The Automatic Blinds Integrated function block is used to control shading devices such as blinds, roller shutters, curtains or awnings.
It is used with shading devices that have an integrated interface for control. (Loxone Ready)
In addition to manual operation, shading can be automated, based on sunlight and room temperature, in combination with Intelligent Room Controller.
The goal is to avoid overheating of a room due to solar radiation.
Table of Contents
- Inputs
- Outputs
- Parameters
- Properties
- Automatic mode
- AX (position after end of automatic shading):
- SO (safety shutdown position):
- Parameters D, DT and DTe
- Parameters AT1 and AT2
- Programming example
- Functional description
- Slat adjustment
Inputs↑
| Abbreviation | Summary | Description | Unit | Value Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tr | Trigger | Trigger for single button control | - | - |
| Up | Blinds up | Blinds UP | - | - |
| Dw | Blinds Down | Blinds DOWN | - | - |
| Cu | Fully up | Blinds fully UP | - | - |
| Cd | Fully down | Blinds fully DOWN | - | - |
| S | Shading | Digital Input - Single pulse closes blinds and opens slats (on selected Automatic Blinds controllers). Second pulse stops action. Blinds come down completely and then drive back to put the slats horizontal Roller blinds, awnings, and curtains go directly to the shading position defined by the parameter value Tr |
- | - |
| AS | Automatic shading | A permanent ON signal at the start of the shading period or a pulse/permanent ON during the shading period activates automatic shading. If the blinds are operated manually while automatic shading is active (e.g. button press or via App), automatic shading will be deactivated for that day. If the option "use sunshine" is enabled, the sunshine status (system variable) is taken into account |
- | - |
| AD | Disable Automatic Shading | Automatic shading not allowed when ON | - | - |
| AR | Re-enable automatic shading | Pulse activates automatic shading again | - | - |
| Sp | Safety shutdown | Safety shutdown when ON for example for storm protection Move to safety position set by parameter SO and lock blind controls. Automatic shading will not be disabled. |
- | - |
| Id | Door Contact | Complete up movement and locking of function block. Operation via App is still possible. | - | - |
| St | Stop | Blinds STOP Stops the blind and blocks any further operation (also applies to safety shutdown) |
- | - |
| AIp | Position of blinds | Analogue Input - Value for the position of the blinds in % | % | 0...100 |
| AIl | Position of slats | Analogue Input - Value for the position of the slats in % This input is only visible in certain configurations. | % | 0...100 |
| T5 | Combined Touch Input | Complete Up/Down motion. | - | ∞ |
| Dis | Disable | Digital Input - When ON disables inputs (Up, Dw, Cu, Cd, S) (child lock) | - | - |
Outputs↑
| Abbreviation | Summary | Description | Value Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| AQp | Position | Blind Position | ∞ |
| AQl | Slat position | Analogue Output - Value indicating the position of the slats This output is only visible in certain configurations. | ∞ |
| Qm | Blind in Motion | Blinds in motion | - |
| Qb | Motor stuck | Digital Output - ON when motor is stuck This output is only visible in certain configurations. | - |
| Qo | Obstruction output | Digital Output - ON when an obstruction has been detected This output is only visible in certain configurations. | - |
| Qa | Automatic shading status | - | |
| Qs | Status of safety shutdown input Sp or door contact | - | |
| Ql | Digital Output - ON when blinds are locked in position Lock is active as long as input St is ON |
- |
Parameters↑
| Abbreviation | Summary | Description | Unit | Value Range | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO | Safety shutdown position | 0 = on safety shutdown completely open 1 = on safety shutdown completely close |
- | - | 0 |
| AX | State after automatic shading ends | State when automatic shading ends 0 = no action 1 = fully open 2 = fully close 3 = set slats horizontal |
- | 0...3 | 1 |
| Ma | Automatic mode | Parameter - Autopilot Shading Mode 0 = Ideal brightness (no automatic shading if closed) 1 = Ideal cooling (no automatic shading if closed) 2 = Optimal brightness 3 = Optimal cooling |
- | 0...3 | 1 |
| Tc | Minimum input pulse duration [s] for a complete motion | Parameter - Minimal time [s] of the input pulse (Up, Dw) to trigger complete opening or closing of the blinds. If you prefer to use a double-click, then set a very high value > Tu or Td here. Value 0 always starts a complete trip. s |
- | ∞ | 3 |
| Tdc | Double-click interval [s] | Parameter - Double click interval [s] on input (Up, Dw) to trigger completely opening or closing the blinds. If you don't want to use a double click enter 0 in this field. |
s | 0...∞ | 0,3 |
| D | Cardinal direction | Cardinal direction of the window (0 = north, 90 = east, 180 = south, 270 = west) -1 = not configured |
- | -1...360 | -1 |
| DT | Orientation tolerance start | Direction tolerance for automatic shading when the sun enters the shading area | ° | 0...90 | 85 |
| DTe | Orientation tolerance end | Direction tolerance for automatic shading when the sun exits the shading area | ° | 0...90 | 85 |
| AT | Tracking interval | The tracking interval specifies how often the slats may adjust during active automatic shading based on the sun's position. This parameter is only visible in certain configurations. | min | 0...∞ | 60 |
| AT1 | Start time automatic shading | StartTime Shift of Automatic Shading relative to Sunrise | min | -90...90 | 30 |
| AT2 | End time automatic shading | End Time Shift of the Automatic Shading relative to Sunset. | min | -90...90 | -30 |
| Ps | Shading position [0.0-1.0] | Parameter - Shading position [0.0-1.0] This parameter is only visible in certain configurations. | - | 0...1 | 0,8 |
| Lw | Slat width | Parameter - Slat width in mm This parameter is only visible in certain configurations. | mm | 0...∞ | 70 |
| Ls | Distance between slats | Parameter - Distance in mm between two horizontal slats This parameter is only visible in certain configurations. | mm | 0...∞ | 60 |
| Pm | Slat position during upwards movement | Relative slat position in percent 0 = Slats are horizontal during upwards movement 50 = Slats are horizontal at 50%, and during upwards movement are turned inwards This parameter is only visible in certain configurations. |
% | 0...50 | 0 |
Properties↑
| Summary | Description | Default Value |
|---|---|---|
| Use sunshine variable | Automatic shading is only activated if the system variable Sunshine and the input AS are active | - |
| Assigned device | Shading device linked to this function block. Geiger motors with Loxone Air technology and Internorm iTec devices are supported. | - |
Automatic mode↑
In addition to programming, the cardinal direction must be specified for parameter "D". Shading is only activated when the sun is shining on the window (calculated by Miniserver)
Input "AS" activates the automatic mode. The shading output of the Intelligent Room Controller and the Weather Service output Sunshine can be used for this. The automatic mode can be disabled via the input "AD", for example in combination with a door contact, when a window is open.
