Intelligent automated motorized window treatment with increased energy efficiency and method of using same
Various embodiments described herein relate to a self-contained, self-regulating intelligent automated window treatment with increased energy efficiency. In at least one embodiment, the window treatment consists of: (1) a headrail; (2) a tube located within the headrail; (3) a motor located within the headrail, preferably within the tube; (4) window treatment fabric with one terminus of the fabric affixed to the tube within the headrail, and with the fabric extending from the tube and out from the headrail; (5) a smart bottom rail attached to the terminus of the shade fabric furthest from the tube with the bottom rail containing, at least one sensor, at least one control button, and a battery that provides power to the sensor(s) and control button(s), and wherein the smart bottom rail communicates with the motor in the headrail. Types of sensors used may include environmental sensors, motion sensors, and inertial sensors. In another embodiment of the invention, the battery in the bottom rail may be a rechargeable battery. In a further embodiment, the bottom rail may contain at least one solar panel, which may be used to provide charge to the rechargeable battery. In another embodiment of the invention, the headrail further consists of a solar panel and a rechargeable battery that may be charged by the solar panel. In a further embodiment solar power stored in the rechargeable battery of the bottom rail may be transferred to the rechargeable battery-powered motor of the headrail.
1 . A window treatment system comprising:
a headrail housing a motor, a first power source configured to power the motor, and a receiver operable to receive wirelessly transmitted power to charge the first power source;
a window shade fabric extending between a first terminus and a spaced apart second terminus, wherein the first terminus is affixed inside the headrail and is raised and lowered by the motor;
a bottom rail attached to the second terminus of the shade fabric, the bottom rail comprising an inertial sensor, a second power source, and a transmitter,
wherein the transmitter is operable to: upon determining that the bottom rail is within a predetermined distance of the headrail, wirelessly transmit power from the second power source to the receiver in the headrail, using a first wireless power transmission technique, and upon determining that the bottom rail is not within the predetermined distance of the headrail, wirelessly transmit power from the second power source to the receiver in the headrail using a second wireless power transmission technique, wherein the first wireless power transmission technique is different than the second wireless power transmission technique;
a control button being coupled to the inertial sensor and the motor, the control button being operable for:
controlling the motor to lower the bottom rail along a downward path to an end position;
monitoring, via the inertial sensor, for obstructions in the downward path;
in response to detecting an obstruction, controlling the motor to raise the bottom rail a predefined distance; and
controlling the motor to re-attempt to lower the bottom rail to the predefined end position while monitoring, via the inertial sensor, for obstructions in the downward path.
2 . The window treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inertial sensor is one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope or a magnetometer.
3 . The window treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the control button is configured to control the motor to re-attempt to lower the bottom rail after waiting a predetermined duration of time.
4 . The window treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the control button is further coupled to a display screen, and in response to detecting an obstruction, the control button is configured to display, on the display screen, an obstruction detected message.
5 . The window treatment system of claim 4 , wherein in response to receiving an indication from the inertial sensor that the obstruction is cleared, the control button is further configured for controlling the motor to lower the bottom rail while continuing to monitor for the obstruction.
6 . The window treatment system of claim 5 , wherein after the obstruction is detected, the control button is configured to control the motor to lower the bottom rail after determining the earlier of:
the indication from the inertial sensor that the obstruction is cleared; and
a predetermined duration of time has elapsed.
7 . The window treatment system of claim 4 , wherein the control button and the display screen are included in a smart system unit affixed to one of the bottom rail or the headrail.
8 . The window treatment system of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first power source and the second power source comprises a rechargeable battery, and the rechargeable battery is included in the smart system unit.
9 . The window treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the headrail further houses a tube, and the first terminus of the shade fabric is affixed and wrapped around the tube, and the control button is operable to control the descent and ascent of the bottom rail via the motor in the headrail by rotating the tube.
10 . The window treatment system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the headrail and bottom rail houses at least one solar panel, the at least one solar panel being electrically coupled to the first power source or the second power source.
11 . A method for operating a window treatment system comprising a headrail having a first power source, a bottom rail having a second power source, and a window shade fabric extending between a first terminus and a spaced apart second terminus, wherein the first terminus is affixed inside the headrail and the second terminus is attached to the bottom rail, the method comprising:
transmitting, via a transmitter in the bottom rail, power from the second power source wirelessly to a receiver in the headrail, using a wireless power transmission technique, to charge the first power source;
controlling a motor, via the first power source, to lower the bottom rail along a downward path to a predefined end position;
monitoring, via an inertial sensor, for obstructions in the downward path;
in response to detecting an obstruction, controlling the motor to raise the bottom rail a pre-defined upward distance; and
controlling the motor to re-attempt to lower the bottom rail to the predefined end position while monitoring, via the inertial sensor, for obstructions in the downward path;
wherein the transmitter is operable to: upon determining that the bottom rail is within a predetermined distance of the headrail, wirelessly transmit power from the second power source to the receiver in the headrail, using a first wireless power transmission technique, and upon determining that the bottom rail is not within the predetermined distance of the headrail, wirelessly transmit power from the second power source to the receiver in the headrail using a second wireless power transmission technique, wherein the first wireless power transmission technique is different than the second wireless power transmission technique.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one inertial sensor is one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope or a magnetometer.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
re-attempting to lower the bottom rail after waiting a predetermined duration of time.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
in response to detecting an obstruction, displaying, on a display screen, an obstruction detected message.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises:
in response to receiving an indication from the inertial sensor that the obstruction is cleared, controlling the headrail motor to lower the bottom rail while continuing to monitor.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein after the obstruction is detected, the method further comprises:
controlling the motor to lower the bottom rail after determining the earlier of:
the indication from the inertial sensor that the obstruction is cleared; or
a predetermined duration of time has elapsed.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the control button, display screen and the inertial sensor are included in a smart system unit affixed to one of the bottom rail or the headrail.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first power source and the second power source comprises a rechargeable battery, and the rechargeable battery is included in the smart system unit.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the headrail further houses a tube, and the first terminus of the shade fabric is affixed and wrapped around the tube, and the method further comprises: controlling the descent and ascent of the bottom rail via the motor in the headrail by rotating the tube.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the headrail and bottom rail houses at least one solar panel, the at least one solar panel being electrically coupled to the first power source or the second power source.