Parking barrier with accident event logging and self-diagnostic control system

• US 20020170685A1
• Filed: 04/25/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartdoor Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: David Johan Van Tuyl, Martin Herman Iii Weik, Paul Michael Brown
• Inventors: Weik, Martin Herman III, Brown, Paul Michael, Van Tuyl, David Johan
• Granted Patent: US 7,146,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 160/133
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/006 by emergency conditions, e.g. fire operating or controlling mechanisms for physical fire-barriers A62C2/24
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/02 gravity-actuated , e.g. by use of counterweights
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/72 responsive to emergency conditions, e.g. fire
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/41 for closing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/50 Weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/59 Travel display
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/616 Generators
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/814 Sound emitters, e.g. speakers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/00 Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/134 Fire doors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/70 comprising an electric motor positioned outside the roller
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/82 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24145 Test for collision of actuated devices, articles, if interference inihibit entry
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2628 Door, window
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters

Abstract

A parking area entrance or exit barrier includes a control system which receives inputs from various accessories associated with the operation of the barrier, and which provides control signals to the various accessories of the barrier. One of the accessories includes a sensor attached to the barrier. The sensor senses an accident event, such as contact between the barrier and a vehicle. Whenever an accident event is sensed, the control system creates an accident event log of information concerning the accident event. The accident event log may include video images of the barrier, a position of the barrier, a movement direction and speed of the barrier, and an approximated speed of the vehicle. The control system may also monitor a performance of the various accessories of the barrier and create a performance log relating to any malfunction of the accessories. The performance of the accessories may also indicate tampering or fraudulent activities concerning the parking barrier, such as an attendant stealing parking fees. The accident event log and/or performance log may be transmitted to a central service facility. Further, the central service facility can remotely change operating parameters of the control system.

Claims

1. A combination comprising:

a barrier for blocking an entrance or exit of a parking area;

an actuator connected to said barrier for moving said barrier;

a sensor attached to said barrier;

a controller connected to said actuator and said sensor; and

a customer or vehicle acknowledgement device connected to said controller, wherein when a customer or vehicle is acknowledged, said controller causes said actuator to move said barrier, and wherein contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and said barrier will be detected by said sensor.

2. The combination according to claim 1, further comprising:

a video camera for viewing an image of an area including said barrier, wherein said video camera is connected to said controller; and

a memory connected to said video camera, wherein the image may be stored in said memory.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said video camera captures a plurality of time sequenced images of the area;

and wherein said controller causes said video camera to start recording the images of the area at the moment a customer/vehicle is acknowledged, and causes said video camera to stop recording the images of the area when the vehicle'"'"'s presence is no longer sensed, at a predetermined time after the vehicle'"'"'s presence is no longer sensed, when said barrier has closed, or at a time related to when said barrier will or has closed.

4. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said controller causes the video image to be stored in said memory only when contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and said barrier is detected by said sensor.

5. The combination according to claim 2, wherein a stored video image is overwritten with a subsequent video image after some time.

6. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said memory is present in a remote location and is connected to said video camera via said controller and a modem.

7. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said actuator includes a motor with a rotating output shaft and further comprising:

an encoder to determine a rotational position of said output shaft, relating to a position of said barrier; and

a memory connected to said encoder, wherein the rotational position of said output shaft, at the moment when contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and said sensor is detected, is stored in said memory.

8. The combination according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vehicle and/or pedestrian presence detector to be located on an upstream side of the entrance or exit from the parking area.

9. The combination according to claim 8, wherein said presence detector is at least one of an electric eye, a metal detector, a motion sensor and a weight sensor.

10. The combination according to claim 8, further comprising:

a timer associated with said controller, said timer registering a time-stamped event of said vehicle presence detector and a time when contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and said barrier is detected by said sensor; and

a memory connected to said timer, wherein the time-stamped events are stored in said memory.

11. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said barrier is an overhead rolling door and wherein said sensor is a contact activated sensor disposed adjacent to a lower edge of said overhead rolling door.

14. The combination according to claim 13, wherein said parking area is a parking garage, and said first and second barriers are first and second overhead rolling doors.

15. The combination according to claim 14, wherein said first sensor is a first contact activated sensor disposed adjacent to a lower edge of said first overhead rolling door, and said second sensor is a second contact activated sensor dispose adjacent to a lower edge of said second overhead rolling door.

16. The combination according to claim 13, further comprising:

a modem connected to said controller, wherein data may be transmitted from said controller to a remote location concerning a status of said first and second barriers.

