METHOD FOR ACTIVATING AND DEACTIVATING AN ENGINE SLEEP MODE

Abstract

Method for activating and deactivating a standby mode of a controller configured to receive instructions from a control device, the controller operating in two communication modes called standard mode and standby mode, which can be activated alternately, each mode performing a periodic detection of instruction reception, the controller remaining at rest between two detections, the detection periodicity of the standard mode being less than the detection periodicity of the standby mode.The method involves activating (300) standard mode during controller initialization; activating standby mode if the controller is associated with at least one control device and when no instructions are received for a predefined period (308) and the number of instructions received after extreme position recording is less than a predefined number; and reactivating standard mode if an exit instruction from standby mode is received while standby mode is activated. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 3.

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD FOR ACTIVATING AND DEACTIVATING A STANDBY MODE OF AN ENGINE Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motorized shutter devices and more particularly relates to the activation and deactivation of a standby mode. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] A shutter device, such as a roller shutter, is set in motion by means of a motor and a controller for such a motor. The motor and controller require electrical power to perform such movement. Powering the motor and controller using renewable energy sources is growing. For example, the motor and controller can be powered by photovoltaic elements or by a battery charged by the photovoltaic elements.

[0003] To ensure effective use of the motor upon installation of the shutter device, the battery is charged prior to installation of the shutter device, during assembly of the motor and controller to the battery, of the battery to the photovoltaic elements and of the motor and controller to a blackout element.

[0004] However, a storage and / or transport phase which takes place between the assembly of the motor and the controller to the battery and the occulting element and the installation of the shutter device may have variable durations depending on various factors linked to logistical constraints for example. It then happens that the duration of the storage and / or transport phase is long enough for the battery to discharge, which makes it impossible for a user to operate the motor, and therefore the shutter device, immediately upon installation. This results in an impossibility of verifying the proper functioning of the shutter device on the one hand. On the other hand, a battery recharge time is necessary so that the shutter device can operate again.

[0005] It is then desirable to overcome these drawbacks of the state of the art.

[0006] It is particularly desirable to provide a solution that reduces battery consumption between the assembly of the motor and controller to the battery and the installation of the shutter device while allowing easy and responsive operation of the shutter device upon installation. It is particularly desirable to provide a simple and automatic solution that limits the number of additional steps during the assembly of the motor and controller to the battery. Statement of the invention

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a method of activating and deactivating activating a standby mode of a controller, the motor being intended to drive an occulting element up and down, the controller being configured to receive instructions from a control device and to apply commands to the motor. The controller comprises a radio interface operating in two communication modes, called standard mode and standby mode, which can be activated alternately. The controller commands the radio interface, for each communication mode, a periodic detection of receipt of instructions, the controller and the radio interface remaining at rest between two detections when no instruction is received. The detection periodicity of the standard mode is less than the detection periodicity of the standby mode.The method is implemented by the controller and comprises the steps of: activating the standard mode during an initialization of the controller; activating the standby mode if the controller is associated with at least one control device and when no instruction is received for a predefined duration and a number of instructions received after a recording of extreme positions of the occulting element is less than a predefined number; and reactivating the standard mode if an instruction to exit the standby mode is received when the standby mode is activated.

[0008] Thus, the implementation of a sleep mode allows to reduce the battery consumption and the activation of the sleep mode is done automatically when no instruction is received for a predefined period. In addition, the sleep mode can be easily deactivated in order to increase the responsiveness of the controller during an installation.

[0009] According to a particular embodiment, the method further comprises reactivating the standard mode if the controller is powered up again after a shutdown when the standby mode is activated.

[0010] Thus, it is possible to reactivate the standard mode when the control device is not found.

[0011] According to a particular embodiment, the method further comprises blocking the activation of the standby mode if the standard mode is reactivated after the activation of the standby mode.

[0012] According to a particular embodiment, the method further comprises blocking the activation of the standby mode when a number of instructions received after recording extreme positions of the occulting element reaches the predefined number.

[0013] Thus, activation of the standby mode is prevented after installation, which makes it possible to avoid a malfunction during use, for example when a storage and / or delivery phase is less than the predefined duration.

[0014] According to a particular embodiment, the instruction to exit standby mode comprises a frame comprising a preamble followed by a data field, the preamble being of a duration greater than the predefined duration.

