EP2060697B1 - Method of operating an electromechanical actuator for an awning with articulated arms. - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves automatically determining a positioning zone to find a current position of an awning from the measurement of a parameter e.g. speed or torque, relative to a tubular actuator (6), in response to the detection of an initiator event e.g. need for awning position adjustment. A stop detection unit is temporarily deactivated during the movement of the awning towards a stop position, when the current position of the awning is found in the positioning zone.

Description

The invention relates to the field of automated solar protection, in particular blinds controlled by an actuator.

A fabric forming the blind is intended to be wound on a tube called winding tube, the rotation of the latter being carried out either via an electromechanical actuator, or through a manual or crank operation device.

Tubular actuators are very commonly used for these automatic maneuvers. They are placed inside the winding tube and to unroll or roll up the awning fabric without any particular effort. In addition, associated with automation or sensors, the operation of the blind can be achieved remotely, without necessarily the intervention of the user (for example, automatic unwinding in the presence of sun, to protect both the terrace or the windows too much warming in the summer, winding automatically in case of wind to protect the blind itself).

Electromechanical actuators are usually connected to the mains for their power supply. To prevent cases of urgent use in case of power failure, some versions are offered with a manual override. The actuator then combines the automatic and manual functions.

For the operation of the actuator, it is preferable that it knows the deployment position of the blind, in particular to manage the particular operations on different areas of the race: arrival in high abutment, arrival at the low point, zone of locking of the arms of deployment of the blind.

In the state of the art, various counting position determination solutions exist, these being distributed mainly between electronic or mechanical counting devices.

Mechanical counting devices are commonly used. A movement of the screen is mechanically transcribed by the counting device in one direction or the other. Setting the end positions generally requires access to the actuator. Then, whatever the origin of the movement (motorized or manual), the counting is active and the positions are always well marked.

Electronic counting devices are also widely available on the market. The current position is located in a non-volatile electronic memory, which keeps the information even in the event of a power failure. The setting of such an electronic counting device can be performed remotely, which obviously has many advantages, the actuators are not easily accessible once mounted on site.

However, if such actuators with an electronic counting device are provided with a manual override, a manual movement made during a power failure can disrupt the position counting: indeed, the blind is moved without the system Electronic counting does not change the value of the current position. It is also unlikely that the awning will be returned to the home position after this manual operation. The position in memory therefore no longer corresponds to the current position, ie the installation is out of adjustment.

This situation can be avoided by the use of absolute position sensors, but these are complex technology and rarely if ever used in the field of automated solar protection.

A simple practice is to detect each current interruption and reset the system to a stop (if one exists) each time. This has many disadvantages. Each micro-cut of current can be at the origin of this registration. The latter is misunderstood by the user who finds that his installation has a curious behavior, each return of the mains or not corresponding to the simple order of rise or fall it gives.

Another solution, described in the IT patent application MI2002001549, is to add a second detection system, which will make it possible to perform the counting during a manual emergency operation or more simply to detect a movement. The second detection system is powered by energy storage means (supercapacitor type) reloaded when the actuator is again powered. The installation can be recalibrated in the only cases where a manual maneuver has taken place. However, this solution requires the implementation of new counting means in addition to existing means or suitable counting means, which further increases the emergency maneuvering devices.

Whatever the solution used, it is necessary to proceed if necessary and / or automatically to a registration of the installation. This registration is based on the recognition of a fixed position, such as a stop or a position in which it is no longer possible to continue the movement and treated as a stop. The position of this stop can be determined by the analysis of the torque or a variation of the torque exerted by the motor or a sub-speed. These parameters are then independent of the position count. The position of the stop is associated with a reference position value. The count can then be updated from this reference position unambiguously representing the current position of the blind.

The recognition of such a stop is known to those skilled in the art. Thus, the patent EP 1 269 596 describes a device for stopping the motor when the load on the motor exceeds a determined value. It comprises means for transforming the variation of the voltage across the phase-shift capacitor, corresponding to a determined torque variation, in a selected variation of the voltage, whatever the maximum torque developed, means for comparing the transformed voltage. with a reference voltage and motor stop means when the transformed voltage is lower than the reference voltage.

