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.

Methods and apparatus to adjust door operations in response to surface pressure loads are disclosed. An apparatus includes sensor feedback analyzer circuitry to detect a surface pressure load acting on a door based on feedback from a sensor. The door includes a panel to move along a track. The apparatus also includes operations controller circuitry to control operations of the door. The operations controller circuitry is to automatically adjust an operation of the door in response to detection of the surface pressure load.

A desired range of lift force to raise a window shade is used to select the window shade hardware such as, for example, the optimal LAM. A desired lift force may be 5 pounds for ADA compliance. However, if the user wants to exert less effort to lift the window shade, the user may request an increased lift force of 6 or 7 pounds. Therefore, if a lift force range between 3-8.5 pounds is desired, the system selects the optimal LAM to maintain and guarantee that the lift force required to operate the shades will not exceed the desired range of between 3-8.5 pounds.

A shading device for a vehicle roof includes at least one shading length that can be rolled up for shading a light-permeable and/or open area of the vehicle roof, a tension bow that is movably mounted in a direction of travel (V), to which the shading length-is fastened, a drive mechanism that can be operated by a drive motor to move the tension and a control unit for activating the drive motor. The shading device includes at least one opposing force element for restricting a traveling movement of the tension bow, and the control unit is designed to activate the drive motor based on an opposing force when the tension bow reaches an end position (P1, P2) defined by the stop element.

The system may include a motor releasably connected to a control module and the control module releasably connected to a drive module. The system may further include a joint releasably connecting the control module to the drive module, wherein the joint includes a floating gear. The method may include determining a motor shaft rotation of a motor shaft in a motor, determining a shade tube rotation of a shade tube that moves a window shade over a path, comparing the motor shaft rotation to the shade tube rotation, determining, based on the comparing, that the shade tube rotation is not equal to the motor shaft rotation and determining that an obstacle exists in the path of the window shade. The method may also include determining a change in at least one of current or torque in the motor.

A gray code driving device for an electric roller shutter contains: a base, a transmission assembly, and a torque detection unit. The base includes an accommodating space for accommodating the transmission assembly and the torque detection unit and includes a rotary cover connected with the transmission assembly. The transmission assembly includes an electric motor for supplying power source, and the base further includes a digital module for controlling the electric motor. The torque detection unit is in connection with the transmission assembly and is driven by the transmission unit to encode gray codes, wherein the torque detection unit is electrically connected with the digital module to transmit the gray codes.

A retractable privacy system for roll-up walls and doors is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a retractable privacy system includes one or more drums rotated by one or more motors to draw in or let out one or more flexible sheets from the drum. Multiple motors and drums may work in synchronization to achieve a desired result. In certain embodiments, various inputs are used to automatically open or close roll-up walls and doors. In other embodiments, the retractable privacy system interfaces with a thermostat or security system to achieve a desired result.

A retractable privacy system for is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a retractable privacy system includes a drums rotated by one or more motors to draw-in or let-out a flexible sheet from a drum. Multiple motors may work in synchronization to achieve a desired result. In certain embodiments, various inputs are used to automatically open or close privacy sheets. In other embodiments, the retractable privacy system interfaces with a thermostat or security system to achieve a desired result.

Methods and apparatus to control architectural opening covering assemblies are disclosed herein. An example architectural opening covering assembly includes a manual controller operatively coupled to a tube to rotate the tube. The tube includes an architectural opening covering. The example architectural opening covering assembly also includes a motor operatively coupled to the tube to rotate the tube. A local controller is communicatively coupled to the motor to control the motor. The example architectural opening covering assembly further includes a gravitational sensor to determine an angular position of the tube.

A motorized shade comprising a roller tube, a shade material connected to the roller tube, and a motor drive unit operably connected to the roller tube. The motor drive unit comprises a motor adapted to create torque to rotate the roller tube to lower or raise the shade material and a force sensor positioned at a point along the motor drive unit that resists the torque created by the motor resulting in a reaction force that is detected by the force sensor. The motor drive unit further comprises a motor control module adapted to receive sensor readings from the force sensor and control the motor in response to detecting an abrupt change in the reaction force using the received sensor readings to enable shade control via pulling of the shade material as well as or alternatively obstacle detection to minimize damage to the roller shade and users.