Movable barrier operator with back-up battery monitoring and notification device
First Claim
1. A battery monitoring and automatic notification system comprising:
- one or more batteries;
one or more battery charging circuits to maintain each battery in a charged state;
a telephone line interface for automatically dialing out a predetermined telephone number over a telephone network;
a voice control chip for recording one or more telephone messages and for playing one or more stored telephone messages;
one or more circuits to sense battery voltage; and
a programmable information processor operatively connected to the telephone line interface, the voice control chip, and the one or more battery voltage sensing circuits.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery and component monitoring and notification device for a garage door operator is shown that provides telephone or internet notification when back-up batteries or other components require replacement. The device uses a programmable information processor to monitor the condition of back-up batteries or other components, actuates a telephone line interface to dial out a stored telephone number, and then actuates a voice control chip to play a stored telephone message. The telephone number and message are inputted by the user. The device may also provide notification over the internet by telephone line or other internet connection system. In addition, the device uses one or more battery chargers that each operate in one of two charging modes depending on the level of charging current to each battery.
24 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A battery monitoring and automatic notification system comprising:
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one or more batteries;
one or more battery charging circuits to maintain each battery in a charged state;
a telephone line interface for automatically dialing out a predetermined telephone number over a telephone network;
a voice control chip for recording one or more telephone messages and for playing one or more stored telephone messages;
one or more circuits to sense battery voltage; and
a programmable information processor operatively connected to the telephone line interface, the voice control chip, and the one or more battery voltage sensing circuits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A combination garage door operator and battery back-up monitoring and automatic notification system, the system comprising:
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an electric motor;
a transmission connected to the electric motor to be driven thereby and for connection to a movable barrier to be moved with respect to a barrier frame;
a controller for energizing the electric motor to move the movable barrier, said controller including a back-up battery circuit;
wherein the back-up battery circuit further comprises;
one or more batteries;
a telephone line interface for automatically dialing out a predetermined telephone number over a telephone network;
a voice control chip for recording a telephone message and for playing a stored telephone message;
one or more circuits to sense battery voltage; and
a programmable information processor operatively connected to the telephone line interface, the voice control chip, and the one or more battery voltage sensing circuits. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A combination garage door operator and battery back-up and recharging system, the system comprising:
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an electric motor;
a transmission connected to the electric motor to be driven thereby and for connection to a movable barrier to be moved with respect to a barrier frame; and
a controller for energizing the electric motor to move the movable barrier, said controller including a back-up battery and charging circuit;
wherein the back-up battery and charging circuit supplies a battery with a variable charging current and provides one of two charging voltages to the battery depending on the level of the charging current. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method for monitoring and reporting the condition of a component comprising:
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monitoring the condition of the component;
detecting if a defective component condition exists;
initializing a telephone line interface;
dialing a stored telephone number; and
transmitting a stored telephone message. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method of operating a garage door operator having a battery back-up circuit, the method comprising:
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energizing the garage door operator using an external source of AC power, when available, and using back-up batteries when an external source of AC power is not available;
monitoring the condition of one or more back-up batteries;
detecting if a low battery voltage condition exists;
initializing a telephone line interface;
dialing a stored telephone number; and
transmitting a stored telephone message. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A combination garage door operator and battery back-up monitoring and automatic notification system, the system comprising:
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an electric motor;
a transmission connected to the electric motor to be driven thereby and for connection to a movable barrier to be moved with respect to a barrier frame;
a controller for energizing the electric motor to move the movable barrier, said controller including a back-up battery circuit;
wherein the back-up battery circuit further comprises;
one or more batteries;
an internet connection system;
one or more circuits to sense battery voltage; and
a programmable information processor operatively connected to the internet connection system and to the one or more battery voltage sensing circuits. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification