Motorized curtain driving device

Abstract

A system for opening and closing a curtain on a rod or rail, includes a driven wheel coupled to a motor within a housing and protruding from the housing in frictional engagement with the rod or rail and a suspension system including a plurality of support members, each of the plurality of support members configured for sliding or rolling contact with the rod or rail and a linkage extending along a suspension axis and connecting a support member of the plurality of support members to the housing to suspend the housing from the support member. During installation, the system is configured for the user to select the support member from the plurality of support members and to couple the support member to the housing, and the driven wheel is rotated by the motor to advance the housing along the rod or rail with the housing suspended from the support member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for opening and closing a curtain on a rod or rail, comprising:
 a driven wheel coupled to a motor within a housing and protruding from the housing in frictional engagement with the rod or rail; and   a suspension system comprising:
 a plurality of support members, each of the plurality of support members configured for sliding or rolling contact with the rod or rail; and 
 a linkage extending along a suspension axis and connecting a support member of the plurality of support members to the housing to suspend the housing from the support member, 
 wherein during installation by a user of the system, the system is configured for the user to select the support member from the plurality of support members and to couple the support member to the housing, 
   wherein the driven wheel is rotated by the motor to advance the housing along the rod or rail for opening and closing the curtain with the housing suspended from the support member.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support members comprises a rod support member configured to engage a rod and a rail support member configured to engage a rail. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support members comprises a first rail support member and a second rail support member, wherein the second rail support member is different than the first rail support member. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support members comprises at least one of a support arm with terminal members configured to roll or slide along outer channels of an I-rail, or a support arm with terminal members configured to roll or slide along an inner channel of a U-rail. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support members comprises at least two of a slide member in sliding contact with the rod or rail, a roller member in rolling contact with the rod or rail, or a V-shaped member with two frustrum portions. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein during installation the system is further configured for the user to attach the support member to the rod or rail to suspend the housing from the rod or rail. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage includes one or more springs that biases the housing to press the driven wheel against the rod or rail. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a ratchet that biases the housing to press the driven wheel against the rod or rail. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the linkage includes a locking mechanism with one or more detent positions to arrest movement of the linkage relative to the housing along the suspension axis. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the suspension system is moveable between a first assembly position defined by the support member extended a first distance from the housing, and a second live position defined by the support member extend a second distance from the housing, the second distance less than the first distance, and wherein in the first assembly position the locking mechanism extends from the suspension system and engages with the housing to resist a force of the one or more springs, and in the second live position the locking mechanism is positioned within the suspension system to allow the one or more springs to bias the housing to press the driven wheel against the rod or rail. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension system is moveable between a first assembly position defined by the support member extended a first distance from the housing, and a second live position defined by the support member extended a second distance from the housing, the second distance less than the first distance. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage comprises a first member extending from the support member to the housing along a first suspension axis at a first side of the driven wheel and a second member extending from the support member to the housing along a second suspension axis at a second side of the driven wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first member includes a first plurality of springs and the second member includes a second plurality of springs, wherein the first plurality of springs and the second plurality of springs bias the housing to press the driven wheel against the rod or rail. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage comprises a hinged portion configured to receive the rod or rail. 
     
     
         15 . A system for opening and closing a curtain on a rod or rail, comprising:
 a driven wheel coupled to a motor within a housing and in frictional engagement with the rod or rail, wherein the driven wheel is rotated by the motor to advance the system along the rod or rail for opening and closing the curtain;   a controller for the motor; and   an encoder operatively connected to the controller, wherein the encoder tracks rotational movement of the driven wheel,   wherein the controller is configured control the driven wheel to advance the system along the rod or rail to determine a first position on the rod or rail and a second position on the rod or rail different than the first position, and   wherein the controller determines the first position and the second position based on feedback from at least one of the motor or the encoder.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the rod or rail comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the first position is between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine at least one motor characteristic based on the feedback, the at least one motor characteristic comprising at least one of a current consumption of the motor, a torque, a power level, or a speed, and   wherein the controller determines the first position and the second position based on the at least one motor characteristic.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine at least one device characteristic based on the feedback, the at least one device characteristic comprising at least one of a housing speed and a power level of the system, and   wherein the controller determines the first position and the second position based on the at least one device characteristic.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 based on feedback from the at least one of the motor or the encoder identifying drift from the first position or the second position during continuing operation of the system, recalibrate the first position or second position to compensate for the identified drift.   
     
     
         20 . A system for opening and closing a curtain on a rod or rail, comprising:
 a driven wheel coupled to a motor within a housing and in frictional engagement with the rod or rail, wherein the driven wheel is rotated by the motor to advance the system along the rod or rail for opening and closing the curtain;   a controller for the motor; and   an encoder operatively connected to the controller, wherein the encoder tracks rotational movement of the driven wheel;   wherein the controller receives a feedback from at least one of the motor or the encoder, and wherein the controller is further configured to use the feedback to determine each end of a maximum range of travel based on at least one of an increase in a current consumption of the motor, an increase in a torque generated, or a decrease in a speed at a given power level to determine the maximum range of travel along the rod or rail.