AUTOMATED SHADE PROVIDING DEVICE

Abstract

An automated shade providing device, comprises a platform 101 affixed with of a pergola by means of plurality of primary suction units 102 to affix the platform 101 with the poles of pergola, a microphone 103 to receive voice command of a user, an artificial intelligence based imaging unit 104 integrated with an ultrasonic sensor for determining distance of the opposite positioned poles from the platform 101, a pair of motorized extendable sliding unit 105 to position a pair of clamps 106 each installed with end of the sliding unit 105 to grip the opposite positioned poles, multiple glass panels 107 by means of a motorized hinge joint 108 to deploy the panels 107 under the pergola to provide shade, a sun sensor to monitor sunlight intensity a motorized roller 109 to deploy opaque sheet 110 over the panels 107 and electromagnets for detachment of any of the panel.

Specification

Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an automated shade providing device that is capable of deploying the shed over the pergola in an automated manner thereby eliminating the manual intervention as well as providing the opaque shed to the individual on detecting the intensity of sunlight present.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Pergolas are the outdoor structure consisting of many columns and grids that are arranged horizontally and vertically to provide a support protection to the outdoor furniture, and kept over objects. This gives a place with shed to comfort people to sit under. Pergolas are of the both types that is with the shed or without shed. The pergolas installed outside the house is used for the installation of the solar panels that enhances and upgrades the much quality of the house. In accordance to the season the open pergolas require the shed in order to give the proper shelter to the in the living or the garden area installed with the pergola.

[0003] Traditionally, the sheds were provided over the pergolas using the retractable canopies or the shade curtains that give the extra protective shed to in the pergolas from the overhead sunlight. These canopies and curtains were established with the pergolas manually by the human intervention that require much time and the effort. The shades offered traditionally for the pergolas were not flexible for the change in the season that is no convertible to opaque or transparent. Thus, there exist a requirement to make an invention that can provides the shed on the pergolas in an automated manner on the manual requirement without any human intervention.

[0004] US11359400B2 discloses about an invention that relates to an easily assembled and disassembled shade-providing structure, such as may be mounted to a playground assembly. The shade-providing structure comprises an outer frame defining an interior space and a canopy that may be positioned in that interior space. The canopy has one or more rods around its periphery, such as may be inserted through one or more pockets in the canopy fabric. Each of the outer frame and the rod(s) has a set of apertures configured to receive a locking fastener and a set of apertures configured to receive a jack screw or similar tensioning device. Accordingly, to assembly the structure, one or more jack screws can be used to provide the canopy with a desired tension and then locking fasteners can be used to secure the canopy to the outer frame. Although US'400 is able to provide the canopy shed for the user's as required. However, the device fails in eliminating the human intervention in the arrangements of the shed.

[0005] US20160222672A1 discloses about an invention that has a retractable sun shade, comprising at least one fabric section affixed to a boom, the boom supported and slideably engaged to a track at an intermediate portion of the boom, the track supported by a frame, and at least one flexible drawing element affixed to the boom at the intermediate portion, for drawing the boom in a first direction along the track to extend the sun shade and for drawing the boom in an opposite direction along the track to retract the sun shade. Though, US'672 is able to provide the retractable fabric shed in case of the sunlight. However, the device fails to monitor the intensity of sunlight present in the surrounding.

[0006] Conventionally, many devices are present in the market as mentioned in prior arts helps the user in arranging the shed for the individuals but lacks in providing the shed over the pergola in an automated manner by eliminating the human intervention. In addition to this the device also lacks in detecting the intensity of sunlight present.

[0007] In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, there exists a need in the art to develop a device that is capable of providing the shed over the pergola in an automated manner by eliminating the human intervention as well as providing the opaque shed to the individual on detecting the intensity of sunlight present in the surrounding.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to develop a device that is capable of deploying the shed over the pergola in an automated manner thereby eliminating the manual intervention.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device that is capable of providing the opaque shed to the individual on detecting the intensity of sunlight present.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a device that is portable and reliable to nature.

