Control assembly for automated systems and method for charging electric power storage members of portable remote control units of the control assembly

Abstract

Control assembly (1) for automated systems (2), comprising an automated system (2) with a series of components or devices which can be selectively activated, one or more portable remote control units (16) each comprising at least one electric power storage member (18) and intended to be used by one or more users and also configured to transmit at least command signals to the automated system (2) and a control unit (10) connected to the components or devices of the automated system (2) and comprising a radio-receiver section (20) configured to receive the command signals transmitted from the portable remote control units (16) and to selectively activate the components or devices of the automated system (2) in response to the command signals. The control unit (10) comprises a radiofrequency generator (50) with a circuit (51) configured to transmit radiofrequency signals (S) to the portable remote control units (16) for charging the at least one electric power storage member (18) when the portable remote control units (16) are situated within a predefined operating range.

Description

[0001] “Control assembly for automated systems and method for charging electric power storage members of portable remote control units of the control assembly”

[0002] ★ ★★★★

[0003] Field of application

[0004] The present invention relates to a control assembly for automated systems, such as movable closure barriers, lighting systems and irrigation systems.

[0005] The present invention also relates to a method for charging electric power storage members of portable remote control units forming part of the control assembly.

[0006] Prior art

[0007] The control of electronic devices in general and in particular of components or devices of automated systems, such as home automation systems, is becoming increasingly more complex.

[0008] Control assemblies of automated systems comprising portable remote control units, mainly handheld remote control devices, are known from the prior art.

[0009] These portable remote control units comprise electric power storage members or batteries and are configured to transmit command signals to an electronic control unit of the automated system for selective activation of the system.

[0010] The transmission of the command signals by the portable units to the control unit may cause the opening or closing of movable barriers, such as gates, roller shutters, doors, heavy-duty shutters or the like, or the activation of a lighting system or an irrigation system.

[0011] For example, FR3001098 discloses a portable remote control unit, namely a handheld remote control device, for controlling a movable barrier.

[0012] Such a portable remote control unit is provided with a dedicated interface so as to provide the user with a series of additional information about the operation of thecontrol assembly and the movable barrier.

[0013] The known portable remote control units may also be connected to smartphones or other personal devices, as well as to a local network or to external cloud network, for the exchange of data and / or information.

[0014] The need to manage these additional functions results in a greater use of electric power by the remote control units, with obvious consequences as regards the size of the electric power storage members or the batteries.

[0015] In order to meet this need, larger size batteries are required, although these result in an increase in the size of the portable units which thus become very bulky and awkward to transport and handle.

[0016] An increase in the size of the batteries furthermore results in an increase in the size of the seats inside which the batteries are inserted and the connections by means of which the batteries are connected to the electronic boards of the portable remote control units.

[0017] Moreover, the batteries of the known portable remote control units are made with dimensions designed to ensure a satisfactory range of the radio command signals and a prolonged operating life.

[0018] If design constraints prevent the use of large-size batteries, the batteries must be replaced frequently, resulting in obvious waste disposal problems.

[0019] A further drawback associated with the use of the known portable units described above consists in the fact that, when the battery is close to losing its power, transmission of the command signal to the control unit is prevented.

[0020] This drawback means that the automated system cannot be activated by the user, for example in order to open the movable barrier for access to premises or to a given area.Furthermore, the loss of power of the battery may prevent the user from accessing the information regarding the portable remote control unit and / or the automated system by means of the interface means of the portable remote control unit.

[0021] Presentation of the invention

[0022] The main object of the present invention is to provide a control assembly for automated systems and a method for charging electric power storage members of portable remote control units of such assembly able to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0023] In particular, a task of the present invention is to provide a control assembly of the type described above which has a greater operating autonomy than the known control assemblies.

[0024] A further task of the present invention is to provide a control assembly and a method of the type described above which allow the portable remote control units to always have a minimum amount of power for the transmission of at least one command signal.

[0025] Another task of the present invention is to provide a control assembly of the type described above which requires the use of a smaller amount of electric power, without affecting the functional capacity thereof.

[0026] The main tasks and the object described above are achieved by a control assembly for automated systems in accordance with Claim 1 and by a method for charging electric power storage members of the portable units of the assembly in accordance with Claim 12.

