18514583. Stall Protection for a Motorized Window Treatment simplified abstract (Lutron Technology Company LLC)

Stall Protection for a Motorized Window Treatment

Organization Name

Lutron Technology Company LLC

Inventor(s)

Donald F. Hausman, Jr. of New Tripoli PA (US)

Chen Ming Wu of Emmaus PA (US)

Stall Protection for a Motorized Window Treatment - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18514583 titled 'Stall Protection for a Motorized Window Treatment

Simplified Explanation

The motor drive unit described in the patent application is designed to detect and resolve stall conditions in a motor of a motorized window treatment. The unit includes both software-based and hardware-based implementations to effectively manage power delivery to the motor in the event of a stall condition.

• The hardware-based implementation is configured to reduce power delivered to the motor if the software-based implementation has not already done so.
• A control circuit is able to detect a stall condition in the motor and reduce power delivery after a specific period of time from the initial detection.
• A stall prevention circuit is included to further reduce power delivery to the motor after a longer period of time if a rotational sensing circuit fails to generate a sensor signal while the control circuit is actively sending a drive signal to rotate the motor.

Potential Applications

This technology can be applied in various motorized window treatments, such as blinds, shades, and curtains, to improve the efficiency and safety of the motor drive units.

Problems Solved

1. Efficiently detecting and resolving stall conditions in motors to prevent damage and ensure smooth operation. 2. Enhancing the overall performance and reliability of motorized window treatments by effectively managing power delivery.

Benefits

1. Increased safety by preventing motor stalls and potential hazards. 2. Improved longevity of motorized window treatments through optimized power management. 3. Enhanced user experience with smoother and more reliable operation.

Potential Commercial Applications

Optimizing power delivery in motorized window treatments can benefit manufacturers of smart home devices, interior design companies, and automation technology providers.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art in this field could be the use of stall detection and prevention mechanisms in industrial motors and machinery to ensure efficient and safe operation.

How does the stall prevention circuit differentiate between a stall condition and normal operation?

The stall prevention circuit likely monitors the sensor signal from the rotational sensing circuit to determine if the motor is functioning properly. If the sensor signal is not generated within a specific timeframe while the control circuit is active, the stall prevention circuit initiates a reduction in power delivery to prevent potential damage to the motor.

What are the specific parameters used to determine the first and second periods of time before reducing power delivery to the motor?

The specific parameters for the first and second periods of time may be based on the typical response time of the motor and the rotational sensing circuit. These parameters are likely optimized during testing to ensure timely and effective power management in the event of a stall condition.

Original Abstract Submitted

A motor drive unit for driving a motor of a motorized window treatment may comprise software-based and hardware-based implementations of a process for detecting and resolving a stall condition in the motor, where the hardware-based implementation is configured to reduce power delivered to the motor if the software-based implementation has not first reduced the power to the motor. A control circuit may detect a stall condition of the motor, and reduce the power delivered to the motor after a first period of time from first detecting the stall condition. The motor drive unit may comprise a stall prevention circuit configured to reduce the power delivered to the motor after a second period of time (e.g., longer than the first period of time) from determining that a rotational sensing circuit is not generating a sensor signal while the control circuit is generating a drive signal to rotate the motor.