[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to an automated shade providing device that is capable of deploying the shed over the pergola in an automated manner thereby eliminating the manual intervention as well as providing the opaque shed to the individual on detecting the intensity of sunlight present.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an automated shade providing device comprises of a platform affixed with a pair of consecutively positioned poles of a pergola, plurality of primary suction units installed with the platform to affix the platform with the poles, a microphone installed over the platform to receive voice command of a user regarding requirement of shade, an artificial intelligence based imaging unit installed over the platform with a ultrasonic sensor to distance of the opposite positioned poles from the platform, a pair of motorized extendable sliding unit installed over lateral sides of the platform to position a pair of clamps each installed with end of the sliding units to grip the opposite positioned poles to affix the sliding units with the opposite positioned poles.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the proposed device further comprises of multiple glass panels arranged in a successive manner and each interconnected by means of a motorized hinge joint to provide translation to the specific number of hinge joints over the sliding units to provide extension to the panels towards the opposite positioned poles, a sun sensor installed over the platform to monitor sunlight intensity in surroundings, a motorized roller installed with each of the panel and wrapped with an opaque sheet to rotate on axis in a pre-defined direction to unwrap the sheet to deploy the sheet over the panels to block the sunlight and electromagnets attached to each of the hinge joints to for detachment of any of the panel from the hinge joints.

[0016] While the invention has been described and shown with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that variations might be possible that would fall within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an automated shade providing device; and
Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of a top portion of a pair of motorized extendable sliding unit associated with the proposed device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0019] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises," and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having" and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the like.

[0020] As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.

[0021] The present invention relates to an automated shade providing device that is capable of deploying the shed over the pergola in an automated manner thereby eliminating the manual intervention as well as providing the opaque shed to the individual on detecting the intensity of sunlight present.

[0022] Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, a perspective view and a top view of an automated shade providing device and an isometric view of a top portion of a pair of motorized extendable sliding unit associated with the proposed device are illustrated, respectively, comprising a platform 101 affixed with a pair of consecutively positioned poles of a pergola by means of multiple primary suction units 102, a microphone 103 installed over the platform 101, an artificial intelligence based imaging unit 104 installed over the platform 101, a pair of motorized extendable sliding unit 105 installed over lateral sides of the platform 101, a pair of clamps 106 each installed with end of the sliding units 105, multiple glass panels 107 arranged in a successive manner and each interconnected by means of a motorized hinge joint 108 and a motorized roller 109 installed with each of the panel and wrapped with an opaque sheet 110.

[0023] The proposed device includes a platform 101 affixed with a pair of consecutively positioned poles of a pergola by means of multiple primary suction units 102 ranging from 2 to 4 in numbers installed with the platform 101 to affix the platform 101 with the poles. The suction units 102 create partial vacuum within the suction units 102 upon pressing over the poles of the pergola by squeezing out air from the suction units 102 due to a negative pressure is generated inside suction area. Herein, atmospheric pressure outside the suction units 102 presses down low-pressure area inside the suction units 102 to generate suction to adhere the poles with the platform 101 thereby securely affixing the platform 101 with the poles of the pergola.

[0024] Further, a microphone 103 installed over the platform 101 to receive voice command of a user regarding requirement of shade. The microphone 103 receives sound waves generated by energy emitted from the voice command in the form of vibrations. After then, the sound waves are transmitted towards a diaphragm configured with a coil. Upon transmitting the waves within the diaphragm, the diaphragm strikes with the waves due to which the coil starts moving the diaphragm with a back-and-forth movement in presence of magnetic field generated from the coil.

[0025] After that the electric signal is emitted from the coil due to back-and-forth movement of the diaphragm which is further transmitted to a microcontroller linked with the microphone 103 to process the signal to analyze the signal for extracting the voice commands regarding the requirement of shade given by the user. Based on the input command, the microcontroller actuates an artificial intelligence based imaging unit 104 installed over the platform 101 and synced with an ultrasonic sensor for determining distance of the opposite positioned poles from the platform 101. The artificial intelligence imaging unit 104 is constructed of with a camera lens and a processor, wherein the camera lens is adapted to capture a series of images of the poles positioned opposite to the platform 101. The processor carries out a sequence of image processing operations including pre-processing, feature extraction, and classification. The image captured by the artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 104 is real-time images of the poles positioned opposite to the platform 101. The artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 104 transmits the captured image signal in the form of digital bits to the microcontroller.