[0027] Brief description of the drawings

[0028] In order to illustrate more clearly the innovative principles of the present invention and its advantages compared to the prior art, an example of embodiment of thecontrol assembly for automated systems applying these principles will be described below with the aid of the attached figures. In particular:

[0029] - Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the control assembly according to the present invention with an automated system formed by a movable barrier, in particular a swing-leaf gate;

[0030] - Figure 2 shows a connection diagram for the various components of a control unit of the control assembly according to the present invention;

[0031] - Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a circuit of a component of the control unit of the control assembly according to the present invention;

[0032] - Figure 4 shows a connection diagram for the various components of a portable remote control unit of the control assembly according to the present invention;

[0033] - Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a portable remote control unit of the assembly in which part of the housing has been removed in order to allow a view of the internal components;

[0034] - Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a circuit of a portable remote control unit of the control assembly according to the present invention.

[0035] Detailed description

[0036] The present description, provided only by way of a non-limiting example of the scope of protection of the invention, relates to a control assembly, denoted overall by the reference number 1 , for automated systems.

[0037] These automated systems may comprise movable closure barriers, such as gates, roller shutters, hinged shutters, heavy-duty shutters, doors or the like, or lighting systems or irrigation systems.

[0038] The automated system may also be different from those indicated above, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.Figure 1 shows an example of an automated system 2 consisting of a swing-leaf gate 4, wherein each leaf 6 is intended to be moved by a drive assembly 8 comprising an electric motor and gear reducer, which are not visible in the attached figures.

[0039] The drive assemblies 8 are connected to an electronic control unit 10 of the control assembly 1 ; said control unit 10 is configured to control the selective activation of the drive assemblies 8 depending on the command signals sent by one or more users. Moreover, the control unit 10 may be connected to a pair of photocells 12, intended to indicate the presence of objects or persons within the movement range of the leaves 6 of the gate 4, and to a signalling lamp 14.

[0040] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control assembly 1 comprises:

[0041] - the automated system 2 which has a series of components or devices which can be selectively activated, for example the leaves 6 of the gate 4;

[0042] - one or more portable remote control units 16, preferably handheld remote control devices, intended to be used by one or more users and configured to transmit at least the command signals to the automated system 2, the portable remote control units 16 each comprising at least one electric power storage member 18;

[0043] - the control unit 10 connected to the components or devices of the automated system 2 and comprising a radio-receiver section 20 configured to receive the command signals transmitted from the portable remote control units 16 and to selectively activate the components or devices of the automated system 2 in response to the command signals received.

[0044] As schematically shown in Figure 2, the control unit 10 comprises an electronic board 22 connected to the radio-receiver section 20 for receiving the radio command signals.The radio-receiver section 20 is preferably provided with a receiving antenna 24 and a corresponding reception circuit. Said circuit will not be described in detail since it is well-known to the person skilled in the art.

[0045] The electronic board 22 may also be provided with a low-power radio transmitter 26. The control unit 10 further comprises a non-volatile memory unit 28 for the storage of identification certificates and / or recognition codes both of the automated system 2 and of the portable remote control units 16, as described in more detail below.

[0046] As can be seen in Figures 1 , 4 and 5, the portable remote control units 16, by means of which the automated system 2 may be remotely operated, comprise a housing 30 and a wireless communication unit 32 contained inside the housing 30 together with an associated antenna 34.

[0047] The wireless communication unit 32 is configured to send at least the command signals to the control unit 10 of the automated system 2 and preferably comprises a communication module using Bluetooth technology, preferably Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology.

[0048] The wireless communication unit 32 therefore operates in a frequency range of 2.400 to 2.4835 GHz so as to transmit via the antenna 34 the radio command signals to the control unit 10. Said command signals are transmitted in a dedicated band.

[0049] Advantageously, the use of the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol is able to provide the portable unit 16 with an operating range in open space of more than 200 metres, with a low power consumption.

[0050] The electric power storage member 18 is also contained inside the housing 30 and preferably consists of a supercapacitor which is able to store a greater amount of electric power within a small volume.

[0051] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, each portable remote control unit 16 further comprisesthe following components which are also contained inside the housing 30:

[0052] - at least one non-volatile memory unit 36 for storing a respective identification certificate and / or a recognition code;

[0053] - a processing unit 38 powered by the electric power storage member 18 and configured to control the wireless communication unit 32 by means of execution of a series of instructions also stored in the non-volatile memory unit 36.

