Electric shielding system

Abstract

This invention provides an electric shielding system that reduces the effort required to set up multiple electric shielding devices. [Solution] According to the present invention, an electric shielding system is provided comprising a plurality of electric shielding devices and a remote control device, wherein each electric shielding device comprises a control unit and a shielding material, the control unit is configured to electrically move the shielding material in accordance with a command via wireless communication from the remote control device, and the electric shielding system includes a first pairing mode, in which the remote control device and the electric shielding device are configured to initiate pairing by operating a switch provided on the electric shielding device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a motorized shielding system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a motorized shielding system that controls a plurality of motorized shielding devices using a single remote controller. In this system, each motorized shielding device returns its own ID in response to a response request from the remote controller, and the remote controller is configured to sequentially register the received IDs in a pairing list. The system is configured such that the motorized shielding devices can be sequentially selected in the order registered in the pairing list to perform settings for each motorized shielding device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the system of Patent Document 1, since the IDs of the motorized shielding devices are registered in the pairing list in the order received by the remote controller, the registration order in the pairing list does not match the order of the physical arrangement of the motorized shielding devices. For this reason, it is not possible to perform settings for a plurality of motorized shielding devices by a procedure such as sequentially performing settings for a plurality of motorized shielding devices arranged in a horizontal row from the left, and depending on the arrangement of the plurality of motorized shielding devices, the setting work may take time and effort.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a motorized shielding system capable of reducing the labor of setting a plurality of motorized shielding devices.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention provides the following: [1] An electric shielding system comprising a plurality of electric shielding devices and a remote control device, wherein each electric shielding device comprises a control unit and a shielding material, the control unit is configured to electrically move the shielding material in accordance with a command via wireless communication from the remote control device, and the electric shielding system comprises a first pairing mode, in which the remote control device and the electric shielding device are configured to initiate pairing by operating a switch provided on the electric shielding device. An electrically operated shielding system as described in [2][1], wherein the electrically operated shielding device is configured to register, in first pairing, a control device ID which is an identifier for the remote control device and a group ID which is an identifier for the group. An electric shielding system according to [3] [1] or [2], wherein the electric shielding system comprises a second pairing mode, and in the second pairing mode, the remote control device and the electric shielding device are configured to initiate pairing by operating a switch provided on the remote control device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In the electric shielding system of the present invention, pairing can be initiated by operating a switch provided on the electric shielding device, making it possible to pair multiple electric shielding devices in any order. For this reason, it is possible to set up multiple electric shielding devices, for example, by setting them up from left to right when they are arranged in a row, thus reducing the effort required to set up multiple electric shielding devices. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] The configuration of the electric shielding system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown. [Figure 2]This block diagram shows the configuration of the control unit 2a of the electric shielding device 2, the control unit 4j of the operation remote control 4, the control unit 6c of the relay device 6, and the control unit 5d of the mobile terminal 5 in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3A is a front view of an electric roller screen 9, which is an example of an electric shielding device 2. Figure 3B is a perspective view of the upper right portion of Figure 3A, viewed from diagonally below. [Figure 4] This is a detailed view of the operation remote control 4 in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5A is a perspective view of the headbox 2e and the components arranged inside it of the electric roller screen 9 shown in Figure 3. Figure 5B is an exploded view of Figure 5A. [Figure 6] Figure 6A is a perspective view of the same area as in Figure 5A, but from a different angle. Figure 6B is an exploded view of Figure 6A. [Figure 7] Figure 7A is a plan view of the area shown in Figure 5A. Figure 7B is a cross-sectional view of BB in Figure 7A, and Figure 7C is a cross-sectional view of CC in Figure 7A. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of the fixing pin 2h1. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view of an electric vertical blind 10, which is an electric shielding device 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 10A is a left side view of the headbox 2e and the components located inside it of the motorized vertical blind 10 shown in Figure 9. Hatching has been added to the headbox 2e and drive shaft 10a to improve visibility. Figure 10B is a perspective view of the same area as in Figure 10A. [Figure 11] Figure 10B is an exploded perspective view. [Figure 12] The mobile terminal 5 shows an operation screen 5b in which an opening / closing slide bar 5c1 and an angle adjustment slide bar 5c6 are arranged side by side. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Various characteristic matters shown in the embodiments described below can be combined with each other. In addition, an invention can be established independently for each characteristic matter. Furthermore, among the following embodiments, elements not defined in the claims are optional elements and can be omitted.

[0010] 1. First Embodiment An electrically operated shading system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8.

[0011] 1-1. Configuration of Electrically Operated Shading System 1 As shown in Figure 1, the electrically operated shading system 1 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of electrically operated shading devices 2 and a remote control device 3. Hereinafter, each configuration will be described in detail. The term "user" in the following description refers to a person related to the installation or use of the electrically operated shading system 1, and the installer of the electrically operated shading system 1 is also included in the "user".

[0012] <Electrically Operated Shading Device 2> The number of electrically operated shading devices 2 included in the electrically operated shading system 1 is not limited. In the present embodiment, the description is given by taking the case where the number of electrically operated shading devices 2 is 4 as an example, but the number may be less than 4 or more than 4. Further, the number of electrically operated shading devices 2 can be made larger than the number of groups that can be set by the remote control device 3. For example, when 8 groups can be set by the remote control device 3, the number of electrically operated shading devices 2 can be 9 or more.

[0013] The electrically operated shading device 2 is a shading device configured to electrically move a shading member 2b. The electrically operated shading device 2 is preferably an electrically operated solar shading device configured to be capable of controlling the amount of solar radiation entering through a window of a building such as a building, but may be one used for the purpose of partitioning a space inside a building.

[0014] The power source of the motorized shading device 2 is not limited, and may be a battery 2f or a commercial power supply. In the present embodiment, the battery 2f is disposed inside the headbox 2e that supports the shading member 2b, and the motorized shading device 2 is configured to be operable by power supply from the battery 2f.

