Abstract: A motorized vent covering for an air vent of the environment control system, the motorized vent covering comprising an air flow restrictor for controlling air flow through the vent; and an actuator, the actuator including a motor configured to drive the air flow restrictor to control the flow of air from the vent, and a controller in communication with the motor, the controller configured to provide operating instructions to the motor to open or close the air flow restrictor to adjust the flow of air through the air vent.

Abstract: An arched shutter configured for automated, simultaneous control of a plurality of louvers, the arched shutter comprises the plurality of louvers, a frame, a portion of which forms an arch, a base, wherein the plurality of louvers are installed between the base and the portion of the frame that forms an arch via a plurality of rod arms, a motor configured to drive one of the plurality of rod arms and therefore one of the plurality of louvers, and a plurality of linking apparatus connecting the plurality of louvers such that all of the plurality of louvers operate when the one louver is driven by the motor.

Abstract: A motorized vent covering for an air vent of the environment control system, the motorized vent covering comprising an air flow restrictor for controlling air flow through the vent; and an actuator, the actuator including a motor configured to drive the air flow restrictor to control the flow of air from the vent, and a controller in communication with the motor, the controller configured to provide operating instructions to the motor to open or close the air flow restrictor to adjust the flow of air through the air vent.

Abstract: An arched shutter configured for automated, simultaneous control of a plurality of louvers, the arched shutter comprises the plurality of louvers, a frame, a portion of which forms an arch, a base, wherein the plurality of louvers are installed between the base and the portion of the frame that forms an arch via a plurality of rod arms, a motor configured to drive one of the plurality of rod arms and therefore one of the plurality of louvers, and a plurality of linking apparatus connecting the plurality of louvers such that all of the plurality of louvers operate when the one louver is driven by the motor.

Abstract: A motorized window covering includes a motor and a housing that holds the motor and a dc battery. Also, within the housing is a wake-up signal amplifier that is constantly energized and a data signal amplifier that is only energized when a wake-up signal is received. A remote control unit is used to generate and transmit the wake-up signal and a data signal that is use to control the operation of the window covering.

Abstract: A motorized window covering has a motor and a housing that holds the motor and a dc battery. When the motor is energized to move a window covering, a pulse detector counts the motor current pulses to determine the position of the window covering. A user can save a motor current pulse count corresponding to a desired position and then return the desired position from a different position by simply pressing a button on a remote control unit. Further, inaccuracies caused by motor current pulses that were not counted by the pulse detector, e.g., at start up, at shut down, or during coast down, are minimized by error correction logic.

Abstract: A logic chip that controls the motor of a motorized window covering or other object includes a clock. A frequency stabilizer circuit is provided to receive input voltage and to output to the clock a current that is a function of the voltage and temperature over a range of input voltage values and over a range of ambient temperature values so that the frequency output by the oscillator is constant.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A mini-blind actuator has a motor and a housing that holds the motor and a dc battery. The rotor of the motor is coupled to the baton of the mini-blind for rotating the baton and thereby opening or closing the slats of the mini-blind. Alternatively, the rotor is coupled to the tilt rod of the blind to rotate the tilt rod and thereby open or close the slats of the mini-blind. A control signal generator generates a control signal for completing the electrical circuit between the battery and the motor. The control signal can be generated in response to a predetermined amount of daylight or in response to a user-generated remote command signal. The actuator can be used to rotate the slats of horizontal or vertical blinds, or the sections of a pleated shade. Or, the actuator can be used to rotate the hollow rotatable tube of a roll-up shade.

Abstract: A photoelectric power supply system for motorized window coverings includes a light detector electrically connected to a relatively high dielectric capacitor. In turn, the capacitor is connected to an electric motor, and the capacitor is the primary source of power for the motor. The light detector converts solar energy to electric energy that is used to charge the capacitor. The electric motor utilizes electricity from the capacitor as needed.

Abstract: Small permanent magnets are 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. Small braking magnets are also affixed to the receptacle of the gear enclosure, such that when the motor is deenergized, the magnetic coupling between the magnets of the rotor and those of the gear enclosure brakes the rod from turning under the weight of the window covering.

Abstract: A motor for turning the rod of an object such as a window covering is attached to an elongated ferromagnetic bar. Magnets are closely spaced from the bar, and as the bar rotates to cut the magnetic field lines, pickup coils generate signals that can be used to determine the direction and speed of rotation and also the position of the motor (and, hence, the position of the object being moved). The magnets brake the motor from turning under the weight of the object when the motor is deenergized.

Abstract: A mini-blind actuator has a motor and a housing that holds the motor and a dc battery. The rotor of the motor is coupled to the baton of the mini-blind for rotating the baton and thereby opening or closing the slats of the mini-blind. Alternatively, the rotor is coupled to the tilt rod of the blind to rotate the tilt rod and thereby open or close the slats of the mini-blind. A control signal generator generates a control signal for completing the electrical circuit between the battery and the motor. The control signal can be generated in response to a predetermined amount of daylight or in response to a user-generated remote command signal. The actuator can be used to rotate the slats of horizontal or vertical blinds, or the sections of a pleated shade. Or, the actuator can be used to rotate the hollow rotatable tube of a roll-up shade.

