Control system

Abstract

Control system (1) for a blind with an electric drive (4) controlled by a control unit (5), which is configured to raise or lower a slat arrangement (2) with parallel slats (3), and with a limit switch for detecting the fully raised positions of the slat arrangement (2), wherein the limit switch has a Hall sensor (12) and a magnet (13) which are arranged to be movable relative to each other, such that a binary switching signal and at least one further output signal are derived from analog signals generated by the Hall sensor (12), wherein the two switching states of the switching signal indicate whether the blind is in the fully raised position or not, characterized in that an output signal indicates whether the magnet (13) is present or not, and / or that an output signal indicates the installation position of the magnet (13).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control system according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a control system is known from DE 10 2010 023 932 A1. This control system is used to move a louver arrangement consisting of a number of horizontally spaced louvers. The movement occurs between an upper end position, in which the louvers of the arrangement are fully raised and expose a building opening such as a window or door, and a lower end position, in which the louvers are fully lowered and cover the building opening. The louver arrangement is moved by means of an electric drive in the form of an electric motor, which is controlled by a control unit. The control unit generates control commands for the electric drive, which, depending on the direction of rotation, winds or unwinds a pull cord on winding devices, thereby raising or lowering the louver arrangement.

[0003] The control system includes monitoring devices for detecting the upper and lower end positions of the louver arrangement.

[0004] The upper limit position is controlled by a limit switch designed as a binary switch. This limit switch generates a switching signal with two states, indicating whether the slat assembly is in the upper limit position or not. If the limit switch signals that the slat assembly is in the upper limit position, the control unit interrupts the power supply to the electric drive. This stops the electric drive, preventing potential damage from further movement of the slat assembly beyond the upper limit position.

[0005] The control system interrupts the power supply to the electric drive both when the slat assembly moves upwards and when it moves downwards. This also prevents a fault that occurs during downward movement of the electric drive if the detection of the lower end position of the slat assembly fails. In this case, the downward movement of the electric drive continues beyond the lower end position, causing the pull cord to wind up and thus moving the slat assembly back towards the upper end position.

[0006] US Patent 2013 / 0269887 A1 describes a louver arrangement that can be moved by means of an electric drive. The louver arrangement can be moved between an open position (first end position) and a closed position (second end position). A Hall sensor is provided to determine the current rotational position of the electric motor. Error signals are generated in an evaluation unit if the determined rotational positions deviate from the target values ​​at the end positions.

[0007] DE 38 06 733 A1 relates to an arrangement for monitoring and / or controlling the movement of a roller shutter, a roller door, a sectional door, an awning, or the like, consisting of a curtain in the form of interconnected slats or panels, an awning fabric, or the like, which can be rolled up on a motor-driven shaft, and an electrical circuit that interrupts the power supply to the switched-on drive motor in the end positions of the curtain. A sensor is arranged near the winding shaft. The curtain is provided with sensor triggers arranged at intervals in the direction of rolling. The electrical circuit includes a microprocessor that compares the pulses generated by the sensor with a predetermined pulse sequence and, upon completion and if a match is found, interrupts the motor current. At the end of the curtain, preferably the end slat of a roller shutter, a sensor trigger is arranged whose characteristic differs from that of the other sensor triggers.The sensor is a non-contact proximity switch, preferably a reed switch. The sensor triggers are control elements influencing the proximity switch, preferably soft or permanent magnetic elements.

[0008] The invention is based on the objective of designing a control system of the type mentioned above in such a way that it has a high level of functionality with minimal design effort.

[0009] The features of claim 1 are provided to solve this problem. Advantageous embodiments and expedient further developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0010] The invention relates to a control system for a blind with an electric drive controlled by a control unit. The drive is configured to raise or lower a slat arrangement with parallel slats and includes a limit switch for detecting the fully raised positions of the slat arrangement. The limit switch comprises a Hall sensor and a magnet, which are movably arranged relative to each other. A binary switching signal and at least one further output signal are derived from analog signals generated by the Hall sensor. The two switching states of the switching signal indicate whether the blind is in the fully raised position or not. An output signal indicates whether the magnet is present or not. Another output signal indicates the installation position of the magnet.

[0011] The basic idea of ​​the invention is therefore to design the limit switch for detecting the fully raised position of the lamella arrangement not as a binary switching sensor as known, but as an analog sensor in the form of a Hall sensor and a magnet, which are arranged to be movable relative to each other.

[0012] In addition to the binary switching signal for controlling the upper end position of the slat assembly, at least one further output signal can be obtained using the limit switch according to the invention. The output signal(s) of the limit switch can be used to enhance the functionality of the entire control system or to optimize the movement of the slat assembly. This significantly increases the functionality of the control system according to the invention with minimal design effort.

[0013] A particularly advantageous feature is that the Hall sensor is fixed in position relative to the electric drive, whereas the magnet moves along with the lamella arrangement. In particular, the Hall sensor is integrated into the electric drive itself, resulting in a particularly compact and cost-effective design.

[0014] According to a first variant, the magnet is integrated in a plunger mounted at a distance from the electric drive, whereby when the lamella arrangement is in its fully raised position, the plunger is deflected in the direction of the electric drive by the uppermost lamella.

[0015] According to a second variant, the magnet is attached to the uppermost lamella of the lamella arrangement.

[0016] In both variants, the magnet is arranged in such a way that the limit switch can reliably detect whether the lamella arrangement is in its upper end position or not.

[0017] The evaluation of the analog signal from the Hall sensor is advantageously carried out in the control unit, meaning that both the switching signal and the output signal(s) are generated in the control unit depending on the analog signals from the Hall sensor.

[0018] A safety function is implemented based on the switching signal in such a way that the control unit interrupts the power supply to the electric drive when the switching signal assumes the switching state indicating that the lamella arrangement is in its fully raised position.

[0019] This reliably prevents damage to mechanical components of the control system by preventing a hazardous procedure of the lamella arrangement beyond the upper end position.

[0020] Advantageously, the power supply is interrupted upon detection of the upper end position of the slat assembly, regardless of the direction of rotation of the electric drive. This means that the electric drive is safely shut down when, on the one hand, it moves towards the upper end position while moving upwards against the slat assembly. On the other hand, the electric drive is also safely shut down when it is operating in the opposite direction to the downward movement of the slat assembly and, if the detection of the lower end position fails, continues to rotate in the same direction, resulting in the pull cord winding onto the winding device and thus the slat assembly moving towards the upper end position.

[0021] Since at least one additional output signal is derived from the analog signals in the control unit alongside the binary switching signal, the functionality of the control system is increased, in particular by the fact that the driving behavior of the lamella arrangement is specified by the control unit depending on the output signal or one of the output signals.

[0022] This requirement for driving behavior depends appropriately on the specific design of the output signal.

[0023] According to one initial embodiment, an output signal indicates whether the magnet is present or not.

[0024] This output signal is used to perform a functional check of the limit switch itself. During maintenance or modification work on the control system, the magnet may fall off its mount, especially if it is attached to a movable plunger. In this case, the limit switch is no longer functional, and the upper end position of the louver assembly can no longer be monitored. The output signal detects the limit switch defect, and the control unit can then initiate an emergency mode in which the louver assembly is moved in such a way that safe operation is possible even without end position detection. For example, this can be achieved by switching to a slow-speed operation of the louver assembly. Alternatively, the louver assembly can be moved only within a limited range where the upper end position is not reached.

[0025] According to a second embodiment, an output signal indicates the installation position of the magnet.

[0026] Depending on the installation position, and in particular whether the north or south pole faces the Hall sensor, different signal patterns result. These different signal patterns can be used in the control unit to activate different operating modes with different travel profiles for the slat arrangement, depending on the installation position. An operator can thus easily define the travel behavior of the slat arrangement by varying the installation position of the magnet.

[0027] Furthermore, position and / or speed signals can be obtained as output signals from the analog signals of the Hall sensor, which can be used to control the driving behavior of the lamella arrangement.

[0028] Particularly advantageous is the calibration of the switching point of the switching signal, which defines the transition between the switching states, in the control unit depending on the output signal designed as a position signal.

[0029] In the limit switch according to the invention, the switching point at which the transition from one switching state of the switching signal to the other switching state occurs is determined by a predetermined distance between the magnet and the Hall sensor. This corresponds to a specific position of the uppermost lamella. Due to wear of the pull cord, i.e., the suspension of the lamella assembly, the position of the uppermost lamella can vary. This change in position can be compensated for by varying the switching point depending on the position signals obtained by the Hall sensor.

[0030] The invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1: A first embodiment of the control system according to the invention. Fig. 2: A second embodiment of the control system according to the invention.

[0031] Fig. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the control system 1 according to the invention. The control system 1 serves to operate a blind, by means of which a building opening such as a window or a door can be covered and protected against sunlight.

[0032] The blind comprises a slat assembly 2 with an arrangement of identically designed slats 3 extending in a horizontal direction. The slat assembly 2 can be moved by means of the control system 1 between an upper end position, in which the slats 3 are completely retracted and expose the building opening, and a lower end position, in which the slat assembly 2 is completely extended and covers the building opening.

[0033] The control system 1 comprises an electric drive 4, that is, an electric motor, which is controlled by a control unit 5. The control unit 5 can be a microprocessor or the like.

[0034] The electric drive 4 is mounted on a shaft 6. A rotary movement of the electric drive 4 is converted into a corresponding rotary movement of the shaft 6 about its longitudinal axis. At each longitudinal end of the shaft 6, there is a winding device 7 and a tilting device 8. Each winding device 7 winds or unwinds a pull cord 9, which is attached to the lowest slat 3, depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft 6. A suspension cord 10 is connected to each tilting device 8. By moving the suspension cord 10 using the tilting device 8, the inclination of the slats 3 can be adjusted.

[0035] The aforementioned components of the control system 1 are integrated in a box-shaped housing 11.

[0036] The lower end position of the lamella 3, in which it is fully extended, can be controlled via the control unit 5 by means of an electronic or mechanical counting device.

[0037] To monitor the upper end position, in which the lamella 3 is fully raised, a limit switch is provided which, according to the invention, is formed by a Hall sensor 12 generating analog signals and a magnet 13 associated with it.

[0038] The Hall sensor 12 is integrated into the electric drive 4. The magnet 13 is movably arranged relative to the Hall sensor 12. In the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. In 1, the magnet 13 is mounted on a plunger 14. The plunger 14 itself is movably mounted in the housing 11 in a vertical direction, with the plunger 14 projecting downwards beyond the housing 11.

[0039] The embodiment according to Fig. 2 differs from the embodiment according to Fig. 1 only by the fact that the magnet 13 is attached to the top of the uppermost lamella 3. The plunger 14 in the housing 11 is therefore omitted.

[0040] In both embodiments, the analog signal of the Hall sensor 12 is used in the control unit 5 to generate, on the one hand, a binary switching signal of the limit switch and, on the other hand, at least one additional output signal.

[0041] The switching states of the switching signal indicate whether the lamella arrangement 2 is in the upper end position or not.

[0042] In the embodiment according to Fig.As long as the upper end position of the lamella arrangement 2 has not yet been reached, the uppermost lamella 3 is still at a distance from the plunger 14, so that the plunger is not yet actuated. The distance of the magnet 13 on the plunger 14 to the Hall sensor 12 is therefore still greater than a limit distance that corresponds to the switching point, i.e., the transition between the switching states of the switching signal. In this case, the switching signal assumes the switching state "not actuated". As long as the switching signal is in this switching state, the power supply to the electric drive 4 by the control unit 5 is not interrupted, and the lamella arrangement 2 can be moved by means of the electric drive 4.

