High energy saving system for radio-controlled drives

Abstract

 A high energy saving system for radio-controlled drives, including at least one radio-frequency circuit for remotely driving a load, such as, for example, a sliding or shutters gate, which includes a radio-control connected with an electronic control unit (13), suitable to drive at least one electric motor driving the load; the system includes at least one microprocessor (10), connected with the electronic control unit (13), at the input (11) of which a series of parameters relating to respective commands and/or signals (open/close, stepping moving, stop, pedestrian passage, flashing danger and/or alarm signals) inherent to the load are sent, while at the output (12) of the microprocessor (10) the parameters with active logic state of at least one of the aforesaid commands are replicated. Moreover, the microprocessor (10) is programmed so that the radio-receiver (15) is always powered, in order to decode the coding of the transmitted signal, while the rest of the system is powered only if at least one give command is identified at the input (11) of the microprocessor (10).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a high energy saving system for radio-controlled drives and, more particularly, relates to a drive system for home and/or industrial automatisms, such as a plant for opening/closing doors and/or gates, main gates, barriers, rolling shutters, awnings, etc.

[0002] In particular, the plants for the automation of doors, main gates, barriers and/or gates, either ledge or sliding, are generally composed of an electric ratio-motor, which drives the gate, an electronic control unit, suitable to control the ratio-motor and the centralized management of the entire plant, a command device of the drive, usually consisting of a radio-control and/or a digital keypad and/or a key switch, and a plurality of safety devices, such as photocells, sensible and/or anti-crushing edges, lighting signallers.

[0003] Some components may also lack or be incorporated into a single structure.

[0004] For example, in automation plant for awnings the safety devices lack and the electronic control unit is integrated within the ratio-motor, along with the device receiving the radio-control.

[0005] Furthermore, the radio apparatus (radio-frequency stage) is typically formed by at least one radio-transmitter which transmits a radio frequency signal, and at least one receiving device or radio-receiver, suitable to receive the signal radiated by the radio- transmitter.

[0006] In particular, in case of drives for gates, doors, main gates and/or barriers, the radio-transmitter is a usually portable device, batteries powered, which is provided with one or more command buttons, whose operation by the user generates a radio signal, normally of encoded type, which modulates the radio frequency signal emitted by the transmitter and radiated into the space.

[0007] The radio-receiver, matched with the same frequency of the radio-transmitter, when it receives and recognizes the signal radiated by the radio-transmitter, usually operates an output contact (relay), which in practice "replies" at distance the state of the button pressed on the radio-transmitter.

[0008] The output contact of the radio-receiver is then typically used to control directly or indirectly the electronic control unit of the drive.

[0009] One of the main problem of the systems for radio-controlled drives currently used is constituted by the energy consumption, which, mostly considering the ongoing energy crisis and the continuous cost increases for the purchase of resources, it becomes more and more desirable to reduce.

[0010] All this taking into account the fact that the energy consumption of the running traditional devices (i.e. during the opening and/or closing of the doors or barriers) depends on the weight of the gate and is about 0.2-0.5 kW and that these devices have in any case an average consumption of about 35-50 W (equivalent to an average annual cost of around 50 Euros), dispersed in rest conditions ("stand-by") and due to the effect of the magnetization current circulating inside the transformer and the accessories connected with it.

[0011] The purpose of the present invention is, therefore, to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above and, in particular, to provide a high energy saving system for radio-controlled drives which allows to reduce the energy consumption resulting from the power of the control device of the drive, lowering at the minimum the electrical power dispersed in rest conditions ("stand-by") of the system and consequently limiting the energy costs, compared to the traditional devices.

[0012] Another purpose of the invention is to create an external system with high energy saving which can be similarly installed both in the immediate vicinity of doors, gates, barriers, main gates, etc., driven by such a system, and inside the electronic control unit of the ratio-motor responsible for moving these doors, main gates, barriers, gates, etc.

[0013] A further purpose of the invention is to provide a high energy saving system for radio-controlled and/or wired drives which is easy and economical to be installed, high reliable and extremely efficient and simple to use, as well as suitable to extend the life of the electronic devices connected, since the same are not powered during the "stand-by" period.

[0014] These and other purposes are achieved by a high energy saving system for radio-controlled drives, according to the claim 1 enclosed; other technical features of detail are described in the dependent claims.

[0015] Advantageously, the system according to the invention can be used with any central control unit, ratio-motor or command device and needs only a series connection among a power source, a command unit and at least one ratio-motor or other equivalent mechanical drive.