Abstract: A roll-up shade is doubled and its ends suspended from a head rail that is mounted above a window. One end is attached to a roller tube and the other end is attached to a stationary tube, with a bight being formed between the tubes. A first sheet is defined from the bight to the roller tube and a second sheet is defined from the bight to the stationary tube. A weighty rod is positioned in the bight to cause the bight to sag away from the head rail, and a shade guide surrounds the rod to guide the shade. With this structure, the roller tube can be rotated to pull up the first sheet and raise the bight or to lower the first sheet with bight, with the second sheet (i.e., the sheet that is directly attached to the stationary tube) remaining unmoving above the bight. The shade is patterned such that when the shade is raised and lowered, the relative motion between the two sheets causes the shade to alternatingly assume high and low opacity configurations. The roller tube can be motorized if desired.

Abstract: An automatic control apparatus for window coverings where the control apparatus is mounted in the space between a headrail and a window. The control apparatus is mounted to the rear surface of the headrail so as to overlie the rear surface of the headrail and is blocked from view by the headrail. A battery pack may be mounted to the control apparatus along the rear surface of the headrail and would also be blocked from view by the headrail.

Abstract: A mini-blind actuator has a motor and a housing that holds the motor and a dc battery. The rotor of the motor is coupled to the baton of the mini-blind for rotating the baton and thereby opening or closing the slats of the mini-blind. Alternatively, the rotor is coupled to the tilt rod of the blind to rotate the tilt rod and thereby open or close the slats of the mini-blind. A control signal generator generates a control signal for completing the electrical circuit between the battery and the motor. The control signal can be generated in response to a predetermined amount of daylight or in response to a user-generated remote command signal. The actuator can be used to rotate the slats of horizontal or vertical blinds, or the sections of a pleated shade. Or, the actuator can be used to rotate the hollow rotatable tube of a roll-up shade.

Abstract: A mini-blind actuator has a motor and a housing that holds the motor and a dc battery. The rotor of the motor is coupled to the baton of the mini-blind for rotating the baton and thereby opening or closing the slats of the mini-blind. Alternatively, the rotor is coupled to the tilt rod of the blind to rotate the tilt rod and thereby open or close the slats of the mini-blind. A control signal generator generates a control signal for completing the electrical circuit between the battery and the motor. The control signal can be generated in response to a predetermined amount of daylight or in response to a user-generated remote command signal. The actuator can be used to rotate the slats of horizontal or vertical blinds, or the sections of a pleated shade. Or, the actuator can be used to rotate the hollow rotatable tube of a roll-up shade.

Abstract: A mini-blind actuator has a motor and a housing that holds the motor and a dc battery. The rotor of the motor is coupled to the baton of the mini-blind for rotating the baton and thereby opening or closing the slats of the mini-blind. Alternatively, the rotor is coupled to the tilt rod of the blind to rotate the tilt rod and thereby open or close the slats of the mini-blind. A control signal generator generates a control signal for completing the electrical circuit between the battery and the motor. The control signal can be generated in response to a predetermined amount of daylight or in response to a user-generated remote command signal. The actuator can be used to rotate the slats of horizontal or vertical blinds, or the sections of a pleated shade. Or, the actuator can be used to rotate the hollow rotatable tube of a roll-up shade.

Abstract: A suspension cord guide for a window blind includes an L-shaped guide member positioned within the head rail of the blind. The guide member is positioned adjacent an opening in the head rail through which the suspension cord extends. Also, the suspension cord guide includes a hollow spindle surroundingly engaged with a tilt rod in the head rail, and the spindle is formed with an abutment surface on its end nearest the opening. A finger of the L-shaped member extends toward the spindle, with the suspension cord being fed onto the spindle next to the abutment surface by the guide member. In addition to guiding the cord onto the spindle, the finger of the L-shaped guide member contacts the coil of the suspension cord that is established on the spindle nearest the finger.

Abstract: A mini-blind actuator has a motor and a housing that holds the motor and a dc battery. The rotor of the motor is coupled to the baton of the mini-blind for rotating the baton and thereby opening or closing the slats of the mini-blind. Alternatively, the rotor is coupled to the tilt rod of the blind to rotate the tilt rod and thereby open or close the slats of the mini-blind. A control signal generator generates a control signal for completing the electrical circuit between the battery and the motor. The control signal can be generated in response to a predetermined amount of daylight or in response to a user-generated remote command signal. The actuator can be used to rotate the slats of horizontal or vertical blinds, or the sections of a pleated shade. Or, the actuator can be used to rotate the hollow rotatable tube of a roll-up shade.