[0026] Upon receiving the signal from the imaging unit 104 the microcontroller extract and process the image from the signal and determine the position of the opposite positioned poles. Later the ultrasonic sensor sends the ultrasonic waves to the determined poles. The ultrasonic sensor consists of a transducer that functions as both a transmitter and a receiver that works in collaboration to detect distance of the opposite poles. The transducer typically contains a piezoelectric crystal or a similar material. When an electrical signal is applied to the crystal, it vibrates at a high frequency, typically in the ultrasonic range above 20 kHz. When the transducer is activated, it converts the electrical energy into mechanical vibrations or waves. These vibrations are transmitted as a focused beam of ultrasonic waves into the opposite pole of the pergola. The ultrasonic waves propagate outward in a cone-shaped pattern from the transducer.

[0027] The same transducer that worked as the emitter to emit the waves now work as the receiver. It detects the reflected waves that bounce back from the opposite pole of the pergola and converts them back in the form of the electric signal. The sensor measure the time it takes for the ultrasonic waves to travel from the sensor to the pole. The ultrasonic sensor now starts a timer when the waves are emitted and stops it when the reflected waves are detected. The elapsed time is known as the 'time of flight' (TOF) using the known time pf the sound in the medium through which the waves are travelling, the microcontroller detects the distance of the opposite poles of pergola is determined.

[0028] Based on the detected distance of the opposite poles, the microcontroller actuates a pair of motorized extendable sliding unit 105 installed over lateral sides of the platform 101 to position a pair of clamps 106 each installed with end of the sliding unit 105 to grip the opposite positioned poles. The pair of motorized extendable sliding unit 105 used herein are extended by a pneumatic unit that is governed using the motor. The pneumatic unit comprises compressor filled with compressed air which controls the orientations such as extraction and retraction of the extendable sliding unit 105. The pneumatic unit also includes air valves and piston attached with the telescopic member. The piston is coupled to the motorized extendable sliding unit 105 penetrating the compressed air released from the compressor over the motorized extendable sliding unit 105. The valves used herein, are air valves installed between the compressor and piston that upon actuation enables release of the compressed air through the piston that leads to extension/retraction of the motorized extendable sliding unit 105 to position the pair of clamps 106.

[0029] The pair of the clamps 106 works in the same manner as the gripping unit. The clamp used herein is developed in a manner that it has two claws attached together by means of a motorized hinge wherein the motorized hinge is connected with a motor that is interlinked with the microcontroller. Upon actuation, the microcontroller regulates the movement of the motor corresponding to the movement of the hinge, followed movement of the clamps 106 in order to clasp opposite positioned poles to affix the sliding unit 105 with the opposite positioned poles.

[0030] Further, multiple glass panels 107 ranging 6 to 8 arranged in a successive manner and each interconnected by means of a motorized hinge joint 108. The specific number of the hinge joint 108 are configured with the sliding unit 105 to provide translation to the specific number of hinge joint 108 over the sliding unit 105 simultaneous to actuation of the hinge joint 108 to provide extension to the panels 107 towards the opposite positioned poles. The motorized hinge joint 108 are the piece of metal that joins the successive glass panels 107 together. The motorized hinge joint 108 are powered by the DC motor that governs the bidirectional motion of the hinge joint 108 by rotating the shaft of the motor the is attached to the joints. The motion of the motorized hinge joint 108 results to deploy the panels 107 under the pergola to provide shade.

[0031] Further, a sun sensor installed over the platform 101 to monitor sunlight intensity in surroundings. The sun sensor operates by utilizing a combination of photodetectors and electronics to measure the intensity of sunlight in the surroundings. The sun sensor consists of one or more photodetectors that receive incident light from the sun. These photodetectors convert the received light into an electrical current, which is then processed by the microcontroller to determine the intensity of an optical sunlight present in the surrounding of the pergola.

[0032] Based on the monitored intensity of the sunlight, in case the monitored sunlight intensity exceeds a threshold value, the microcontroller actuates a motorized roller 109 installed with each of the panel and wrapped with an opaque sheet 110 to rotate on axis in a pre-defined direction to unwrap the sheet 110 in order to deploy the sheet 110 over the panels 107 to block the sunlight. The motorized roller 109 is operated by the bi-directional motor connected to the microcontroller. The microcontroller operates the motor to rotate convert the electrical energy to the mechanical energy and provide the rotational motion to the roller 109 that deploy the opaque sheet 110 over the panels 107 to block the sunlight reaching to the user.

[0033] Continually, as the user commands for the detachment of any of the glass panel then each of the panel is attached with the hinge joint 108 by means of an electromagnet, is actuated by the microcontroller and enables the panel to get detached from the series of the panels 107. The electromagnets consists of a copper coil connected to an electrical power unit (ideally a battery) that is interlinked with a microcontroller. On actuation, the microcontroller regulates the supply of voltage into the copper coil which in turn creates a magnetic field (that acts as a temporary magnet) that enables the joints to detach the user-specified panel from the series of the glass panels 107.

[0034] Lastly, a battery is installed within the device which is connected to the microcontroller that supplies current to all the electrically powered components that needs an amount of electric power to perform their functions and operation in an efficient manner. The battery utilized here, is generally a dry battery which is made up of Lithium-ion material that gives the device a long-lasting as well as an efficient DC (Direct Current) current which helps every component to function properly in an efficient manner. As the device is battery operated and do not need any electrical voltage for functioning. Hence the presence of battery leads to the portability of the device i.e., user is able to place as well as moves the device from one place to another as per the requirements.

[0035] The present invention works best in the following manner where the platform 101 affixed with the pair of consecutively positioned poles of the pergola by means of multiple primary suction units 102 that affix the platform 101 with the poles. The microphone 103 receives voice command of the user regarding requirement of shade. The artificial intelligence based imaging unit 104 integrated with the ultrasonic sensor determines distance of the opposite positioned poles from the platform 101. The pair of motorized extendable sliding unit 105 extend in accordance with the detected distance and position the pair of clamps 106 that grip the opposite positioned poles to affix the sliding unit 105 with the opposite positioned poles. Multiple glass panels 107 interconnected by means of the motorized hinge joint 108 with the sliding unit 105 that provide translation to the specific number of hinge joint 108 over the sliding unit 105 that provide extension to the panels 107 towards the opposite positioned poles that results to deploy the panels 107 under the pergola to provide shad. Additionally, the sun sensor monitor sunlight intensity in surroundings. In case the monitored sunlight intensity exceeds the threshold value, the motorized roller 109 wrapped with the opaque sheet 110 rotate on axis in the pre-defined direction and unwrap the sheet 110 in order to deploy the sheet 110 over the panels 107 to block the sunlight. The hinge joint 108 by means of the electromagnet that is in case the user provides command regrading requirement of detachment of any of the panel from the hinge joint 108 removes the panel from the specified point.

[0036] Although the field of the invention has been described herein with limited reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. , Claims:1) An automated shade providing device, comprising:

i) a platform 101 affixed with a pair of consecutively positioned poles of a pergola by means of plurality of primary suction units 102 installed with said platform 101, wherein said suction units 102 actuates to affix said platform 101 with said poles;
ii) a microphone 103 installed over said platform 101 to receive voice command of a user regarding requirement of shade, wherein based on user-input voice command, said microcontroller actuates an artificial intelligence based imaging unit 104 installed over said platform 101 and integrated with a ultrasonic sensor for capturing and processing images of said poles positioned opposite to said platform 101, based on which a microcontroller linked with said imaging unit 104, determines distance of said opposite positioned poles from said platform 101;
iii) a pair of motorized extendable sliding unit 105 installed over lateral sides of said platform 101 and actuated by said microcontroller to extend in accordance with said detected distance to position a pair of clamps 106 each installed with end of said sliding unit 105 to grip said opposite positioned poles to affix said sliding unit 105 with said opposite positioned poles;
iv) plurality of glass panels 107 arranged in a successive manner and each interconnected by means of a motorized hinge joint 108, wherein specific number of said hinge joint 108 are configured with said sliding unit 105 and said microcontroller actuates said sliding unit 105 to provide translation to said specific number of hinge joint 108 over said sliding unit 105 simultaneous to actuation of said hinge joint 108 to provide extension to said panels 107 towards said opposite positioned poles in order to deploy said panels 107 under said pergola to provide shade; and
v) a sun sensor installed over said platform 101 to monitor sunlight intensity in surroundings, wherein in case said monitored sunlight intensity exceeds a threshold value, said microcontroller actuates a motorized roller 109 installed with each of said panel and wrapped with an opaque sheet 110 to rotate on axis in a pre-defined direction to unwrap said sheet 110 in order to deploy said sheet 110 over said panels 107 to block said sunlight.

2) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said panel is attached with said hinge joint 108 by means of an electromagnet that is actuated by said microcontroller only in case said user by means of said microphone 103 provides command regrading requirement of detachment of any of said panel from said hinge joint 108.

3) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a battery is associated with said device for powering up electrical and electronically operated components associated with said device.

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