Automatic door opening and closing system and method of control thereof

• US 20070008124A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BEA (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BEA (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Stadler, Michael, Schluep, Thomas, DeSisto, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,762,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/545.100
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/611 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/437 the beam being perpendicular to the wing edge
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/483 for detection during opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/45 in or on the fixed frame
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/46 in or on the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors

Abstract

A swinging automatic door control system includes an activation sensor for acquiring images of a first area where the door swings when opening or closing, a presence sensor for detecting motion in a second area that fronts a non-swinging side of the door when said door is closed, and a controller for controlling the opening and closing of the door as a function of the acquired images of a first area and the detection of motion in the second area.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a swinging automatic door comprising:

(a) providing first means for acquiring images of a first area where the door swings when opening or closing;

(b) providing second means for detecting motion in a second area that fronts a non-swinging side of the door when said door is closed;

(c) causing the first means to acquire first and second images of the first area when the door is closed and open, respectively, and no unwanted object is present in the first area;

(d) causing the door to transition from closed to open when the second means detects motion in the second area and a current image of the first area acquired by the first means when the door is closed is the same as the first image;

(e) temporarily ceasing at least one of the acquisition of images from the first area and the processing of images acquired from the first area when the door is opening;

(f) causing the door to transition from open to closed when a current image of the first area acquired by the first means when the door is open is the same as the second image and the second means does not detect motion in the second area; and

(g) temporarily ceasing at least one of the acquisition of images from the first area and the processing of images acquired from the first area when the door is closing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second means are different.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) includes causing the door to remain closed when a current image of the first area acquired by the first means is different than the first image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (f) includes causing the door to remain open when a current image of the first area acquired by the first means is different than the second image.

5. The method of claim 1, further including repeating steps (d)-(g).

6. The method of claim 1, further including:

providing third means for detecting the presence of an undesired object adjacent a swing side of the door; and

when the door is opening, causing the door to cease opening and remain motionless when the third means detects the undesired object adjacent the swing side of the door.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the third means acquires images of a third area adjacent the swing side of the door; and

the door is caused to cease opening and remain motionless when a difference is detected between two or more images acquired of the third area by the third means when the door is opening.

8. The method of claim 1, further including:

providing fourth means for detecting the presence of an undesired object adjacent the non-swinging side of the door; and

when the door is closing, causing the door to transition from closing to open when the fourth means detects the undesired object adjacent the non-swinging side of the door.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the fourth means acquires images of a fourth area adjacent the non-swinging side of the door; and

the door is caused to transition from closing to open when a difference is detected between two or more images acquired of the fourth area by the fourth means when the door is closing.

10. A swinging automatic door control system comprising:

means for acquiring images of a first area where the door swings when opening or closing and for detecting motion in a second area that fronts a non-swinging side of the door;

means for storing first and second images of the first area when the door is closed and open, respectively, and no unwanted object is present in the first area;

means for causing the door to transition from closed to open when motion is detected in the second area and a current image acquired of the first area when the door is closed is the same as the first stored image;

means for temporarily terminating at least one of the acquisition of images from the first area and the processing of images acquired from the first area when the door is opening;

means for causing the door to transition from open to closed when a current image acquired of the first area when the door is open is the same as the second stored image and motion is not detected in the second area; and

means for temporarily terminating at least one of the acquisition of images from the first area and the processing of images acquired from the first area when the door is closing.

11. The system of claim 10, further including means for causing the door to not transition from closed to open when a current image of the first area is different than the first image.

12. The system of claim 10, further including means for causing the door to not transition from open to closed when a current image of the first area is different than the second image.

13. The system of claim 10, further including means for detecting the presence of an undesired object adjacent a swing side of the door and for causing the door to cease opening and remain motionless when the undesired object is detected adjacent the swing side of the door when the door is opening.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for detecting and causing acquires images of a third area adjacent the swing side of the door and causes the door to cease opening and remain motionless when a difference is detected between two or more images acquired of the third area when the door is opening.

15. The system of claim 10, further including means for detecting the presence of an undesired object adjacent the non-swinging side of the door and for causing the door to open when the undesired object is detected adjacent the non-swinging side of the door when the door is closing.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for detecting and causing acquires images of a fourth area adjacent the non-swinging side of the door and causes the door to open when a difference is detected between two or more images acquired of the fourth area when the door is closing.