described in the prior art specified at the beginning. However, the device described can be used not only for roller shutters, but also for driving an awning, a roller blind, a lamella curtain, a folding shutter or other similar darkening devices.

To detect the winding position, the drive motor 10 is connected to a position transmitter 12, which consists, for example, of a gear wheel which can be driven by a gear, a sensor being designed to detect the teeth of this gear wheel passing by. The pulses generated in the transducer are counted up or down in a counting device 13, depending on the direction of rotation, so that the respective counter reading is a measure of the winding position of the roller shutter 11. The number outputs of the counting device 13 are connected on the one hand to a comparator 14 and on the other hand to a storage device 15 in which the storage values P1 and P2 can be stored which correspond to the respective end positions of the roller shutter drive. If the comparator 14 determines that the numerical value of the storage device 15 matches P1 or P2, the motor drive is stopped by a drive control 16. At the same time, it is ensured in a manner known per se that the drive motor 10 can only move in the opposite direction of rotation when switched on again.

The electronic control device for the drive motor 10 further includes a timer 17 which operates in a 24-hour cycle and is referred to below as the transmitter 17. In two memory devices 18, 19 connected to the transmitter 17, two control times S1 and S2 for the Opening or closing the roller shutter can be saved. These storage devices 18, 19 are each connected to control time change stages 20, 21, in which the control times S1 and S2 can be changed in stages in a manner which will be described later. The outputs of the control time change stages 20, 21 are fed to two comparators 22, 23, in which the changed or unchanged stored control times are compared with the current value of the encoder 17. If equality is found in the comparators 22 or 23, a control signal for opening or closing the roller shutter is supplied to the drive control 16. A controllable switch 24 for interrupting the line between the comparators 22, 23 and the transmitter 17 is provided to switch off the automatic transmitter control.

Two switching elements designed as pushbutton switches 25, 26 are connected to a switching control unit 27, which can be designed, for example, as a microcomputer. The other electronic assemblies and storage units can also be implemented by a microcomputer.

The switching control unit 27 is connected to a tap changer 28, which is used to specify different working modes. An output of the switching control unit 27 is connected to a row arrangement of seven light-emitting diodes 29, the number of which can be freely selected as required.

The arrangement of the described operating elements on a control plate 30 is shown in FIG. 2. This control plate 30 can be, for example, the cover plate for a housing or a unit, in which the drive motor 10 contains a belt winding device for the roller shutter belt and the electronic control device shown in FIG. 1. Thus, this control plate 30 can form the cover plate for a wall opening for receiving the belt winding device. This control plate 30 can, for example, also be designed to protrude from the wall and contain components such as the electronic control device, the drive motor or the like. The key switches 25, 26 arranged on the control plate 30, the step switch 28 and the light-emitting diodes 29 correspond to the components of the same designation in FIG. 1.

The function selection, that is to say the selection of the desired operating mode, takes place with the aid of the step switch 28, which is designed as a rotary switch. This step switch 28 has a rotary knob 31 with a window 32, through which the desired operating mode is visible as a number on the underlying surface. The position in operating mode 4 is shown. Of course, another step switch known per se can also be used here.

In operating mode 1, the switching control unit 27 is set to manual operation, in which the pushbutton switches 25, 26 are operatively connected directly to the drive control 16 for the drive motor 10, the controllable switch 24 being open. In this operating mode, a key actuation of the key switch 25 leads to an upward movement, that is to say an opening movement of the pole shutter, while conversely a key actuation of the key switch 26 leads to a downward or closing movement.

In operating mode 2, automatic operation is set by means of the switching control unit 27. Here the switch 24 is closed and the opening and closing of the roller shutter 11 is automatically controlled by the sensor. This means that the modified or unmodified control times in the control time change stages 20, 21 are compared with the current value of the transmitter 17, an opening movement taking place if the opening control time corresponds and, accordingly, the roller shutter closing movement corresponding to the closing control time . In addition, an operator can of course also achieve an opening or closing movement manually by actuating the key switches 25, 26.