[0015] The invention also relates to a method for stopping a standby mode, the method being implemented by a control device configured to issue instructions to a controller of a motor intended to drive an occulting element up and down, the instructions possibly being instructions of a first type and instructions of a second type, the preamble of each frame of an instruction of the first type being of shorter duration than the preamble of each frame of an instruction of the second type. The method comprises: issuing an instruction of the second type when the instruction is an instruction to exit from standby mode; and issuing an instruction of the first type otherwise.

[0016] The invention also relates to a controller of a motor intended to drive an occulting element up and down, the controller being configured to receive instructions from a control device and to apply commands to the motor, the controller comprising a radio interface operating in two communication modes, called standard mode and standby mode, which can be activated alternately, the controller commanding the radio interface, for each communication mode, a periodic detection of reception of instructions, the controller and the radio interface remaining at rest between two detections when no instruction is received.The detection periodicity of the standard mode is less than the detection periodicity of the standby mode, and the controller comprises means for: activating the standard mode during an initialization of the controller; activating the standby mode if the controller is associated with at least one control device and when no instruction is received for a predefined duration and a number of instructions received after a recording of extreme positions of the occulting element is less than a predefined number; and reactivating the standard mode if an instruction to exit the standby mode is received when the standby mode is activated.

[0017] The invention also relates to a system comprising a shutter device and comprising such a controller in any of its embodiments.

[0018] The invention also relates to a control device configured to transmit instructions to a controller of a motor intended to drive an occulting element up and down, the control device comprising means for transmitting instructions of a first type and instructions of a second type, the preamble of each frame of an instruction of the first type being of shorter duration than the preamble of each frame of an instruction of the second type, the control device comprising means for: transmitting an instruction of the second type when the instruction is an instruction to exit standby mode; and transmitting an instruction of the first type otherwise.

[0019] The invention also relates to a computer program that can be stored on a medium and / or downloaded from a communication network, in order to be read by a processor. This computer program comprises instructions for implementing the above-mentioned method in any of its embodiments, when said computer program is executed by the processor.

[0020] The invention also relates to an information storage medium storing such a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the above-mentioned method in any of its embodiments when said computer program is read from said storage medium and executed by the processor. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of at least one exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the attached drawings, among which:

[0022] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a motorized shutter device for a bay comprising a motor controlled by a controller;

[0023] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates an example of hardware architecture of the controller;

[0024] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates steps of an activation and deactivation algorithm activation of a controller sleep mode;

[0025] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates steps of the algorithm for activating and deactivating the controller's sleep mode.

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0027] [Fig.l] thus schematically illustrates a motorized closing device 100 for a bay which is intended to be installed in a shutter box of a building, said shutter box being located above the bay to be closed. The motorized closing device 100 comprises a concealing element 106 such as an apron, a canvas or a screen and drive means consisting of a motor 103 and a winding tube 104, the drive means being intended to drive the concealing element 106 up and down.

[0028] The motor 103 is for example coaxial with the winding tube 104 and is arranged inside said winding tube 104. The fixing of the occulting element 106 on the winding tube 104 is carried out using a flexible or rigid locking device. The winding tube 104 is driven in rotation by the motor 103 and then causes the raising or lowering of the occulting element 106 depending on whether the direction of rotation of the winding tube 104 generates the winding or unwinding of the occulting element 106 around the winding tube 104.

[0029] Generally, the occulting element 106 consists of slats fixed to each other so as to present a space between them.

[0030] The motor 103 is controlled by a controller 200 (shown in [Fig.2]) which allows to send commands to rotate the motor 103 in a first direction or in a second direction opposite to the first, so as to cause the occulting element 100 to rise or fall, and commands to stop the rotation of the motor 103. The motor 103 and the controller 200 are electrically powered by a battery.

[0031] The controller 200 receives instructions from a control device 120 via a communication link 121 of a communication network. The control device 120 is a transmitter such as a dedicated box or a remote control, configured to transmit instructions to the controller 200. The transmission of an instruction results from an action executed by a user. The control device 120 thus allows the user to generate the transmission of instructions to the controller 200 of the motor 103. For example, each instruction is associated with a key or a combination of predefined keys on which the user presses to generate said instruction.