AX (position after end of automatic shading):↑
AX=0...no action (shutter remains the same as at the end of the shading)
AX=1...complete path
AX=2...Complete Descent
AX=3...Set slats horizontally
SO (safety shutdown position):↑
SO=0...Goes up when there is a pulse at Sp
SO=1...Goes down when there is a pulse at Sp
Parameters D, DT and DTe↑
D: Is the direction of the shading device relative to the geographical north. (0 = North, 90 = east, 180 = south, 270 = West)
DT: Direction tolerance when the sun enters the shading device. The directional tolerance is relative to the perpendicular angle of the shading device. Consider, for example, building protrusions. If your shading device is not affected, you can leave this at its default value of 85º.
DTe: Direction tolerance when the sun exits the shading device. The directional tolerance is relative to the perpendicular angle of the shading device. Consider, for example, building protrusions. If your shading device is not affected, you can leave this at its default value of 85º.
Parameters AT1 and AT2↑
With parameter AT1, automatic shading will be delayed by this number of minutes after sunrise.
This is relevant for windows that may not get the sun directly after sunrise.
With parameter AT2, automatic shading will be brought forward by this number of minutes before sunset.
This is relevant for windows that may get the sun prior to sunset.
There are two possible applications for the two parameters:
Often the sun is obscured by other buildings, structures or trees after sunrise and before sunset. Here, the start or end time of the automatic shading can be changed to accommodate this.
Another possibility is to alter the times so that sunrise or sunset can be seen with the shading open.
Programming example↑
You can create this block by dragging a shading motor with integrated interface from the periphery tree to the programming page.
If you add the block manually, a shading motor must be assigned to it.
A Loxone Touch is connected to the block via the T5 input, for operation according to the Loxone Switch Standard.
In addition, the cardinal direction is specified in parameter D, to ensure that automatic shading is only activated when the sun is actually shining on the window. The Intelligent Room Controller's shading output (Qs) is used for this purpose:
If venetian blinds are used, the slat dimensions (Lw and Ls) must also be set for them to be controlled correctly.
Functional description↑
When configured with the recommended settings, automatic shading is activated when the room controller enables it via input AS. If however, automatic shading is activated manually, e.g. via App, the signal from the room controller is not required.
Automatic shading begins when the sun reaches the shading area and ends when it passes.
During this time, the slats are adjusted according to the angle of the sun. At the end, the blinds move to the position specified with parameter AX.
Manual shading, independent of the sun's position, can be triggered via input S or in the App with "Shading". The slats are then adjusted horizontally.
Automatic shading can be deactivated via input AD.
If the blinds are operated manually during automatic mode (e.g. using an app), then automatic shading is deactivated for that day. To reactivate the automatic control, a pulse on the AR input or activation via App is necessary.
|
When automatic shading is activated, the blinds may not adjust immediately. Shading only starts based on the position of the sun and the related parameters. |
The functionality is illustrated in the following time diagram:
Output Qa indicates whether automatic shading is active.
To control multiple blinds simultaneously, the corresponding central function block is used.
Additional inputs, outputs and parameters may be required if standard push buttons are used or additional logic is programmed.
Slat adjustment↑
When automatic shading is active, the blind slats are adjusted based on the sun's position.
The slats are tilted to an angle that prevents any direct sunlight from entering in between them.
Generally, the adjustment is carried out at the intervals set with parameter AT, but only at 15° increments, and only if necessary.
If, for example, the sun's path is at a relatively constant angle, its elevation will hardly change. For this reason, an adjustment is not necessarily carried out at every interval.
When the sun is rising, the value required at each interval is calculated and the slats are adjusted if necessary.
When the sun is setting, the value required for the following interval is calculated at each interval and the slats are adjusted if necessary.