An automatic registration procedure is known from the document US 2005/0237015 in the field of motorized garage doors. In this type of installation, there is also provided a manual maneuver that can be implemented without power supply of the actuator. This document describes a system of detectable waypoints, which define boundaries of operating areas. When reconnecting to the power supply network following a detected manual operation, the electronics of the installation determines, on the basis of information specific to each zone, for example a specific voltage value for each zone, in which zone is the door. For each zone a preferred direction of movement is defined so as to safely reach a waypoint where the position counter is recalibrated.

The implementation of this system for a garage door requires the installation of crossing point sensors or zone indicators customizing the operating areas, which makes the system more expensive.

This document also proposes only the definition of a direction of preferential movement as action to be implemented depending on the zone in which the door is located.

In the case of the blind, it can easily be satisfied with having a single stop allowing the registration and not a set of crossing points. However, for the identification of this stop, it is necessary to activate the stop detection means, as mentioned above. It is also necessary to avoid activating these means on other areas of the race, in particular in a so-called arm lock zone, where an increase in torque, torque variation or under-speed can translate into a other event than an arrival in abutment. The patent EP 0 770 757 thus described that the stop detection means, called load monitoring means, is activated only when the blind is retracted, just before reaching the initial position corresponding to the stop and not on the rest of the race, avoiding thus any untimely solicitation. However, this method is only applicable if the knowledge of the position is reliable, that is to say that it is not adapted in the case presented above in which there was a maladjustment of the installation following a manual maneuver.

Document is known DE 90 03 416 a method of controlling a blind. The blind comprises sensor means for determining in which area of the race is a load bar of the blind. This document relates to a control method of a blind with multiple positions of deployment and withdrawal. These multiple positions are reached automatically depending on the surrounding wind conditions. The described operation implies that the positions are accurately marked. When there are variations of wind speed with respect to a threshold value, the blind is led to another position.

Document is known EP 1 752 597 a method for managing the deployment of a wind-sensitive blind.

Document is known US 2007/0247100 a method of tensioning the fabric of a roller blind in its fully extended position.

We still know the document US 2002/089209 means for stopping a blind with arms in the deployed position and in the folded position.

The object of the invention is to provide a method of operating an actuator overcoming the disadvantages mentioned and improving the operating methods known from the prior art. In particular, the invention makes it possible, when a registration is necessary, to determine in advance in a global manner the position of the blind to allow automatic positional registration, without user intervention, and without error. It also allows the use of detection thresholds low enough not to damage the installation during a stop detection.

The process according to the invention is defined by claim 1.

Different embodiments of the method are defined by the dependent claims 2 to 10.

According to the invention, an actuator is defined by claim 11.

• La figure 1 est un schéma d'une installation de protection solaire selon l'invention.
• La figure 2 est un schéma d'un actionneur d'une telle installation.
• Les figures 3, 4 et 5 sont des schémas illustrant le principe du procédé de fonctionnement selon l'invention.
• Les figures 6 et 7 sont des schémas illustrant des principes de mesure de paramètres utilisés dans le procédé de fonctionnement selon l'invention.

The attached drawing shows, by way of example, an embodiment of a solar protection installation according to the invention and an embodiment of a method of operation of such an installation.

• The figure 1 is a diagram of a solar protection installation according to the invention.
• The figure 2 is a diagram of an actuator of such an installation.
• The figures 3 , 4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating the principle of the operating method according to the invention.
• The Figures 6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating measurement principles of parameters used in the operating method according to the invention.

The sun protection system 1, in particular a motorized arm awning, comprises a winding tube 21 around which a blind fabric 3 is wound in a box 2. The system also comprises articulated arms 4 mounted on one hand on a load-bearing structure and provided with springs 10 banded when the arms 4 are folded. The other end of the arms 4 is connected to a bar 5 fixed at the end of the fabric 3. A tubular actuator 6 inserted in the winding tube 21 (or drive) causes the rotation of the latter. The actuator 6 comprises a control unit 8 enabling it to manage control commands for deploying or folding the fabric 3. In a deployment order, the actuator 6 allows the arms 4 to unfold under the action of the springs 10 and a rotation of the winding tube 21 in a first direction, resulting in deployment of the fabric 3. Conversely, in a fallback order, the actuator 6 causes the rotation of the tube of bearing 21 in the in opposite direction, which has the effect of stretching the fabric 3 and folding the arms 4 by binding the springs 10.