[0032] The controller 200 comprises a communication interface 214 (shown in [Fig. 2]), such as a radio interface, operating alternately in two communication modes. The controller 200 can alternately activate each of the two communication modes. The controller 200 commands the communication interface 214, for each communication mode, to periodically detect the reception of instructions. In other words, in each of the two communication modes, the controller 200 periodically listens for new messages in order to determine whether an instruction is received. Detection means making the communication interface 214 (shown in [Fig. 2]) of the controller 200 operational in order to communicate with the control device 120. When instructions are detected, the controller 200 and the communication interface are awake.The controller 200 and the communication interface 214 remain idle between two detections when no message is received, which saves energy. Idle means putting the communication interface 214 and the controller 200 to sleep. The power consumption of the controller 200 at idle is thus reduced compared to the power consumption of the controller 200 when the controller is listening for new messages.

[0033] When a message is received, the controller 200 keeps the communication interface 214 operational until said message is completely received and then returns to idle.

[0034] The detection periodicity, defined between two successive detection instants, varies according to the activated communication mode. According to a first communication mode, called standard mode, the detection periodicity is sufficiently short to allow high responsiveness of the controller 200. For example, the detection periodicity of the standard mode is of the order of a few tens of milliseconds. According to a second communication mode, called standby mode, the detection periodicity is longer, for example example of the order of one second. When the controller 200 activates the sleep mode, the responsiveness of the controller 200 is therefore lower but the energy consumption is reduced due to the longer detection periodicity than in standard mode.

[0035] Thus, when the motorized shutter device 100 is in a storage and / or transport phase between assembly and installation phases, activating the standby mode makes it possible to reduce energy consumption and to extend the duration during which the battery remains charged. For example, when the shutter device is not in use, the battery discharges between 2 and 4 months if the standard mode is activated and discharges after 6 months when the standby mode is activated.

[0036] [Fig. 2] schematically illustrates an example of hardware architecture of the controller 200. The controller 200 then comprises, connected by a communication bus 220: a processor or CPU (Central Processing Unit) 210; a random access memory (RAM) 211; a read only memory (ROM) 212; a storage unit or a storage media reader, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) 213; and the communication interface 214 allowing communication with the control device 120 and allowing commands to be sent to the motor 103.

[0037] The processor 210 is capable of executing instructions loaded into the RAM 211 from the ROM 212, from an external memory (not shown), from a storage medium, or from a communication network. When the controller 200 is powered on, the processor 210 is capable of reading instructions from the RAM 211 and executing them. These instructions form a computer program causing the processor 210 to implement all or part of the algorithms and steps described below in relation to the controller 200.

[0038] Thus, all or part of the algorithms and steps described below in relation to the controller 200 can be implemented in software form by executing a set of instructions by a programmable machine, such as a DSP (“Digital Signal Processor”) or a microcontroller, or in hardware form by a machine or a dedicated component, such as an FPGA (“Field-Programmable Gate Array”) or an ASIC (“Application-Specific Integrated Circuit”).

[0039] The control device 120 comprises a hardware architecture similar to that of the controller 200. The communication interface of the control device 120 makes it possible to communicate with the controller 200 and also makes it possible to receive orders resulting from actions carried out by a user.

[0040] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates steps of an algorithm for activating and deactivating the sleep mode of the controller 200, implemented by the controller 200.

[0041] In a first step 300, the standard mode is activated during an initialization of the controller 200. This is the case for example when the controller 200 is powered up. when connecting the 200 controller to the battery. If the 200 controller is already initialized and standard mode is already enabled, then standard mode remains enabled.

[0042] In a following step 302, the controller 200 determines whether at least one control device 120 is associated with the controller 200. A control device 120 is associated with the controller 200 when the controller 200 is capable of identifying that an instruction received from the control device 120 is addressed to it. If this is the case, a step 304 is performed. Otherwise, the controller 200 returns to step 300.

[0043] In step 304, the controller 200 initializes a variable n to zero. The variable n is used to count a number of instructions received by the controller 200.

[0044] In a following step 306, the controller 200 initializes a time counter C at an initial instant, for example t0. The initial instant, when step 306 is performed for the first time by the controller 200, corresponds to an instant of association between the at least one control device 120 and the controller 200. The initial instant, when step 306 is performed after a step 318, corresponds to an instant of a previous stop of the engine 103.

[0045] In a following step 308, the controller 200 determines whether the time counter C is greater than a predefined duration At. The predefined duration At is much greater than the periodicity of detection of the standby mode and is for example between 24h and 72h. If this is the case, the method continues at a step A, described below in [Fig.4]. Otherwise, the controller 200 goes to a step 310.

[0046] In step 310, the controller 200 determines whether any stop positions are stored by the controller 200. A stop position is an extreme position that the occulting element 106 can reach when the occulting element 106 rises or falls. There are two stop positions: the low position and the high position. If so, a step 312 is performed. Otherwise, a step 318 is performed.

[0047] In step 312, the controller 200 determines whether an instruction is received from an associated control device 120. If so, a step 314 is performed; otherwise, step 318 is performed.

[0048] In step 314, the controller 200 increments the variable n. The variable n thus makes it possible to determine the number of instructions received by the controller 200 from the association between the at least one control device 120 and the controller 200.

[0049] In a following step 316, the controller 200 determines whether the variable n is equal to a predefined number N. The predefined number N corresponds to a maximum number of instructions sent after the memorization of the stop positions, in a phase of assembly of the motor 103 and the controller 200 to the battery and to the occulting element 106 for example, and which corresponds to a number of tests carried out to verify the operation of the shutter device 100. The predefined number A is preferably greater than or equal to 3 and for example equal to 8. When the variable n reaches the predefined number N, the controller 200 considers that the shutter device 100 is installed even if the standby mode has not been activated. A step B, described below in [Fig.4], is then carried out. Otherwise, step 318 is carried out.

[0050] In step 318, the controller 200 determines whether a rotation command is applied to the motor 103 or has been applied to the motor 103 since the previous initialization of the time counter C in step 308. Otherwise, if no rotation command is applied to the motor 103, the controller 200 returns to step 308.

[0051] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates steps of the algorithm for activating and deactivating the sleep mode of the controller 200.

[0052] In step A, the controller 200 proceeds to a step 400. In step B, the controller 200 proceeds to a step 408.

[0053] In step 400, the controller 200 activates the standby mode. In other words, the controller 200 switches from standard mode to standby mode. The standard mode is therefore deactivated.

[0054] Thus, the controller 200 can activate the standby mode automatically as soon as no instruction or no movement of the motor 103 is detected for a period of time equal to the predefined duration At. The controller 200 then considers that the assembly phase is finished and that the sealing device is in a storage and / or transport phase, awaiting the installation phase.

[0055] In a following step 402, the controller 200 determines whether an instruction to exit standby mode is received from an associated control device 120. Each frame of the exit instruction comprises a preamble of duration at least equal to the periodicity of detection of the standby mode, making it possible to ensure that the exit instruction is actually received by the controller 200 whose standby mode is activated. The preamble is followed by a data field. Thus, the controller 200 can keep its communication interface 214 operational when it detects a preamble in order to receive the data field of the frame.

[0056] The duration of the preamble of the output instruction is greater than the duration of the preamble of a standard type instruction, a standard type instruction comprising for example up, down or stop instructions. The duration of the preamble of a standard type instruction is of the order of the detection periodicity of the standard mode and is thus sufficiently short to maintain high responsiveness of the controller 200 when the standard mode is activated. The control device 120 is therefore capable of modifying the duration of the preamble of a frame dynamically according to the type of instruction sent.

[0057] If an instruction to exit sleep mode is received, a step 406 is performed. Otherwise, the controller 200 performs a step 404.

[0058] In step 404, the controller 200 determines whether the controller 200 is powered back on after being powered off. If so, step 406 is performed. Otherwise, the controller returns to step 400.

[0059] In step 406, the controller 200 deactivates the standby mode and reactivates the standard mode. The controller 200 then proceeds to step 408.

[0060] Thus, the controller 200 can easily and quickly reactivate the standard mode by receiving an instruction to exit standby mode. A user can then easily use the shutter device 100 upon installation by executing an action dedicated to deactivating the standby mode, and corresponding for example to pressing a predefined key combination on the control device 120.

[0061] Furthermore, in the event of loss of the control device 120, the user can manually disconnect and reconnect the battery in order to reactivate the standard mode. Disconnecting and then reconnecting the battery causes the motor 103 to stop and then be powered up again. This makes it possible to use the shutter device 100 despite the absence of the control device 120.

[0062] In step 408, the controller 200 applies a prohibition on activation of the standby mode, in other words blocks the activation of the standby mode. For example, the controller 200 records in memory information representative of the prohibition on activation of the standby mode. This makes it possible, if the controller 200 is switched off and then switched back on, to ensure that the controller 200 remains at step 408 and does not return to step 300. In other words, when the controller reaches steps 406 and 408, the method is finished and cannot start again.

[0063] Thus, activation of the standby mode is prevented after installation of the shutter device 100, thereby preventing malfunction of the shutter device 100 during use.

[0064] According to one embodiment, it is however possible to send an instruction to return to standby mode by the control device 120. For example, a user can perform a predefined key combination specific to the instruction to return to standby mode, said combination being more complex than key combinations making it possible to send usual instructions such as raising, lowering or stopping the occulting element 106. The instruction to return to standby mode can be used exceptionally in an assembly phase.

[0065] Furthermore, when the storage and / or transport phase is less than the predefined duration At, the standby mode is not activated. Successive motion detections cause the time counter C to be reset, and the variable n reaches the predefined number N before the time counter C can reach the predefined duration At. Activation of the standby mode is then prevented. It is thus possible to avoid activation of the standby mode between the assembly and installation phases when the storage and / or transport phase is short, and in particular less than the predefined duration At.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for activating and deactivating a standby mode of a controller (200) of a motor (103), the motor (103) being intended to drive an occulting element (106) up and down, the controller (200) being configured to receive instructions from a control device (120) and to apply commands to the motor (103), the controller (200) comprising a radio interface operating in two communication modes, called standard mode and standby mode, which can be activated alternately, the controller (200) commanding the radio interface, for each communication mode, a periodic detection of reception of instructions, the controller and the radio interface remaining at rest between two detections when no instruction is received, the method being characterized in that the detection periodicity of the standard mode is less than the detection periodicity of the standby mode,the method being implemented by the controller and comprising the steps of: - Activating (300) the standard mode during an initialization of the controller (200), - Activating (400) the standby mode if the controller (200) is associated with at least one control device (120) and when no instruction is received for a predefined duration and a number of instructions received after a recording of extreme positions of the occulting element is less than a predefined number (N), and - Reactivating (406) the standard mode if an instruction to exit the standby mode is received when the standby mode is activated.,

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising (406) reactivating the standard mode if the controller is powered back on (404) after a shutdown when the sleep mode is activated.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising blocking (408) the activation of the standby mode if the standard mode is reactivated after the activation of the standby mode.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising blocking (408) the activation of the standby mode when a number of instructions received after a recording of extreme positions of the occulting element reaches (306) the predefined number (N).

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the instruction to exit standby mode comprises a frame comprising a preamble followed by a data field, the preamble being of a duration greater than the predefined duration.

6. Method for stopping a standby mode, the method being implemented by a control device (120) configured to transmit instructions to a controller (200) of a motor (103) intended to drive an occulting element (106) up and down, the instructions possibly being instructions of a first type and instructions of a second type, the preamble of each frame of an instruction of the first type being of shorter duration than the preamble of each frame of an instruction of the second type, the method comprising: - transmitting an instruction of the second type when the instruction is an instruction to exit the standby mode, and - transmitting an instruction of the first type otherwise.

7. Controller (200) of a motor (103) intended to drive an occulting element (106) up and down, the controller (200) being configured to receive instructions from a control device (120) and to apply commands to the motor, the controller (200) comprising a radio interface operating in two communication modes, called standard mode and standby mode, which can be activated alternately, the controller commanding the radio interface, for each communication mode, a periodic detection of reception of instructions, the controller and the radio interface remaining at rest between two detections when no instruction is received, the controller (200) being characterized in that the detection periodicity of the standard mode is less than the detection periodicity of the standby mode, and in that the controller (200) comprises means for: - Activating (300) the standard mode during an initialization of the controller,- Activate (400) the standby mode if the controller (200) is associated with at least one control device and when no instruction is received for a predefined duration and a number of instructions received after a recording of extreme positions of the occulting element is less than a number, predefined (N), and - Reactivate (406) standard mode if an exit instruction from sleep mode is received when sleep mode is activated.

8. A system comprising a shutter device (100) and the controller of claim 7.

9. System according to claim 8 and further comprising a control device (120) configured to transmit instructions to the controller (200) of the motor (103) intended to drive the occulting element (106) up and down, the control device (120) comprising means for transmitting instructions of a first type and instructions of a second type, the preamble of each frame of an instruction of the first type being of shorter duration than the preamble of each frame of an instruction of the second type, the control device comprising means for: - transmitting an instruction of the second type when the instruction is an instruction to exit standby mode, and - transmitting an instruction of the first type otherwise.

10. Computer program product that can be stored on a medium and / or downloaded from a communication network, in order to be read by a processor, and characterized in that it comprises instructions for implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 6, when said computer program is executed by the processor.

11. An information storage medium storing a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 6 when said computer program is read from said storage medium and executed by the processor.

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