[0015] The motorized shading device 2 includes a control unit 2a and a shading member 2b. The control unit 2a controls the operation of the motorized shading device 2. The control unit 2a can be implemented by an electronic circuit provided on a control board. The same applies to the control units of other devices. The control unit 2a is configured to electrically move the shading member 2b in accordance with a command from a control device. Preferably, the control unit 2a is configured to electrically move the shading member 2b in accordance with a command via wireless communication from the remote control device 3, but in an invention from the perspective where wireless communication is not essential, the control unit 2a may be configured to electrically move the shading member 2b in accordance with a command via wired communication from a control device. "Wireless communication" refers to non-wired communication, and examples of wireless communication include infrared communication using infrared rays, RF communication using a high-frequency carrier wave, and the like. Examples of RF communication include communication conforming to the WiFi standard and the Bluetooth standard.

[0016] The command from the remote control device 3 is, for example, a command to move the shading member 2b of the motorized shading device 2. The shading member 2b can be opened and closed as the shading member 2b moves. Types of movement include translation (e.g., lifting / lowering, left-right movement) and tilting. For example, when the motorized shading device 2 is a motorized roller screen, a motorized Roman shade, or a motorized pleated screen, the command is a command to lift and lower the shading member 2b. When the motorized shading device 2 is a motorized horizontal blind, the command is a command to lift / lower or tilt the shading member (slat) 3a. When the motorized shading device 2 is a motorized vertical blind, the command is a command to move the shading member (slat) 3a left and right or to tilt it.

[0017] The electric shielding device 2 preferably includes a motor 2c. It is preferable that the control unit 2a rotates the motor 2c to move the shielding material 2b. Preferably, the electric shielding device 2 is a lift-up type electric shielding device, and the control unit 2a is configured to rotate the motor 2c to raise and lower the shielding material 2b. Examples of lift-up type electric shielding devices include electric roller screens, electric tuck-up curtains, electric pleated screens, and electric horizontal blinds.

[0018] As shown in Figure 2, the control unit 2a comprises a CPU 2a1, a storage unit 2a2, and a communication unit 2a3. Various functions of the control unit 2a are realized by the CPU 2a1 executing programs stored in the storage unit 2a2. The storage unit 2a2 can also store various data used by the control unit 2a. The communication unit 2a3 has the function of enabling wireless communication with the remote control device 3.

[0019] As shown in Figure 3B, the motorized shielding device 2 is provided with a pairing switch 2d that can initiate pairing with the remote control device 3. Pairing with the remote control device 3 can be initiated by operating the pairing switch 2d (e.g., by pressing and holding it). Preferably, the pairing switch 2d is not a switch that turns the main power of the motorized shielding device 2 ON / OFF. Details of the pairing process will be described later.

[0020] In one example, the electric shielding device 2 is an electric roller screen 9. The electric roller screen 9 comprises a control unit 2a, a motor 2c, a winding pipe 9a, and a screen 9b. The screen 9b is configured to be able to be wound onto and unwound by the winding pipe 9a in accordance with the rotational drive of the motor 2c. The screen 9b moves up and down in accordance with this winding and unwinding. A weight bar 9f is provided at the lower end of the screen 9b.

[0021] More specifically, the electric roller screen 9 comprises a pair of side brackets 9d and a motor unit 9e. The pair of side brackets 9d are attached to both ends of the headbox 2e. The motor unit 9e is supported by the side brackets 9d. The winding pipe 9a is supported by the motor unit 9e. The motor unit 9e includes a motor support section 9e1 that supports the motor 2c. The motor support section 9e1 is supported by the side brackets 9d. An encoder (not shown) is mounted on the motor support section 9e1. The amount of rotation of the winding pipe 9a can be detected by the encoder. The pairing switch 2d is located on the motor support section 9e1 in a position that can be pressed from below, making it easy to press when starting pairing.

[0022] <Remote control device 3> The remote control device 3 is a device configured to control the operation of the electric shielding device 2 by giving commands to the electric shielding device 2 via wireless communication.

[0023] Examples of remote control devices 3 include an operation remote control 4 having an operation unit 4c for inputting commands to move the shielding material 2b, and a relay device 6 that relays commands from an operation unit 5c provided on a mobile terminal 5 such as a smartphone. The operation unit may consist of physical keys, soft keys configured by software, or be configured to allow voice input.

[0024] It is preferable that the mobile terminal 5 and the relay device 6 are configured to communicate wirelessly. The mobile terminal 5 and the relay device 6 may be configured to communicate wirelessly without the need for another device, or they may be configured to communicate wirelessly via another device such as a WiFi router 7 or a cloud server 8.

[0025] • Remote control 4 As shown in Figure 4, the remote control 4 comprises a case 4a, a group selection unit 4b, and an operation unit 4c. The group selection unit 4b includes a group selection button 4b1, a favorite button 4b2, and an ALL button 4b3. The operation unit 4c includes a first tilt button 4c1, a second tilt button 4c2, an OPEN button 4c3, a CLOSE button 4c4, and a STOP button 4c5. The remote control 4 can be operated by battery power.

[0026] The group selection button 4b1 is used to select a group of electric shielding devices 2. The operation remote control 4 is provided with multiple (eight in this embodiment) group selection buttons 4b1, and a group can be selected by pressing the group selection button 4b1 corresponding to the group you wish to select. One or more electric shielding devices 2 can be registered to each group, and each electric shielding device 2 can be associated with one or more groups. The favorite button 4b2 is assigned to the desired group. The ALL button 4b3 is assigned to a group that controls all electric shielding devices 2.

[0027] The first tilt button 4c1 rotates the slat in one direction, and the second tilt button 4c2 rotates the slat in the other direction. The OPEN button 4c3 moves the shielding material 2b in the open direction, and the CLOSE button 4c4 moves the shielding material 2b in the closed direction. The STOP button 4c5 stops the movement of the shielding material 2b.

[0028] The basic functions of the various buttons included in the operation remote control 4 are as described above, but depending on the situation, other functions may be assigned to these buttons. For example, pressing the STOP button 4c5 may be used to confirm pairing registration.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, the remote control 4 includes a control unit 4j. The control unit 4j controls the operation of the remote control 4. The control unit 4j includes a CPU 4j1, a memory unit 4j2, and a communication unit 4j3. Various functions of the control unit 4j are realized by the CPU 4j1 executing a program stored in the memory unit 4j2. The memory unit 4j2 can also store various data used by the control unit 4j. The communication unit 4j3 has the function of enabling wireless communication with the motorized shielding device 2. The control unit 4j can issue commands to the motorized shielding device 2 based on input from the operation unit 4c.

[0030] • Relay device 6 As shown in Figure 1, the relay device 6 comprises a case 6a and an operating unit 6b. The operating unit 6b includes a pairing switch 6b1 and a DIP switch 6b2. The DIP switch 6b2 includes a plurality of (eight in this embodiment) slide switches, and a group can be selected by turning on the slide switch corresponding to the group to be selected. The pairing switch 6b1 can be used to start and complete pairing, and its details will be described later.

[0031] As shown in Figure 2, the relay device 6 includes a control unit 6c. The control unit 6c controls the operation of the relay device 6. The control unit 6c includes a CPU 6c1, a storage unit 6c2, a first communication unit 6c3, and a second communication unit 6c4. Various functions of the control unit 6c are realized by the CPU 6c1 executing a program stored in the storage unit 6c2. The storage unit 6c2 can also store various data used by the control unit 6c. The first communication unit 6c3 has the function of enabling wireless communication with the electric shielding device 2. The second communication unit 6c4 has the function of enabling wireless communication with the mobile terminal 5. In this way, the relay device 6 is able to relay commands from the mobile terminal 5 by having two communication units.

[0032] • Mobile terminal 5 As shown in Figure 1, the mobile terminal 5 is a terminal configured to send commands to the motorized shielding device 2 via the relay device 6. Commands from the mobile terminal 5 may be configured to be sent to the relay device 6 via the cloud server 8, or they may be configured to be sent to the relay device 6 without going through the cloud server 8. In addition, the mobile terminal 5 and the cloud server 8 may communicate wirelessly with the relay device 6 via the WiFi router 7. Communication between the relay device 6 and the WiFi router 7 may be wired or wireless. Communication between the cloud server 8 and the WiFi router 7 may be wired or wireless.

[0033] The mobile terminal 5 is preferably configured to allow the installation of applications, such as a smartphone, and the electric shielding device 2 can be operated by installing an application for operating the electric shielding device 2 (hereinafter referred to as the "operation app"). The operation app may be one that can operate only on the mobile terminal 5, or it may be a cloud app that can operate in conjunction with the cloud server 8.

[0034] The operating application allows registration of the electric shielding device 2 included in the electric shielding system 1, and the registered electric shielding device 2 can be operated using the operating application. The electric shielding device 2 may be registered in the memory unit 5d2 of the mobile terminal 5, or in the memory unit (not shown) of the cloud server 8.

[0035] Figure 1 shows an example of the operation screen 5b displayed on the display 5e of the mobile terminal 5. The operation screen 5b is equipped with an operation unit 5c. The operation unit 5c includes an opening / closing slide bar 5c1, a favorite button 5c2, an OPEN button 5c3, a CLOSE button 5c4, and a STOP button 5c5. The shielding material 2b can be opened and closed by operating the opening / closing slide bar 5c1 with a finger or the like. The functions of the favorite button 5c2, OPEN button 5c3, CLOSE button 5c4, and STOP button 5c5 are the same as those of the operation remote control 4. Therefore, the operation screen 5b is particularly easy to use for people who are familiar with operating the operation remote control 4.

[0036] The mobile terminal 5 includes a control unit 5d. The control unit 5d controls the operation of the mobile terminal 5. The control unit 5d includes a CPU 5d1, a storage unit 5d2, and a communication unit 5d3. Various functions of the control unit 5d are realized by the CPU 5d1 executing a program stored in the storage unit 5d2 or the cloud server 8. The storage unit 5d2 can also store various data used by the control unit 5d. The communication unit 5d3 has the function of enabling wireless communication with the relay device 6. Based on input from the operation unit 5c, the control unit 5d can issue commands to the motorized shielding device 2 via the relay device 6.

[0037] 1-2. Pairing of the electric shielding device 2 and the remote control device 3 Pairing is a procedure that enables the control of the electric shielding device 2 by the remote control device 3. Pairing is usually performed when the electric shielding device 2 is installed, but it may also be performed before or after the installation of the electric shielding device 2. Preferably, pairing involves storing the control device ID, which is the identifier of the remote control device 3, in the electric shielding device 2. Pairing may also involve storing the shielding device ID, which is the identifier of the electric shielding device 2, in the remote control device 3, but this is not required. As an identifier, for example, the MAC address of the communication module can be used, but any identifier that uniquely identifies both the electric shielding device 2 and the remote control device 3 can be used.

[0038] The electric shielding system 1 of this embodiment includes a first pairing mode (also referred to as "easy registration mode") and a second pairing mode (also referred to as "remote pairing mode"). In easy registration mode, the remote control device 3 and the electric shielding device 2 are configured so that pairing can be initiated by operating the pairing switch 2d (shown in Figure 3B) provided on the electric shielding device 2, making it possible to pair multiple electric shielding devices 2 in any order. For example, it becomes possible to configure multiple electric shielding devices 2 arranged in a row from left to right, thus reducing the effort required to configure multiple electric shielding devices 2.

[0039] In remote pairing mode, the remote control device 3 and the electric shielding device 2 are configured to initiate pairing by operating a switch on the remote control device 3. In this mode, pairing can be performed without operating a switch on the electric shielding device 2, thus reducing the effort required to set up the electric shielding device 2 in situations where operating the switch on the electric shielding device 2 is cumbersome. Thus, the electric shielding system 1 of this embodiment is provided with two pairing modes, which reduces the effort required to set up the electric shielding device 2 in various situations.

[0040] • Easy registration mode This section describes how to pair the electric shielding device 2 and the remote control device 3 using the easy registration mode. The following description is an example of the pairing procedure using the easy registration mode, and pairing may be performed using a different procedure.

[0041] In the easy registration mode, the remote control unit 3 and the electric shielding device 2 begin pairing by operating a switch provided on the electric shielding device 2. Specifically, pairing begins when the user operates (e.g., long-presses) the pairing switch 2d on the electric shielding device 2.

[0042] When the pairing switch 2d is operated, the motorized shielding device 2 transmits a "pairing start signal" without specifying a partner. The pairing start signal includes the shielding device ID of the motorized shielding device 2 that transmitted the signal. Once pairing has started, the motorized shielding device 2 may be made to indicate that pairing has started by blinking an LED or by other means. After transmitting the pairing start signal, the motorized shielding device 2 enters a standby state, waiting for a response from the remote control device 3.

[0043] When the remote control unit 3 receives a pairing start signal, it enters a standby state, waiting for user input. In this standby state, when the user selects a group to which they wish to register the motorized shielding device 2 to be paired and then performs the "Confirm" procedure, the remote control unit 3 transmits a "Pairing Response Signal" to the motorized shielding device 2 to be paired. The pairing response signal includes the control unit ID of the remote control unit 3 that transmitted the signal and the group ID, which is the identifier of the group. The group ID is, for example, a group number. The "Confirm" procedure can be performed by any means, for example, by operating a switch provided on the remote control unit 3, or by detecting the elapsed time of a predetermined period of time.

[0044] If the remote control device 3 is an operation remote control 4, for example, a group can be selected by operating the group selection button 4b1 and the "confirm" procedure can be performed by operating the STOP button 4c5. Since the command signal transmitted by the operation remote control 4 for controlling the electric shielding device 2 does not include the shielding device ID, the operation remote control 4 does not need to store the shielding device ID during pairing. If the remote control device 3 is a relay device 6, for example, a group can be selected by operating the DIP switch 6b2 and the "confirm" procedure can be performed by operating the pairing switch 6b1. The command signal transmitted by the relay device 6 for controlling the electric shielding device 2 does not include the shielding device ID, but in bidirectional communication between the relay device 6 and the mobile terminal 5, the electric shielding device to be controlled is identified by the shielding device ID, so it is preferable that the shielding device ID is registered with the relay device 6.

[0045] When the motorized shielding device 2 receives a pairing response signal, it registers the control device ID and group ID in its memory unit. The motorized shielding device 2 may also notify the user that it has received the pairing response signal by moving the shielding material 2b or by emitting sound or light. By registering a group ID in the motorized shielding device 2, the remote control device 3 becomes able to control only the motorized shielding devices 2 to which a specific group ID is registered.

[0046] The above steps complete the pairing process using the easy registration mode.

[0047] • Remote pairing mode This section describes how to pair the motorized shielding device 2 and the remote control device 3 using remote pairing mode. The following description is an example of a pairing procedure using remote pairing mode, and pairing may be performed using a different procedure.

[0048] In remote pairing mode, the remote control device 3 and the motorized shielding device 2 begin pairing by operating a switch on the remote control device 3. If the remote control device 3 is the operation remote control 4, pairing begins by operating (e.g., long-pressing) a pairing switch (not shown). If the remote control device 3 is the relay device 6, pairing begins by operating (e.g., long-pressing) the pairing switch 6b1.

[0049] Pairing is initiated when the remote control unit 3 sends a "pairing start signal" without specifying a partner. The pairing start signal includes the control unit ID of the remote control unit 3 that sent the signal. Once pairing has started, the remote control unit 3 may indicate that pairing has started by blinking an LED or other means. After sending the pairing start signal, the remote control unit 3 enters a standby state, waiting for a response from the motorized shielding device 2.

[0050] When the motorized shielding device 2 receives a pairing start signal, it transmits a "pairing response signal" to the remote control device 3 that it is pairing with. The pairing response signal includes the shielding device ID of the motorized shielding device 2 that transmitted the signal. The motorized shielding device 2 may also notify the user that it has received the pairing start signal by moving the shielding material 2b or by emitting sound or light.

[0051] Since the electric shielding system 1 includes multiple electric shielding devices 2, the remote control device 3 receives pairing response signals from each of the multiple electric shielding devices 2 and sequentially registers the shielding device IDs included in each pairing response signal in the storage unit.

[0052] Next, the user operates the remote control unit 3 to select the motorized shielding device 2 to be paired. If the remote control unit 3 is the operation remote control 4, the motorized shielding device 2 to be paired can be changed each time the OPEN button 4c3 is pressed. If the remote control unit 3 is the relay device 6, the motorized shielding device 2 to be paired can be changed each time the pairing switch 6b1 is pressed. When the motorized shielding device 2 to be paired is changed, the remote control unit 3 sends a "pairing target designation signal" to the motorized shielding device 2 to be paired.

[0053] When the motorized shielding device 2 receives the "pairing target designation signal," it may notify the user that it has received the pairing target designation signal by moving the shielding material 2b or by emitting sound or light. Also, when the motorized shielding device 2 receives the "pairing target designation signal," it enters a standby state to wait for a response from the remote control device 3. When the remote control device 3 transmits the "pairing target designation signal," it enters a standby state to wait for operation by the user.

[0054] This situation is the same as in the easy registration mode, after the remote control unit 3 receives the pairing start signal. After this, just like in the easy registration mode, pairing is completed when the user selects a group and then performs the "Confirm" procedure.

[0055] 1-3. Operation method of the electric shielding device 2 using the remote control device 3 Next, we will explain how to operate the electric shielding devices 2 using the remote control device 3. Through the pairing described above, one or more group IDs are registered to each electric shielding device 2. Here, as an example, we will explain the case where the following group IDs are registered to the electric shielding devices 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D included in the electric shielding system 1. [Table 1]

[0056] When the user selects a group to be operated on and enters the desired operation, the remote control unit 3 transmits a command signal containing its own control unit ID, the group ID corresponding to the selected group, and operation data indicating the operation content, without specifying a recipient.