The actuator 6 comprises a driving portion or geared motor 6a and a brake 6b. The brake 6b is able to block the rotation of the output shaft in order to control the speed of rotation and also to keep the winding tube 21 locked.

During deployment of the fabric 3, the actuator 6 releases at least partially the brake 6b and therefore the rotation of the winding tube 21 in the first direction, under the action of the springs 10. The load bar 5 and the fabric 3 are then driven to the fully deployed position.

The actuator 6 also comprises means 7 for measuring a parameter internal to the actuator, representative of the torque exerted by the actuator 6 on the tube 21 for driving the fabric 3.

The actuator 6 also comprises stop detection means 9. These means may for example operate by detecting a predetermined torque, a torque variation or a predetermined speed variation. The measuring means 7 and the stop detection means 9 may be at least partially common. The stop detection means 9 make it possible to detect the end stop of the blind fallback (that is to say the position in which the blind is completely wound) or an obstacle on the stroke of the load bar 5 of the awning.

The electronic control unit 8 allows the management of the rotation control commands of the winding tube 21 in one direction or the other, as well as the management of the stops, thanks in particular to the information provided by the measuring means 7, the stop detection means 9 and / or by a position sensor. The control unit 8 also comprises software means for implementing an operating method according to the invention, this method governing the operation of a blind actuator. These software means include computer programs.

One distinguishes for such a terrace awning six specific operating areas (ZF):

• ZF1 : lors du déploiement entre la position haute et la position dite de verrouillage des bras 4, elle-ci correspondant généralement à une position de fin de course basse.
• ZF3 : lors du déploiement, au-delà de la position de verrouillage des bras 4, la toile 3 se déroulant alors librement
• ZF4 : à la montée, avant la position de verrouillage des bras 4, la toile 3 s'enroulant alors librement
• ZF6 : à la montée après cette position de verrouillage
• ZF2, ZF5 : zones de fonctionnement limites, correspondant au passage de la position particulière de verrouillage des bras respectivement lors du déploiement et lors du repliement.

These areas are marked on the figure 3 .

• ZF1: during deployment between the high position and the so-called locking position of the arms 4, it generally corresponds to a low end position.
• ZF3: during the deployment, beyond the locking position of the arms 4, the fabric 3 then moving freely
• ZF4: at the rise, before the locking position of the arms 4, the fabric 3 then wrapping freely
• ZF6: to climb after this lock position
• ZF2, ZF5: Limit operating areas, corresponding to the passage of the particular position of arm lock respectively during deployment and during folding.

There are also position zones of the fabric ZP1, ZP2, located on either side of the particular position of the arms 4 locking and a position zone ZP3 corresponding to the locking position zone of the arms 4.

An operating zone differs from a position zone in particular by the incidence of the direction of movement.

The roller blinds have the particularity to be deployed under the effect of the springs 10 linked to the arms 4, each arm 4 being provided with a central articulation and can be unfolded over slightly more than 180 °. The particular position in which the arms 4 are unfolded slightly beyond 180 °, in a maximum stable position, is called the locking position.

During deployment in an operating zone ZF1, the arms 4 are unfolded under the effect of the springs 10 and pull on the awning fabric 3, the actuator 6 then being disengaged or operating as a generator. When the articulation is opened at more than 180 °, referred to as the locking of the arms 4 (operating zone ZF2), the fabric 3 passes abruptly from a tense state to a relaxed state insofar as the arms 4 have reached in a stable maximum deployment position. They no longer create tension on the fabric 3. The arms 4 are then said to be locked. Beyond that, if the awning continues to be unwound, the operating zone ZF3 applies: the fabric 3 unfolds freely.

In contrast to the rise if the fabric 3 was unwound in a ZF3 type operation, the fabric 3 must be re-wound. The fabric 3 being relaxed, this movement induces very little load on the actuator 6. This operation is then a zone operation ZF4.

