Garage Door Closing Confirmation Systems and Methods
First Claim
1. A method for determining the status of a garage door with a garage door opener system mechanically coupled to the garage door, wherein the garage door opener system comprises an opener unit and a remote control unit, the method comprising:
- transmitting a request signal from the remote control unit to the opener unit;
activating an actuator mechanically coupled to the garage door after the request signal is received by the opener unit;
determining a status of the garage door in response to the request signal after the actuator has been activated, wherein the status of the garage door is closed, not closed or unknown;
transmitting a confirmation signal indicative of the status of the garage door from the opener unit to the remote control unit; and
providing an indication of the status of the garage door to a user based on the received confirmation signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for determining the status of a garage door with a garage door opener system comprising a remote control unit and an opener unit includes transmitting a request signal from the remote control unit to the opener unit thereby activating an actuator mechanically coupled to the garage door. After the actuator has been activated, the status of the garage door is determined in response to the request signal received by the opener unit. A confirmation signal indicative of the status of the garage door is then transmitted from the opener unit to the remote control unit. The remote control unit provides an indication to the user indicative of the status of the garage door based on the received confirmation signal, wherein the status of the garage door is one of closed, not closed or unknown.
50 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for determining the status of a garage door with a garage door opener system mechanically coupled to the garage door, wherein the garage door opener system comprises an opener unit and a remote control unit, the method comprising:
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transmitting a request signal from the remote control unit to the opener unit; activating an actuator mechanically coupled to the garage door after the request signal is received by the opener unit; determining a status of the garage door in response to the request signal after the actuator has been activated, wherein the status of the garage door is closed, not closed or unknown; transmitting a confirmation signal indicative of the status of the garage door from the opener unit to the remote control unit; and providing an indication of the status of the garage door to a user based on the received confirmation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A garage door opener system for indicating a status of a garage door to a user, the garage door opener system comprising a remote control unit and an opener unit, wherein:
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the opener unit is operable to; receive a request signal from the remote control unit; activate an actuator coupled to the garage door when the request signal is received from the remote control unit thereby opening or closing the garage door; determine a status of the garage door after the actuator has been activated, wherein the status is closed, not closed or unknown; and transmit a confirmation signal to the remote control unit indicative of the status of the garage door in response to the request signal after the actuator has been activated; and the remote control unit is operable to; transmit a request signal to the opener unit; receive a confirmation signal from the opener unit; and provide an indication of the status of the garage door to a user based on the received confirmation signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A vehicle comprising a remote control unit for determining a status of a garage door mechanically coupled to a garage door opener unit, the remote control unit comprising an input device, a warning indicator, a transceiver and a programmable logic controller, wherein:
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the input device is electrically coupled to the programmable logic controller and is operable to provide user input into the remote control unit; the transceiver is electrically coupled to the programmable logic controller and is operable to transmit request signals from the programmable logic controller to the opener unit and receive confirmation signals indicative of the status of the garage door from the opener unit and relay the confirmation signals to the programmable logic controller, wherein the status of the garage door is closed, not closed or unknown; the warning indicator is electrically coupled to the programmable logic controller and is operable to provide an indication of the status of the garage door when the remote control unit receives the confirmation signal from the opener unit; and the programmable logic controller is operable to cause the warning indicator to provide an indication of the status of the garage door based on confirmation signals received from the opener unit through the transceiver and cause the transceiver to transmit request signals to the opener unit based on input received from the input device, thereby causing the opener unit to open or close the garage door. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification