Movable Barrier Operator System Display Method and Apparatus

• US 20100238117A1
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James J., Olmsted, Robert J., Daniel-Wayman, Robert, Robb, Eric J., Gregori, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,345,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/41 Detection by monitoring transmitted force or torque E05F15/48 takes precedence; Safety couplings with activation dependent upon torque or force, e.g. slip couplings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/554 sensing motor load
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/82 Images; Symbols
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• 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 movable barrier operator system operational component includes an integral display comprising at least one of a numeric display, an alphanumeric display, and a graphics display. The display can comprise an active display or an active interactive display and can further operate in conjunction with adjacent user-input interface opportunities. So configured, numerous user interface events can be highly leveraged to contribute to ease of installation and ease and reliability of use.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a movable barrier operator system operational component;

a display that is integral to the movable barrier operator system component and comprising at least one of an alphanumeric display and a graphics display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier operator system operational component comprises at least one of a movable barrier operator and a movable barrier operator remote control device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the movable barrier operator remote control device comprises a wireless movable barrier operator remote control device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the wireless movable barrier operator remote control device comprises at least one of:

an infrared-based wireless movable barrier operator remote control device;

a radio frequency-based wireless movable barrier operator remote control device;

an optical signal-based wireless movable barrier operator remote control device;

a sound-based wireless movable barrier operator remote control device.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the movable barrier operator remote control device is physically coupled to a movable barrier operator.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the movable barrier operator remote control device is physically coupled to a movable barrier operator by at least one of:

an electrical conductor-based signal path;

an optical-based signal path.

7-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A method comprising:

receiving information regarding a movable barrier operator system;

providing an active display of content as corresponds, at least in part, to the information, wherein the active display is disposed integral to a movable barrier operator system operational component and comprises at least one of a graphic display and an alphanumeric display.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein receiving information regarding a movable barrier operator system further comprises receiving the information from a movable barrier operator.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein receiving information regarding a movable barrier operator system further comprises receiving the information via a wireless communication path.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the wireless communication path comprises at least one of an optical communication path, a radio frequency communication path, and an audio communication path.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein receiving information regarding a movable barrier operator system further comprises receiving the information via a physical communication path.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the physical communication path comprises at least one of an electrical conductor and an optical signal carrier.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein receiving information regarding a movable barrier operator system further comprises receiving information regarding at least one of:

a fault within the movable barrier operator system;

a decision-making-basis for an automated action;

system status;

status regarding a movable barrier operator system component;

service information;

scheduled maintenance information;

contact information;

commercial content;

information regarding an automatically expiring state;

movable barrier operator system help.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the movable barrier operator system help further comprises at least one of:

installation instructions;

set-up instructions;

usage instructions;

configuration information;

maintenance information;

safe-operation information.

37. The method of claim 29 wherein providing an active display of content further comprises providing an interactive active display of content.

38-45. -45. (canceled)

46. An apparatus comprising:

a movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface;

a display that is integral to the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface and comprising at least a numeric display.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the movable barrier operator system wall-mounted user-input interface comprises a movable barrier operator remote control device.

48. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the movable barrier operator remote control device comprises a wireless movable barrier operator remote control device.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the wireless movable barrier operator remote control device comprises at least one of:

an infrared-based wireless movable barrier operator remote control device;

a radio frequency-based wireless movable barrier operator remote control device;

an optical signal-based wireless movable barrier operator remote control device;

a sound based-wireless movable barrier operator remote control device.

50. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the movable barrier operator remote control device is physically coupled to a movable barrier operator.

51-72. -72. (canceled)