Hinged Shutter Obstacle Detection Sensitivity Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automated swing shutters face challenges in safely navigating obstacles, particularly in windy conditions, where strong winds can block movement and be misinterpreted as physical obstacles, leading to system malfunctions when operated without human intervention.
Innovation Solution
The method involves an electronic management unit with multiple sensitivity levels for obstacle detection, allowing the leaf to reverse and return to its starting stop with reduced sensitivity, ensuring safe operation even in the absence of a user, by lowering the obstacle detection sensitivity during the return movement, which reduces the risk of system damage from wind-induced 'twists' and maintains battery efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the obstacle detection sensitivity is set to high level to ensure safety, then the system can detect real obstacles effectively, but strong winds are misinterpreted as obstacles causing false positives and system malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the obstacle detection sensitivity adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically changes the sensitivity level based on the operational phase: high sensitivity during the approach phase for safety, and low sensitivity during the return phase to allow wind-driven movement. This resolves the contradiction by adapting the detection threshold to the current operational context.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter (sensitivity threshold) based on the operational phase. During the approach phase, the threshold is set to detect even minor obstacles for safety. During the return phase, the threshold is lowered to allow the leaf to move freely despite wind forces. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between detecting real obstacles and ignoring wind interference.
2Reliability
If the leaf reverses direction upon obstacle detection to ensure safety, then personal safety is protected, but the system cannot operate automatically in windy conditions without user intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the movement into two distinct phases: approach phase and return phase, each with different obstacle detection requirements. During the approach phase, high sensitivity ensures safety by detecting obstacles before contact. During the return phase, low sensitivity allows automatic operation by permitting wind-driven movement. This segmentation enables both safety and automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the obstacle detection sensitivity based on the operational phase. The sensitivity is high during approach for safety and low during return for automation. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain safety during critical phases while enabling automatic operation during less critical phases.
3Reliability
If the system maintains high obstacle detection sensitivity during return movement, then real obstacles are detected, but the leaf experiences repeated 'twists' and system damage in windy conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter (sensitivity threshold) based on the operational phase. During the return phase, the threshold is lowered to allow the leaf to move freely despite wind forces, preventing repeated twisting and mechanical stress. This parameter adaptation protects system integrity while maintaining the ability to detect obstacles during the approach phase.
4Ease of operation
If the leaf is forced to return to starting stop against wind resistance, then the system maintains operational control, but battery energy is depleted rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts obstacle detection sensitivity to allow wind-driven return movement rather than forcing mechanical return. The leaf naturally returns to the starting position under wind influence without active motor intervention, dramatically reducing energy consumption while maintaining operational control through monitored passive movement.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Automated closing method in an installation controlling the movement of hinged leaves or shutters. Automated closing method for at least one leaf of a hinged shutter or door in a building wall closure system by detecting obstacles during its movement, said leaf being driven by motor means between two stops, respectively starting and ending, defining a path allowing the opening to be cleared and closed, the movement being able to occur in either direction, the leaf being mechanically connected to the motor means without mechanical disengagement means and constituting the obstacle detection sensor, an electronic control unit comprising electronic means for detecting said obstacles during movement, at least two levels of obstacle detection sensitivity being managed by said unit, characterized by,In the event of an obstacle being detected by the obstacle detection system in the first part of the journey, the drive system will stop and the moving leaf will return to its starting stop, with the control unit applying the lowest possible sensitivity level to the return movement of the leaf in the opposite direction.