Mounted remote control unit with plug-in module interface

• US 20040222913A1
• Filed: 05/21/2002
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James J., Olmsted, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,057,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control

Abstract

A fixed position remote control unit 20 as used with a movable barrier operator 11 has an externally accessible plug-in module interface 25. This interface 25 operably couples to the link 23 and 24 between the remote control unit 20 and the operator 11. So configured, a plug-in module 40 that docks and couples with this plug-in module interface 25 can receive operating (or charging) power from the movable barrier operator 11, exchange signaling with the movable barrier operator 11, or both. The ability to readily exchange signaling without invasive wiring permits a wide variety of plug-in modules 40 to be utilized.

Claims

1. A remote control unit for use with a movable barrier operator, comprising:

a housing adapted and configured to be remotely mounted from the movable barrier operator;

at least one user interface that is at least partially disposed within the housing and that is at least partially accessible on an exterior surface of the housing;

a movable barrier interface that operably couples to the at least one user interface to the movable barrier operator and that carries at least one of voltage from the movable barrier operator and a signal;

an externally accessible plug-in module interface.

2. The remote control unit of claim 1 wherein the at least one user interface includes a push-button switch.

3. The remote control unit of claim 2 wherein the at least one user interface includes a plurality of push-button switches.

4. The remote control unit of claim 1 wherein the at least one user interface includes a movable barrier movement actuator.

5. The remote control unit of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier interface includes at least two electrical conductors operably coupled between the remote control unit and the movable barrier operator.

6. The remote control unit of claim 5 wherein the at least two electrical conductors support both voltage from the movable barrier operator and the signal.

7. The remote control unit of claim 1 wherein the signal comprises a control signal.

8. The remote control unit of claim 7 wherein the control signal includes a digital control signal.

9. The remote control unit of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier interface includes a wireless link operably coupled between the remote control unit and the movable barrier operator.

10. The remote control unit of claim 1 wherein the externally accessible plug-in module interface includes at least one externally exposed electrical conductor.

11. The remote control unit of claim 1 wherein the housing further includes a cavity formed therein and wherein at least a part of the externally accessible plug-in module interface is disposed within the cavity.

12. The remote control unit of claim 11 wherein the housing further includes an access door disposed proximal the cavity and being selectively positionable between a first position wherein the cavity is occluded and a second position wherein the cavity is observable.

13. The remote control unit of claim 1 wherein the externally accessible plug-in module interface includes a docking interface.

14. The remote control unit of claim 13 wherein the docking interface includes at least one latching mechanism.

15. The remote control unit of claim 13 wherein the docking interface includes at least one surface shape adapted and configured to conform to a surface on a plug-in module.

16. The remote control unit of claim 13 wherein the externally accessible plug-in module interface includes at least one of a male and female member adapted and configured to cooperatively interact with a corresponding feature on a plug-in module.

17. The remote control unit of claim 1 wherein the externally accessible plug-in module interface is electrically coupled to the movable barrier interface.

18. The remote control unit of claim 17 wherein the externally accessible plug-in module interface includes at least one electrically conductive surface and wherein the at least one electrically conductive surface provides voltage from the movable barrier operator.

19. The remote control unit of claim 17 wherein the externally accessible plug-in module interface includes at least one electrically conductive surface and wherein the at least one electrically conductive surface, when a plug-in module is operably coupled to the externally accessible plug-in module interface, supports signals between the plug-in module and the movable barrier operator.

20. A plug-in module comprising:

a module housing;

electrical circuitry disposed within the module housing;

a remote control unit interface operably coupled to the electrical circuitry and being adapted and configured to physically and electrically interface with an externally accessible plug-in module interface of a remote control unit, wherein the remote control unit further comprises;

a housing adapted and configured to be remotely mounted from a movable barrier operator;

at least one user interface that is at least partially disposed within the housing and that is at least partially accessible on an exterior surface of the housing;

a movable barrier interface that operably couples to the at least one user interface to the movable barrier operator and to the externally accessible plug-in module interface and that carries at least one of voltage from the movable barrier operator and signal.

21. The plug-in module of claim 20 wherein the plug-in module comprises a flashlight.

22. The plug-in module of claim 20 wherein the plug-in module comprises a passive infrared module.

23. The plug-in module of claim 20 wherein the plug-in module comprises a movable barrier operator service tool.

24. The plug-in module of claim 20 wherein the plug-in module comprises an additional movable barrier operator user interface.

25. The plug-in module of claim 20 wherein the plug-in module comprises a display.

26. The plug-in module of claim 20 wherein the plug-in module comprises a movable barrier operator programming tool.

27. The plug-in module of claim 20 wherein the plug-in module comprises an open-barrier indicator transmitter.

28. The plug-in module of claim 20 wherein the plug-in module comprises an open-barrier indicator transceiver.

29. The plug-in module of claim 20 wherein the plug-in module comprises a status transmitter.

30. The plug-in module of claim 20 wherein the plug-in module comprises a status transceiver.

31. The plug-in module of claim 20 wherein the plug-in module comprises at least one movable barrier operator force setting control.

32. The plug-in module of claim 20 wherein the plug-in module comprises an audio transducer.

33. The plug-in module of claim 20 wherein the plug-in module comprises a movable barrier operator wireless remote control.

34. A remote control unit for use with a movable barrier operator, comprising:

housing means for providing a housing that is remotely mounted from the movable barrier operator;

user interface means integrally disposed with respect to the housing means and being accessible by a user from an exterior of the housing means for receiving a user-initiated actuation signal,

movable barrier operator interface means for operably coupling the user interface means to the movable barrier operator and for carrying at least one of voltage from the movable barrier operator to the remote control unit and signal therebetween; and

plug-in module interface means integrally disposed with respect to the housing means for operably coupling a plug-in module to the movable barrier operator interface means.

35. The remote control unit of claim 34 wherein the plug-in module interface means further provides voltage from the movable barrier operator to the plug-in module.

36. The remote control unit of claim 34 wherein the plug-in module interface means further supports a transfer of signaling between the movable barrier operator and the plug-in module.

37. The remote control unit of claim 34 wherein the plug-in module interface means further:

provides voltage from the movable barrier operator to the plug-in module; and

supports a transfer of signaling between the movable barrier operator and the plug-in module