Motorized Leaf Coordination via Learning Cycle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing the combined movement of motorized window or door leaves struggle with ensuring accurate role identification and coordination between leaves without relying on bilateral communication, often leading to potential collisions due to differing movement paths and dependency on radio link reliability.

Innovation Solution

A method involving independent drive devices with a parameter setting process that learns the respective roles of each leaf through a learning cycle initiated by specific signals and manual positioning, utilizing Hall effect sensors and radio frequency communication to synchronize movements without direct communication between modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If identical activation modules are used for both leaves to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the system cannot distinguish between covering and covered leaves leading to potential collisions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidcollision prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary positioning of leaves during a learning phase before normal operation begins. The electronic control unit stores the positions of both leaves and uses this pre-acquired information to automatically coordinate movements, preventing collisions without requiring different hardware modules for each leaf.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic control unit receives feedback from both activation modules about their respective leaf positions and continuously adjusts control signals to coordinate movements. This feedback mechanism allows the system to distinguish between covering and covered leaves through software logic rather than hardware differentiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If bilateral communication between leaves is implemented to ensure correct operation, then coordination reliability is improved, but system complexity and dependency on radio link reliability increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordination reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A central electronic control unit acts as an intermediary between the two activation modules. Instead of requiring direct communication between leaves, the control unit receives position information from both modules and coordinates their movements, simplifying the communication architecture to a centralised control model.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a single motor manages simultaneous movements of two leaves, then device complexity is reduced, but positioning accuracy decreases due to dependency on the other leaf's placement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor system complexityVSAvoidleaf positioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses two independent activation modules instead of a single motor, allowing each leaf to be controlled separately. This segmentation enables independent positioning of each leaf while the electronic control unit coordinates their movements to prevent collisions, achieving both simplicity and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables precise and reliable coordinated opening and closing of leaves without collisions, ensuring each leaf knows its role, even with identical activation modules, by using a learning procedure and timeout mechanisms to correct any errors in positioning.

Implementation Method 1

each module comprising a Hall effect sensor, the communication to each module of the first and of the second signal is carried out by at least one approach of a magnet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHall effect: Hall Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3173566B1Method for parameterising a system managing the combined movement of two leaves
Publication Date: 2021.11.17 BHG
  • EP3173566B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for configuring a system that manages the combined movement of two motorized leaves of hinged shutters or motorized doors, in order to teach them their respective roles as a covered leaf and a covering leaf. They are activated by a remote control between two stable open and closed positions for clearing and closing door or window openings, each leaf being connected via an arm to a module comprising drive means and an electronic control unit equipped with a radio frequency signal transmitter/receiver.According to the procedure: - activation of each module by communication of a first signal; - acknowledgment of the reception of the first signal by the activation module; - manual positioning of the leaves in a predefined preferential position depending on their role as a covering or covered leaf, and connection of the leaves to the modules by the arms in this preferential position; - communication to each module of a second trigger signal of the beginning of the parameterization phase; - triggering, by means of the remote control, of a learning cycle commanding the drive means to control a combined opening and closing of the leaves in the role which has been assigned to them.