Movable barrier operator with energy management control and corresponding method

• US 20040227410A1
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,755,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/326
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/603 using rotary electromotors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/452 for saving energy, e.g. sleep or wake-up

Abstract

A movable barrier operator system wherein one or more of the various components of the system is configured to operate selectively in at least either of two operational modes. Each operating mode is characterized by a corresponding energy usage profile. The operational status of the system is monitored and operating modes are selected that serve both to substantially ensure proper operation given current likely operational expectations and an overall desire to reduce energy consumption.

Claims

1. A movable barrier operator system comprising:

a power supply that operably couples to at least one source of alternating current;

an obstacle detector that is operably coupled to the power supply and that has a plurality of operating modes, wherein at least some of the operating modes have different energy usage personalities;

a movable barrier operator that is operably coupled to the power supply and to the obstacle detector and having at least a first and a second mode of energy consumption operation, wherein;

during the first mode of energy consumption operation, the obstacle detector operates using a first energy usage personality; and

during the second mode of energy consumption operation, the obstacle detector operates using a second energy usage personality, wherein the second energy usage personality is different than the first energy usage personality.

2. The movable barrier operator system of claim 1 wherein the obstacle detector comprises a photobeam-based obstacle detector.

3. The movable barrier operator system of claim 1 wherein the first energy usage personality comprises at least relatively frequent energization of an obstacle sensor.

4. The movable barrier operator system of claim 3 wherein at least relatively frequent energization comprises substantially continuous energization.

5. The movable barrier operator system of claim 3 wherein the relatively frequent energization of the obstacle sensor includes energization of the obstacle sensor using at least some power from the power supply.

6. The movable barrier operator system of claim 3 wherein the second energy usage personality comprises at least relatively infrequent energization of the obstacle sensor.

7. The movable barrier operator system of claim 6 wherein at least relatively infrequent energization comprises substantially no energization.

8. The movable barrier operator system of claim 6 wherein the relatively infrequent energization of the obstacle sensor comprises includes energization of the obstacle sensor using at least some power from the power supply.

9. The movable barrier operator system of claim 1 wherein the first energy usage personality comprises operation of the obstacle detector using a first amount of power and the second energy usage personality comprises operation of the obstacle detector using a second amount of power, wherein the second amount of power is less than the first amount of power.

10. The movable barrier operator system of claim 9 wherein the second mode of energy consumption operation corresponds to a quiescent state of a movable barrier as is operably coupled to the movable barrier operator system.

11. The movable barrier operator system of claim 1 wherein the power supply comprises a plurality of power supplies.

12. The movable barrier operator system of claim 1 wherein the first energy usage personality comprises using a first portion of the obstacle detector and the second energy usage personality comprises using a second portion of the obstacle detector, wherein the second portion is less than the first portion such that the second energy usage personality represents a reduced consumption of energy as compared to the first energy usage personality.

13. The movable barrier operator system of claim 1 and further comprising a movable barrier operator that is operably coupled to the power supply, and wherein during the first mode of energy consumption operation, the movable barrier operator operates using a first operator energy usage personality;

and

during the second mode of energy consumption operation, the movable barrier operator operates using a second operator energy usage personality, wherein the second operator energy usage personality is less than the first operator energy usage personality.

14. The movable barrier operator system of claim 13 wherein the second operator energy usage personality comprises an intermittent sleep mode of operation.

15. The movable barrier operator system of claim 13, and further comprising a radio that is operably coupled to the power supply, and wherein during the first mode of energy consumption operation, the radio operates using a first radio energy usage personality;

and during the second mode of energy consumption operation, the radio operates using a second radio energy usage personality, wherein the second radio energy usage personality is different than the first radio energy usage personality.

16. The movable barrier operator system of claim 15 wherein the second radio energy usage personality includes using an automatic squelch at the radio.

17. The movable barrier operator system of claim 1 and further comprising a remotely disposed control interface having at least one user-assertable switch that is operably coupled to the movable barrier operator, and wherein during the first mode of energy consumption operation the movable barrier operator senses assertion of the at least one user-assertable switch using a first sensing mode and during the second mode of energy consumption operation the movable barrier operator senses assertion of the at least one user-assertable switch using a second sensing mode, wherein the first and second sensing mode are different from one another.

18. The movable barrier operator system of claim 1 wherein the power supply comprises a multi-tap transformer.

19. The movable barrier operator system of claim 18 wherein a first tap of the multi-tap transformer provides voltage at a first level and a second tap of the multi-tap transformer provides voltage at a second level.

20. The movable barrier operator system of claim 1 wherein the power supply comprises:

a transformer; and

a switch operably coupled in series with the transformer;

wherein the power supply has a first mode of operation that corresponds to the first mode of energy consumption operation and a second mode of operation that corresponds to the second mode of energy consumption operation, wherein during the first mode of operation the switch remains substantially closed and during the second mode of operation the switch periodically switches open and closed.