[0057] If the remote control device 3 is the operation remote control 4, a group can be selected using the group selection unit 4b, and the operation content can be specified using the operation unit 4c. If the remote control device 3 is the relay device 6, a group can be selected on the operation application, and the operation content can be specified using the operation unit 5c on the operation screen 5b that appears after group selection.

[0058] When each motorized shielding device 2 receives a command signal, it checks whether the control device ID and group ID included in the command signal are registered to it. If either is not registered to it, it does not perform the action specified by the command signal. If both the control device ID and group ID are registered to it, it performs the action specified by the command signal.

[0059] For example, if the group ID included in the command signal is 2, the motorized shielding device 2B will perform the operation specified by the command signal, while motorized shielding devices 2A, 2C, and 2D will not perform the operation specified by the command signal. Also, if the group ID included in the command signal is 5, motorized shielding devices 2A and 2B will perform the operation specified by the command signal, while motorized shielding devices 2C and 2D will not perform the operation specified by the command signal. Furthermore, if the group ID included in the command signal is 0, which is associated with all motorized shielding devices 2, all motorized shielding devices 2 will perform the operation specified by the command signal.

[0060] 1-4. Handling Irregular Operations In this embodiment, the electric shielding device 2 is designed to move the shielding material 2b electrically, and not to move it manually. Therefore, manually moving the shielding material 2b is undesirable as it may damage the motor 2c or the transmission mechanism that transmits its rotation to the shielding material 2b. In particular, in a lifting-type electric shielding device 2 configured to raise and lower the shielding material 2b by rotating the motor 2c, the shielding material 2b and the motor 2c may remain engaged even when the shielding material 2b is stopped in order to prevent the shielding material 2b from descending due to its own weight. If an irregular operation such as pulling the shielding material 2b downward is performed in this state, the motor 2c or the transmission mechanism is particularly susceptible to damage.

[0061] To prevent damage to the motor 2c or transmission mechanism in the event of such irregular operation, it is preferable that the control unit 2a is configured to perform a downward movement to lower the shielding material 2b when a downward pull on the shielding material 2b is detected. The downward movement can be performed by rotating the motor 2c in the downward direction of the shielding material 2b. This reduces the load on the motor 2c and transmission mechanism, thereby preventing damage to the motor 2c or transmission mechanism. Furthermore, it is preferable to notify the user of the irregular operation by sounding a warning, such as a beep, when an irregular operation occurs. This helps to prevent the recurrence of the irregular operation.

[0062] It is preferable that the control unit 2a is configured to perform the downward operation so that the shielding material 2b does not reach the lower limit. If the shielding material 2b is operated to reach the lower limit when the above irregular operation is performed, the user will be more likely to frequently perform the irregular operation, which will increase the likelihood of failure of the motor 2c or the transmission mechanism. By preventing the shielding material 2b from reaching the lower limit during irregular operation, the user will be made aware that the shielding material 2b cannot be made to reach the lower limit during irregular operation, thereby suppressing the recurrence of irregular operation.

[0063] The lowering length of the shielding material 2b during the aforementioned lowering operation is preferably 10 to 300 mm, preferably 50 to 250 mm, and more preferably 100 to 150 mm. If the lowering length is too short, the reduction of the load on the motor 2c and the transmission mechanism tends to be insufficient. If the lowering length is too long, the user is more likely to frequently perform irregular operations.

[0064] The threshold length for detecting tension in the shielding material 2b is preferably 5 to 30 mm, more preferably 5 to 20 mm, and even more preferably 5 to 15 mm. If this length is too short, malfunctions are likely to cause unintended downward movement. If this length is too long, the load on the motor 2c and the transmission mechanism may not be reduced in time, making the motor 2c or the transmission mechanism more susceptible to damage. It is preferable to detect the tension in the shielding material 2b by detecting the rotation angle of a member that rotates in conjunction with the tension in the shielding material 2b. The electric shielding device 2 is usually provided with an encoder for detecting the amount of rotation of the motor 2c, and it is preferable to use the output from this encoder to detect the tension in the shielding material 2b. In this case, it becomes possible to detect the tension in the shielding material 2b without adding any new members.

[0065] 1-5. Battery 2f, battery holder 2g, and movement restricting means 2h The battery 2f, battery holder 2g, and movement restricting means 2h will be explained using Figures 5 to 8.

[0066] If the electric shielding device 2 is battery-powered, it may be transported with the battery 2f placed inside the headbox 2e to reduce installation work. In this case, to protect the battery 2f from shocks during transport, it is necessary to place shock-absorbing material between the battery 2f and the headbox 2e. However, if the battery 2f is completely covered with shock-absorbing material, there is a problem in that battery replacement work, such as when the battery 2f is depleted, becomes complicated.

[0067] Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to solve the above problems, as shown in Figure 5, a pair of battery holders 2g that hold the battery 2f are provided, and a detachable movement restricting means 2h that restricts the movement of the battery holders 2g is also provided, thereby protecting the battery 2f from impacts during transport and making it easy to replace the battery 2f.

[0068] More specifically, the pair of battery holders 2g are configured to hold one end and the other end of the battery 2f in the longitudinal direction of the headbox 2e, thereby positioning the battery 2f inside the headbox 2e. The movement restricting means 2h is detachable from the headbox 2e and, when attached to the headbox 2e, is configured to restrict the movement of the pair of battery holders 2g away from the battery 2f in the longitudinal direction. Each of these configurations will be described in more detail below.

[0069] • Battery 2f Battery 2f is preferably a lithium-ion secondary battery. Battery 2f is preferably soft-packed. Soft-packed batteries 2f are less expensive and lighter than hard-packed batteries, but may have inferior shock resistance. Therefore, when battery 2f is soft-packed, the technical significance of improving the shock resistance of battery 2f by using battery holder 2g is significant. Soft packing can be done, for example, by covering the battery body with shrink film.

[0070] • Battery holder 2g Each of the pair of battery holders 2g comprises a frame portion 2g1 and a recess 2g2. The frame portion 2g1 is positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal direction by contacting the head box 2e. The recess 2g2 opens toward the battery 2f. The battery 2f is held in place by being inserted into the respective recesses 2g2 of the pair of battery holders 2g, so as not to come into contact with the head box 2e.

