A window covering system is described herein. The system includes one or more motorized window coverings, and includes both local and cloud based control facilitated by motors or actuators in each window covering that are actuated by a controller. Each window covering further includes a processor with settings stored in memory that direct the controller. Sensors send both local and remote sensor data along with real time weather data to the processor. The processor uses this sensor data to update charts and schedules in memory, then sends commands to the controller based on these updated charts and schedules according to user defined and factory set parameters. Additionally, the window coverings each have a network device and wireless transmitters enabling connection via a mesh network, the network controlled by one or more mobile devices which receive user input.

A window blind control system includes a control device, having a housing; a motor connected to one or more gears positioned within the housing; a hollow drive shaft coupled to the one or more gears, the hollow drive shaft to receive a window blind tilt rod; a control system having a communication board associated with a home automation wireless mesh protocol to communicate with one or more networked devices; a home automation system including the one or more networked devices; an interface accessible from a computing device and to communicate with the home automation system and the control device, the interface is to receive commands from a user.

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 covering for a vertically-suspended architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The covering is formed from a plurality of assembled vanes suspended from a headrail assembly. Each assembled vane may be made via a strip process. Each vane including a strip of material (e.g., translucent fabric), and at least one slat (e.g., arcuate opaque material) coupled to the strip of material. For example, in one embodiment, the vanes may include first and second slats coupled to an intermediate strip of material on either side of the intermediate strip of material along the vertically extending side portions thereof, respectively. The first and second slats preferably each include a complementary curved surface so that when the assembled vanes are coupled to the headrail assembly, the first slat of a first assembled vane is coupled to or nested with the second slat of a second, adjacent assembled vane.

A slat device (1) comprising a plurality of slats (2) arranged parallel to one another, displacement means (9, 10) for displacing the slats (2) between and in a stacking zone and a sliding, and a guide profile (3), which is arranged on a lateral side of the slats (2), wherein a slat (2), on the said lateral side, is provided with a guide element (5), corresponding with the guide profile (3), for guiding the respective slat (2) relative to the corresponding guide profile (3, 6) during its displacement motion between and in the stacking zone and the sliding zone, such that the guide element (5) is rotatable over a certain angle relative to the guide profile (3) about an axis according to the longitudinal direction of the guide profile (3).

A method implemented in an architectural covering. The method comprising powering down, prior to transitioning to a sleep mode, a position tracking device configured to generate output data indicating a position of at least one of a covering or a motor. The method further comprising transitioning from an operational mode to the sleep mode, the sleep mode associated with a lower power consumption than the operational mode. The method further comprising exiting the sleep mode based on a trigger and powering up, after exiting the sleep mode, the position tracking device. The method further comprising receiving the output data from the position tracking device. The method further comprising determining whether the position has changed since the transitioning to the sleep mode. The method further comprising continuing to operate outside of the sleep mode if the position has changed, or returning to the sleep mode if the position has not changed.

A method of operating a motorized window covering is presented wherein in response to a standard movement command power is supplied to a motor in a continuous or generally continuous manner thereby moving the shade material from a start position to an end position in a generally continuous manner. However, in doing so, the motor rotates at a fast rate thereby causing elevated noise levels. In response to an automated movement command, power is supplied to the motor by cycling power to the motor between a powered state and an unpowered state thereby moving the shade material from a start position to an end position in an incremental manner. While moving the shade material in this incremental manner is slower, it is substantially quieter. The preferred mode of operation is selected based on whether the movement command is a standard movement command or an automated movement command.

A blind apparatus comprising one or more blind substrates; a power source; an electric motor connected to the power source and adapted to move the or each substrate in at least one direction; a resistance sensor; and a controller for controlling the motor, wherein the controller is adapted to increase the power supplied to the motor by the power source when the resistance sensor senses an increased resistance against the movement of the or each blind substrates.

Adjustable plantation shutters and methods for forming and installing the same. A shutter includes a frame that includes a base portion with a hub and an arch portion coupled to the base portion. The shutter further includes a plurality of louvers extending from the hub toward the arch portion, each louver including a pivot axis. The shutter is configured to selectively transition between a closed orientation and an open orientation by rotating each louver about the pivot axis. In some embodiments, each louver is operatively coupled to the arch portion via a magnetic coupling. In some embodiments, each louver is coupled to the hub via a corresponding drive pin, and the shutter further includes a drive mechanism operatively coupled to each louver to pivot each louver about the respective pivot axis.

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.