21. The movable barrier operator system of claim 20 and further comprising at least one capacitor operably coupled to a secondary tap on the transformer, such that during the second mode of operation when the switch switches open the at least one capacitor will provide at least some operating voltage to other components of the movable barrier operator system.

22. The movable barrier operator system of claim 21 wherein the switch comprises a triac.

23. The movable barrier operator system of claim 21 wherein the switch comprises a relay.

24. The movable barrier operator of claim 1 and further comprising a motor and a motor RPM sensor, and wherein:

during the first mode of energy consumption operation, the motor RPM sensor operates using a higher power mode of operation; and

during the second mode of energy consumption operation, the motor RPM sensor operates using a lower power mode of operation.

25. A movable barrier operator system as used with a movable barrier, comprising:

a power supply that operably couples to at least one source of alternating current;

obstacle detection means operably coupled to the power supply for detecting an obstacle to the movable barrier;

control means operably coupled to the power supply and to the obstacle detection means for automatically selectively controlling energy consumption of the obstacle detection means.

26. The movable barrier operator system of claim 25 wherein the obstacle detection means comprises photobeam-based obstacle detection mean for detecting an obstacle by detecting an interrupted photobeam.

27. The movable barrier operator system of claim 26 wherein the control means automatically selectively controls energy consumption of the obstacle detection means by selecting from operating modes for the photobeam-based obstacle detection means that include at least one mode that uses at least relatively frequent photobeam energization and at least another mode that no more than rarely uses photobeam energization.

28. The movable barrier operator system of claim 25 wherein the control means automatically selectively controls energy consumption of the obstacle detection means as a function, at least in part, of an operational state of the movable barrier operator system.

29. The movable barrier operator system of claim 28 wherein the control means selects operating modes for the obstacle detection means that substantially reduce energy consumption by the obstacle detection means when the movable barrier is stationary at either of a fully opened and a fully closed position for at least a predetermined period of time.

30. The movable barrier operator system of claim 25 wherein the control means further automatically selectively controls energy consumption by the power supply

31. The movable barrier operator system of claim 30 wherein the control means automatically selectively controls energy consumption by the power supply, at least in part, by controlling transformer operation of the power supply.

32. The movable barrier operator system of claim 30 wherein the power supply further comprises energy storage means, such that the energy storage means will provide energy to the obstacle detection means when at least portions of the power supply are rendered non-operable by the control means.

33. A method comprising:

providing a movable barrier operator system having;

a power supply that is operably coupled to a source of alternating current; and

at least one obstacle detector that is operably coupled to the power supply;

determining an operating state of the movable barrier operating system;

selecting one from at least two different energy consumption operating modes for a movable barrier operating system obstacle detector as a function, at least in part, of the operating state of the movable barrier operating system to provide a selected energy consumption operating mode;

using the selected energy consumption operating mode to control energy consumption by the obstacle detector.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein determining an operating state of the movable barrier system includes determining a position of a movable barrier.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein selecting includes selecting a relatively lower energy consumption operating mode when the operating state of the movable barrier operating system comprises a substantially quiescent state.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein using the selected energy consumption operating mode includes using the selected energy consumption operating mode to reduce energy consumption by the obstacle detector when the movable barrier is in a substantially quiescent state.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein using the selected energy consumption operating mode to reduce energy consumption by the obstacle detector when the movable barrier is in a substantially quiescent state includes using the selected energy consumption operating mode to reduce energy consumption by the obstacle detector when the movable barrier is in a stationary state for more than at least a predetermined period of time.

38. The method of claim 33 and further comprising using the selected energy consumption operating mode to control energy consumption by at least one of:

the power supply;

a motor RPM sensor;

a movable barrier operator;

a radio; and

a remotely disposed user interface.

39. A movable barrier operator system comprising:

a remotely disposed control interface having at least one user-assertable switch;

a movable barrier operator that is operably coupled to the at least one user-assertable switch and having at least a first and second substantially independent operating mode, wherein;

the first operating mode includes sensing assertion of the at least one user-assertable switch using a first sensing mode;

the second operating mode includes sensing assertion of the at least one user-assertable switch using a second sensing mode, wherein the first and second sensing mode are different from one another.

40. The movable barrier operator system of claim 39 wherein the remotely disposed control interface includes a plurality of user-assertable switches and wherein:

the first operating mode includes sensing assertion of the plurality of user-assertable switches using a first sensing mode;

the second operating mode includes sensing assertion of the plurality of user-assertable switches using a second sensing mode, wherein the first and second sensing mode are different from one another.

41. The movable barrier operator system of claim 39 wherein the remotely disposed control interface further includes a visual indicator and wherein:

the first operating mode further includes operating the visual indicator in a first mode of operation; and

the second operating mode further includes operating the visual indicator in a second mode of operation, wherein the second mode of operation consumes less energy than the second mode of operation.

42. The movable barrier operator system of claim 39 wherein the first sensing mode comprises actively sensing a closed circuit.

43. The movable barrier operator system of claim 42 wherein the second sensing mode comprises detecting charging of a capacitor.

