Architectural structure covering with magnet-based braking system
Examples of the present disclosure relate to various aspects of architectural structure coverings. A particular aspect relates to using controlling a motorized architectural covering that includes a motor and a magnetic brake. In an example, a shaft of the motor is controlled to enter a rest position, in which south and north poles of the magnetic brake are aligned.
1 . An architectural structure covering that comprises:
a covering load;
a motor comprising a motor shaft that is coupled with the covering load;
a magnetic brake; and
a motor controller configured to:
stop a rotation of the motor shaft;
determine that the rotation has stopped;
cause, upon determining that the rotation has stopped, an alignment of a magnetic pair of the magnetic brake, the alignment causing a further rotation of the motor shaft to a hold position; and
maintain the motor shaft at the hold position.
2 . The architectural structure covering of claim 1 , wherein the alignment corresponds to a north-to-south and south-to-north alignments of an inner magnet and an outer magnet of the magnetic brake.
3 . The architectural structure covering of claim 1 , wherein stopping the rotation of the motor shaft comprises controlling a flow of electrical current to the motor to change from an operational range to a first amount.
4 . The architectural structure covering of claim 3 , further comprising one or more sensors, and wherein the rotation is determined to have stopped based on sensor data of the one or more sensors.
5 . The architectural structure covering of claim 3 , wherein causing the alignment comprises reducing the flow of the electrical current from the first amount to a second amount.
6 . The architectural structure covering of claim 5 , wherein maintaining the motor shaft at the hold position comprises maintaining the flow of the electrical current at the second amount or substantially the second amount.
7 . The architectural structure covering of claim 6 , wherein prior to the causing the alignment, the rotation is stopped for a period of time by maintaining the flow of the electrical current at the first amount or substantially the first amount during the period of time.
8 . The architectural structure covering of claim 7 , wherein the motor controller is further configured to:
restart the rotation of the motor shaft by at least controlling the flow of the electrical current to a third amount within another predefined period of time.
9 . The architectural structure covering of claim 8 , wherein the motor controller is further configured to:
determine that the motor shaft is rotating; and
change the flow of the electrical current from the third amount to a fourth amount within the operational range.
10 . A method implemented by a motor controller of an architectural structure covering, the method comprising:
stopping a rotation of a motor shaft of a motor coupled to a covering load of the architectural structure covering;
determining that the rotation has stopped;
causing, upon determining that the rotation has stopped, an alignment of a magnetic pair of a magnetic brake of the motor, the alignment causing a further rotation of the motor shaft to a hold position; and
maintaining the motor shaft at the hold position.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein stopping the rotation of the motor shaft comprises controlling a flow of electrical current to the motor to change from an operational range to a first amount.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein causing the alignment comprises reducing the flow of the electrical current from the first amount to a second amount.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein maintaining the motor shaft at the hold position comprises maintaining the flow of the electrical current at the second amount or substantially the second amount.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein prior to the causing the alignment, the rotation is stopped for a period of time by maintaining the flow of the electrical current at the first amount or substantially the first amount during the period of time.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
restarting the rotation of the motor shaft by at least controlling the flow of the electrical current to a third amount within another predefined period of time.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining that the motor shaft is rotating; and
changing the flow of the electrical current from the third amount to a fourth amount within the operational range.
17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, upon execution by a motor controller of an architectural structure covering, cause the architectural structure covering to perform operations comprising:
stopping a rotation of a motor shaft of a motor coupled to a covering load of the architectural structure covering;
determining that the rotation has stopped;
causing, upon determining that the rotation has stopped, an alignment of a magnetic pair of a magnetic brake of the motor, the alignment causing a further rotation of the motor shaft to a hold position; and
maintaining the motor shaft at the hold position.
18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium claim 17 , wherein stopping the rotation of the motor shaft comprises controlling a flow of electrical current to the motor to change from an operational range to a first amount, wherein causing the alignment comprises reducing the flow of the electrical current from the first amount to a second amount, and wherein maintaining the motor shaft at the hold position comprises maintaining the flow of the electrical current at the second amount or substantially the second amount.
19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium claim 18 , wherein prior to the causing the alignment, the rotation is stopped for a period of time by maintaining the flow of the electrical current at the first amount or substantially the first amount during the period of time.
20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise:
restarting the rotation of the motor shaft by at least controlling the flow of the electrical current to a third amount within another predefined period of time;
determining that the motor shaft is rotating; and
changing the flow of the electrical current from the third amount to a fourth amount within the operational range.