Automatic closure system impact detection
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- providing an accelerometer on a closure device that is part of an automatic closure system, wherein the accelerometer is responsive to motion of the closure device;
providing in real time a first output value of the accelerometer to a first analog-to-digital converter, the first analog-to-digital converter comparing the first output value of the accelerometer with a first reference value, wherein the first output value is indicative of a direction of motion of the closure device;
providing in real time a second output value of the accelerometer to a second analog-to-digital converter, the second analog-to-digital converter comparing the second output value of the accelerometer with an adjustable reference value, wherein the second output value is indicative of an impact of the closure device with an object;
providing a microcontroller coupled to the first and second analog-to-digital converters, the microcontroller configured for determining in real time based upon the first and second output values whether to perform an action with respect to operation of the automatic closure system, wherein the action is one of a plurality of actions stored in the microcontroller; and
providing an interface circuit for communicating an output from the microcontroller to a remote controller circuit,wherein upon a positive determination, the microcontroller determines which action from the plurality of actions should be performed relative to the current operation of the automatic closure system and provides the output to the interface circuit, which when communicated to the remote controller circuit, causes the determined action with respect to operation of the automatic closure system to be performed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided, including providing an accelerometer responsive to motion of a closure forming part of an automatic closure system, providing an output of the accelerometer to first and second comparator circuits, the first comparator circuit having a first reference voltage such that the output of the first comparator circuit is indicative of a direction of closure motion and the second comparator circuit having an adjustable second reference voltage such that the output of the second comparator circuit is scaled relative to this adjustable second reference voltage to adjust the sensitivity of the output of the second comparator, providing a microcontroller coupled to the first and second comparator circuits, the microcontroller determining both a motion sequence of the closure and whether the closure has impacted an object, and providing an interface circuit for communicating the output from the microcontroller to a remote controller circuit.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing an accelerometer on a closure device that is part of an automatic closure system, wherein the accelerometer is responsive to motion of the closure device; providing in real time a first output value of the accelerometer to a first analog-to-digital converter, the first analog-to-digital converter comparing the first output value of the accelerometer with a first reference value, wherein the first output value is indicative of a direction of motion of the closure device; providing in real time a second output value of the accelerometer to a second analog-to-digital converter, the second analog-to-digital converter comparing the second output value of the accelerometer with an adjustable reference value, wherein the second output value is indicative of an impact of the closure device with an object; providing a microcontroller coupled to the first and second analog-to-digital converters, the microcontroller configured for determining in real time based upon the first and second output values whether to perform an action with respect to operation of the automatic closure system, wherein the action is one of a plurality of actions stored in the microcontroller; and providing an interface circuit for communicating an output from the microcontroller to a remote controller circuit, wherein upon a positive determination, the microcontroller determines which action from the plurality of actions should be performed relative to the current operation of the automatic closure system and provides the output to the interface circuit, which when communicated to the remote controller circuit, causes the determined action with respect to operation of the automatic closure system to be performed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A device comprising:
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an accelerometer responsive to motion of a closure device forming part of an automatic closure system; a first analog-to-digital converter configured for receiving in real time a first output value of the accelerometer, the first analog-to-digital converter comparing the first output value of the accelerometer with a first reference value, wherein the first output value is indicative of a direction of motion of the closure device; a second analog-to-digital converter configured for receiving in real time a second output value of the accelerometer, the second analog-to-digital converter comparing the second output value of the accelerometer with an adjustable second reference value, wherein the second reference value is indicative of an impact of the closure device with an object; a microcontroller coupled to the first and second analog-to-digital converters, the microcontroller configured for determining in real time based upon the first and second output values whether to perform an action from a plurality of actions with respect to operation of the automatic closure system; and an interface circuit for communicating an output from the microcontroller to a remote controller circuit, wherein upon a positive determination, the microcontroller determines which action from the plurality of actions should be performed relative to the current operation of the automatic closure system and provides the output to the interface circuit, which when communicated to the remote controller circuit, causes the determined action with respect to operation of the automatic closure system to be performed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising:
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an impact detector circuit comprising; an accelerometer responsive to motion of a closure device forming part of an automatic closure system; a first comparator circuit for receiving in real time an output of the accelerometer, the first comparator circuit comparing the output of the accelerometer with a first reference voltage such that the output of the first comparator circuit is indicative of a direction of motion of the closure device; a second comparator circuit for receiving in real time the output of the accelerometer, the second comparator circuit comparing the output of the accelerometer with an adjustable second reference voltage such that the output of the second comparator circuit is indicative of an impact of the closure device with an object; a first microcontroller coupled to the outputs of the first and second comparator circuits, the first microcontroller for determining in real time based upon the outputs of the first and second comparator circuits with time both a motion sequence of the closure and whether the closure has impacted an object, and upon a positive determination, the microcontroller determining which action from a plurality of actions should be performed relative to the current operation of the automatic closure system and providing an output to the interface circuit established in dependence upon the determined action to be performed; and an interface circuit for communicating the output from the microcontroller to a remote controller circuit; and the remote controller circuit comprising; a filtering circuit for receiving and processing the output from the interface circuit within the impact detector; a second microcontroller for receiving the output from the filtering circuit and determining whether to at least one of trigger an alarm and communicate a control signal to a motor controlling motion of the automatic closure system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification