Window Drive Absolute Position Calibration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing positioning and locking drives for windows and doors require complex and time-consuming user initialization after a power failure, with a risk of errors impairing drive control and regulation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an absolute path measuring device that is insensitive to power interruptions, allowing automatic calibration of a relative path measuring device, enabling reliable drive control without user initialization or recalibration, and ensuring the drive can be reset to a safe state after power loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a relative or incremental displacement measuring device is used to control the drive, then the device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but the drive requires manual reinitialization after power failure which increases loss of time and reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dual measurement system where an absolute displacement measuring device (potentiometer) is nested within the drive housing alongside the relative/incremental displacement measuring device. The absolute device serves as a backup reference that remains valid after power failures, while the relative device provides precise incremental measurements during normal operation. This nested configuration allows the system to maintain reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The absolute displacement measuring device continuously maintains accurate position information even during power interruptions, preparing the system in advance for power restoration. When power is restored, the system can immediately resume operation using the pre-maintained absolute position data without requiring manual reinitialization, thus eliminating the time loss and reliability issues associated with post-power-failure calibration.
2Measurement precision
If manual reinitialization is required after power failure, then the relative position measuring device can be recalibrated, but this increases loss of time and introduces risk of user errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic self-calibration upon power restoration by comparing the absolute position data from the potentiometer with the relative position data from the incremental encoder. The electronic control unit automatically adjusts the relative measurement system to match the absolute reference without requiring user intervention. This self-service mechanism eliminates time loss and prevents user errors while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic control unit continuously monitors both absolute and relative position measurements and uses feedback from the absolute device to correct and recalibrate the relative device automatically. This feedback loop ensures that the relative measurement system remains synchronized with the absolute reference, maintaining measurement precision without requiring manual intervention and eliminating time loss associated with user calibration.
3Reliability
If repeated initialization procedures are performed, then the drive can be recalibrated, but this increases stress on drive components and reduces their service life
Solution Approach 1:
The absolute displacement measuring device maintains accurate position information continuously, including during power interruptions. This preliminary maintenance of position data eliminates the need for repeated initialization procedures that would otherwise be required to recalibrate the system. By having the reference position already established, the system avoids the mechanical stress and wear associated with repeated calibration movements, thereby extending component service life while maintaining reliability.
4Reliability
If an absolute displacement measuring device is added, then automatic calibration is enabled and reliability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The absolute displacement measuring device (potentiometer) is integrated within the existing drive housing and mechanical structure, nesting it alongside the relative measurement device. This nested configuration allows the absolute device to provide reliability improvement without proportionally increasing overall system complexity. The potentiometer utilizes existing mechanical components such as the spindle drive and output element, thereby minimizing the complexity increment while achieving enhanced reliability through automatic calibration capability.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A positioning and/or locking drive for a sash of a window, door, or the like comprises a housing, a geared motor including a drive unit and a gearbox unit, an electronic control unit for controlling the geared motor, and an output element that can be actuated by the geared motor and coupled to or connected with the sash or an associated locking device. The speed and/or position of the output element can be controlled and/or regulated by the electronic control unit using the respective relative positions of the output element, which are detected by a relative or incremental position measuring device. The drive also includes an absolute position measuring device for detecting the respective absolute positions of the output element. The relative or incremental position measuring device can be automatically calibrated by the control unit using the absolute position measuring device.