Group control method for controlling motor-driven screens as a group, automatic motor control for implementing the method, and home automation installations including such automatic motor control
According to the method of the invention, the movement of movable screen ends for a group of motor-driven screens to a common position is controlled in a grouped manner. The method includes a step (E 150 ) consisting of moving the end of a screen when said end becomes the farthest from the common position after moving the end of at least one other screen to said common position.
1. A group control method for causing movable ends of a group including a plurality of separate motor-driven screens to move from respective non-aligned positions towards a common aligned position in both opening and closing directions, the method comprising the steps of:
A. Continuously sensing a current position of the movable end of each screen relative to a predetermined reference position and providing the current position to a controller;
B. Selecting a common position to which the movable ends of each of the screens is to be moved and providing the common position to the controller; and thereafter
C. moving the movable end of at least one screen that is furthest from the common position toward the common position without moving the movable ends of screens that are closer to the common position until the movable end of the at least one screen aligns with the movable end of at least one other screen.
2. A group control method according to claim 1 , wherein once the movable end of the at least one screen comes into alignment with the movable end of at least one other screen in the group, simultaneously moving the at least one screen and the at least one other screen toward the common position at a common speed.
3. A group control method according to claim 1 , wherein in step C causing the movable end of the at least one screen that is furthest closed relative to the common position to be moved in an opening direction.
4. A group control method according to claim 1 , wherein in step C causing the movable end of the screen that is furthest open relative to the common position to move in a closure direction.
5. A group control method according to claim 1 , wherein a sequence of movement of the movable ends of the screens depends on initial positions of the movable ends relative to the common position.
6. A group control method according to claim 1 , including the additional steps of:
I) identifying a state of opening of the screens of the group of screens;
ii) selecting at least one master screen; and
iii) moving a load bar of the master screen in compliance with an instruction received from the controller.
7. A group control method according to claim 1 , wherein the movable end of each screen includes a load bar, and the load bars are moved vertically.
8. Automatic motor control for controlling a group of screens incorporating means for causing movable ends of the screens to move from respective non-aligned positions towards a common aligned position in both opening and closing directions, the motor control comprising,
A. Counter means for continuously computing a position of the movable end of each screen relative to a predetermined reference position and providing the reference position to a controller;
B. The controller having means to select a common position to which the movable ends of the screens are to be moved;
C. A motor associated with each screen for moving the movable end of each screen towards the common position; and
D. The controller being operable to initially energize a motor associated with at least one screen having a movable end that is furthest from the common position toward the common position without moving the movable ends of screens that are closer to the common position until the movable end of the at least one screen aligns with the movable end of at least one other screen, and thereafter simultaneously energizing a motor associated with the at least one other screen to move with the movable end at least one screen so that the movable ends of the at least one screen and the movable end of the at least one other screen move in alignment towards the common position at a common speed.
9. A home automation installation including the automatic motor control according to claim 8 , wherein the screens are selected from a group of screens consisting of fabric blinds, shades and venetian blinds.
10. A home automation installation including the automatic motor control according to claim 8 , wherein the screens are selected from a group of screens consisting of sunshades and louvers that are mounted to move horizontally relative to an opening.