[0071] A through-hole 2g3 is formed in the bottom surface 2g4 of the recess 2g2 for inserting a cable 2f1 extending from the battery 2f. The cable 2f1 is used to connect the battery 2f to, for example, a charging board that monitors the capacity of the battery 2f and prevents overcharging, or a voltage conversion board that converts the battery voltage to a constant voltage that allows the motor 2c to drive stably. By providing the through-hole 2g3, interference between the cable 2f1 and the battery holder 2g can be avoided even when the cable 2f1 is provided at the end of the battery 2f.

[0072] The pair of battery holders 2g are interchangeable. With this configuration, there is no need to prepare two types of battery holders 2g, thus reducing the number of parts. In this embodiment, the battery holder 2g is provided with a pair of recesses 2g2, and the battery 2f can be inserted into either recess 2g2. Therefore, if battery holders 2g of the same structure are placed in the same orientation with a gap between them in the longitudinal direction of the headbox 2e, one end of the battery 2f can be inserted into one of the pair of recesses 2g2, and the other end of the battery 2f can be inserted into the other of the pair of recesses 2g2.

[0073] The battery holder 2g preferably has a shape with a plane of symmetry. The plane of symmetry is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the headbox 2e. For example, the BB plane in Figure 7A is the plane of symmetry. In this case, the pair of recesses 2g2 have the same shape, making it easy to substitute the pair of battery holders 2g for each other.

[0074] The battery holder 2g is made of a flexible material. An example of a flexible material is an elastomer. In this case, the battery holder 2g is easy to deform, making it easy to insert the battery holder 2g into the headbox 2e through the opening 2e1 formed along the longitudinal direction of the headbox 2e. In this case, there is the advantage that the battery holder 2g can be easily inserted into the headbox 2e even if another component is already installed inside the headbox 2e. Furthermore, because the battery holder 2g is flexible, it is easy to rotate the battery holder 2g after it has been placed inside the headbox 2e. Therefore, it is easy to rotate the battery holder 2g inside the headbox 2e so that it is in an orientation that makes it easy to attach to the battery 2f.

[0075] It is preferable that the length of the battery holder 2g in the left-right direction is shorter than its length in the front-back direction. The left-right direction and front-back direction of the battery holder 2g refer to the directions corresponding to the left-right direction D1 and front-back direction D2 of the head box 2e when the battery holder 2g is attached to the battery 2f, as shown in Figure 5A. Furthermore, it is even more preferable that the length of the battery holder in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the opening 2e1 in the front-back direction. In this case, the battery holder 2g can be inserted into the head box 2e with its front-back direction aligned with the longitudinal direction of the opening 2e1, and then rotated within the head box 2e to make the battery holder 2g ready to be attached to the battery 2f.

[0076] It is preferable that the battery holder 2g is pressed against the inner wall of the headbox 2e by its own elastic force. In this case, the position of the battery holder 2g is fixed to some extent by frictional force. Even before the movement of the battery holder 2g is restricted by the movement restricting means 2h, it is possible to temporarily fix the battery holder 2g.

[0077] In the region between the pair of battery holders 2g, the upper side of the battery 2f is not covered, which may reduce the impact resistance of the battery 2f in this region. Therefore, to improve impact resistance in this region, it is preferable to place a cover that covers the region between the pair of battery holders 2g. It is preferable that this cover is removable so as not to interfere with the replacement of the battery 2f. It is preferable that this cover is made of elastomer.

[0078] The battery holder 2g is provided with a canopy-like projection 2g5 that protrudes in a canopy-like manner toward the battery 2f, above the recess 2g2 (i.e., toward the opening 2e1). This allows the cover to be tucked under the canopy-like projection 2g5, creating an overlapping portion between the canopy-like projection 2g5 and the cover, thereby preventing a gap from forming between the cover and the battery holder 2g.

[0079] As shown in Figure 7B, the housing space in which the battery 2f and battery holder 2g are housed comprises an opening-containing wall 2e6 with an opening 2e1, a pair of opposing side walls 2e7, and a bottom wall 2e8 facing the opening-containing wall 2e6. The pair of side walls 2e7 each connect the opening-containing wall 2e6 and the bottom wall 2e8. The opening-containing wall 2e6 is provided with a projection 2e9 that protrudes toward the bottom wall 2e8. Since the projection 2e9 is positioned adjacent to the upper surface of the battery holder 2g, the battery holder 2g is prevented from accidentally coming out of the housing space.

[0080] ·Movement control means 2 hours The movement restricting means 2h preferably includes a fixing pin 2h1 that can be inserted into and removed from a through hole 2e2 provided in the headbox 2e. The fixing pin 2h1 is inserted into the through hole 2e2 and engages with the through hole 2e2, thereby restricting the movement of one of the pair of battery holders 2g toward the battery 2f. With this configuration, by removing the fixing pin 2h1, the battery holder 2g becomes movable, and the battery 2f can be replaced.

[0081] As shown in Figure 8, it is preferable that the fixing pin 2h1 has a plurality of engaging claws 2h2 extending radially outward. It is even more preferable that the fixing pin 2h1 is inserted into the through hole 2e2 from the inside of the headbox 2e so that the engaging claws 2h2 engage with the outer surface of the headbox 2e. In this case, the engagement between the engaging claws 2h2 and the outer surface of the headbox 2e can be released by operation from outside the headbox 2e, which has the advantage of making it easy to remove the fixing pin 2h1. It is preferable that the fixing pin 2h1 has an insertion portion 2h3 and an enlarged diameter portion 2h4. The insertion portion 2h3 preferably has a diameter smaller than the through hole 2e2, and when the fixing pin 2h1 is mounted in the headbox 2e, the insertion portion 2h3 may be positioned inside the through hole 2e2. The enlarged diameter portion 2h4 serves as a retainer to prevent the fixing pin 2h1 from coming out of the headbox 2e.

