A driving assembly for window blinds includes a mounting plate, a driving wheel and a spring leaf wheel that are rotationally mounted on the mounting plate. The driving wheel is connected with a drive rod of a winding mechanism of a window blind, a spring leaf is arranged between the driving wheel and the spring leaf wheel, one end of the spring leaf is connected with the driving wheel, another end of the spring leaf is connected with the spring leaf wheel, and the driving wheel is driven by the drive rod to cause the spring leaf to tighten or relax thereby winding around the driving wheel or the spring leaf wheel. The driving assembly has simple structure and convenient assembly, and reliably provides a power for driving the winding wheels and the pull rope.

A system to reduce drafts in front of a window is described. The system includes a window covering and a motor and gearbox that adjust the window covering. The system also includes a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a microcontroller networked to the motor and temperature sensors. The first temperature sensor is positioned above the window covering within a thermal convection zone of a window associated with the window covering, and the second temperature sensor is positioned below the window covering within the thermal convection zone. The microcontroller instructs the motor to adjust the window covering based on a temperature gradient from the first temperature sensor to the second temperature sensor.

A method implemented in an architectural covering. The method includes transmitting a first drive instruction to drive a motor in a first direction while the motor is in an engaged state, wherein driving the motor in the first direction causes the covering to move. The method further includes determining the motor is to terminate an operation. The method further includes transmitting a termination instruction to the motor to terminate the operation. The method further includes determining a first position of the motor. The method further includes transmitting a second drive instruction to drive the motor in a second direction opposite the first direction from the first position to a second position, causing the motor to enter a disengaged state, wherein driving the motor in the second direction does not cause the covering to move.

A multisectional blind and solar collector combination device includes a plurality of parallel and vertically spaced housings. A back face of a primary one of the housings is a fixed solar panel. A power module is positioned in the primary housing and operationally coupled to the fixed solar panel. Each of a plurality of sections is coupled to a respective one of the housings and has a plurality of slats. Each housing holds a respective slat spacing motor and a respective slat rotation motor operationally coupled to the power module and the slats to adjust positioning and rotation of the slats within each section.

The present invention provides a device to control the tilt angle of window blinds. The tilt device can be easily fitted to existing window blind systems. The device is also capable of working with existing home automation control systems. In a primary mode, the device can be controlled by receiving commands from a home or business automation controller using a wireless mesh network protocol. Examples of the wireless mesh network protocol may include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth MESH, Radio Frequency (RF) control, Z-Wave, ZigBee, Thread, FabFi, SolarMesh, WING, Wireless Backhaul (WiBACK) and so forth. Another approach can be by using drone from a remote position. In another approach, the window blinds may be controlled based on direct connection to another device that is part of the mesh network. In further approach, the window blinds may be controlled based on time. In yet another approach, the tilt position of the window blinds may be controlled based on the manual input device (rotary switch) connected to the device. The device may also control the window blinds at a site using a proximity detection of a mobile device or the network device, which may be based upon the detection of a plurality of zones. Each of the zones may be associated with a predefined temperature threshold of a thermostat including in the device or other energy consuming device where the temperature threshold corresponding to a zone may be different from the temperature thresholds corresponding with each of the other zones.

A system to reduce drafts in front of a window is described. The system includes a window covering and a motor and gearbox that adjust the window covering. The system also includes a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a microcontroller networked to the motor and temperature sensors. The first temperature sensor is positioned above the window covering within a thermal convection zone of a window associated with the window covering, and the second temperature sensor is positioned below the window covering within the thermal convection zone. The microcontroller instructs the motor to adjust the window covering based on a temperature gradient from the first temperature sensor to the second temperature sensor.

A device for orienting slats relative to the sun includes a housing, an elongate guide which is connected to the housing and in which the slats are engageable and guidable, a drive with which the slats, which extend substantially transversely of the elongate guide, are rotatably drivable about their longitudinal axis, a controller configured to control the drive such that the slats are orientable relative to the sun, and rotational position determining mechanism configured to detertmine the rotational position of the slats. A solar tracking system is provided for orienting slats relative to the sun, and including such an orienting device. A method is provided for orienting slats with such an orienting device.

A dual control architectural covering is disclosed. A dual control architectural covering includes a clutch to disengage a motor when the motor is not in use. The dual control architectural covering further includes a manual control to move the covering of the architectural opening while the motor is disengaged. The dual control architectural covering further includes a braking element to resist movement of a drive element of the covering when the motor is disengaged.

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 cord winding mechanism for a blind cord with a first end fixed to a window blind includes a base, a cord winder rotatably mounted to the base, a cord guiding assembly mounted to the base, and an elastic press member mounted to the base. The cord winder defines an annular slot to wind the blind cord layer by layer. The cord guiding assembly is abutted against an unwound portion of the blind cord between the cord winder and the window blind. A second end of the blind cord is fixed to an end of the cord winder in the slot. The press member is elastically abutted against a portion of the blind cord just separate from the cord winder.