Automatic door assembly with video imaging device

• US 20010030689A1
• Filed: 12/06/2000
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Spinelli, Vito A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,042,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/155
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/767 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

An automatic door assembly for installation at a doorway formed through a wall of a building and for use in conjunction with a video device that is (a) capable of receiving a video data signal from a video imaging device monitoring a field of view and (b) processing the video data signal received from the imaging device into a form suitable for displaying images that are visually representative of the imaging device'"'"'s field of view. The door assembly comprises a frame assembly that mounts to the building wall at the doorway thereof, a door panel that mounts to the frame assembly for movement between closed position and open positions, and a door controlling system. The door controlling system comprises a video imaging device mounted in a viewing position. The imaging device is provided by a digital or analog video camera. In the viewing position, the imaging device monitors a field of view that encompasses an approach area located adjacent to the doorway. The video imaging device transmits an internal video data signal comprising information representative of the field of view. The controlling system also comprises a detection system comprising a video signal processor that communicates with the video imaging device. The processor receives the internal video data signal from the imaging device and processes the information comprising the internal video data signal to determine whether a person or object has entered the approach area. The detection system transmits a door opening signal in response to the processor thereof determining that a person or object has entered the approach area. The door assembly also comprises a door operator connected to the door panel and communicated with the detection system. The door operator moves the door panel from the closed position thereof to the open position thereof responsive to receiving the door opening signal.

Claims

1. An automatic door assembly for installation at a doorway formed through a wall of a building and for use in conjunction with a video device that is (a) capable of receiving a video data signal from a video imaging device monitoring a field of view and (b) processing the video data signal received from the imaging device into a form suitable for displaying images that are visually representative of the imaging device'"'"'s field of view, said door assembly comprising:

a frame assembly constructed and arranged to be mounted to the building wall at the doorway thereof,

a door panel constructed and arranged to be mounted to said frame assembly for movement between (1) a closed position wherein said door panel is positioned in covering relation over the doorway to prevent persons and objects from travelling therethrough and (2) an open position wherein said door panel is moved out of said covering relation to permit persons and objects to travel through the doorway;

a door controlling system comprising;

(i) a video imaging device constructed and arranged to be mounted in a viewing position wherein said imaging device monitors a field of view that encompasses at least an approach area located adjacent to the doorway, said video imaging device being adapted to transmit an internal video data signal comprising information representative of said field of view;

(ii) a detection system comprising a video signal processor that communicates with said video imaging device, said video signal processor being adapted to receive said internal video data signal from said imaging device and to process the information comprising said internal video data signal to determine whether a person or object has entered said approach area, said detection system being adapted to responsively transmit a door opening signal in response to said processor thereof determining that a person or object has entered said approach area; and

a door operator constructed and arranged to be connected to said door panel and adapted to communicate with said detection system, said door operator being constructed and arranged to move said door panel from said closed position thereof to said open position thereof responsive to receiving said door opening signal;

said door controlling system being adapted to transmit an external video data signal comprising information representative of the field of view of said imaging device, thereby enabling said door controlling system to be communicated to the aforesaid video device so that the video device can process the external video data signal into a form suitable for displaying images that are visually representative of the field of view of said video imaging device including at least the approach area adjacent said doorway.

2. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 1

, wherein said video imaging device is a digital video imaging device.

3. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 1

, wherein said door controlling system further comprises a door controller communicated with both said signal processor and said door operator and wherein said video signal processor is adapted to generate a detection signal and transmit said detection signal to said controller in response to determining that a person or object has entered said approach area;

said door controller being adapted to generate and transmit said door opening signal to said operator responsive to receiving said detection signal;

said controller being adapted to (a) monitor the positioning of said door panel between said open and closed positions thereof and (b) select a speed at which said operator moves door panel moves based on the said positioning of said door panel and to responsive control said operator to move said door panel at said selected speed by varying an amplitude or frequency of said door opening signal.

4. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 1

, wherein said processor determines whether a person or object has entered said approach area by detecting motion of the person or object within said approach area.

5. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 3

, wherein said processor determines whether a person or object has entered said approach area by detecting motion of the person or object within said approach area.

6. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 1

, wherein said door panel is a single sliding door panel movable generally rectilinearly within a threshold area of said doorway.

7. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 1

, wherein said door panel is one of a pair of sliding door panels movable generally rectilinearly towards and away from one another within a threshold area of said doorway.

8. A combination comprising:

a building having a wall with a doorway formed therethrough;

an automatic door assembly comprising;

(a) a frame assembly mounted to the building wall at the doorway thereof when said door assembly is installed;

(b) a door panel mounted to said frame assembly when said door assembly is installed for movement between (1) a closed position wherein said door panel is positioned in covering relation over the doorway to prevent persons and objects from travelling therethrough and (2) an open position wherein said door panel is moved out of said covering relation to permit persons and objects to travel through the doorway;

(c) a door controlling system comprising;

(i) a video imaging device mounted in a viewing position wherein said imaging device monitors a field of view that encompasses at least an approach area located adjacent to the doorway, said video imaging device being adapted to transmit an internal video data signal comprising information representative of said field of view;

(ii) a detection system comprising a video signal processor that communicates with said video imaging device, said video signal processor being adapted to receive said internal video data signal from said imaging device and to process the information comprising said internal video data signal to determine whether a person or object has entered said approach area, said detection system being further adapted to responsively transmit a door opening signal in response to said processor determining that a person or object has entered said approach area; and

(d) a door operator connected to said door panel and communicated to said detection system, said door operator being adapted to receive said door opening signal from said detection system and being constructed and arranged to move said door panel from said closed position thereof to said open position thereof responsive to receiving said door opening signal;

(e) said door controlling system being adapted to transmit an external video data signal comprising information representative of the field of view of said imaging device, and

a video device communicated to said door assembly'"'"'s controlling system, said video device being adapted to receive said external video data signal and to process the information comprising the external video data signal into a form suitable for displaying images that are visually representative of the field of view of said video imaging device including the approach area adjacent said doorway.

