Screen Winder Actuator Phase Transition Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing screen winder actuators struggle to seamlessly transition between maintenance and use phases, leading to visible differences that can be misinterpreted by users, especially when multiple shutters are installed side by side, and the initial relaxation phase settings become ineffective due to wear and deformation over time.
Innovation Solution
A method of controlling the screen winder actuator that allows it to move between an extreme position and two end-of-travel positions, where during use phases it stops at a memorized position without exceeding the extreme position, and during maintenance phases, it resets this position by moving in the opposite direction to align with the end-of-travel position, combining relaxation and repositioning effects to maintain consistency and avoid user-perceptible malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the actuator moves to the extreme position during maintenance phases to reset the end-of-travel position, then the system adapts to wear and deformation, but users may perceive visible differences between maintenance and use phases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator performs a preliminary movement to the extreme position during maintenance phases to reset the end-of-travel position before returning to the memorized position. This preliminary action compensates for wear and deformation that occur during normal operation, ensuring the system maintains accuracy over time while the user never observes the intermediate extreme position.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving directly from the current position to the memorized end-of-travel position, the actuator inverts the sequence by first moving to the extreme position (beyond the memorized position) and then returning to the memorized position. This inversion allows the system to reset its reference point while maintaining visual consistency for the user.
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed relaxation phase duration is pre-recorded in the system, then the stress relief function is simple to implement, but the initial setting becomes ineffective due to permanent wear and deformation during the system's lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The relaxation phase duration changes from a fixed pre-recorded value to a dynamic value that is automatically adjusted during maintenance phases. The system learns the optimal relaxation duration by detecting the actual mechanical behavior and discontinuities in torque evolution, adapting to wear and deformation that occur over the system's lifetime.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator system performs self-adjustment of the relaxation phase duration without requiring external reprogramming or manual intervention. During maintenance phases, the system autonomously detects mechanical characteristics and modifies the relaxation parameters to maintain optimal stress relief effectiveness throughout the system's operational life.
3Reliability
If the actuator drives the element in the opposite direction for a predetermined duration to provide stress relief, then relaxation is achieved, but excessive movement may create visual defects
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator uses feedback from torque sensors and position encoders to detect discontinuities in the torque evolution curve during movement. This feedback allows the system to precisely determine when the relaxation phase should end, ensuring adequate stress relief while preventing excessive movement that would create visible defects or misalignment.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
To control a rotational drive actuator (11) of a winder (4) to drive a movable element (3) between an extreme position in a first direction of movement, a first operating limit position in the first direction of movement and at least a second operating limit position in a second direction of movement opposite to the first direction of movement, the first operating limit position being located between the extreme position in the first direction of movement and the second operating limit position, operating phases are distinguished,during which a control unit (15) of the actuator (11) responds to instructions for full or partial movement in the first or second direction of movement by commanding the actuator (11) to move the screen (2) between the first and second operating end-of-stroke positions, but without moving the screen (2) in the first direction of movement beyond the first operating end-of-stroke position; and maintenance phases separating the operating phases, and during which the control unit (15) of the actuator (11) responds to an instruction for full movement in the first direction of movement, by commanding the actuator (11) to move the screen (2) to the extreme position in the first direction of movement, upon detecting that the extreme position has been reached in the first direction of movement, and then,in response to the detection of reaching the extreme position in the first direction of movement, by moving the screen (2) in the second direction of movement until it reaches a stopping position which is the first end-of-stroke position in use or a position closer to the first end-of-stroke position in use than to the extreme position in the first direction of movement.