Window Shade Spring Brake Assembly for Multi-Stop Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a cost-effective solution to optimize window shade adjustments in building environments to enhance energy efficiency and occupant comfort, as existing automation systems are often too expensive for budget-constrained organizations, and manual shades lack the ability to efficiently integrate with other control systems like lighting and HVAC.
Innovation Solution
A system that models building and surroundings to calculate shadow and reflected light presence, communicating adjustments to lighting, HVAC, and shading systems, using radiometer data and algorithms to optimize solar penetration and thermal management, allowing for both manual and automated control of window coverings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If expensive automation systems are installed to control window shades, then energy efficiency and productivity are improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses free radiometer data from weather services and free shadow/reflection calculation algorithms to automatically determine optimal shade positions without requiring expensive proprietary sensors or control systems. The building serves itself by using publicly available solar position and weather data to make shading decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using expensive physical sensors to detect sunlight and shadow, the system creates a virtual model (shadow model) of the building and surrounding environment to calculate where shadows and reflected light will fall. This digital twin approach replaces costly hardware with computational modeling.
2Device complexity
If manual window shades are used to reduce costs, then device complexity is reduced, but integration with lighting and HVAC control systems is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to work with both manual and automated window shade systems, as well as integrate with lighting and HVAC controls. The same shadow modeling algorithm serves multiple purposes: determining shade positions, notifying occupants when to adjust manual shades, and coordinating with automated building systems when available.
Solution Approach 2:
The shadow model acts as an intermediary layer between environmental conditions (sun position, weather) and various control systems (manual shade adjustments, automated motors, lighting, HVAC). It translates solar geometry into actionable recommendations that can be implemented through different interfaces and control mechanisms.
3Loss of energy
If window shades are adjusted at specific times to optimize lighting and HVAC, then energy efficiency is improved, but timing precision and coordination are challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates shadow positions and reflected light patterns in advance using the shadow model, allowing proactive adjustment of window shades before sunlight problems occur. The system notifies occupants ahead of time when shade adjustment is needed, enabling preventive rather than reactive control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors radiometer data, sun position, and weather conditions to dynamically adjust shade recommendations in real-time. This feedback loop ensures that shade positions remain optimized as environmental conditions change throughout the day and year.
Data Source
AI summary
The system includes a window shade interfacing with at least a portion of a mechanism; a spring assembly configured to predispose the window shade to at least one of an extended position or a retracted position, wherein the spring assembly is loaded, in response to the window shade being manually at least one of pulled or pushed; and a brake device that is engaged against at least the portion of the mechanism, wherein the brake device is configured to restrict at least the portion of the mechanism by being engaged against at least the portion of the mechanism and intermittently disengage from at least the portion of the mechanism to cause the spring assembly to unload and the window shade to manually move in a plurality of positions between the extended position and the retracted position.