Movable barrier operator system display method and apparatus

• US 20050253731A1
• Filed: 05/11/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• 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., Daniel-Wayman, Robert, Robb, Eric J., Gregori, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,750,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/691.600
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/41 Detection by monitoring transmitted force or torque E05F15/48 takes precedence; Safety couplings with activation dependent upon torque or force, e.g. slip couplings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/554 sensing motor load
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/82 Images, Symbols
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A movable barrier operator system operational component includes an integral display comprising at least one of a numeric display, an alphanumeric display, and a graphics display. The display can comprise an active display or an active interactive display and can further operate in conjunction with adjacent user-input interface opportunities. So configured, numerous user interface events can be highly leveraged to contribute to ease of installation and ease and reliability of use.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a movable barrier operator system operational component;

a display that is integral to the movable barrier operator system component and comprising at least one of an alphanumeric display and a graphics display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier operator system operational component comprises at least one of a movable barrier operator and a movable barrier operator remote control device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the movable barrier operator remote control device comprises a wireless movable barrier operator remote control device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the wireless movable barrier operator remote control device comprises at least one of:

an infrared-based wireless movable barrier operator remote control device;

a radio frequency-based wireless movable barrier operator remote control device;

an optical signal-based wireless movable barrier operator remote control device;

a sound-based wireless movable barrier operator remote control device.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the movable barrier operator remote control device is physically coupled to a movable barrier operator.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the movable barrier operator remote control device is physically coupled to a movable barrier operator by at least one of:

an electrical conductor-based signal path;

an optical-based signal path.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a housing that houses at least a substantial part of the movable barrier operator system operational component and that at least partially supports the display.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier operator system operational component comprises a fixed-position movable barrier remote control device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the display comprises a touch-screen display.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein all of the display comprises a touch-screen display.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier operator system operational component further comprises a least one user-assertable control surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the at least one user-assertable control surface is disposed proximal to the display.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the at least one user-assertable control surface comprises a programmable function user-assertable control surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 and further comprising a plurality of the user-assertable control surfaces.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier operator system operational component further comprises:

at least one fixed-function user-assertable control surface;

at least one progammable function user-assertable control surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier operator system operational component further comprises at least one user-input interface.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the at least one user-input interface comprises at least one of:

a user-assertable control surface;

an audio interface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the audio interface comprises a speech recognition-based interface.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a second display that is operably coupled to the movable barrier operator system operational component.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the second display is disposed distal to the movable barrier operator system operational component.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display comprises a monochromatic display.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display comprises a multi-color display.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier operator system operational component operably couples to a movable barrier operator.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the movable barrier operator system operational component operably couples via a 2-wire conductor to the movable barrier operator.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the movable barrier operator system operational component operably couples via a 2-wire conductor serial data bus to the movable barrier operator.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the movable barrier operator system operational component operably couples to a plurality of movable barrier operators.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the movable barrier operator system operational component operably couples via a serial bus to a plurality of movable barrier operators.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the movable barrier operator system operational component operably couples in parallel to a plurality of movable barrier operators.

29. A method comprising:

receiving information regarding a movable barrier operator system;

providing an active display of content as corresponds, at least in part, to the information, wherein the active display is disposed integral to a movable barrier operator system operational component and comprises at least one of a graphic display and an alphanumeric display.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein receiving information regarding a movable barrier operator system further comprises receiving the information from a movable barrier operator.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein receiving information regarding a movable barrier operator system further comprises receiving the information via a wireless communication path.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the wireless communication path comprises at least one of an optical communication path, a radio frequency communication path, and an audio communication path.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein receiving information regarding a movable barrier operator system further comprises receiving the information via a physical communication path.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the physical communication path comprises at least one of an electrical conductor and an optical signal carrier.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein receiving information regarding a movable barrier operator system further comprises receiving information regarding at least one of:

a fault within the movable barrier operator system;

a decision-making-basis for an automated action;

system status;

status regarding a movable barrier operator system component;

service information;

scheduled maintenance information;

contact information;

commercial content;

information regarding an automatically expiring state;

movable barrier operator system help.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the movable barrier operator system help further comprises at least one of:

installation instructions;

set-up instructions;

usage instructions;

configuration information;

maintenance information;

safe-operation information.

37. The method of claim 29 wherein providing an active display of content further comprises providing an interactive active display of content.

38. The method of claim 29 and further comprising:

providing at least one user-input interface;

receiving user input via the at least one user-input interface;

modifying the active display in response to the user input.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein modifying the active display in response to the user input further comprises moving a cursor on the display.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein modifying the active display in response to the user input further comprises presenting new content on the display.

41. The method of claim 29 and further comprising:

providing a plurality of display formats.

42. The method of claim 41 and further comprising:

receiving data;

selecting a particular one of the plurality of display formats as a function, at least in part, of the data;

and wherein providing an active display of content further comprises using the particular one of the plurality of display formats when providing the active display of content.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the data corresponds to an identity of a specific user.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein using the particular one of the plurality of display formats when providing the active display of content further comprises selecting a particular location on the display to present a user-input area as a function, at least in part, of the particular one of the plurality of display formats.

45. The method of claim 29 wherein providing an active display of content further comprises:

receiving user input regarding at least one display preference;

configuring at least a portion of the active display as a function, at least in part, of the at least one display preference.

46. An apparatus comprising:

a movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface;

a display that is integral to the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface and comprising at least a numeric display.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface comprises a movable barrier operator remote control device.

48. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the movable barrier operator remote control device comprises a wireless movable barrier operator remote control device.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the wireless movable barrier operator remote control device comprises at least one of:

an infrared-based wireless movable barrier operator remote control device;

a radio frequency-based wireless movable barrier operator remote control device;

an optical signal-based wireless movable barrier operator remote control device;

a sound based-wireless movable barrier operator remote control device.

50. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the movable barrier operator remote control device is physically coupled to a movable barrier operator.

51. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein the movable barrier operator remote control device is physically coupled to a movable barrier operator by at least one of:

an electrical conductor-based signal path;

an optical-based signal path.

52. The apparatus of claim 46 and further comprising a housing that houses at least a substantially part of the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface and that at least partially supports the display.

53. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein at least a portion of the display comprises a touch-screen display.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein all of the display comprises a touch-screen display.

55. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface further comprises a least one user-assertable control surface.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein the at least one user-assertable control surface is disposed proximal to the display.

57. The apparatus of claim 56 wherein the at least one user-assertable control surface comprises a programmable function user-assertable control surface.

58. The apparatus of claim 56 and further comprising a plurality of the user-assertable control surfaces.

59. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface further comprises:

at least one fixed-function user-assertable control surface;

at least one progammable function user-assertable control surface.

60. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface further comprises at least one user-input interface.

61. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein the at least one user-input interface comprises at least one of:

a user-assertable control surface;

an audio interface.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the audio interface comprises a speech recognition-based interface.

63. The apparatus of claim 46 and further comprising a second display that is operably coupled to the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface.

64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the second display is disposed distal to the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface.

65. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the display comprises a monochromatic display.

66. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the display comprises a multi-color display.

67. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface operably couples to a movable barrier operator.

68. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface operably couples via a 2-wire conductor to the movable barrier operator.

69. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface operably couples via a 2-wire conductor serial data bus to the movable barrier operator.

70. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface operably couples to a plurality of movable barrier operators.

71. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface operably couples via a serial bus to a plurality of movable barrier operators.

72. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface operably couples in parallel to a plurality of movable barrier operators.