Multiple barrier control system

• US 20080224886A1
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HRH Newco Corporation
• Original Assignee: HRH Newco Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Yan, Murray, James S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,330,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.72
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00269 opening and locking of all locks at the same time
• 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 multiple barrier control system includes a plurality of barrier operators configured to move associated access barriers between limit positions. Each of the barrier operators are enabled to communicate with one or more local transmitters. The local transmitters may maintain an all-close button, an all-open button, and an all-stop button, which are associated with corresponding functions maintained by the barrier operators. Upon the actuation of one of the buttons, the associated function is simultaneously carried out by each of the associated barrier operators. Additionally, a portable network control may invoke the simultaneous control of functions at each of the barrier operators via an associated communication network. Moreover, scenes may be created wherein the barrier operators and other accessories, such as lights and appliances, may be moved or actuated to a desired status upon actuation of a scene button on either the local transmitter or the portable network control.

Claims

1. A multiple barrier control system to simultaneously control the movement of a plurality of access barriers, the system comprising:

a plurality of barrier operators, each of which are configured to be operatively associated with a corresponding access barrier, said barrier operators each having at least one function in which to control the movement of the corresponding access barrier; and

a transmitter adapted to be learned with said plurality of barrier operators, said transmitter having at least one command button, wherein after said transmitter is learned with each of said plurality of barrier operators, said command button is enabled to simultaneously invoke said at least one function at each of said plurality of barrier operators.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said function maintained at said plurality of barrier operators and invoked by said at least one command button is selected from the group consisting of an open all function, a close all function, and a stop all function.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication network configured to communicate with each of said plurality of barrier operators via network signals, said communication network configured to simultaneously invoke said at least one function maintained by each of said plurality of barrier operators.

4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising;

a portable network control associated with said communication network, wherein said function is invoked in response to a portable network control command sent by said portable network control.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said portable network control includes a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to present a status/command region and a simultaneous control region.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said status/command region comprises a barrier field configured to display an operator tag identifying each said barrier operator.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said status/command region comprises a status field configured to display a status tag associated with each said operator tag, said status tag indicating the operational status of each said barrier operator.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said status/command region comprises a command option set associated with each said respective barrier operator, each said command option set providing at least one user selectable command option associated with one said function maintained at each said barrier operator, such that when said command option is invoked said function is carried out at said barrier operator associated with said respective command option.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said command option is selected from the group consisting of an open option, a close option, and a stop option.

10. The system according to claim 5, wherein said simultaneous control region comprises at least one simultaneous control option associated with each said function maintained at each of said plurality of barrier operators, such that when said simultaneous control option is selected, said function is simultaneously performed at each of said barrier operators.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said simultaneous control option is selected from the group consisting of an all open option, an all close option, and an all stop option.

12. A method of simultaneously controlling a plurality of barrier operators to actuate a plurality of access barriers comprising:

providing a local transmitter maintaining at least one user invoked function button;

learning said local transmitter to a plurality of barrier operators;

associating said button with a function maintained by each said learned barrier operator;

actuating said function button at said local transmitter; and

simultaneously carrying out said function at each barrier operator learned with said transmitter at said learning step.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

communicating by said transmitter with said plurality of barrier operators via a communication network.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a viewable display on said transmitter

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface (GUI) on said viewable display to indicate the status of each of the access barriers.

16. A multiple barrier control system to control the movement of a plurality of access barriers, the system comprising:

a plurality of barrier operators, each of which are configured to be operatively associated with a corresponding access barrier;

a multiple frequency transceiver operatively associated with each said barrier operator, each said transceiver configured to communicate via local signals; and

a local transmitter configured to transmit said local signals receivable by said transceiver so as to simultaneously invoke a function maintained by each said barrier operator.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising:

a communication network associated with said multiple frequency transceiver via network signals, said communication network associated with a network device that is configured to transmit network signals to each said barrier operator so as to simultaneously invoke a function maintained thereby.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said network device includes a network scene control button that when actuated is configured to simultaneously move each of the access barriers to a predetermined position.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said local transmitter includes a local scene control button that when actuated is configured to simultaneously move each of the access barriers to a predetermined position.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a fume detector configured to be coupled to at least one of said barrier operators; and

an alarm configured to be coupled to at least one of said barrier operators, wherein said local transmitter or said network device is configured to invoke an alarm scene mode when said fume detector detects the presence of fumes.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein when said fume detector detects the presence of fumes at least one of said plurality of access barriers is moved to a predetermined position to allow the fumes to escape.