Movable barrier operator operating parameter transfer method and apparatus

• US 20060026520A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Study, Robert S. III, Gregori, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,724,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/701
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/60 using electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/603 using rotary electromotors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/611 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/632 for horizontally-sliding wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/30 of motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/32 Position control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/342 Pulse count value setting or correcting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/36 Speed control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/456 for programming
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/458 for generating service signals
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/66 Wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/85 User input means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/106 Lighting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/75 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2628 Door, window
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45242 Door, panel, window operation, opening, closing

Abstract

Operating parameters as were previously learned by a first movable barrier operator (18) are transferred to a second movable barrier operator (10) such as, for example, to a replacement movable barrier operator. Pursuant to a preferred approach, such information transfer occurs via a receiver interface (13) that ordinarily serves to couple the movable barrier operator (10) to one or more remote user interfaces (11). Pursuant to one approach this transfer occurs during a learning mode of operation.

Claims

1. A movable barrier operator for use with at least one remote user interface comprising:

a movable barrier motive force interface;

a receiver interface that is compatible with the at least one remote user interface;

an operating parameters memory having at least one operating parameter stored therein that was received from another movable barrier operator;

a controller that is operably coupled to the operating parameters memory and having an input operably coupled to the receiver interface and an output operably coupled to the movable barrier motive force interface.

2. The movable barrier operator of claim 1 wherein the receiver interface comprises a wireless receiver interface that is compatible with at least one wireless remote user interface.

3. The movable barrier operator of claim 1 wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises at least one of:

identification information as corresponds to at least one specific remote user interface;

movable barrier position determination information;

movable barrier position limits information;

movable barrier speed profile;

movable barrier maximum operating speed;

movable barrier passpoint information;

lighting control information

movable barrier operational configuration information.

4. The movable barrier operator of claim 1 wherein the receiver interface comprises a wired interface that is operably coupled to the controller and that is compatible with at least one wired remote user interface.

5. The movable barrier operator of claim 4 wherein the operating parameters memory has the at least one operating parameter stored therein as was received from another movable barrier operator via the wired interface.

6. The movable barrier operator of claim 5 wherein the wired interface comprises a serial bus.

7. The movable barrier operator of claim 1 wherein the at least one operating parameter is stored in the operating parameters memory in accord with a first storage map as corresponds to a first movable barrier operator program version.

8. The movable barrier operator of claim 7 wherein the controller uses a second movable barrier operator program version that is different from the first movable barrier operator program version.

9. The movable barrier operator of claim 8 wherein the controller further comprises storage map translation means for facilitating use of the at least one operating parameter by the controller notwithstanding a difference between the first and second program versions.

10. A method comprising:

providing a movable barrier operator controller;

providing at least one operating parameter as was previously learned by another movable barrier operator controller;

storing the at least one operating parameter to provide a stored operating parameter;

using the stored operating parameter by the movable barrier operator controller.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises at least one of:

identification information as corresponds to at least one specific remote user interface;

movable barrier position determination information;

movable barrier position limits information;

movable barrier speed profile;

movable barrier maximum operating speed;

movable barrier passpoint information;

lighting control information;

movable barrier operational configuration information.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein providing at least one operating parameter as was previously learned by another movable barrier operator controller further comprises providing the at least one operating parameter via an interface to a remote user interface.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the interface to the remote user interface comprises a wired interface.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the wired interface comprises a serial bus.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein providing at least one operating parameter as was previously learned by another movable barrier operator controller further comprises:

placing the movable barrier operator controller into a learning mode of operation;

receiving the at least one operating parameter;

locally storing the at least one operating parameter;

concluding the learning mode of operation.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein placing the movable barrier operator controller into a learning mode of operation further comprises detecting at least a first predetermined condition.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein detecting at least a first predetermined condition further comprises:

detecting application of enabling power to the movable barrier operator controller;

engaging in a signaling protocol with the another movable barrier operator controller.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein engaging in a signaling protocol further comprises engaging in a handshake protocol.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein storing the at least one operating parameter to provide a stored operating parameter further comprises storing the at least one operating parameter using a first memory storage map.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first memory storage map corresponds to a first version of movable barrier operator controller programming.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein providing a movable barrier operator controller further comprises providing a movable barrier operator controller that uses a second version of movable barrier operator controller programming that is different than the first version of movable barrier operator controller programming.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein using the stored operating parameter by the movable barrier operator controller further comprises translating the first memory storage map to thereby facilitate compatible use of the at least one operating parameter by the movable barrier operator controller.