[0082] The movement restricting means 2h includes means for restricting the movement of the other of the pair of battery holders 2g toward the battery 2f. An example of a means for restricting this movement is a fixing member 2i fixed inside the head box 2e. An example of a fixing member 2i is an electronic circuit board (power supply board, charging board, control board, etc.) fixed inside the head box 2e. The movement of the battery holder 2g is restricted by interference between the battery holder 2g and the fixing member. In this case, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to prepare a separate component such as a fixing pin 2h1.

[0083] The movement restricting means 2h preferably comprises a pair of fixing pins 2h1, as shown in Figure 10, and it is preferable that the movement of the pair of battery holders 2g is restricted by the pair of fixing pins 2h1. The pair of fixing pins 2h1 are inserted into separate through holes 2e2. With this configuration, battery replacement becomes possible by removing both of the pair of fixing pins 2h1 and shifting each of the pair of battery holders 2g slightly in the longitudinal direction, thereby reducing the amount of movement of each battery holder 2g required when replacing the battery.

[0084] 1-6. How to replace the battery of the electric shielding device 2 Next, the method for replacing the battery 2f will be described. The battery replacement method for the electric shielding device 2 of one embodiment of the present invention comprises, in this order, a step of removing the movement restricting means, a step of expanding the gap, a replacement step, a step of reducing the gap, and a step of attaching the movement restricting means. Each step will be described below.

[0085] • Removal process of movement control measures In the movement restricting means removal step, the movement restricting means 2h is removed from the headbox 2e. This allows the battery holder 2g to be moved away from the battery 2f. Preferably, the movement restricting means 2h comprises a fixing pin 2h1 with a plurality of engaging claws 2h2 extending radially outward, and in the movement restricting means removal step, the fixing pin 2h1 can be removed by deforming the engaging claws 2h2 that protrude outward from the headbox 2e through a through hole 2e2 provided in the headbox 2e, thereby pushing the fixing pin 2h1 back into the headbox 2e. For example, a pair of engaging claws 2h2 can be deformed by pinching them with fingers or a tool (e.g., needle-nose pliers) to make them passable through the through hole 2e2.

[0086] • Spacing extension process In the spacing expansion step, the spacing between a pair of battery holders 2g that hold one end and the other end of the battery 2f in the longitudinal direction of the headbox 2e is widened. This makes it possible to remove the battery 2f from the headbox 2e.

[0087] ·Replacement process The replacement process involves removing battery 2f and replacing it with a new battery 2f.

[0088] ·Spacing reduction process In the spacing reduction process, a new battery 2f is placed inside the headbox 2e to narrow the distance between the pair of battery holders 2g.

[0089] ·Movement control means installation process In the movement restriction means installation step, the movement restriction means 2h is installed to restrict movement in the direction that widens the distance between the pair of battery holders 2g. If the movement restriction means 2h is equipped with a fixing pin 2h1, the fixing pin 2h1 can be installed in the movement restriction means installation step by inserting the fixing pin 2h1 through the through hole 2e2 from the inside of the head box 2e. At this time, the engaging claw 2h2 can be engaged with the outer surface of the head box 2e. With this configuration, it becomes easy to remove the fixing pin 2h1 by working from the outside of the head box 2e during the next replacement work.

[0090] 2. Second Embodiment A second embodiment of the present invention will be described using Figures 9 to 11. In this embodiment, the electric shielding device 2 is an electric vertical blind 10.

[0091] The electric vertical blind 10 comprises a headbox 2e, a battery 2f, a pair of battery holders 2g, a drive shaft 10a (translational shaft 10a1, tilt shaft 10a2), and multiple slats 10b as shading material 2b. The drive shaft 10a is the shaft used to move the shading material 2b. The slats 10b are supported by runners (not shown) supported by the drive shaft 10a. The slats 10b move translationally (left and right) as the translation shaft 10a1 rotates, and the slats 10b rotate as the tilt shaft rotates.

[0092] In the electric roller screen 9 shown in the first embodiment, there is no drive shaft for moving the shielding material 2b inside the headbox 2e, so the battery 2f and the drive shaft do not interfere with each other. However, in the electric shielding device 2 in which the drive shaft 10a is located inside the headbox 2e, as in this embodiment, it is necessary to avoid interference between the battery 2f and the drive shaft 10a. Other examples of electric shielding devices 2 in which the drive shaft 10a is located inside the headbox 2e include electric tuck-up curtains, electric pleated screens, and electric horizontal blinds.

[0093] To avoid interference between the battery 2f and the drive shaft, the headbox 2e is equipped with a first space 2e3 and a second space 2e4, with the drive shaft located in the first space 2e3 and the battery 2f located in the second space 2e4. A partition wall 2e5 is provided between the first space 2e3 and the second space 2e4. With this configuration, the battery 2f and the drive shaft 10a are spatially separated, thus avoiding interference between them.

[0094] The battery holder 2g of this embodiment has a different shape from that of the first embodiment. A battery holder 2g with the same shape as that of the first embodiment may be applied to this embodiment, or the battery holder 2g of this embodiment may be applied to the first embodiment. The following description will focus on the differences between the battery holder 2g of this embodiment and the first embodiment. The descriptions in the first embodiment are applicable to this embodiment as long as they do not contradict the intent of the first embodiment.

[0095] The battery holder 2g of this embodiment comprises a frame portion 2g1 and a recess 2g2. A pair of through holes 2g3 are formed on the bottom surface of the recess 2g2 for inserting a cable (not shown) extending from the battery 2f.

[0096] The pair of battery holders 2g in this embodiment are interchangeable. Unlike the first embodiment, the battery holder 2g has only one recess 2g2, but it is structured so that the orientation of the recess 2g2 can be reversed by rotating the battery holder 2g, allowing it to be positioned inside the head box 2e. Therefore, if two battery holders 2g of the same structure are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the head box 2e, and the recess 2g2 of each battery holder 2g faces the direction of the battery 2f, one end of the battery 2f can be inserted into the recess 2g2 of one battery holder 2g, and the other end of the battery 2f can be inserted into the recess 2g2 of the other battery holder 2g.