Then, in an operating zone ZF5, the actuator 6 must create a large torque to fold the arms 4 from this locking position of the arms 4, ie to unlock the arms 4 and leave this stable position. In an operating zone ZF6, the actuator 6 acts on the fabric 3 and the latter must pull on the arms 4 to bring them to a retracted position, against the action of the springs 10.

If the trigger threshold of the stop detection means 9 is low, to avoid damaging the blind when it reaches the stop, the passage of this locking position can be considered by the stop detection means 9 as equivalent to an arrival on a stop. Depending on the actual position of the blind during the registration, it may therefore be impossible to come to reset the product on a real stop or even learning a false reference position. These errors can lead to serious damage to the blind or unwanted behavior.

Certain operating zones are, however, characterized by a particular signature related to the torque, in particular to the Ucapa voltage across a phase shift capacitor of an asynchronous motor. Measuring the voltage Ucapa reflects an increase or a drop in torque depending on whether the operation of the actuator 6 is motor or generator.

The different operating zones are indicated on the graph of the figure 4 showing the voltage taken across the phase shift capacitor as a function of time over a deployment and retraction operating cycle.

The only value of the Ucapa voltage does not, however, make it possible to determine the position zone (the voltage value may vary according to various parameters such as the temperature). In order to determine in which zone of position the blind is located before a registration, the invention proposes to perform a test defined by a short sequence of deployment and retraction movements and to analyze the characteristics of the operating zones encountered (for example the value average of the Ucapa voltage on each movement). These two values are then compared to determine the blind position area.

Depending on the position zone, the actuator 6 defines whether to disable the stop detection to pass the locking position of the arms 4, or on the contrary activate it to perform a registration to a stop without damaging the product.

The operation is as follows for the different positions defined in figure 5 :

From position 1:

The successively encountered operating zones are respectively ZF1 and ZF6. Since the value of the parameter Ucapa (deployment) in the zone ZF1 is greater than the value of the parameter Ucapa (fallback) in the zone ZF6, the actuator deduces that the blind is in the positioning zone ZP1 and that the stop detection must be activated on the ascent.

From position 2:

The operating zones successively encountered are respectively ZF3 and ZF4. The forces to be provided by the actuator are only unwinding and unwinding of fabric 5 without load. Since the value of the parameter Ucapa (deployment) in the zone ZF3 is substantially equal to the value of the parameter Ucapa (fallback) in the zone ZF4, the actuator deduces that the blind is in the positioning zone ZP2 and that it is necessary to deactivating the stop detection during a first predetermined time, to pass the arm lock 4, then to activate it again to detect the high stop.

From position 3 (during the deployment phase, the arms are locked):

The successively encountered operating zones are respectively ZF1 / ZF2 / ZF3 and ZF4 / ZF5 / ZF6. There is a significant drop in the voltage value Ucapa at the moment when the fabric 3 expands, that is to say at the time of arm locking 4. It must then be ensured that during the rising phase of the test, we returned to a ZP1 position zone position. As a precaution, the ascending stop detection is deactivated for a second predetermined time, to pass the arm lock 4, then activated later to detect the high stop.

If the first test has not been sufficient to determine the position zone, the actuator 6 can repeat this test possibly with longer movement times.

Other parameters related to the operation of the actuator 6 can be used to determine the characteristics of the operating zones encountered during the test, for example the speed of rotation / displacement. Advantageously, these parameters directly or indirectly represent the forces applied or the torque supplied by the actuator.

The registration test is preferably part of a resetting movement in which the values measured by the stop detection means are analyzed but are not taken into account for a stop, in other words, the stop detection is deactivated at least on a part of this registration movement. This recalibration movement is intended to allow, before coming to seek a stop to reset the current position counter, to stabilize the operation and therefore the measures useful for the stop detection. In otherwise, the starting of the actuator 6 itself may distort the measurements of the stop detection.

