IP Library Granted Patent US 7,729,807
Granted Patent B2
US 7,729,807 · App. 11/958,545 · Granted Jun 1, 2010

Security sensor-transmitter for detecting wind in a home automation installation

Assignee: Somfy SAS
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,729,807
App. No.
11/958,545
Granted
Jun 1, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sensor-transmitter ( 20 ) intended to be fastened to a mobile structure ( 11, 13, 14 ) and to transmit a security signal in a home automation installation ( 10 ), comprising, in a casing ( 22, 23 ): an autonomous power source ( 36 ), a vibration sensor ( 33 ), a wireless transmitter ( 35 ) and a processing logic unit ( 34 ) analyzing the signals obtained from the vibration sensor to decide whether to transmit the security signal by the wireless transmitter, which comprises means ( 27, 32 ) of detecting the mechanical state of the casing, the sensor-transmitter being: in an operational state when the casing is closed and fastened to the mobile structure, the transmission of a security signal being enabled in this operational state, and in a disabled state otherwise, the transmission of a security signal being prohibited in this disabled state, whereas the transmission of other signals remains possible, or the transmission of a security signal being enabled in this disabled state, the security signal being disabled by a disabling signal.

Claims (22)

1. A sensor-transmitter intended to be fastened to a mobile structure of a motorized awning or blind and to transmit a wind security signal in a home or building automation installation, comprising, in a casing:

an autonomous power source, a vibration sensor, a wireless transmitter and a processing logic unit analyzing the signals obtained from the vibration sensor to decide whether to transmit the wind security signal by the wireless transmitter, wherein it comprises means of detecting the mechanical state of the casing, the sensor-transmitter being:

in an operational state when the casing is closed and fastened to the mobile structure, the transmission of the wind security signal being enabled in this operational state, in order to retract the awning or blind when a wind security threshold is reached; and in a disabled state otherwise,

the transmission of the wind security signal being prohibited in this disabled state, whereas the transmission of other signals remains possible, or

the transmission of the wind security signal being enabled in this disabled state, the wind security signal being disabled by a disabling signal.

2. The sensor-transmitter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the disabling signal comprises information indicating the disabled state of the sensor.

3. The sensor-transmitter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the other signals include a presence signal.

4. A home automation installation of a motorized awning or blind comprising a mobile structure and a fixed structure comprising a control unit provided with a wireless receiver, and activating a motor on receiving a wind security signal, which comprises a sensor-transmitter comprising, in a casing: an autonomous power source, a vibration sensor, a wireless transmitter and a processing logic unit analyzing the signals obtained from the vibration sensor to decide whether to transmit the wind security signal by the wireless transmitter, wherein it comprises means of detecting the mechanical state of the casing, the sensor-transmitter being: in an operation state when the casing is closed and fastened to the mobile structure, the transmission of the wind security signal being enabled in this operation state, in order to retract the awning or blind when a wind security threshold is reached; and in a disabled state otherwise, the transmission of the wind security signal being prohibited in this disabled state, whereas the transmission of other signals remains possible, or the transmission of the wind security signal being enabled in this disabled state, the wind security signal being disabled by a disabling signal mounted on the mobile structure.

5. A home automation installation of a motorized awning or blind comprising a mobile structure and a fixed structure comprising a control unit provided with a wireless receiver, and activating a motor on receiving a valid wind security signal, which comprises a sensor-transmitter comprising, in a casing: an autonomous power source, a vibration sensor, a wireless transmitter and a processing logic unit analyzing the signals obtained from the vibration sensor to decide whether to transmit the wind security signal by the wireless transmitter, wherein it comprises means of detecting the mechanical state of the casing, the sensor-transmitter being: in an operational state when the casing is closed and fastened to the mobile structure, the transmission of the wind security signal being enabled in this operational state, in order to retract the awning or blind when a wind security threshold is reached; and in a disabled state otherwise, the transmission of the wind security signal being prohibited in this disabled state, whereas the transmission of other signals remains possible, or the transmission of the wind security signal being enabled in this disabled state, the wind security signal being disabled by a disabling signal mounted on the mobile structure.

6. The home automation installation as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the mobile structure comprises a motorized arm awning.

7. The home automation installation as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the mobile structure comprises a motorized arm awning.

8. An operating method for a sensor-transmitter as claimed in claim 1 , which comprises a step in which the mechanical state of the casing is monitored, the sensor-transmitter being positioned in an operational state or in a disabled state according to the mechanical state of the casing.

9. The operating method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein, in the disabled state, the sensor-transmitter periodically transmits a presence signal.

10. A learning method for a sensor-transmitter comprising, in a casing: an autonomous power source, a vibration sensor, a wireless transmitter and a processing logic unit analyzing the signals obtained from the vibration sensor to decide whether to transmit the wind security signal by the wireless transmitter, wherein it comprises means of detecting the mechanical state of the casing, the sensor-transmitter being: in an operational state when the casing is closed and fastened to the mobile structure, the transmission of the wind security signal being enabled in this operational state, in order to retract the awning or blind when a wind security threshold is reached; and in a disabled state otherwise, the transmission of the wind security signal being prohibited in this disabled state, whereas the transmission of other signals remains possible, or the transmission of the wind security signal being enabled in this disabled state, the wind security signal being disabled by a disabling signal, which comprises a step in which the mechanical state of the casing is monitored, the sensor-transmitter being positioned in an operational state or in a disabled state according to the mechanical state of the casing and triggering a setting procedure when the sensor-transmitter remains in a disabled state for a duration less than a first predetermined duration.

11. The learning method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the setting procedure comprises:

a step for manually agitating the mobile structure,

a measurement step using the vibration sensor and

a measurement storage step,

then:

a step for computing at least one threshold value from the stored measurements, and

a threshold value storage step.

12. The learning method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the sensor-transmitter switches to the operational state after the setting procedure.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 23, 2020
From: SOMFY SAS
To: SOMFY ACTIVITES SA
Reel/Frame 051685/0851 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2007
From: GUILLEMOT, ERIC ANDRE GEORGES; GREHANT, BERNARD
To: SOMFY SAS
Reel/Frame 020262/0180 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 06 11370 · Dec 26, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080150717A1 · Jun 26, 2008