17. The combination according to claim 16, further comprising:

a first video camera for viewing an image of a first area including said first barrier, wherein said first video camera is connected to said controller; and

a second video camera for viewing an image of a second area including said second barrier, wherein said second video camera is connected to said controller, wherein the data which may be transmitted from said controller includes the image of the first and/or second areas.

18. The combination according to claim 13, wherein said parking area is a first parking area and said controller is a first controller, and further comprising:

a second parking area, remotely located relative to said first parking area;

a third barrier for blocking a third entrance or exit of said second parking area;

a third actuator connected to said third barrier for moving said third barrier;

a third sensor attached to said third barrier;

a second controller connected to said third actuator and said third sensor; and

a third customer or vehicle acknowledgement device, associated with said third barrier, connected to said second controller, wherein when a customer or vehicle is acknowledged by said third customer or vehicle acknowledgement device, said second controller causes said third actuator to move said third barrier, and wherein contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and said third barrier will be detected by said third sensor and reported to said second controller.

19. The combination according to claim 18, wherein said first parking area is a parking garage, said first and second barriers are first and second overhead rolling doors, said second parking area is a parking lot, and said third barrier is a gate.

20. The combination according to claim 19, wherein said first sensor is a contact activated sensor disposed adjacent to a lower edge of said first overhead rolling door, said second sensor is a contact activated sensor disposed adjacent to a lower edge of said second overhead rolling door, and said third sensor is a contact activated sensor disposed adjacent to a lower edge of said gate.

21. The combination according to claim 18, further comprising:

a first modem connected to said first controller, wherein first data may be transmitted from said first controller to a remote location concerning a status of said first and second barriers; and

a second modem connected to said second controller, wherein second data may be transmitted from said second controller to the remote location concerning a status of said third barrier.

22. The combination according to claim 21, further comprising:

a first video camera for viewing an image of a first area including said first barrier, wherein said first video camera is connected to said first controller;

a second video camera for viewing an image of a second area including said second barrier, wherein said second video camera is connected to said first controller, and wherein the first data which may be transmitted from said first controller includes the image of the first and/or second areas; and

a third video camera for viewing an image of a third area including said third barrier, wherein said third video camera is connected to said second controller, and wherein the second data which may be transmitted from said second controller includes the image of the third area.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

providing a video camera; and

viewing an image of an area including the barrier.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the video camera captures a plurality of time sequenced images of the area, and further comprising the steps of:

starting the viewing of the images of the area at a time relating to when a customer or customer'"'"'s vehicle is acknowledged; and

stopping the viewing of the images of the area when the vehicle'"'"'s presence is no longer sensed, at a predetermined time after the vehicle'"'"'s presence is no longer sensed, when the barrier has closed, or at a time related to when the barrier will or has closed.

26. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of:

storing the image of the area in a memory only when contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and the barrier is detected by the sensor.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of:

overwriting the stored image with a subsequent image after some time.

28. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

providing a motor with a rotating output shaft for moving the barrier, and an encoder associated with the output shaft;

determining a rotational position of the output shaft, relating to a position of the barrier; and

storing the rotational position of the output shaft in a memory, at the moment when contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and the barrier is detected by the sensor.

29. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicle presence detector upstream of the entrance or exit from the parking area;

time stamping events to determine a time interval between an event of the vehicle presence detector and a time when contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and the barrier is detected by the sensor; and

storing the time information in a memory.

30. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

providing a video camera;

viewing an image of an area including the barrier, wherein the video camera captures a plurality of time sequenced images of the area;

starting recording of the images of the area at the moment a customer or customer'"'"'s vehicle is acknowledged;

stopping recording of the images of the area when the vehicle'"'"'s presence is no longer sensed, at a predetermined time after the vehicle'"'"'s presence is no longer sensed, when the barrier has closed, or at a time related to when the barrier will or has closed;

storing the image of the area in a memory only when contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and the barrier is detected by the sensor;

providing a motor with a rotating output shaft for moving the barrier, and an encoder associated with the output shaft;

determining a rotational position of the output shaft, relating to a position of the barrier;

storing the rotational position of the output shaft in a memory, at the moment when contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and the barrier is detected by the sensor;

providing a vehicle presence detector upstream of the entrance or exit from the parking area;

time stamping events to determine a time interval between an event of the vehicle presence detector and a time when contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and the barrier is detected by the sensor; and

storing the time information in the memory.

