Motorized Window Shade Limit Position Setting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current motorized window shades are complex to operate and costly to manufacture, making them unsuitable for lower-end products, and users find it difficult to set limit positions due to multiple complex steps.

Innovation Solution

A motorized window shade system featuring a fixed rail, movable rail, and a covering structure with an electric motor and control interface, including three buttons to easily set and record limit positions, allowing users to operate the shade with a simple and intuitive method.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional motorized window shades with multiple control buttons and complex setting procedures are used, then the limit position setting capability is achieved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple complex steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of setting limit positionsVSAvoidcomplexity of control interface
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential function of limit position setting from complex multi-button control systems and implements it with a simplified single-button interface. The control device uses only one button on the remote controller, eliminating unnecessary control elements while retaining full functionality for setting upper and lower limit positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by using a single button that serves multiple functions through different pressing patterns (short press, long press, repeated presses) rather than using multiple dedicated buttons. This inversion simplifies the control interface while maintaining comprehensive control capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional motorized window shades with advanced motor control systems are used, then the functionality is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases making them unsuitable for lower-end products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctionality of window shadeVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal control device that can be integrated into existing window shade systems with minimal modification. The single-button remote controller and simplified motor control algorithm make the system adaptable to various existing mechanisms while reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the existing motor's own characteristics (direction of rotation, pulse counting) to determine limit positions without requiring additional sensors or complex external control systems. The motor controller utilizes feedback from the motor's operation itself, eliminating the need for expensive external positioning devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3090116B1Motorized window shade and method of operating the same
Publication Date: 2018.01.10 TEH YOR CO LTD
  • EP3090116B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3090116B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3090116B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A motorized window shade includes a covering structure arranged between a fixed and a movable rail, an electric motor operable to drive displacement of the movable rail relative to the fixed rail, a control interface operable to control operation of the electric motor, and a motor controller respectively connected with the electric motor and the control interface. The control interface includes a first, a second and a third button, the first and second buttons being respectively operable to cause displacement of the movable rail in two opposite directions. The motor controller can record a current position of the movable rail as a limit position of the movable rail in response to a pressure concurrently applied on the third button and one of the first and second buttons. In some embodiments, methods of operating the motorized window shade are also described.