A modular shade includes at least one module that consists of a head rail unit, a foot rail unit, at least one intermediate rail unit, and a plurality of slat components. A top slat may be coupled to the head rail unit and the intermediate rail unit, and a bottom slat component may be coupled to the intermediate rail unit and the foot rail unit. Further, additional intermediate rail units and intermediate slat components may be added to the module to alter the shape and size of the module, and the module may be coupled to one or more additional modules to change the overall shape and size of the modular shade.

A motor driven system for raising and lowering a window covering executes motor ramp trajectory speed control. The motor ramp trajectory limits acceleration of an external motor from the idle (stationary) state to full operating speed, and limits deceleration of the motor from full operating speed back to the idle state. This function reduces stresses on a continuous cord loop drive mechanism. A control system manages solar heating effects in response to sunlight entrance conditions such as system sensor outputs, external weather forecasts, and other data sources. The system automatically opens or close the window covering to increase or decrease admitted sunlight under appropriate conditions. The input interface of the control system includes a visual display and input axis, which are aligned vertically if the window covering mechanism raises and lowers the window covering, and are aligned horizontally if the window covering mechanism laterally opens and closes the window covering.

Methods and apparatus to operate a covering of an architectural covering are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a clutch to disengage a motor when the motor is not in use. The dual control architectural covering further includes a clutch to disengage a motor from moving a covering to facilitate manual operation of the covering of an architectural covering when the motor is not in use; and a controller: to track a covering position based on a first encoder measurement from a first encoder; and to track a motor position when the motor disengages based on a second encoder measurement from a second encoder different from the first encoder.

In one or more arrangements, a power efficient remote control system is presented. The remote control system has a touch based interface having a plurality of touch sensitive sensors. The remote control system is configured to operate in an active mode in response to user input and operate in a background mode in response to inactivity. In the active mode, a control circuit of the remote control system is configured to monitor touch activity by sampling signals from outputs from a plurality of touch sensitive sensors individually. In the background mode, power is saved by electrically connecting outputs of the plurality of touch sensitive sensors together and monitoring touch activity by sampling a signal from the connected outputs of the plurality of touch sensitive sensors together.

A permanent magnet actuation mechanism may include a first permanent magnet magnetized along a first axis and rotatable about a first rotational axis perpendicular to the first axis, a second permanent magnet magnetized along a second axis and rotatable about a second rotational axis perpendicular to the second axis. The first rotational axis is parallel with the second rotational axis. The mechanism further comprises a mounting structure configured to position the first permanent magnet at a first distance from the second permanent magnet along a main axis perpendicular to the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis.

An electric curtain includes an upper beam, two curtain ropes, a curtain body and a lower beam. The upper beam includes a rotating shaft, a pivotal member, two rope winders, a controller and a wireless control unit installed inside the controller. The wireless control unit has the technical feature of receiving and matching with a wireless transmission communication protocol originated from the external, thereby allowing the electric curtain to achieve the effect of establishing the most optimal electrical conduction and wireless communication transmission between the two based on the external wireless transmission communication protocol selected and matched.

A tilt-control assembly for use with an operating mechanism of an architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The tilt-control assembly includes a limiter having an external screw thread and a ball operatively associated with the screw threads so that rotation of the limiter moves the ball relative to the limiter. The screw threads may include variable pitch threads. For example, the screw thread may include a middle thread pitch in a middle portion of the screw thread and an end thread pitch adjacent to the ends of the screw thread, the middle thread pitch being smaller than the end thread pitch. In addition, the limiter and/or screw threads may include a variable diameter. The ball may be positioned within a groove including a contoured surface that substantially corresponds to the variable diameter. The ends of the screw thread may include substantially spherically shaped end portions for receiving the ball therein.

A modular shade includes at least one module that consists of a head rail unit, a foot rail unit, at least one intermediate rail unit, and a plurality of slat components. A top slat may be coupled to the head rail unit and the intermediate rail unit, and a bottom slat component may be coupled to the intermediate rail unit and the foot rail unit. Further, additional intermediate rail units and intermediate slat components may be added to the module to alter the shape and size of the module, and the module may be coupled to one or more additional modules to change the overall shape and size of the modular shade.

A motor driven system for raising and lowering a window covering executes motor ramp trajectory speed control. The motor ramp trajectory limits acceleration of an external motor from the idle (stationary) state to full operating speed, and limits deceleration of the motor from full operating speed back to the idle state. This function reduces stresses on a continuous cord loop drive mechanism. A control system manages solar heating effects in response to sunlight entrance conditions such as system sensor outputs, external weather forecasts, and other data sources. The system automatically opens or close the window covering to increase or decrease admitted sunlight under appropriate conditions. The input interface of the control system includes a visual display and input axis, which are aligned vertically if the window covering mechanism raises and lowers the window covering, and are aligned horizontally if the window covering mechanism laterally opens and closes the window covering.