[0016] Downstream the system additional components of the drive may also be associated, such as the electronic control unit or peripheral signalling devices, and the same system can conveniently include an own power circuit, provided with voltage stabilizer or power batteries or solar cells.

[0017] The construction of the system also allows to use and install it in already existing drives and/or automatisms.

[0018] Still advantageously, the system according to the invention substantially provides the use of a microprocessor (or similar electronic processing means), through which it is possible to set customized and/or planned uses of the system, such as the activation times and/or the performed activation numbers (for example, the number of openings or closings of a gate), in order to implement a diagnostic and warning system for future maintenances.

[0019] Further purposes and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the following description referring to a preferred, but not limiting, embodiment of the high energy saving system for radio-controlled drive, which is the object of the present invention, and from the drawings appended, provided also at pure preferred and not limiting title, where:

• figure 1 is an informal block diagram of a first embodiment of the high energy saving system for radio-controlled drives, according to the present invention;
• figure 1A is an informal block diagram of an executive variant, compared to the one shown in figure 1, of the high energy saving system for radio-controlled drives, according to the present invention;
• figure 2 shows a flowchart relating to the operation of the high energy saving system for radio-controlled drives, according to the present invention.

[0020] With reference to the figures mentioned, the system object of the invention includes a radio-transmitter 14, which communicates with a radio-receiver 15 for remotely operating the opening or closing of the drive, such as, for example, a sliding or shutters gate.

[0021] The radio-receiver 15 is also connected with an electronic control apparatus or unit 13 which, in turn, drives an electric motor, complete of ratio-motor, suitable to operate a mechanical actuator (load), such as a rack transmission, which operates the gate (the block indicated with 16 in the enclosed figures indicates the motor system plus the ratio-motor plus the load).

[0022] Obviously, the sliding or shutters gate and the relative motor, coupled with a corresponding ratio-motor, is simply a preferred, but not limiting, example of a possible embodiment of the invention, which finds application in any other automatism for the radio-controlled opening and/or closing not only of doors, main gates, gates, barriers, rolling shutters or the like, but also of electrical switches or other electrical, electronic or electromechanical apparatuses in general.

[0023] The system, according to the invention, can be installed in the immediate vicinity of the drive (as of the embodiment shown in the figure 1 attached) or can be integrated within the electronic control unit 13 which drives the ratio-motor and the electric motor operating the drive (as shown in the embodiment schematized in the figure 2 enclosed).

[0024] In any case, the aforesaid system is electrically interposed between the electric power line 17, connected with its transformer, complete with accessories 18 (rectifier bridge, filters, etc.), and the electronic control unit 13, so that the power of the ratio-motor occurs just through the energy saving system according to the invention.

[0025] Moreover, in alternative embodiments, the system in question can be powered either through the main power supply 17, properly rectified and filtered by means of the transformer block 18, or through different, internal or external, power sources such batteries, solar panels, power suppliers, etc.

[0026] In particular, the system basically includes a microprocessor 10, connected with an electronic control unit 13 and with which a series of input 11 are connected, which can be given to the drive both through the radio-transmitter or radio-control 14 and electrical connections, such as a wired push-button panel.

[0027] The inputs 11 may include, for example, a stepping moving, an opening command, a closing command, a command of moving of one or more pedestrian passages, a command of stop (which can be carried out manually or automatically through photocell or, in case of sliding gates, through pressure exerted on one or both the sensible security edges of the gate), an open gate alarm indicator (SCA) or closing (SWC) or opening (SWA) end-of-stroke, a signal alarm of one or more flashings, a command of timing or trimmer and/or a statistical analysis of the inputs.

[0028] The parameters with active logic state of the stepping moving, opening command, closing command, command of moving of one or more pedestrian passages and command of stop are typically replicated at the outputs 12 of the microprocessor 10, as illustrated in detail in the figure 1 attached.

[0029] Furthermore, on the basis of the invention, the microprocessor 10, beyond to contain transistors family of the last generation which absorb current and power values significantly lower than those ones absorbed by the transistors currently on the market, is programmed according to the operating instructions shown in detail in the flowchart of figure 2 attached, so as to achieve significant energy saving.

[0030] Such a programming provides the continuous power only of the radio-receiver 15 or the microprocessor 10, in order to receive the encoding and/or wired command necessary to the operation of the drive, while the electronic control unit 13, as well as the ratio-motor and the electric driving motor are activated only in case of need.

