Calibration and setup unit for barrier operator control system

• US 20070294961A1
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: McMahon, Michael T., Angiuli, Ralph C., Reed, Brett A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/111
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages

Abstract

A setup and calibration unit for a barrier operator is operable to communicate with the operator'"'"'s own controller. The calibration unit includes a control circuit connected to a visual display and to a set of switches controlled by switch actuators for placing the operator controller in a controller run mode or calibration mode, scrolling through selected actions displayed on the display in one direction or the other, a set/clear function and display backlighting for user interaction with the setup and calibration unit. The setup and calibration unit is particularly adapted for use with upward acting sectional and roll-up doors and other types of barriers movable between open and closed positions by motorized operators. The calibration unit may be operably connected to the operator controller via hard wiring, a radio frequency link or an infrared or visible light transmission link.

Claims

1. A calibration unit for a barrier operator, said barrier operator including a motor and an operator controller for receiving control inputs from said calibration unit, said calibration unit including:

a control circuit;

a visual display operably connected to said control circuit;

calibration input means operably connected to said control circuit including a set of input switch actuators, said switch actuators including a set/clear switch actuator, a calibrate/run switch actuator and at least one menu switch actuator for selecting a calibration step or steps for carrying out various settings of said operator controller;

said calibration unit being operably in communication with said operator controller by way of at least one of a radio frequency link, a hardwire link and one of an infrared and visible light signal link.

2. The calibration unit set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said calibration unit is mounted on a structure comprising part of said operator.

3. The calibration unit set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said calibration unit is provided as a separate device including said display, said control circuit and said calibration input means and operably associated with said operator controller by way of one of said links.

4. The calibration unit set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said control circuit is operable for controlling said operator in a normal run mode and a calibration mode by way of said switch actuators to alter a selected parameter presently selected and indicated on said display.

5. The calibration unit set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said control circuit provides for display of indicia on said display to verify that a barrier open and close operating mode of said operator are set to one of constant contact by switch controls for controlling said operator controller and momentary contact of said switch controls for controlling said operator controller.

6. The calibration unit set forth in claim 4 wherein:

barrier position limit controls may be set by pressing at least one of said switch actuators to a selected preset limit condition indicated on said display.

7. The calibration unit set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said barrier operator includes an obstruction detector and said calibration unit is operable to activate and deactivate said obstruction detector by actuation of selected ones of said switch actuators.

8. The calibration unit set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said control circuit is responsive to actuation to one of said switch actuators to enter a calibration mode and to set a midstop position of said barrier between barrier open and closed limit positions.

9. The calibration unit set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said control circuit is operable to provide for a maximum run time of said motor settable or resettable by actuation of at least one of said switch actuators.

10. The calibration unit set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said control circuit is operable to query said operator controller to determine the number of cycles of at least one of opening and closing of said barrier as carried out by said barrier operator.

11. The calibration unit set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said control circuit includes means operable via said calibration unit for displaying on said display a selected one of plural error codes stored in said operator controller.

12. The calibration unit set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said control circuit is operable to query said operator controller to display a selected number of operating events carried out by said operator.

13. A method for setting operating parameters of a motorized barrier operator, said operator including a motor and an operator controller for receiving control inputs, said method including:

providing a calibration unit, said calibration unit including a control circuit, a visual display operably connected to said control circuit, and calibration input means operably connected to said control circuit including a set of input switch actuators for selecting one or more steps for carrying out various settings of said operator controller; and

operably connecting said calibration unit to said operator controller by way of at least one of a radio frequency link, a hardwire link and one of an infrared and visible light signal link.

14. The method set forth in claim 13 including:

mounting said calibration unit on a structure comprising part of said operator.

15. The method set forth in claim 13 including:

providing said calibration unit as a separate device including said display, said control circuit and said calibration input means, and operably connecting said calibration unit to said operator controller by way of one of said links.

16. The method set forth in claim 13 including the steps of:

controlling said operator in a normal run mode and a calibration mode by way of said switch actuators to alter a selected parameter presently selected and indicated on said display.

17. The method set forth in claim 13 including the step of:

displaying indicia on said display to verify that one of a barrier open and closed operating mode of said operator is set to one of constant contact by switch controls for controlling said operator controller and momentary contact of said switch controls for controlling said operator controller.

18. The method set forth in claim 13 including the step of:

setting barrier position limits by pressing one or more of said switch actuators to provide a selected limit condition indicated on said display.

19. The method set forth in claim 13 including:

providing said barrier operator with an obstruction detector and activating and deactivating said obstruction detector by actuation of at least one of said switch actuators.

20. The method set forth in claim 13 including:

causing said control circuit and said operator controller to enter a calibration mode and to set a midstop position of said barrier between barrier open and closed limit positions.

21. The method set forth in claim 13 including:

providing a maximum run time of said motor by actuation of at least one of said switch actuators.

22. The method set forth in claim 13 including:

querying said operator controller to determine the number of cycles of at least one of opening and closing of said barrier as carried out by said barrier operator.

23. The method set forth in claim 13 including:

displaying a selected number of error codes stored in said operator controller on said display.

24. The method set forth in claim 13 including:

querying said operator controller to display a selected number of operating events carried out by said operator.