12. A combination comprising:

a barrier for blocking an entrance or exit of a parking area;

an actuator, including a motor with a rotating output shaft, connected to said barrier for moving said barrier;

a sensor attached to said barrier;

a controller connected to said actuator and said sensor;

a customer or vehicle acknowledgement device connected to said controller, wherein when a customer or vehicle is acknowledged, said controller causes said actuator to move said barrier, and wherein contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and said barrier will be detected by said sensor;

a video camera for viewing an image of an area including said barrier, wherein said video camera is connected to said controller;

a memory connected to said video camera, wherein the image is stored in said memory only when contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and said barrier is detected by said sensor;

an encoder to determine a rotational position of said output shaft, relating to a position of said barrier, wherein the rotational position of said output shaft, at the moment when contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and said barrier is detected by said sensor, is stored in said memory;

a vehicle presence detector to be located on an upstream side of the entrance or exit from the parking area; and

a timer associated with said controller, said timer registering a time-stamped event of said vehicle presence detector and a time when contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and said barrier is detected by said sensor, wherein the time information is stored in said memory.

13. A combination comprising:

a parking area;

a first barrier for blocking a first entrance or exit of said parking area;

an first actuator connected to said first barrier for moving said first barrier;

a first sensor attached to said first barrier;

a second barrier for blocking a second entrance or exit of said parking area;

an second actuator connected to said second barrier for moving said second barrier;

a second sensor attached to said second barrier;

a controller connected to said first and second actuators and said first and second sensors;

a first customer or vehicle acknowledgement device, associated with said first barrier, connected to said controller, wherein when a customer or vehicle is acknowledged by said first customer or vehicle acknowledgement device, said controller causes said first actuator to move said first barrier, and wherein contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and said first barrier will be detected by said first sensor and reported to said controller; and

a second customer or vehicle acknowledgement device, associated with said second barrier, connected to said controller, wherein when a customer or vehicle is acknowledged by said second customer or vehicle acknowledgement device, said controller causes said second actuator to move said second barrier, and wherein contact between the customer'"'"'s vehicle and said second barrier will be detected by said second sensor and reported to said controller.

23. A method of operating a parking area comprising the steps of:

providing a barrier and a sensor for the barrier;

blocking an entrance or exit of the parking area using the barrier;

acknowledging a customer'"'"'s vehicle in proximity to the barrier;

moving the barrier to open the entrance or exit of the parking area; and

detecting any contact between the barrier and the customer'"'"'s vehicle using the sensor.

31. A combination comprising:

a barrier for blocking an entrance or exit of a parking area;

an actuator connected to said barrier for moving said barrier;

a controller connected to said actuator, said controller causing said actuator to move said barrier in response to a predetermined event;

an electronic accessory connected to said controller;

diagnostic circuitry, associated with said controller, said diagnostic circuitry monitoring a performance of said electronic accessory, wherein said controller may report data concerning the status and any detected fault relating to said electronic accessory; and

a first modem connected to said controller, wherein said data concerning the status and any detected fault is transmitted by said controller via said first modem.

32. The combination according to claim 31, further comprising:

a display connected to said controller, said display presenting the data concerning the status and any detected fault reported by said controller.

33. The combination according to claim 32, wherein said display is a LCD or VFD screen located proximate the parking area.

34. The combination according to claim 31, further comprising:

a remote service facility;

a second modem located at said remote service facility, wherein the data concerning the status and any detected fault is received by said second modem.

35. The combination according to claim 34, further comprising:

a computer monitor located at said remote service facility, said data concerning the status and any detected fault being display on said computer monitor.

36. The combination according to claim 34, wherein said electronic accessory includes at least one of an electronic eye for sensing a passing of a vehicle, a sensor for sensing a metallic presence or weight of a vehicle, a contact sensor disposed on a leading edge of said barrier, a switch for changing a mode of operation of said controller, and a card reader for receiving a card from a vehicle operator.

37. The combination according to claim 34, wherein said electronic accessory includes a card reader for reading parking cards.

38. The combination according to claim 34, wherein said electronic accessory includes a card reader for reading credit cards.

40. The combination according to claim 39, wherein said parking area is a parking garage and said first and second barriers are overhead rolling doors.

41. The combination according to claim 39, further comprising:

a first modem connected to said controller;

a remote service facility; and

a second modem located at said remote service facility, wherein the data concerning the status and any detected fault is transmitted by said controller via said first modem and received at said remote service facility via said second modem.

42. The combination according to claim 39, wherein said parking area is a first parking area and said controller is a first controller, and further comprising:

a second parking area, locate remote to said first parking area;

a third barrier for blocking a third entrance or exit of said second parking area;

a third actuator connected to said third barrier for moving said third barrier;

a second controller connected to said third actuator, said second controller causing said third actuator to move said third barrier in response to a third predetermined event;

a third electronic accessory, associated with said third barrier, connected to said second controller;

second diagnostic circuitry, associated with said second controller, said second diagnostic circuitry monitoring a performance of said third electronic accessory, wherein said second controller may report second data concerning the status and any detected fault relating to said third electronic accessory.

43. The combination according to claim 42, wherein said first parking area is a parking garage, said first and second barriers are overhead rolling doors, said second parking area is a parking lot, and said third barrier is a gate.

44. The combination according to claim 42, further comprising:

a first modem connected to said first controller;

a second modem connected to said second controller;

a remote service facility; and

a third modem located at said remote service facility, wherein the first and second data concerning the status and any detected fault is transmitted by said first and second controllers via said first and second modems, respectively, and received at said remote service facility via said third modem.

46. The method according to claim 45, further comprising the step of:

compiling an event log containing entries of the data concerning the status and any detected faults in the electronic accessory.

47. The method according to claim 45, further comprising the steps of:

providing a second modem at a remote service facility;

calling to the controller from the remote service facility; and

sending the data concerning the status and any detected fault from the controller to the remote service facility.

39. A combination comprising:

a parking area;

a first barrier for blocking a first entrance or exit of said parking area;

a first actuator connected to said first barrier for moving said first barrier;

a second barrier for blocking a second entrance or exit of said parking area;

a second actuator connected to said second barrier for moving said second barrier;

a controller connected to said first and second actuators, said controller causing said first actuator to move said first barrier in response to a first predetermined event and causing said second actuator to move said second barrier in response to a second predetermined event;

a first electronic accessory, associated with said first barrier, connected to said controller;

a second electronic accessory, associated with said second barrier, connected to said controller; and

diagnostic circuitry, associated with said controller, said diagnostic circuitry monitoring a performance of said first and second electronic accessories, wherein said controller reports data concerning the status and any detected fault relating to said first and second electronic accessories.

45. A method of operating a barrier of a parking area comprising the steps of:

providing a barrier at an entrance or exit of a parking area, an actuator connected to the barrier, a controller connected to the actuator, and a first modem and an electronic accessory connected to the controller;

blocking the entrance or exit of the parking area with the barrier;

sensing an occurrence using the electronic accessory;

transmitting the sensed occurrence to the controller;

determining whether a predetermined event exists using the controller, and if so, causing the actuator to move the barrier to allow a vehicle to pass through the entrance or exit the parking area;

monitoring a performance of the electronic accessory;

reporting data concerning a status and any detected fault in the electronic accessory to the controller; and

sending the data concerning the status and any detected fault to a remote location.

48. A combination comprising:

a barrier for blocking an entrance or exit of a parking area;

an actuator connected to said barrier for moving said barrier;

a controller connected to said actuator, said controller causing said actuator to move said barrier in response to a predetermined event;

an electronic accessory connected to said controller;

a first modem connected to said controller;

a remote service facility; and

a second modem provided at said remote service facility, wherein data may be sent from said remote service facility via said second modem to said controller via said first modem, said data reprogramming said controller, so that said controller controls or monitors at least one of said actuator and said electronic accessory in a different manner.

49. A method of operating a barrier of a parking area comprising the steps of:

providing a barrier at an entrance or exit of a parking area, an actuator connected to the barrier, a controller connected to the actuator, and an electronic accessory connected to the controller;

providing a remote service facility;

blocking the entrance or exit of the parking area with the barrier;

operating the controller under a first program;

sending data from the remote service facility to the controller;

operating the controller under a second program in response to the data.

50. A method of operating a barrier of a parking area comprising the steps of:

providing a barrier at an entrance or exit of a parking area, an actuator connected to the barrier, a controller connected to the actuator, and an electronic accessory connected to the controller;

blocking the entrance or exit of the parking area with the barrier;

operating the controller under a first program;

reprogramming the controller to operate under a second different program; and

automatically reverting the controller back to the first program at a later time.

51. A combination comprising:

a barrier for blocking an entrance or exit of a parking area;

an actuator connected to said barrier for moving said barrier;

a metallic sensor proximate said barrier, which is activated by the presence of a vehicle;

a controller connected to said actuator and said metallic sensor; and

a timer associated with said controller, wherein if said metallic sensor is activated longer than a predetermined time, said controller outputs an alerting signal.

52. A combination comprising:

a barrier for blocking an entrance or exit of a parking area;

an actuator connected to said barrier for moving said barrier;

a card reader proximity said barrier;

a controller connected to said actuator and said card reader; and

a reset associated with said controller, wherein activation of said rest results in said controller restarting or initializing software associated said card reader, but does result in said controller directing said actuator to move said barrier.