System and method for operating a moveable barrier using a loop detector

• US 20060091998A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,994,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.71
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/76 responsive to devices carried by persons or objects, e.g. magnets or reflectors E05F15/77 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/664 by radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages

Abstract

A moveable barrier system includes a loop detector for providing an electrical field. The electrical field has an associated base frequency. The base frequency changes when a vehicle enters the loop detector and the loop detector detects this change. A transmitter device is positioned at the vehicle. The transmitter detects the base frequency of the electrical field as the vehicle becomes positioned in proximity to the loop detector. The transmitter responsively transmits a coded signal to a moveable barrier operator when the base frequency is detected. The coded signal is operable to actuate the moveable barrier operator.

Claims

1. A moveable barrier system comprising:

a loop detector for providing an electrical field, the electrical field having an associated base frequency, the base frequency being changed by presence of a vehicle and the loop detector detecting the change in the base frequency; and

a transmitter device positioned at the vehicle, the transmitter detecting the base frequency of the electrical field as the vehicle becomes positioned in proximity to the loop detector, the transmitter responsively transmitting a coded signal to a moveable barrier operator when the base frequency is detected, the coded signal being operable to actuate the moveable barrier operator.

2. The moveable barrier system of claim 1 wherein the electrical field is selected from a group comprising an amplitude modulated signal, a frequency modulated signal, and a spread spectrum modulation signal.

3. The moveable barrier system of claim 1 wherein the coded signal is a query.

4. The moveable barrier system of claim 3 wherein the transmitter device waits to receive a response after the query is transmitted to the moveable barrier operator and responsively transmits a second coded signal to the moveable barrier operator upon detecting the response.

5. The moveable barrier system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter device is mounted on the vehicle.

6. The moveable barrier system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter device is positioned within the vehicle.

7. A system for operating a moveable barrier comprising:

a loop detector for providing an electrical field having a base frequency, the base frequency of the loop detector being changed when a vehicle enters the proximity of the loop detector, the loop detector transmitting a signal to a moveable barrier entry system to indicate when the frequency has changed and a vehicle is present in proximity to the loop detector and the moveable barrier; and

a transmitter positioned within a motor vehicle and communicatively coupled to the loop detector and detecting the base frequency of the electrical field of the vehicle detector and transmitting an actuation message to a controller in the moveable barrier entry system when the base frequency of the electrical field is detected, the controller actuating the moveable barrier.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the electrical field is modulated.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the electrical field is modulated by a technique selected from a group of techniques comprising amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM) and spread spectrum (SS) modulation.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the electrical field comprises a coded signal.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the actuation message comprises a query.

12. A method of operating a transmitter positioned in a vehicle comprising:

producing an electric field having a base frequency at a loop detector;

changing the base frequency of the electric field by moving a vehicle in proximity of the loop detector;

detecting the base frequency of the electrical field at a transmitter;

in response to detecting the base frequency of the electrical field, sending a signal to an operator; and

performing an action at the operator to actuate a movable barrier operator in response to receiving the signal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the detecting the change comprises detecting a change in a base frequency of the loop detector.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the detecting comprises detecting a modulated signal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the detecting comprises detecting a modulated signal selected from a group comprising an amplitude modulated (AM) signal, a frequency modulated (FM) signal and a spread spectrum (SS) modulated signal.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the detecting comprises detecting a coded signal.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the performing the action comprises sending a query to a movable barrier operator.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the performing the action further comprises receiving a response message from the movable barrier in response to the query.