44. The movable barrier operator system of claim 39 and further comprising an obstacle detector that is operably coupled to the movable barrier operator and to a power supply that is operably coupled to a source of alternating current, and wherein the first operating mode includes operating the obstacle detector in a first higher power mode of operation and the second operating mode includes operating the obstacle detector in a second lower power mode of operation.

45. The movable barrier operator system of claim 39 and further comprising a power supply that is operably coupled to the movable barrier operator, and wherein the first operating mode includes operating the power supply in a first higher power mode of operation and the second operating mode includes operating the power supply in a second lower power mode of operation.

46. A method comprising:

providing a movable barrier operator that controls movement of a movable barrier;

providing a remotely disposed user interface that is operably coupled to the movable barrier operator, which remotely disposed user interface includes at least one user-assertable switch;

detecting when the movable barrier is in a first predetermined state;

using a first sensing mode to detect assertion of the at least one user-assertable switch as a function, at least in part, of when the movable barrier is in the first predetetermined state;

using a second sensing mode, which second sensing mode is different from the first sensing mode, to detect assertion of the at least one user-assertable switch as a function, at least in part, of when the movable barrier is not in the first predetermined state.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the first sensing mode uses less power than the second sensing mode.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein the first predetermined state includes a stationary status of the movable barrier.

49. A movable barrier operating system comprising:

a movable barrier operator;

a power supply that is operably coupled to the movable barrier operator, and comprising;

a transformer; and

an active device operably coupled in series with the transformer;

wherein the power supply has a first mode and a second mode of operation, wherein during the first mode of operation the active device remains substantially closed and during the second mode of operation the active device periodically switches open and closed.

50. The movable barrier operating system of claim 49 wherein the transformer has a multi-tap secondary winding.

51. The movable barrier operating system of claim 49 wherein the transformer has a multi-tap primary winding.

52. The movable barrier operating system of claim 49 wherein at least one output of the transformer has a charge-retaining capacitor operably coupled thereto.

53. The movable barrier operating system of claim 49 wherein the power supply further includes at least one additional transformer.

54. The movable barrier operating system of claim 49 wherein the power supply further includes at least one additional transformer primary winding.

55. The movable barrier operating system of claim 53 wherein during the second mode of operation the at least one additional transformer continues in normal operation.

56. The movable barrier operating system of claim 49 wherein the active device comprises a triac.

57. The movable barrier operating system of claim 49 wherein the active device is operably coupled in series with a secondary winding of the transformer.

58. A method comprising:

providing a movable barrier operator;

operably coupling a power supply to the movable barrier operator, wherein the power supply includes at least one transformer and an active device operably coupled in series with the transformer;

as a function, at least in part, of a first state of operation for the movable barrier operator, automatically using the power supply with the active device in a substantially continuously closed state;

as a function, at least in part, of the movable barrier operator being other than in the first state of operation, automatically using the power supply with the active device periodically opening and closing.

59. The method of claim 58 and further comprising:

coupling a charge-retaining capacitor to an output of the transformer;

using the charge-retaining capacitor to supply at least some operating power to the movable barrier operator at least a portion of when the active device is closed.

60. The method of claim 59 and further comprising, when using the power supply with the active device periodically opening and closing, closing the active device for a sufficient period of time with respect to when the active device is closed to permit the charge-retaining capacitor to charge sufficiently to provide at least some operating power to the movable barrier operator.

61. A method comprising:

providing a movable barrier operator,

operably coupling a power supply to the movable barrier operator, wherein the power supply includes;

at least one transformer;

an active device operably coupled in series with the transformer; and

a passive device operably coupled in parallel with the active device;

as a function, at, least in part, of a first state of operation for the movable barrier operator, automatically using the power supply with the active device in a substantially continuously closed state;

as a function, at least in part, of the movable barrier operator being other than in the first state of operation, automatically using the power supply with the active device in a substantially continuously opened state;

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the passive device comprises a capacitor.

63. A method comprising:

providing;

a movable barrier operator system having;

a power supply that is operably coupled to a source of alternating current; and

at least one obstacle detector that is operably coupled to the power supply;

a worklight;

determining an operating state of the movable barrier operating system;

when the operating state comprises a first predetermined operating state;

determining whether the movable barrier operator system also includes a person detector;

when the movable barrier operator system also includes the person detector, such that the person detector can be used to automatically control the worklight, disabling the obstacle detector from also automatically controlling the worklight;

when the movable barrier operator system does not also include the person detector, using the obstacle detector to automatically control the worklight.

64. A movable barrier operator comprising a motor and a plurality of additional components that are adapted and configured to controllably move a movable barrier between open and closed positions, wherein the movable barrier operator has:

a first mode of operation that automatically initiates a non-zero predetermined period of time following at least apparent attainment of the closed position by the movable barrier, which first mode of operation automatically limits available operational energy to a quantity of energy that is substantially insufficient to power at least most of the additional components in a fully-powered mode of operation; and

at least a second mode of operation wherein the available operational energy is sufficient to power at least most of the additional components in a substantially fully-powered mode of operation.