Barrier movement arrangement human interface method and apparatus

• US 20040212498A1
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Gregori, Eric, Peterson, Eric J.
• Application Number:
  US10/424,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20040212498A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.25
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/085 using central distribution transmission lines

Abstract

A system for monitoring a movable barrier in which a small receiver box is wired in line between a television signal source and a television monitor. When the receiver box receives a signal from a garage door operator mounted near the garage door, a small icon is displayed in the corner of the television indicating that the door is open. This will place an indication of the status of the garage door right where many people are looking. Advantageously, many people watch television before going to bed and having an icon displayed exactly where they will be looking before falling asleep can help increase home security.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring a movable barrier comprising:

a movable barrier operator for controlling a movable barrier; and

a receiver box, electronically coupled to the movable barrier operator, for sending a status image combined with a display signal to a viewing monitor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the viewing monitor is a television and the display signal comprises a television signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the viewing monitor is a computer monitor and the display signal comprises a computer monitor display signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receiver box is electronically coupled to the movable barrier operator through a wireless channel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receiver box determines the status of the movable barrier.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier operator sends a status signal to the receiver box.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a signal source coupled to the receiver box.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the receiver box receives the display signal from the signal source.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier operator is coupled to a wireless transmitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier comprises a garage door.

11. A method of monitoring a movable barrier comprising the steps of:

determining a status of the movable barrier;

receiving a display signal from a signal source; and

sending a status image and the display signal to a viewing monitor.

12. A method of claim 11 further comprising the step of combining the display signal and the status image to create a combined signal.

13. A method of claim 12 further comprising the step of displaying the combined signal on the viewing monitor.

14. A method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

displaying the status image on the viewing monitor; and

displaying the display signal on the viewing monitor.

15. A method of claim 11 wherein the status of the movable barrier is open.

16. A method of claim 11 wherein the status of the movable barrier is closed.

17. A method of claim 11 wherein the movable barrier is a garage door.

18. A method of monitoring a movable barrier comprising the steps of:

receiving a status signal identifying a status of a movable barrier;

receiving a display signal from a signal source;

combining the display signal and the status signal to create a combined signal; and

conveying the combined signal to a viewing monitor.

19. A method of claim 18 further comprising the step of sending a query to a generator of the received status signal.

20. A method of claim 19 wherein the query is sent via a wireless channel.

21. A method of claim 18 wherein the movable barrier is a garage door.

22. A method of claim 18 wherein the combined signal is conveyed to a television.

23. A method of claim 22 wherein the display signal is a television signal.

24. A method of monitoring a movable barrier comprising the steps of:

determining a status of the movable barrier; and

sending a status image to a viewing monitor;

wherein the status image is shown on the viewing monitor simultaneously with a display signal from a signal source.

25. A method of claim 24 comprising the steps of:

receiving the display signal from the signal source; and

sending the display signal to the viewing monitor.

26. A method of claim 24 further comprising the step of combining the display signal and the status image.

27. A method of claim 24 wherein the viewing monitor is a television.

28. A method of claim 24 wherein the viewing monitor is a computer monitor.

29. A method of monitoring a movable barrier comprising the steps of:

receiving a status signal from a status monitor;

determining a status of the movable barrier; and

outputting a status image signal for display on a television.

30. A method of claim 29 further comprising the step of combining the status image signal with a display signal from a signal source to create a combined signal.

31. A method of claim 29 further comprising the step of displaying the status image signal simultaneously with a display signal on the television.

32. A method of monitoring a movable barrier comprising the steps of:

receiving a status signal from a status monitor;

determining a status of the movable barrier; and

outputting a status image signal for display on a computer monitor.

33. A method of claim 32 further comprising the step of combining the status image signal with a display signal from a signal source to create a combined signal.

34. A method of claim 32 further comprising the step of displaying the status image signal simultaneously with a display signal on the computer monitor.

35. Apparatus for monitoring a movable barrier comprising:

a barrier status sensor for generating status signals representing the status of the barrier;

a source of display signals;

apparatus for combining the display signals with the status signals and presenting the combined status and display signals on a viewing monitor.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the viewing monitor comprises a television and the display signals comprise television program signals.

37. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the viewing monitor comprises a computer monitor and the display signals comprise display signals generated by a computer program.

38. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the source of display signals comprises a television signal receiving antenna.

39. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the source of display signals comprises a cable television feed.