In operating mode 3, the control time S1 is stored as the opening time and in operating mode 4 the control time S2 is stored as the closing time in the memory devices 18 and 19. This takes place, for example, in each case by simultaneous actuation of the pushbutton switches 25, 26. In the case of such a simultaneous actuation, the current encoder value is stored as the control time in the storage device 18 in the operating mode 3 and the current encoder value in the storage device 19 as the control time S2 in the operating mode 4, of course Both control times can also be stored in a single operating mode, in which case, for example, an actuation of the key switch 25 for storing the control time S1 and an actuation of the key switch 26 for storing the control time S2. At this point it should be mentioned that it is generally not necessary to set the encoder 17 or to synchronize with the time, since only the relative assignment of the stored control times S1 and S2 to the output signal of the encoder 17 is important. Of course, there must be an exact 24-hour rhythm, otherwise inaccurate running times of the encoder lead to a gradual drifting of the opening and closing times.

The control times must be saved in accordance with the previous description at the desired opening and closing times. If e.g. B. on weekends, vacation days, sick days or the like. Changes are wanted, so it would be very cumbersome to wait for the desired time and then to save the corresponding tax time. For this reason, it is provided to modify the control times S1 and S2 once stored by means of the control time change stages 20, 21. This takes place in operating mode 5 for the opening time S1 and in operating mode 6 for the closing time S2. In the following the change is explained based on the opening time, the closing time being changed accordingly. After operating mode 5 has been selected, the middle LED of row 29 of LEDs lights up. Now the opening time can be set earlier by repeated actuation of the left button switch 25 and the opening time later by repeated actuation of the right button switch 26. In order to make this perceptible, each time the left button switch 25 is actuated, the illuminated light-emitting diode moves one step in the minus direction and in the plus direction when the right button switch 26 is actuated. Each step corresponds, for example, to half an hour or an entire hour, so that, according to the present example, the opening time can be adjusted 1 1/2 or 3 hours early and 1 1/2 or 3 hours late. For this purpose, numerical values are added or subtracted to the numerical value S1 in the control time change stage 20, controlled by the switching control unit 27, which values each correspond to half an hour or one hour. If the desired deviation from the originally set control time S1 has been selected, it is stored in the control time change stage 20 for actuating both pushbuttons 25, 26 and from there specifies the opening time. When operating mode 5 is selected again at a later time, this stored, changed opening time is then indicated by the corresponding light-emitting diode lighting up. In operating mode 6, the same process takes place for the closing time S2.

In operating mode 7 and in operating mode 8, the roller shutter end positions, that is to say the upper end position and the lower end position, are stored. This is explained below using the operating mode 7 for the upper end position. After preselection of the operating mode 7 by means of the step switch 28, he brings the roller shutters into the corresponding upper end position by actuating the pushbutton switch 25 or the pushbutton switch 26. In this operating mode, the drive motor only moves while a button is pressed. If the desired upper end position has been reached, it is stored as storage position P1 in the storage device 15 by actuating both pushbuttons 25, 26. The lower end position P2 is correspondingly stored in operating mode 8.

The number of light-emitting diodes 29 and the associated time increment are of course not limited to the numerical values indicated, but can be chosen as desired. For example, a pre-adjustment and a re-adjustment of 12 hours each can be provided so that the effective control times can be specified at any time. It is also possible to also use the light-emitting diodes 29 to display other functions, for example to display the position of the roller shutter or another darkening device, the position of which cannot be easily seen, for example in a folding shutter. Complete closing is indicated, for example, by the lighting up of all the light-emitting diodes and complete opening by the extinguishing of all the light-emitting diodes. During the closing process, the LEDs light up one after the other.

Another version of the control plate 30 is provided in FIG. In addition to the two pushbuttons 25, 26, it only contains a tap changer 33 for setting changes compared to the stored control times. These can be changed gradually with the help of the step switch 33 later (+) or earlier (-), in the example shown by 2 hours later or 2 hours earlier. The control times themselves are stored by actuating the pushbutton switches 25, 26 for a minimum time of, for example, 3 seconds. So if the left button switch 25 is operated for more than 3 seconds, the roller shutter moves to the upper end position (opening position), and at the same time the corresponding time is stored as the new opening time S1. Correspondingly, the storage is carried out by actuating the right button switch 26 for at least 3 seconds. A shorter actuation time of the pushbutton switches 25, 26 only results in manual opening or closing. To save the end positions, both pushbuttons 25, 26 are actuated for the predetermined minimum time of, for example, 3 seconds. Then the start-up and storage of the end positions in accordance with the previous exemplary embodiment takes place.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 represents a modification to FIG. 3. The only difference is that the tap changer 33 is replaced by two key switches 34, 35. Furthermore, a row of diodes 36 is provided to indicate the shift in the timing. By actuating the left key switch 34, the control times are gradually shifted early and by actuating the right key switch 35 stepwise late. As in the first embodiment, the LEDs light up accordingly, either in continuous operation or in flashing mode. In the two embodiments ge 3 and FIG. 4, both control times, that is to say the opening and closing times, are shifted in parallel, that is to say the step switch 33 and the pushbutton switches 34, 35 have a changing effect on the internal transmitter. In principle, of course, an independent change of the two control times is also possible, in which case additional operating functions are required. For example, a distinction can be made in the change in the opening time or closing time in that one of the pushbutton switches 34 has to be actuated for a minimum time in the opening time and the pushbutton switch 35 in the closed position during this minimum time of, for example, 3 seconds. Then the preselected tax time can be changed.

