Garage door opener system and method of operating a garage door opener system

• US 10,202,793 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2018
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TTi (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: TTi (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: McNabb, William Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brian E
• Application Number:
  US16/040,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20180328100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 207 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0015 Output elements of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0067 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0072 Operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/00 Permutation or combination locks handles with combination locks E05B13/103; keyhole guards with combination locks E05B17/145; electric permutation locks E05B49/00; Puzzle locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0001 with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof for vehicles E05B81/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 49/006 actuating opto-electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0021 for overhead or roll-up doors, e.g. garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/78 using light beams
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/79 using time control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/61 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/612 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/654 by electrical cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/80 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/82 Images; Symbols
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/85 User input means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/106 Lighting
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00785 by light
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 : actuated in a predetermined sequence

Abstract

A garage door opener system having a garage door opener and a remote input device electrically connected to the garage door opener by an electrical conductor. The remote input device receives power by the electrical conductor. The remote input device includes a device controller to communicate an event message, monitor for an acknowledgement message within a time period, and repeat the event message when the acknowledgement message is not received within a time period. The garage door opener includes a master controller. The master controller receives the event message and communicates the acknowledgement message in response to receiving the event message. Also disclosed is a method of operating the garage door opener system.

Claims

1. A garage door opener system comprising:

a structure;

a motor supported by the structure and capable of moving a garage door;

a power supply supported by the structure and connectable to an external power source;

a remote input device electrically connectable to the power supply by an electrical conductor, the remote input device to receive power by the electrical conductor, the remote input device including a device controller to;

communicate a heartbeat message after absence of an input event for a first time period, and

monitor for an acknowledgement message; and

a master controller supported by the structure, connected to the motor and the power supply, and electrically connectable to the remote input device by the electrical conductor, the master controller to;

receive the heartbeat message, and

communicate the acknowledgement message in response to receiving the heartbeat message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote input device includes a light-emitting diode, and wherein the acknowledgement message includes a value for controlling the light-emitting diode.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the acknowledgement message communicated by the master controller indicates a state for a light-emitting diode of the remote input device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the light-emitting diode state includes a state for a vacation enabled mode, a vacation disabled mode, or a backup power mode.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein after communicating the heartbeat message and in further absence of the input event, the device controller periodically communicates a heartbeat message until the input event is received.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein in response to receiving each of the periodic heartbeat messages, the master controller communicates an acknowledgement message indicating a state for a light emitting diode of the remote input device.

7. The system of claim 1, the remote input device further including a keypad having a button, wherein the device controller:

monitors the button for the input event;

communicates an event message to the master controller in response to receiving the input event; and

monitors for an acknowledgement of the event message from the master controller.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein in response to receiving the event message, the master controller communicates the acknowledgement of the event message, the acknowledgement of the event message indicating a state for a light emitting diode of the remote input device.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the event message is one of a key press message and a key hold message.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein control of power to the motor from the power supply is based on the received event message.

11. A method of operating a garage door opener system including a garage door opener and a remote input device electrically connected to the garage door opener, the method comprising:

receiving power from the garage door opener at the remote input device over the electrical conductor;

communicating a heartbeat message over the electrical conductor from the remote input device after absence of an input event for a first time period;

receiving the heart beat message at the garage door opener;

communicating, by a master controller of the garage door opener, an acknowledgement message in response to receiving the heartbeat message; and

monitoring for the acknowledgement message at the remote input device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling a light-emitting diode of the remote input device based on the acknowledgement message.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the acknowledgement message communicated by the master controller indicates a state for a light-emitting diode of the remote input device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the light-emitting diode state includes a state for a vacation enabled mode, a vacation disabled mode, or a backup power mode.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein after communicating the heartbeat message and in further absence of the input event, the remote input device periodically communicates a heartbeat message until the input event is received.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein in response to receiving each of the periodic heartbeat messages, the master controller communicates an acknowledgement message indicating a state for a light emitting diode of the remote input device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the remote input device includes a keypad having a button, and wherein the remote input device:

monitors the button for the input event;

communicates an event message to the master controller in response to receiving the input event; and

monitors for an acknowledgement of receiving the event message from the master controller.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein in response to receiving the event message, the master controller communicates the acknowledgement of receiving the event message, the acknowledgement of receiving the event message indicating a state for a light emitting diode of the remote input device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the event message is one of a key press message and a key hold message.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the controlling the power of the garage door opener is based on the event message.