Magnetic encoder for powered window covering
View Patent ↗A small permanent magnet is affixed to the protruding portion of a rotor of a motor that is coupled to gears in a gear enclosure. The rod of a window covering is coupled to the gears such that when the motor is energized by a user command signal, the window covering moves. At least one pick-up coil is affixed to the receptacle of the gear enclosure, such that when the motor with magnet turns, the pick-up coil senses magnetic pulses that can be used to determine the speed, position, and direction of rotation of the motor.
1. A powered assembly, comprising:
at least one object that can be moved between a first configuration and a second configuration, the object being selected from the group consisting of window coverings, awnings, skylight coverings, curtains, and screens;
at least one motor;
at least one actuator coupled to the motor and the object to move the object when the motor is energized, the motor and actuator defining a rotating member;
at least one permanent magnet affixed to the rotating member; and
at least one pick-up coil stationarily juxtaposed with the rotating member for generating pulses as the magnet rotates past the coil.
2. The powered assembly of claim 1 , wherein the motor is powered by at least one dc battery.
3. The powered assembly of claim 2 , wherein the object is a window covering.
4. The powered assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotating member is at least a portion of a rotor of the motor.
5. The powered assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one permanent magnet is attached to the rotor.
6. The assembly of claim 1 , comprising two coils in quadrature with each other.
7. The assembly of claim 1 , comprising two pair of quadrature coils.
8. A drive assembly for a movable object including a rod, comprising:
an electrically-powered drive structure couplable to the rod to move the object when the drive structure is energized to move at least one rotatable component of the drive structure;
at least a first braking magnet attached to a rotating component of the drive structure; and
at least one coil juxtaposed with the magnet to output a signal representative at least of a speed of rotation.
9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the drive structure is powered by at least one dc battery.
10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of window coverings, awnings, skylight coverings, curtains, and screens.
11. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the drive structure includes at least a portion of a rotor of the motor.
12. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein at least one permanent magnet is attached to the rotor.
13. The assembly of claim 8 , comprising two coils in quadrature with each other.
14. The assembly of claim 8 , comprising two pair of quadrature coils.
15. A power assembly for an object having at least one operator, comprising:
power means;
motor means energized by the power means;
means for coupling the motor means to the operator; and
magnetic means on the motor means and coupling means for braking the object when the motor means is de-energized, and for generating pulses useful for determining at least a speed, wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of window coverings, awnings, skylight coverings, curtains, and screens.
16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic means includes at least one coil.
17. The assembly of claim 15 , comprising two coils in quadrature with each other.
18. The assembly of claim 15 , comprising two pair of quadrature coils.
19. A drive assembly for a movable rod for an object that can be moved between a first configuration and a second configuration, the object being selected from the group consisting of window coverings, awnings, skylight coverings, curtains, and screens, the drive assembly comprising:
at least one electrically-powered drive structure couplable to the rod to move the object when the drive structure is energized to move at least one rotatable component of the drive structure;
a rotor of magnetic material formed such that the magnetic path through diameters at various angles is not uniform, the rotor being attached to a rotating component of the drive structure; and
at least one coil juxtaposed with a magnet attached to a fixed member of the drive structure to output a signal representative at least of a speed of rotation.
20. A drive assembly for a movable rod for an object that can be moved between a first configuration and a second configuration, the object being selected from the group consisting of window coverings, awnings, skylight coverings, curtains, and screens, the drive assembly comprising:
at least one coil be positioned on a rotor of the drive assembly;
at least one permanent magnet affixed to a non-moving member of the drive assembly; and
at least one slip ring for conveying a signal generated by the coil.