9. A combination according to

claim 8

, wherein said video device is a video data storing device that (a) processes and stores the information comprising the external video data signal and (b) enables the stored information to be subsequently retrieved for displaying images that are representative of the field of view of said video imaging device including at least the approach area adjacent said doorway.

10. A combination according to

claim 8

, wherein said video device is a video display device that processes the information comprising the external video data signal and displays images that are visually representative of the field of said video imaging device including at least the approach area adjacent said doorway.

11. A combination according to

claim 8

, wherein said processor determines whether a person or object has entered said approach area by detecting motion of the person or object with said approach area.

12. A combination according to

claim 8

, wherein said door panel is a single sliding door panel movable generally rectilinearly within a threshold area of said doorway.

13. A combination according to

claim 8

, wherein said door panel is one of a pair of sliding door panels movable generally rectilinearly towards and away from one another within a threshold area of said doorway.

14. A combination according to

claim 8

, wherein said video imaging device is mounted on said frame assembly.

15. An automatic door assembly for installation at a doorway formed through a wall of a building, said door assembly comprising:

a frame assembly constructed and arranged to be mounted to the building wall at the doorway thereof;

a door panel constructed and arranged to be mounted to said frame assembly for movement between (1) a closed position wherein said door panel is positioned in covering relation over the doorway to prevent persons and objects from travelling therethrough and (2) an open position wherein said door panel is moved out of said covering relation to permit persons and objects to travel through the doorway;

a door controlling system comprising;

(i) a video imaging device constructed and arranged to be mounted in a viewing position wherein said imaging device monitors a field of view that encompasses at least a door panel travel area through which said door panel moves during movement thereof between said open and closed positions, said video imaging device being adapted to transmit a video data signal comprising information representative of said field of view;

(ii) a detection system comprising a video signal processor that communicates with said video imaging device, said video signal processor being adapted to receive said video data signal from said imaging device and to process the information comprising said internal video data signal to determine whether a person or object is in said door panel travel area, said detection system being adapted such that said processor ignores the movement of said door panel within said door panel travel area so that said door panel is not determined by said processor to be a person or object in said predetermined area, said detection system being adapted to responsively transmit a door opening signal in response to said processor thereof determining that a person or object is within said door panel travel area; and

a door operator constructed and arranged to be connected to said door panel and adapted to communicate with said detection system, said door operator being constructed and arranged to move said door panel from said closed position thereof to said open position thereof through said door panel travel area responsive to receiving said door opening signal.

16. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 15

, wherein said door panel travel area is a threshold area within said doorway and wherein said door panel is sliding door panel that moves generally rectilinearly within said threshold area in the doorway between said open and closed positions thereof;

said video signal processor being adapted to process the information comprising said video data signal to determine whether a person or object is in said threshold area, said detection system being adapted such that said processor ignores the movement of said sliding door panel within said threshold area so that said sliding door panel is not determined by said processor to be a person or object in said threshold area, said detection system being adapted to responsively transmit said door opening signal in response to said processor thereof determining that a person or object is within said threshold area.

17. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 15

, wherein said field of view encompasses an approach area located adjacent to and extending away from said doorway,

said video signal processor being adapted to process the information comprising said video data signal to determine whether a person or object is in said approach area, said detection system being adapted to responsively transmit said door opening signal in response to said processor thereof determining that a person or object is within said approach area.

18. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 15

, wherein said door controlling system further comprises a position sensor communicated with said processor, said position sensor being adapted to transmit a door position signal to said processor indicative of a position of said door panel between said open and closed positions thereof within said door panel travel area;

said processor being adapted to process said door position signal to determine a portion of said door panel travel area in which said door panel is positioned, said processor being further adapted such that, when processing the information comprising said video data signal to determine whether a person or object is in said door panel travel area, said processor does not detect for persons or objects within the portion of said door panel travel area in which said door panel is positioned so that said door panel is ignored and not determined by said processor to be a person or object in said door panel travel area.

19. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 16

, wherein said door controlling system further comprises a position sensor communicated with said processor, said position sensor being adapted to transmit a door position signal to said processor indicative of a position of said door panel between said open and closed positions thereof within said threshold area;

said processor being adapted to process said door position signal to determine a portion of said threshold area in which said door panel is positioned, said processor being farther adapted such that when processing the information comprising said video data signal to determine whether a person or object is in said threshold area said processor does not detect for persons or objects within the portion of said threshold area in which said door panel is positioned so that said door panel is ignored and not determined by said processor to be a person or object in said threshold area.

20. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 18

, wherein said position sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

21. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 19

, wherein said position sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

22. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 15

, wherein said video imaging device is a digital video imaging device.

23. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 16

, wherein said sliding door panel is a single sliding door panel movable within said threshold area.

24. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 16

, wherein said sliding, door panel is one of a pair of sliding door panels movable toward and away from one another within said threshold area.

25. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 15

, wherein said processor determines whether a person or object is in said door panel travel area by detecting a presence of person or object within said travel area.

26. An automatic door assembly according to

claim 15

, wherein said door controlling system is adapted to transmit an external video data signal comprising information representative of the field of view of said imaging device, thereby enabling said door controlling system to be communicated to the aforesaid video device so that the video device can process the external video data signal into a form suitable for displaying images that are visually representative of the field.