Vertical Blinds Automation Device
Vertical Blinds Automation device
=================================
* This device automatically opens and closes the blinds. It uses 4 AA batteries.
* The device has a time keeping clock which displays time as 0:00-23:59 (equivalent
to 12:00am - 11:59pm). It lso has a configurable open time and close
time.
* The device consumes very little power. Assuming 2000mAh AA batteries, and assuming one round of opening and closing the blinds each day, the batteries are expected to last about 2.5 years. The battery set in use currently has been installed since Jan 30, 2022, and the voltage measurement is still 6.5V, almost full after about seven months or regular use.
The device has the following features:
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* Low battery warning: when the voltage reaches 4v, the device enters
low voltage mode. In this mode, the device still functions but gives
a beep notification every 30 mins in the notification period of the day
(more about notification period of the day shortly).
It also gives a beep sound upon waking up the device from Hibernation mode
by the user.
* Dead battery mode: when the voltage reaches 3.8V, the device enters
dead battery mode. In this mode, the device keeps track of time, but
the motor function is disabled and the user interface only shows the
letters (Lo) plus giving a beep sound upon waking up the device by
the user. The device also gives beep sound every 30 mins in the
notification period of the day.
* Notification period of the day: it is the period of the day when the
notification sound is enabled. The notification sound (beep) is disabled
outside this period to avoid disturbing the user during sleep time.
Typically, the notification period is set to day time.
The notification period is software-configurable only. The current notification
period is set between 7am to 10pm.
* Motor error: if the motor turns too slow or stalls, the device registers a motor
error. In this situation, the device gives a beep sound every 30 mins during the
notification period of the day. When the user wakes up the device using the
wake button, the device displays the letters (Er) and gives a beep sound plus
turning on all red LEDs. Motor function and time setting configuration are
disabled if a motor error is registered, and the user can only awake the device
from hibernation but can't do anything else until circuit is reset by power down
sequence (remove batteries and put them back after few settings.)
* In case of both motor error and a critical battery, the device displays the
letters (LO), turns on all LEDs, and gives a beep sound upon waking up by the
user. The device also gives a beep sound every 30 mins during the notification
period of the day.
* The device stores the open time and close time in EEPROM and recalls them
after battery replacement.
* The device has manual open and close feature: to manually open or close the
curtains: wake up the device using the wake button if it's in hibernation mode,
click-hold the wake button until the motor turns on.
* The device has click-hold function for the up/down buttons for fast numerical
scrolling.
* Hibernation mode: The device enters hibernation mode for power saving
after 10 seconds of user inactivity. The period of inactivity before hibernation
mode is software-configurable only.
In hibernation mode, and if the motor is off, the device consumes only 1uA.
The display and led indicators are turned off and the
MCU is in sleep mode most of the time. To wake up the device from hibernation
mode, click the wake button.
Using the device
================
* The device has three red LEDs to indicate the active setting when the device
is awake. It also has one green led to indicate the status of the curtain,
the green led is on when the curtain is open.
* When the device is in hibernation mode, click the wake/configure button to
wake up the device. The device wakes up in clock-display mode and the red LED
marked (clock) is on. Use the up/down buttons to navigate between modes. The
other two modes are open-time-setting mode and close-time setting mode. The two
other red LEDs indicate these modes. To change the time displayed in any of these
modes, click the wake/configure button, the hours digits start flashing, click the
up/down buttons to change the values, click-hold the up/down buttons for fast
scrolling of the values, when satisfied, click the wake/configure button to
switch to minutes. Use up/down buttons with minutes same as with hours. Use
the wake/configure button to finish editing and store the new values. After editing the open-time and close-time, the new values are stored in memory and are recalled after battery replacement.
* To manually open/close curtains, click/hold the wake/configure button.
=================================
* This device automatically opens and closes the blinds. It uses 4 AA batteries.
* The device has a time keeping clock which displays time as 0:00-23:59 (equivalent
to 12:00am - 11:59pm). It lso has a configurable open time and close
time.
* The device consumes very little power. Assuming 2000mAh AA batteries, and assuming one round of opening and closing the blinds each day, the batteries are expected to last about 2.5 years. The battery set in use currently has been installed since Jan 30, 2022, and the voltage measurement is still 6.5V, almost full after about seven months or regular use.
The device has the following features:
=================================
* Low battery warning: when the voltage reaches 4v, the device enters
low voltage mode. In this mode, the device still functions but gives
a beep notification every 30 mins in the notification period of the day
(more about notification period of the day shortly).
It also gives a beep sound upon waking up the device from Hibernation mode
by the user.
* Dead battery mode: when the voltage reaches 3.8V, the device enters
dead battery mode. In this mode, the device keeps track of time, but
the motor function is disabled and the user interface only shows the
letters (Lo) plus giving a beep sound upon waking up the device by
the user. The device also gives beep sound every 30 mins in the
notification period of the day.
* Notification period of the day: it is the period of the day when the
notification sound is enabled. The notification sound (beep) is disabled
outside this period to avoid disturbing the user during sleep time.
Typically, the notification period is set to day time.
The notification period is software-configurable only. The current notification
period is set between 7am to 10pm.
* Motor error: if the motor turns too slow or stalls, the device registers a motor
error. In this situation, the device gives a beep sound every 30 mins during the
notification period of the day. When the user wakes up the device using the
wake button, the device displays the letters (Er) and gives a beep sound plus
turning on all red LEDs. Motor function and time setting configuration are
disabled if a motor error is registered, and the user can only awake the device
from hibernation but can't do anything else until circuit is reset by power down
sequence (remove batteries and put them back after few settings.)
* In case of both motor error and a critical battery, the device displays the
letters (LO), turns on all LEDs, and gives a beep sound upon waking up by the
user. The device also gives a beep sound every 30 mins during the notification
period of the day.
* The device stores the open time and close time in EEPROM and recalls them
after battery replacement.
* The device has manual open and close feature: to manually open or close the
curtains: wake up the device using the wake button if it's in hibernation mode,
click-hold the wake button until the motor turns on.
* The device has click-hold function for the up/down buttons for fast numerical
scrolling.
* Hibernation mode: The device enters hibernation mode for power saving
after 10 seconds of user inactivity. The period of inactivity before hibernation
mode is software-configurable only.
In hibernation mode, and if the motor is off, the device consumes only 1uA.
The display and led indicators are turned off and the
MCU is in sleep mode most of the time. To wake up the device from hibernation
mode, click the wake button.
Using the device
================
* The device has three red LEDs to indicate the active setting when the device
is awake. It also has one green led to indicate the status of the curtain,
the green led is on when the curtain is open.
* When the device is in hibernation mode, click the wake/configure button to
wake up the device. The device wakes up in clock-display mode and the red LED
marked (clock) is on. Use the up/down buttons to navigate between modes. The
other two modes are open-time-setting mode and close-time setting mode. The two
other red LEDs indicate these modes. To change the time displayed in any of these
modes, click the wake/configure button, the hours digits start flashing, click the
up/down buttons to change the values, click-hold the up/down buttons for fast
scrolling of the values, when satisfied, click the wake/configure button to
switch to minutes. Use up/down buttons with minutes same as with hours. Use
the wake/configure button to finish editing and store the new values. After editing the open-time and close-time, the new values are stored in memory and are recalled after battery replacement.
* To manually open/close curtains, click/hold the wake/configure button.