[0043] When the lamella assembly 2 retracts into its upper end position, in which it is fully raised, the uppermost lamella 3 presses against the plunger 14 and moves the magnet 13 towards the Hall sensor 12, causing the limit distance to be breached. The switching signal therefore changes to the "actuated" state. When this state is present, a control signal is generated in the control unit 5, which interrupts the power supply to the electric drive 4, thus preventing any hazardous movement of the lamella assembly 2 beyond its upper end position.

[0044] Depending on the signals from the Hall sensor 12, output signals are generated in the control unit 5 in addition to the switching signal.

[0045] In the control unit 5, position- and speed-dependent output signals are generated by evaluating the signals of the Hall sensor 12, which depend on the distance of the magnet 13 and its temporal progression; these can be used to specify the driving behavior of the lamella arrangement 2.

[0046] The position-dependent output signals are used for calibrating the switching point of the switching signal, in order to compensate, for example, for a change in the position of the uppermost lamella 3 in the upper end position of the lamella arrangement 2, which may be caused by a wear-related change in the length of the pull cord 9.

[0047] As a further output signal, the control unit 5 generates a control signal indicating whether magnet 13 is present. If magnet 13 is missing due to damage, the limit switch can no longer be used to check the upper end position. To nevertheless ensure the safe operation of the lamella assembly 2, an emergency mode is automatically initiated when the control unit 5 detects the absence of magnet 13. In this emergency mode, the lamella assembly 2 is only raised to a limited extent, so that the upper end position is no longer reached. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit 5 can generate a visual or audible warning signal to alert the user to the malfunction.

[0048] Another output signal can contain information about the installation position of the magnet 13. Depending on whether the north or south pole of the magnet 13 faces the Hall sensor 12, different signal waveforms result in the Hall sensor 12, and thus different values ​​of the output signal. Depending on the values ​​of this output signal, 5 different operating modes, in particular different profiles for the operation of the lamella arrangement 2, can be specified in the control unit. Reference symbol list 1 Control system 2 slat arrangement 3 slats 4 electric drive 5 Control unit 6 wave 7. Winding device 8 Tilting device 9 Pull cord 10 hanging cords 11 cases 12 Hall sensor 13 Magnet 14 pestles

Claims

[1] Control system (1) for a blind with an electric drive (4) controlled by a control unit (5), which is configured to raise or lower a slat arrangement (2) with parallel slats (3), and with a limit switch for detecting the fully raised positions of the slat arrangement (2), wherein the limit switch has a Hall sensor (12) and a magnet (13) which are arranged to be movable relative to each other, such that a binary switching signal and at least one further output signal are derived from analog signals generated by the Hall sensor (12), wherein the two switching states of the switching signal indicate whether the blind is in the fully raised position or not, characterized by , that an output signal indicates whether the magnet (13) is present or not, and / or that an output signal indicates the installation position of the magnet (13). [2] Control system according to claim 1, characterized by , that the Hall sensor (12) is integrated into the electric drive (4). [3] Control system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by , that the magnet (13) is integrated in a plunger (14) mounted at a distance from the electric drive (4), wherein when the lamella arrangement (2) is in its fully raised position, the plunger (14) is deflected by the uppermost lamella (3) in the direction of the electric drive (4). [4] Control system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by , that the magnet (13) is attached to the uppermost lamella (3) of the lamella arrangement (2). [5] Control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the switching signal and the output signal(s) are generated in the control unit (5). [6] Control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by, that depending on the or an output signal, the driving behavior of the lamella arrangement (2) is specified by the control unit (5). [7] Control system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that an output signal is designed as a position signal. [8] Control system according to claim 7, characterized by , that in the control unit (5) a calibration of the switching point of the switching signal defining the transition between the switching states is carried out depending on the output signal designed as a position signal. [9] Control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that an output signal is designed as a speed signal. [10] Control system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by, that the control unit (5) interrupts the power supply to the electric drive (4) when the switching signal assumes the switching state indicating the fully raised position of the lamella arrangement (2).

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