In the exemplary embodiments described so far, the changeover between summer and winter time can take place either by re-specifying the control times S1 and S2 or by changing them step by step. With the aid of the device shown in FIG. 5, this changeover takes place automatically.

The circuit arrangement shown in FIG. 5 supplements the described electronic control device. A light sensor 37 which is arranged on the outside, that is to say acted upon by the outside brightness, is connected to a threshold value stage 38, which is designed, for example, as a Schmitt trigger. The output of the threshold stage 38 is connected to the control input of a counting device 39 for counting counting pulses of the frequency f. A storage device 40 is connected downstream of the counting device 39. Numerical values stored in the storage device 40 are fed to a computing stage 41 for date calculation, at which the numerical values of a storage device 42 for the data of the summer time / winter time changeover are also present. The output of the computing stage 41 controls the time changeover of the encoder 17.

An output control signal is generated by the threshold value stage 38 when a minimum brightness is exceeded (e.g. dawn), which is ended again when the threshold value falls below the same or a lower value (e.g. dusk). During this output signal, the counting pulses f are counted in the counting device 39, the resulting numerical value being accepted into the memory device 40 on a trailing edge of the output signal of the threshold value stage 38. In the storage device 40 there is a numerical value in the evening of a day which corresponds to the length of the previous day. The respective date is calculated over this day length in the computing stage 21, which is designed as a microcomputer, for example, the measured day lengths being interpolated in order to compensate for deviations due to weather conditions, clouds or the like. balance. This date determined in this way is compared with the data stored in the memory device 42 for the summer time / winter time changeover, and if there is a match, a signal is sent to the transmitter 17, which effects the corresponding correction there.

The opening or closing process of the roller shutter can also be controlled directly by the light sensor 37 depending on the outside brightness. The control line 43 at the output of the threshold 38 serves for this purpose Operating mode for the brightness control can take place via the step switch 28 according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

There are two operating modes for brightness control, namely a sun protection mode and a twilight mode. First, the sun protection mode is to be described, which is used to darken a room to a lower brightness value using a roller shutter. The programming is carried out in that, after the step switch 28 has been set accordingly, the pushbutton switch 28 is actuated at least for a predefinable time of, for example, 5 seconds. This saves the current outside brightness as a trigger value for the closing movement. Now hold down the push button switch 26 until the roller shutter has reached the desired setting value, that is to say until it is lowered to 80%, for example. By releasing the push button switch 26, this lowering position is then saved as the future end position for the sun protection mode. If the sun protection mode is specified in the future, the roller shutter will automatically lower to the saved lowering position when the stored outside brightness is exceeded. It then remains in this position until, for example, the stored brightness value drops for example 30% below the stored brightness value for a predefinable time of, for example, 20 minutes. Then an automatic opening movement takes place again. These example values can be specified in the desired manner by appropriate programming of the electronic control.

For the twilight mode, the step switch 28 is first brought into the corresponding position. Here, too, the outside brightness or twilight value, from which the Roller shutters or an awning or the like. to be closed completely. The step switch 28 can also have an additional operating mode in which both the twilight mode and the sun protection mode are effective.

To change the stored brightness value for the sun protection mode and / or for the twilight mode, a step switch (not shown) can also be provided, which can be designed, for example, according to the step switch 33 or which can have two push-button switches according to the push-button switches 34, 35. Using this step switch, the stored brightness value can be gradually changed to higher or lower brightness values, in order to initiate the lowering of the roller shutter, for example, in sun protection mode when the outside brightness is lower or only when the outside brightness is higher. In a simple embodiment, a corresponding control unit can be designed, for example, according to FIG. 3 or 4, wherein either the step switch 33 or the keys 34, 35 are provided for changing the brightness values instead of shifting the control times, or it is one in each case additional tap changer or a function switch for a single tap changer is provided.

