Sensor system
First Claim
1. A sensor system for controlling movement of a door moving in a first direction by actuation of a device, the sensor system comprising:
- (a) an elongated generally flexible tubular sheath secured to a leading edge of the door, the sheath having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the leading edge of the door, and including an elongated hollow cavity extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, a first open end and a second open end;
(b) an infrared transmitter proximate the first end of the sheath for transmitting an infrared signal toward the second end of the sheath through the cavity;
(c) an infrared receiver proximate the second end of the sheath in alignment with the infrared transmitter for detecting the infrared signal at the second end, and for generating an output signal upon detecting an absence of the infrared signal when the passage of the infrared signal through the cavity is blocked; and
(d) a control circuit coupled to the infrared receiver for receiving the output signal from the infrared receiver and for sending a failure signal to the device only if no infrared signal is received by the receiver for a predetermined time period.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensing edge for controlling movement of a door by actuation of a device upon an external force being applied to the sensing edge includes an elongated generally flexible tubular sheath secured to the leading edge of the door. The sheath has a longitudinal axis generally parallel to a leading edge of the door and includes an elongated hollow cavity extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, a first open end and a second open end. The sensor system includes a transmitter near the first end of the sheath for transmitting a signal through the cavity toward the second end of the sheath. The sensor system also includes a receiver near the second end of the sheath in alignment with the transmitter for detecting a signal at the second end and for generating an output signal upon detection of an absence of the signal when the passage of the signal through the cavity is blocked. The sensor system also includes a control circuit coupled to the receiver for receiving the output signal from the receiver and for sending a failure signal to the device only if no signal is received by the receiver for a predetermined time.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A sensor system for controlling movement of a door moving in a first direction by actuation of a device, the sensor system comprising:
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(a) an elongated generally flexible tubular sheath secured to a leading edge of the door, the sheath having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the leading edge of the door, and including an elongated hollow cavity extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, a first open end and a second open end;
(b) an infrared transmitter proximate the first end of the sheath for transmitting an infrared signal toward the second end of the sheath through the cavity;
(c) an infrared receiver proximate the second end of the sheath in alignment with the infrared transmitter for detecting the infrared signal at the second end, and for generating an output signal upon detecting an absence of the infrared signal when the passage of the infrared signal through the cavity is blocked; and
(d) a control circuit coupled to the infrared receiver for receiving the output signal from the infrared receiver and for sending a failure signal to the device only if no infrared signal is received by the receiver for a predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A sensor system for controlling movement of a door moving in a first direction by actuation of a device, the sensor system comprising:
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(a) an elongated generally flexible tubular sheath secured to a leading edge of the door, the sheath having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the leading edge of the door, and including an elongated hollow cavity extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, a first open end and a second open end;
(b) a light wave transmitter proximate the first end of the sheath for transmitting light waves toward the second end of the sheath through the cavity;
(c) a light wave receiver proximate the second end of the sheath in alignment with the light wave transmitter for detecting the light waves at the second end, and for generating an output signal upon detecting an absence of the light waves when the passage of the light waves through the cavity is blocked; and
(d) a control circuit coupled to the light wave receiver for receiving the output signal from the light wave receiver and for sending a failure signal to the device only if no light signal is received by the receiver for a predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a sensing edge for controlling movement of a door moving in a first direction by actuation of a device upon force being applied to the sensing edge, the sensing edge comprising:
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an elongate generally flexible tubular sheath secured to a leading edge of the door and having a longitudinal axis, the sheath including an elongated hollow cavity extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, a first open end and a second open end;
a transmitter for transmitting light toward the second end of the sheath through the cavity and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, the passage of the light through the cavity being blocked when external pressure is applied to a portion of the sheath to compress the sheath into the cavity; and
a receiver for detecting the light at the second end, and for generating an output signal upon detecting an absence of the light when the passage of the light through the cavity is blocked;
wherein the improvement comprises a control circuit coupled to the receiver for receiving the output signal from the receiver and for sending a failure signal to the device only if no light signal is received by the receiver for a predetermined time period.
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Specification