[0097] The battery holder 2g has a point-symmetric structure, and when rotated 180 degrees around axis C, it overlaps with its original shape, so the pair of battery holders 2g are symmetric with respect to their central plane. In this embodiment, the movement of the pair of battery holders 2g away from the battery 2f in the longitudinal direction of the headbox 2e is restricted by a movement restricting means 2h which has a pair of fixing pins 2h1, but as in the first embodiment, the above movement may also be restricted by a fixing member 2i and a single fixing pin 2h1. The structure and method of attaching and detaching the fixing pin 2h1 are the same as in the first embodiment.

[0098] As shown in Figure 10A, the storage space (second space 2e4) in which the battery 2f and battery holder 2g are housed comprises an opening-containing wall 2e6 with an opening 2e1, a pair of opposing side walls 2e7, and a bottom wall 2e8 facing the opening-containing wall 2e6. The pair of side walls 2e7 each connect the opening-containing wall 2e6 and the bottom wall 2e8.

[0099] The battery holder 2g is provided with a pair of protrusions 2g6 that project toward each of the pair of side walls 2e7. The presence of the protrusions 2g6 narrows the gap between the battery holder 2g and the side walls 2e7, making it difficult for the battery holder 2g to move unexpectedly within the housing space. In addition, since the opening wall 2e6 is positioned adjacent to the protrusions 2g6, the battery holder 2g is prevented from unexpectedly coming out of the housing space.

[0100] Furthermore, the battery holder 2g is provided with protrusions 2g7 and 2g8 on the parts facing the side wall 2e7 and bottom wall 2e8. This reduces friction between the battery holder 2g and the head box 2e, making it easier to move the battery holder 2g within the head box 2e and easier to attach the battery holder 2g to the battery 2f.

[0101] 4. Other Embodiments Each button (i.e., a push-button switch) in the above embodiment may be replaced with another type of switch. Other types of switches include toggle switches, rocker switches, rotary switches, slide switches, and DIP switches, and the necessary input can be made by operating the switch according to its type.

[0102] If the electric shading device 2 is an electric horizontal blind or an electric vertical blind, the operation screen 5b of the operation application can have an operation section 5c, as shown in Figure 12, with an opening / closing operation slide bar 5c1 and an angle operation slide bar 5c6 arranged side by side. The angle operation slide bar 5c6 can be used to change the tilt angle of the slats. With this configuration, both the translation and tilt of the slats can be operated intuitively.

[0103] If the electric shielding device 2 is equipped with two shielding materials that can be opened and closed independently, two slide bars can be arranged as operating units 5c on the operation screen 5b of the operation application. One slide bar can be used to operate the opening and closing of one shielding material, and the other slide bar can be used to operate the opening and closing of the other shielding material. With this configuration, the opening and closing of the two shielding materials can be operated intuitively. The two shielding materials may be arranged adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, or adjacent to each other in the front-to-back direction. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0104] 1: Electric shielding system 2: Electric shielding device 2A: Electric shielding device 2B: Electric shielding device 2C: Electric shielding device 2D: Electric shielding device 2a:Control unit 2a1: CPU 2a2: Storage section 2a3:Communication Department 2b: Shielding material 2c: motor 2d: Pairing switch 2e: Headbox 2e1 :Aperture 2e2 :Through hole 2e3 :1st space 2e4 :Second space 2e5: Bulkhead 2e6 :Opening wall 2e7 :Side wall 2e8 :Bottom wall 2e9:Protrusion 2f: Battery 2f1: Cable 2g: Battery holder 2g1: Frame 2g2: recessed 2g3 :Through hole 2g4: Bottom 2g5:Eave-like protrusion 2g6:Protrusion 2g7: Uneven part 2g8: Uneven part 2h: Movement control means 2h1: Fixed pin 2h2: Engagement claw 2h3: Insertion section 2h4: Enlarged diameter section 2i: Fixing member 3: Remote control device 4: Remote control 4a: Case 4b: Group Selection Section 4b1: Group selection button 4b2: Favorite button 4b3: ALL button 4c:Operation unit 4c1: First tilt button 4c2: Second tilt button 4c3: OPEN button 4c4: CLOSE button 4c5: STOP button 4j: Control Unit 4j1:CPU 4j2 :Storage part 4j3: Communications Department 5: Mobile terminals 5b: Operation screen 5c: Operation section 5c1: Slide bar for opening and closing operation 5c2: Favorite button 5c3: OPEN button 5c4: CLOSE button 5c5: STOP button 5c6: Slide bar for angle adjustment 5d: Control Unit 5d1:CPU 5d2: Storage section 5d3: Communications Department 5e: Display 6: Relay device 6a: Case 6b: Operation section 6b1: Pairing switch 6b2: DIP switch 6c: Control Unit 6c1: CPU 6c2: Storage section 6c3: First Communications Department 6c4: Second Communications Department 7: WiFi router 8: Cloud Server 9: Electric roller screen 9a: Winding pipe 9b: Screen 9d: Side bracket 9e: Motor Unit 9e1: Motor support section 9f: Weight bar 10: Electric vertical blinds 10a: Drive shaft 10a1: Translation axis 10a2: Tilt axis 10b: Slat C: Axis D1: Left / right direction D2: Anteroposterior direction

Claims

1. An electric shielding system comprising multiple electric shielding devices and a remote control device, The aforementioned electric shielding device comprises a control unit and a shielding material. The control unit is configured to electrically move the shielding material in accordance with a command transmitted wirelessly from the remote control device. The aforementioned motorized shielding system includes a first pairing mode, In the first pairing mode, the remote control device and the electric shielding device are configured to initiate pairing by operating a switch provided on the electric shielding device, in an electric shielding system.

2. An electrically operated shielding system according to claim 1, The electrically operated shielding device is configured to register, in the first pairing, a control device ID which is an identifier for the remote control device and a group ID which is an identifier for the group, in an electrically operated shielding system.

3. An electric shielding system according to claim 1 or claim 2, The aforementioned motorized shielding system includes a second pairing mode, In the second pairing mode, the remote control device and the electric shielding device are configured to initiate pairing by operating a switch provided on the remote control device, in this electric shielding system.

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