A method for determining a fully extended position of a screening body (14) of a screening device (12) for a roof window. The screening device (12) comprises a control unit comprising a data storage device, an electric motor (18) comprising a tachometer (181), a roller tube (15), a screening body (14) and a first and a second spring element (164, 174). The method comprises the steps of driving the screening body (14) from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position, in which the spring elements (164, 174) are tensioned to a first tension level, T.sub.1, stopping the electric motor (18) at a point at which the spring elements (164, 174) are tensioned to a second tension level, T.sub.2, above the first tension level, T.sub.1, measuring the number of revolutions, R.sub.d, of the roller tube (15) necessary to drive the screening body (14) to the said position at which the motor (18) is stopped, storing the measured number of revolutions, R.sub.d, in the data storage device, measuring the number of revolutions, R.sub.b, of the roller tube, that a release of a tension corresponding to the difference, T, between the first tension level, T.sub.1, and the second tension level, T.sub.2, will cause the roller tube (15) to move back towards the fully retracted position, storing the number of revolutions, R.sub.b, in the data storage device, and calculating and storing in the data storage device a value R=R.sub.dR.sub.b.

A method for configuring a motorized drive device for a solar protection home automation unit includes a step of triggering the rolling-up of a screen from an unrolled position, in which the screen is relaxed, towards a rolled-up position. This method further includes a step of measuring a magnitude of an electrical current passing through an electric motor using a measurement device, a step of determining a first maximum value of the measured magnitude, indicative of a position of breakage of the arms of a screening device, and a step of determining a lowered end-of-travel position of the screen. The lowered end-of-travel position of the screen corresponds to a measured-magnitude value lower than the first maximum value. The lowered end-of-travel position of the screen lies before the position of breakage of the arms of the screening device, in the direction of unrolling of the screen.

Apparatus and methods for controlling architectural opening coverings are described herein. An example apparatus includes a roller tube, a motor including a motor drive shaft and a motor casing, the motor casing to rotate with the roller tube, and a manual control including a manual control drive shaft coupled to the motor drive shaft, the motor to apply torque to the roller tube through rotation of the motor casing.

Methods and apparatus to control architectural opening covering assemblies are disclosed herein. An architectural covering assembly including an architectural covering; a tube to which the architectural covering is coupled; a manual controller operatively coupled to the tube to rotate the tube; a motor including a motor housing and a motor shaft; and a clutch assembly including a clutch and a clutch housing in which the clutch is disposed, the motor shaft coupled to the clutch and the clutch coupled to the manual controller to hold the motor shaft substantially stationary when the architectural covering is moved under an influence of the motor to cause the motor housing to rotate with the clutch housing and the tube.

A method for determining a fully extended position of a screening body (14) of a screening device (12) for a roof window. The screening device (12) comprises a control unit comprising a data storage device, an electric motor (18) comprising a tachometer (181), a roller tube (15), a screening body (14) and a first and a second spring element (164, 174). The method comprises the steps of driving the screening body (14) from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position, in which the spring elements (164, 174) are tensioned to a first tension level, T.sub.1, stopping the electric motor (18) at a point at which the spring elements (164, 174) are tensioned to a second tension level, T.sub.2, above the first tension level, T.sub.1, measuring the number of revolutions, R.sub.d, of the roller tube (15) necessary to drive the screening body (14) to the said position at which the motor (18) is stopped, storing the measured number of revolutions, R.sub.d, in the data storage device, measuring the number of revolutions, R.sub.b, of the roller tube, that a release of a tension corresponding to the difference, T, between the first tension level, T.sub.1, and the second tension level, T.sub.2, will cause the roller tube (15) to move back towards the fully retracted position, storing the number of revolutions, R.sub.b, in the data storage device, and calculating and storing in the data storage device a value R=R.sub.dR.sub.b.

Methods and apparatus to control architectural opening covering assemblies are disclosed herein. An architectural covering assembly including an architectural covering; a tube to which the architectural covering is coupled; a manual controller operatively coupled to the tube to rotate the tube; a motor including a motor housing and a motor shaft; and a clutch assembly including a clutch and a clutch housing in which the clutch is disposed, the motor shaft coupled to the clutch and the clutch coupled to the manual controller to hold the motor shaft substantially stationary when the architectural covering is moved under an influence of the motor to cause the motor housing to rotate with the clutch housing and the tube.

A method for configuring a motorized drive device for a solar protection home automation unit includes a step of triggering the rolling-up of a screen from an unrolled position, in which the screen is relaxed, towards a rolled-up position. This method further includes a step of measuring a magnitude of an electrical current passing through an electric motor using a measurement device, a step of determining a first maximum value of the measured magnitude, indicative of a position of breakage of the arms of a screening device, and a step of determining a lowered end-of-travel position of the screen. The lowered end-of-travel position of the screen corresponds to a measured-magnitude value lower than the first maximum value. The lowered end-of-travel position of the screen lies before the position of breakage of the arms of the screening device, in the direction of unrolling of the screen.

Apparatus and methods for controlling architectural opening coverings are described herein. An example apparatus includes a roller tube, a motor including a motor drive shaft and a motor casing, the motor casing to rotate with the roller tube, and a manual control including a manual control drive shaft coupled to the motor drive shaft, the motor to apply torque to the roller tube through rotation of the motor casing.

Disclosed is a method for configuring a motorized drive device for a closure or solar protection unit, the method including: a step in which a low end-of-travel position of a screen is determined automatically; a step in which the magnitude of an electric current passing through an electric motor is measured by a measurement device; a step in which a variation in the value magnitude is determined; and a step in which an obstacle-detection threshold value is determined during the movement of the screen towards its unwound position, according to the variation in the measured magnitude.

A motor drive unit for a system for raising and lowering a covering material (e.g., a window treatment system) may be configured to execute a test procedure for determining if the system is spring-balanced properly. The motor drive unit may be powered from at least one battery. The system may comprise one or more lift assistance springs configured to provide variable lift assistance to the motor drive unit for raising and lowering the covering material. During the test procedure, the motor drive unit may be configured to control the covering material between a lowered position and a raised position and determine a magnitude of an input power of the motor drive unit during the movement. The motor drive unit may determine that the system requires more or less lift assistance springs based on the input power, and communicate an indication that the system requires more or less lift assistance springs.