The transmitter 17 shown in FIG. 1 can also be designed as a radio-controlled timer (eg DCF 77 receiver). Such a timer receives time signals from a central atomic clock in a known manner via long wave and synchronizes the internal time accordingly. In such an embodiment, both the time setting and the changeover between summer time and winter time are carried out automatically, and a time adjustment is also no longer necessary.

The two key switches 25, 26 and the two key switches 34, 35 can of course also be replaced by a correspondingly operating switching device, for example by a rocker switch. Furthermore, instead of the rows of light-emitting diodes, other display devices can be used which are suitable for setting the step-wise change in the control times, for example light bar display, LCD displays or the like. Furthermore, the tap changer 28 can also be replaced by an arrangement of advance buttons 34, 35 according to FIG. 4, each light-emitting diode being assigned to an operating mode, for example, and lighting up when the corresponding operating mode is selected.

Claims (24)

1. Device for electronically controlling the movements of a darkening device, such as a roller shutter, an awning, a roller blind, a lamella curtain, a folding shutter or the like, with an electric drive motor, with at least one switching element for triggering the motor movement in the two opposite directions of movement , with an encoder for time-controlled actuation of the drive motor and with a programming device for programming at least the control times for the drive motor, characterized in that the electronic control means (18, 19) for storing the instantaneous encoder signal as a control time for the automatic opening or closing movement of the Drive motor (10) with corresponding actuation of the at least one switching element (25, 26) in the assigned programming mode. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a continuous actuation of the at least one switching element (25, 26) is provided at least for a predetermined period of time for specifying the programming mode. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a separate switching device (28) is provided for switching at least between the operating mode and the programming mode. 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the switching device (28) is designed as a tap changer or as a forward key. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that several switching stages are provided, one of which is provided for specifying the manual operating mode, one for specifying the automatic, encoder-controlled operating mode and at least one for specifying the programming mode. 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that one or two of the switching stages are provided for programming the two limit switch positions. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that when the switching stage for programming the two limit switch positions is set, the two switching elements (25, 26) with individual actuation for manual control of the drive motor (10) in the two directions of movement and when actuated together to save the instantaneous Position as final shutdown position are seen. 8. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a separate tap changer (33) or one or two separate advance buttons (34, 35) is provided for the gradual change of the stored control times. 9. Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that one or more of the switching stages of the switching device (28) are provided for the gradual change of the stored control times. 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that a switching stage is provided for the gradual change of each of the stored control times. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that when the switching stage is set for the gradual change of a stored control time, the two switching elements (25, 26) with individual actuation in each case for the gradual change of the control time towards earlier control times and later control times and with common Operation for storing the changed tax time are provided. 12. The device according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized by a plurality of indicator lights (29, 36) or a display arrangement for reproducing the stored deviation from the originally entered control time. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the indicator lights (29, 36) are designed as light emitting diodes. 14. The device in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmitter (17) is designed as a radio-controlled timer or that such a device is provided for correcting the transmitter serving to specify the control times. 15. The device in particular according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by a light sensor (37) for detecting the outside brightness and by means (38-42) for influencing or specifying the control times depending on the detected outside brightness. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the times of exceeding and / or falling below at least one predeterminable brightness value can be specified as control times. 17. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that means are provided for initiating the automatic closing movement of the drive motor (10) when exceeding (sun protection mode) and / or falling below (twilight mode) a predetermined brightness value. 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that means are provided for storing a desired lowering position at which the closing movement stops. 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the at least one switching element (26) is provided after permanent actuation until the desired lowering position is reached for storing this lowering position when the permanent actuation ends. 20. Device according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that switching means are provided for storing the current brightness value as a trigger value for the closing movement. 21. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the switching means, the at least one switching element (26) is formed after permanent actuation for at least a predetermined period of time for storing the current brightness value. 22. The apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that switching means are provided for changing the stored brightness value. 23. The device according to claim 15, characterized by a storage device (42) for the data of the summer time / winter time changeover, means (41) for date calculation from recorded periods during which the outside brightness is above a predeterminable brightness value, and means (41) for automatic changeover of the tax times depending on the calculated data and the changeover data. 24. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that an interpolation device for the calculated times of the outside helm is provided.

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