[0031] In particular, after reading the inputs 11, the applicative software program acts on the microprocessor 10 so that, if at least one of the stepping moving, opening, closing, pedestrian passage and stop commands or at least one among the signal alarms of one or more flashings, open and closing end-of-stroke gate alarm indicator, then the microprocessor 10 and the electronic control unit 13 remain powered, if they are already so, or, if they are not powered, they are powered after a certain predetermined and/or planned time interval, before the detected command is sent to the ratio-motor plus load block 16 (or drive).

[0032] Alternatively, in case any activation of none among the signal alarms and/or the commands previously mentioned is detected, the microprocessor 10 and the electronic control unit 13 remain powered for a given period of time, which can be set by the user, for example by a timing trimmer.

[0033] A further additional function of the system is represented by the fact that the user can eventually enable a statistical analysis of the inputs through the drive, in case it is a door, a barrier or a rolling shutter.

[0034] In this case, the microprocessor 10 processes the most common commands sent to the electronic control unit 13 at various times of the day, so that it is respectively possible to turn on or turn off the power only at the moments of the day during which, statistically, there are more passages or there are no passages through the drive.

[0035] It has been previously shown that the entire method of operation of the system according to the invention is extremely oriented to an evident energy saving, compared to the drive units of traditional type, mainly because, in stand-by conditions, only the microprocessor radio-frequency circuit of the drive is always kept on, so that the radio-receiver 15 can receive and decode the encoded signal, while all the rest of the circuit is powered, in order to provide for the operation of the load, only if at least one specific command at the inputs 11 is identified by the microprocessor 10 logic.

[0036] Furthermore, the microprocessor 10 logic uses a family of new-generation transistors, which presents a current absorption and a power consumption extremely minimal, mostly in "stand-by" or "sleep-mode" conditions.

[0037] From the description made, the features of the high energy saving system for radio-controlled drive, object of the present invention, as well as the resulting advantages, are clear.

[0038] It is, finally, clear that several other changes could be made to the system in question, without for this reason going out of the novelty principles inherent to the inventive idea, as it is clear that, in the practical implementation of the invention, materials, shapes and sizes of the details illustrated could be any, depending on the needs and the same could be replaced with others equivalent.

Claims

1. High energy saving system for radio-controlled drives, comprising at least one radio-frequency circuit for remotely driving at least one load, such as for example a sliding gate or a shutter gate, said circuit including at least one radio-transmitter (14) and at least one radio-receiver (15), said radio-receiver (15) being connected to at least one electronic control unit (13) which drives at least one electric motor driving said load, characterized by the fact that said system includes at least one microprocessor (10), which is connected to said electronic control unit (13), said unit (13) having an input (11), to which a plurality of parameters relating to commands and/or signals of the load are sent, and an output (12), in which parameters with an active logical state of at least one of said commands and/or signals are repeated, said microprocessor (10) being programmed so that said radio-receiver (15) and/or said microprocessor (10) are continuously powered, in order to decode an encoded signal, while the rest of the system is powered and is able to drive the load only whether at least one prefixed command and/or signal among said commands and/or signals of the load is found at said input (11) of the microprocessor (10).

2. System as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said commands and/or signals of the load include a step by step moving of the load, a command for opening or closing the load, a command for moving one or more pedestrian crossing, a command for stopping the load, at least one emergency alert, a timing command and/or a statistical analysis of the parameters sent to the input (11) of said microprocessor (10).

3. System as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said microprocessor (10) and said radio-receiver (15) are installed near said load or are integrated within said electronic control unit (13).

4. System as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said system is electrically interposed between a power source (17) and said electronic control unit (13).

5. System as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said system is powered by the power supply (17, 18) or through other power sources, which are inside or outside the system, such as batteries, solar panels, power supplies, etc.

6. System as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that if at least one prefixed command among said commands and/or signals of the load is detected at the input (11) of said microprocessor (10), said microprocessor (10) and said electronic control unit (13) are powered, in case they are already powered, while, if said microprocessor (10) and said electronic control unit (13) are not powered, they are powered after a prefixed and programmable time, before sending to the load the prefixed command and/or the prefixed signal which is detectable at the input (11) of said microprocessor (10).

7. System as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that if at least one prefixed command and/or signal among said commands and/or signals of the load is not detected at the input (11) of said microprocessor (10), said microprocessor (10) and said electronic control unit (13) are powered for a given time period, which is settable by a user.

8. System as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that if said load includes at least one door, at least one barrier, at least one shutter or at least one rolling shutter, said microprocessor (10) stores the most frequent commands sent to said electronic control unit (13) during prefixed time periods, so as to turn on or turn off the power supply of said electronic control unit (13) during the time periods in which more passages or no passages through said door, said barrier, said shutter or said rolling shutter are statistically pointed out.

Drawing