This resetting movement thus comprises a first deployment movement (represented by the symbol ▼) over a duration of approximately 2 seconds, followed by a stop (represented by the symbol ■) and a folding movement (represented by the symbol ▲) of at least 2 seconds. The registration test preferably comprises the analysis of the data at the level of the round-trip of the blind, with the exception of the measurements close to the round-trip position ZP _AR of the blind.

It is also possible to perform the position test on a very short path. In the case shown in figure 5 , each test movement lasts only about 300 ms during which the stop detection means provide samples of Ucapa voltage measurements. These are analyzed to deduce an average of the voltage Ucapa at the position of return of the blind.

During sampling, the first n values, represented by hatched areas, are not taken into account to take into account the start of the actuator 6 and allow the measurement data to stabilize. By eliminating the last n values for round-trip sampling, symmetrical sampling zones are guaranteed during deployment and retraction.

The comparison of the averages of the samplings taken into account on the deployment and retraction movements makes it possible to precisely define the zone of position ZP _AR in which the blind is located at the time of this round trip. It is thus possible to deduce the position zone (ZP1, ZP2 or ZP3) at the beginning of the resetting movement.

The zones of positions presenting risks of confusion are zones ZP2 and ZP3. In both cases, it is necessary to ensure that the stop detection means 9 are temporarily deactivated so as to avoid confusing the locking or unlocking of the arms 4 with the arrival at the high stop and thus memorize a false reference position.

In these two zones however, the blind is close to its low position. It is therefore possible to temporarily disable the stop detection means 9 without the risk of arriving quickly on the high stop. The duration of temporary deactivation of the stop detection means 9 can then be arbitrarily defined to suit all types and sizes of blinds. It can be for example equal to 2 seconds.

Claims (11)

1. A method of operating an electromechanical actuator (6) for an awning with arms (1), comprising a control unit (8), stop detection means (9) and means (7) for measuring a parameter (U_capa) of the actuator (6), the awning being able to move during its travel in at least a first (ZP1) and a second (ZP2, ZP3) positioning zone, the method comprising the following steps:

   - upon detecting an initiating event, automatic determination, from the measurement of the parameter of the actuator (6), of the positioning zone in which the current position of the awning is located; and

   - if the current position of the awning is located in the second positioning zone (ZP2, ZP3), temporary deactivation of the stop detection means (9) for detecting a stop in the course of a movement of the awning towards a stop position.
2. The method of operation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the initiating event is a need to reset the position of the awning.
3. The method of operation as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the initiating event is mains power outage longer than a given duration.
4. The method of operation as claimed in one of the preceeding claims, wherein the positioning zone is determined from characteristics of operational zones, the characteristics of various operational zones of the actuator (6) reached by the awning during its travel being provided by the measurement of the parameter of the actuator (6).
5. The method of operation as claimed in claim 4, wherein the automatic determination step comprises the following phases:

   - measurement of values of the operational parameter of the actuator (6) during a sequence of movements moving the awning in at least two operational zones;

   - analysis of the measured values of the parameter of the actuator (6); and

   - determination of the positioning zone in which the current position of the awning is located according to the result of the analysis phase.
6. The method of operation as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sequence of movements comprises a movement extending the awning followed by a movement retracting the awning.
7. The method of operation as claimed in one of the preceeding claims, wherein the automatic determination step is carried out again in the event that it was not possible to determine the positioning zone containing the current position of the awning.
8. The method of operation as claimed in claim 7, wherein, during the reiterations of the automatic determination step, the movements of the sequence are carried out over extended travels or for a time greater than the duration of the movements in the course of the first iteration.
9. The method of operation as claimed in one of the preceeding claims, wherein the temporary deactivation of the stop detection means (9) takes place for a first predetermined period if the awning is located in a first part (ZP2) of the second positioning zone and for a second predetermined period if the awning is located in a second part (ZP3) of the second positioning zone.
10. The method of operation as claimed in one of the preceeding claims, wherein the parameter of the actuator (6) is an actuator (6) speed or an actuator (6) torque.
11. An actuator (6) for an awning with arms (1) comprising a control unit (8), stop detection means (9) and means (7) for measuring a parameter of the actuator (6), which comprises software means for implementing the method of operation as claimed in one of the preceeding claims.

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