[0054] The identification certificate and / or the recognition code is / are preferably a numerical code stored in the non-volatile memory unit 36 at the time of manufacture and is / are intended to be associated with the command signals for unique identification of the portable unit 16 by the control unit 10 of the control assembly 1.

[0055] Operationally speaking, the operation required by the portable remote control unit 16 following the transmission of the command signal is authorized only if the identification certificate and / or the recognition code transmitted with the command signal coincide(s) with the identification certificate and / or with the recognition code stored in the non-volatile memory unit 28 of the control unit 10.

[0056] Advantageously identification certificates and / or recognition codes of other portable units which have been previously authorized to operate the automated system 2 may also be stored in the non-volatile memory unit 36 of the portable remote control units 16.

[0057] These certificates and / or codes may be received by the portable remote control units 16 via a receiver 40 also provided with an antenna 42 and connected to the processing unit 38 (see Figure 4). Alternatively, the wireless communication unit 32 may act as a transceiver.

[0058] The certificates and / or identification codes may be encrypted in different ways which are well-known to person skilled in the art.The processing unit 38, in turn, may advantageously be a DSP (digital signal processor), a CPU (central processing unit), GPU (graphic processing unit) or any other electronic processing component for processing algorithms on the basis of the input data received.

[0059] Conveniently, each portable remote control unit 16 also comprises an electronic board 44, for example a PCB (printed circuit board) which can be seen in Figure 5 and on which the wireless communication unit 32 is mounted.

[0060] In a known manner, the wireless communication unit 32 is connected to the processing unit 38 by means of a track of the electronic board 44 or via a cable.

[0061] Advantageously, the antenna 34 of the wireless communication unit may consist of one or more tracks of the electronic board 44 so as to reduce the thickness of the housing 30.

[0062] Each portable remote control unit 16 also comprises a power supply management unit PMIC (Power management integrated circuit) and a command input interface 46 (visible in Figures 1 , 4 and 5) connected to the processing unit 38 and configured to transfer at least one command imparted by a user to the processing unit 38.

[0063] The command input interface 46 may comprise one or more pushbuttons 48 connected to the electronic board 44 and arranged so as to project from the electronic board 44.

[0064] The pushbuttons 48 may comprise a switch provided with a MEMS (micro electromechanical system) or a NEMS (nano electromechanical system).

[0065] The MEMS or NEMS switches have advantageously a small weight and dimensions and have a lower energy consumption.

[0066] Moreover, these MEMS or NEMS switches may be of the inertial type, able to detect accelerations and variations in inclination of the portable remote control unit.By means of this type of switch it is therefore possible to detect any movements imparted by the user to the portable remote control unit 16. For example, the user may adjust the opening speed of the gate 4 by shaking the portable remote control unit 16.

[0067] The portable remote control units 16 may also be provided with a display 49 (shown schematically in Figure 4) on which information relating to the operation of the portable remote control units 16 may be provided.

[0068] In accordance with a particular aspect of the present invention, the control unit 10 of the assembly 1 comprises a radiofrequency generator 50 with a circuit 51 configured to transmit radiofrequency signals S to the portable remote control units 16 in order to charge the at least one electric power storage member 18 when the portable remote control units 16 are situated within a predetermined operating range.

[0069] Said operating range covers preferably at least 200 metres.

[0070] In this way, each portable control unit 16 aways has a minimum power level such as to allow the transmission of at least one command signal.

[0071] Conveniently, as shown more clearly in Figure 3, the circuit 51 of the radiofrequency generator 50 of the control unit 10 comprises:

[0072] - an oscillator 52 having preferably a frequency of between 869.4 and 869.65 MHz; - an amplifier 53 preferably with a power of 500 mW;

[0073] - a bandpass filter 54;

[0074] - two or more directional antennae 55 for the transmission of the radiofrequency signals S.

[0075] Moreover, the circuit 51 of the radiofrequency generator 50 may comprise an RF switch 56 configured to selectively switch the directional antennae 55. This special feature allows the power consumption levels to be optimized.The radiofrequency generator 50 is also connected to the electronic board 22 of the control unit 10.

[0076] The circuit 51 of the radiofrequency generator 50 also comprises a module 57 configured to generate and transmit a coupling signal of adjustable duration. This adjustable duration is preferably close to 50 ms.

[0077] In accordance with a first operational embodiment, the portable remote control units 16 are configured to receive, via the antenna 34, the coupling signal generated and transmitted by the module 57 of the circuit 51 of the radiofrequency generator 50 and consequently to transmit an enable signal to the module 57 when they are situated within the predefined operating range indicated above.

[0078] Subsequently, the radiofrequency generator 50 is configured to transmit the at least one radiofrequency signal S for charging the at least one electric power storage member 18 after the control unit 10 has validated the enable signal.

[0079] The validation procedure involves the control unit 10 checking that the identification certificate and / or the recognition code of the enable signal coincides with the identification certificate and / or the recognition code stored in the non-volatile memory unit 28 of the control unit 10.

[0080] Alternatively, following the reception of the coupling signal by the portable remote control units 16, the radiofrequency generator 50 is configured to transmit the at least one radiofrequency signal S for charging the at least one electric power storage member 18 after the control unit 10 has validated at least one command signal transmitted from the portable remote control units 16 to the control unit 10 for activation of the automated system 2.

[0081] In this case, the validation procedure involves the control unit 10 checking that the identification certificate and / or the recognition code of the at least one commandsignal coincide(s) with the identification certificate and / or the recognition code stored in the non-volatile memory unit 28 of the control unit 10.

[0082] Advantageously, the control unit 10 may make use of a so-called direct finding function in order to evaluate the direction of origin of the enable signals or the command signals transmitted from the portable remote control units 16.

[0083] Moreover, the control unit 10 may make use of the direct finding function in order vary the direction of transmission of the radiofrequency signals S should the portable control units 16 change position following the transmission of the enable signals or the command signals.

[0084] In this connection, the directional antennae 55 are directed in directions which are different and / or opposite to each other and the RF switch 56 allows selective activation of the antenna 55 directed towards the current portion of the portable unit 16 to be charged for transmission of the at least one radiofrequency signal S.

[0085] Conveniently, the portable remote control units 16 comprise a respective circuit 58 shown in Figure 6 and having at least one rectifier 59, the circuit 58 being configured to receive the radiofrequency energy transmitted from the generator 50 via transmission of the radiofrequency signals S.

[0086] As already mentioned, the present invention also relates to a method for charging electric power storage members 18 of the portable remote control units 16 of the control assembly 1.

[0087] The method comprises the following steps:

[0088] - generation and transmission, by the module 57 of the circuit 51 of the radiofrequency generator 50, of a coupling signal of adjustable duration;

[0089] - reception, by the portable remote control units 16, of the coupling signal when the portable remote control units 16 are situated within the predefined operating range;- transmission of an enable signal and / or at least one command signal by the portable remote control units 16 to the module 57 after reception of the coupling signal, the enable signal and / or the at least one command signal having respective identification certificates and / or respective recognition codes;

[0090] - validation of the enable signal and / or of the at least one command signal by the control unit 10 if the identification certificates and / or the recognition codes of the enable signal and / or of the at least one command signal coincide(s) with the identification certificates and / or the recognition codes stored in the non-volatile memory unit 28 of the control unit 10;

[0091] - transmission of the at least one radiofrequency signal S for charging the electric power storage members 18 after the control unit 10 has performed validation of the enable signal and / or of the at least one command signal.

[0092] Advantageously, the method also comprises a step of selectively switching the radio antennae 55 of the circuit 51 described above by the RF switch 56 depending on the position of the portable remote control units 16.

[0093] From the above description it is now clear how the control assembly and the charging method according to the present invention are able to achieve advantageously the predefined objects.

[0094] In particular, the use of the radiofrequency generator, integrated in the control unit or associated with it, allows the storage members of the portable remote control units to be charged whenever the units are situated within a predefined operating range. In this way, the risk that the portable remote control units of the control assembly may lose their power completely is significantly reduced, allowing the users to send always at least one command signal.

[0095] Obviously, the above description of embodiments applying the innovative principlesof the present invention is provided by way of example of these innovative principles and must therefore not be regarded as limiting the scope of the rights claimed herein.

Claims

Claims1. Control assembly (1) for automated systems (2), comprising:- an automated system (2) with a series of components or devices which can be selectively activated;- one or more portable remote control units (16) intended to be used by one or more users and configured to transmit at least command signals to said automated system (2), said one or more portable remote control units (16) each comprising at least one electric power storage member (18);- a control unit (10) connected to said components or devices of the automated system (2) and comprising a radio-receiver section (20) configured to receive the command signals transmitted from said one or more portable remote control units (16) and to selectively activate said components or devices of said automated system (2) in response to the command signals;characterized in that said control unit (10) comprises a radiofrequency generator (50) with a circuit (51) configured to transmit radiofrequency signals (S) to said one or more portable remote control units (16) for charging the at least one electric power storage member (18) when said one or more portable remote control units (16) are situated within a predefined operating range.

2. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said circuit (51) of said radiofrequency generator (50) comprises an oscillator (52), an amplifier (53), a bandpass filter (54) and two or more directional antennae (55) for transmission of the radiofrequency signals (S).

3. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the circuit (51) of said radiofrequency generator (50) comprises an RF switch (56) configured to selectively switch said directional antennae (55).

4. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating range covers at least 200 metres.

5. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuit (51) of said radiofrequency generator (50) comprises a module (57) configured to generate and transmit a coupling signal of adjustable duration.

6. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said one or more portable remote control units (16) are configured to receive said coupling signal generated and transmitted by the module (57) of said circuit (51) and to transmit consequently an enable signal to said module (57) when they are situated within the predefined operating range, said radiofrequency generator (50) being configured to transmit the at least one radiofrequency signal (S) for charging the at least one electric power storage member (18) after said control unit (10) has validated the enable signal.

7. Assembly (1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that said one or more portable remote control units (16) are configured to receive the coupling signal generated and transmitted by the module (57) of said circuit (51) of said radiofrequency generator (50), said radiofrequency generator (50) being configured to transmit the at least one radiofrequency signal (S) for charging the at least one electric power storage member (18) after said control unit (10) has validated at least one command signal transmitted from said one or more portable remote control units (16) to said control unit (10).

8. Assembly (1) according to either one of Claims 6 or 7, characterized in that each of said portable remote control units (16) comprises a non-volatile memory unit (36) configured to store a respective identification certificate and / or a recognition code intended to be inserted in the enable signal or in the at least one commandsignal, said control unit (10) comprising a respective non-volatile memory unit (28) configured to store the identification certificates and / or recognition codes of said one or ore portable remote control units (16), the validation of the enable signal and / or of the at least one command signal involving the verification by said control unit (10) that the identification certificates and / or the recognition codes stored in said portable remote control units (16) and in said control unit (10) coincide.

9. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one electric power storage member (18) of each portable remote control unit (16) consists of a supercapacitor.

10. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said automated system (2) comprises movable closure barriers, such as roller shutters, hinged shutters, awnings, heavy-duty shutters, doors or gates (4), lighting systems and irrigation systems.

11. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said one or more portable remote control units (16) comprise a respective circuit (58) having at least one rectifier (59) and configured to receive the radiofrequency energy transmitted from the generator (50) by means of transmission of the radiofrequency signals (S).

12. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said one or more portable remote control units (16) are handheld remote control devices.

13. Method for charging electric power storage members (18) of portable remote control units (16) of a control assembly (1) of automated systems (2), the control assembly (1) comprising a control unit (10) with a non-volatile memory unit (28) and a radiofrequency generator (50) with an integrated circuit (51), the methodcomprising the following steps:- generation and transmission, by a module (57) of the circuit (51) of said radiofrequency generator (50), of a coupling signal of adjustable duration;- reception, by the portable remote control units (16), of said coupling signal when the portable remote control units (16) are situated within a predefined operating range;- transmission of an enable signal and / or at least one command signal by the portable remote control units (16) to said module (57) after reception of said coupling signal, the enable signal and / or the at least one command signal having respective identification certificates and / or respective recognition codes;- validation of the enable signal and / or of the at least one command signal by said control unit (10) if the identification certificates and / or the recognition codes of the enable signal and / or of the at least one command signal coincide with the identification certificates and / or the recognition codes stored in the non-volatile memory unit (28) of said control unit (10);- transmission of at least one radiofrequency signal (S) for charging the electric power storage members (18) of said portable remote control units (16) after the control unit (10) has performed validation of the enable signal and / or of the at least one command signal.

14. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the circuit (51) of said generator (50) comprises two or more directional antennae (55) for transmission of the at least one radiofrequency signal (S) and an RF switch (56), there being provided a step for selective switching of said directional antennae (55) by said RF switch (56) depending on the position of the portable remote control units

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