System and method for controlling window blinds

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A window blind control system, comprising:
 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 configured to receive a window blind tilt rod; 
 a control system having a communication board associated with a home automation wireless mesh protocol configured to communicate with one or more networked devices and a home automation controller; 
   a home automation system including the one or more mesh networked devices, the home automation system being configured to communicate with the control device; and   an interface accessible from a computing device and configured to communicate with the home automation system and the control device, wherein the interface is configured to received commands from a user;   wherein the control device is configured to tilt the window blinds to open and closed positions.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow drive shaft includes a hexagonal opening. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow drive shaft includes a square opening. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication board is a Z-Wave protocol. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication board is a Zigbee protocol. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises:
 a dual shaft motor with an attached magnetic encoder.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the magnetic encoder comprises:
 a Hall effect sensor; and   a 6 pole magnetic disc.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises:
 an auto calibration control configured to find a blind end point max tilt closed down and a max tilt closed up position based on the calculated force required to tilt the blinds closed in either direction.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a height adapter configured to elevate the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pass through adapter configured to be mounted on a blinds headrail, the pass through adapter having:
 a single button accessible from an exterior blinds headrail, the single button being configured to command the control system based on a plurality of push patterns, wherein each of the plurality of push patterns sends a different command. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , the passthrough adapter further comprising:
 a manual rotary switch extending from the housing and configured to allow for manual adjustment.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises:
 a power port configured to receive a power source.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the power source comprises one or more of:
 a USB adapter configured to connect to an AC outlet to supply direct power;   a USB adapter configured to connect to an AC outlet and recharge a rechargeable battery; and   a solar panel configured to recharge the rechargeable battery.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises:
 an adjustable speed control configured to allow the user to adjust a speed of blind operation;   an adjustable torque control configured to allow the user to adjust a torque force of blind operation;   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication board is removable and replaceable. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to receive a command from one of the one or more networked devices to tilt open or close the blinds based on a predetermined value reached by the one of the one or more networked devices. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a set screw configured to be inserted through a thickness of the hollow drive shaft to secure the tilt rod in place within the hollow drive shaft.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fixing unit having a channel surrounding the motor, the fixing unit containing a noise damping material and configured to secure within the housing;   wherein the mount isolates the motor from the housing to reduce noise.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is a printed circuit board.