Apparatus And Method For Operating Devices Based Upon Vehicle Detection
First Claim
1. A method which uses a movable barrier operator to control the operation of at least one service-providing device, the moveable barrier operator configured to move a barrier from an open to a closed position and control access to a secured area which houses vehicles, the method comprising:
- sensing with a sensing device whether a vehicle is present within the secured area, the movable barrier operator operatively connected to the sensing device; and
effecting at least one operation of the service-providing device upon sensing whether a vehicle is present in the secured area without moving the barrier.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A movable barrier operator controls access to a secured area which houses vehicles. The movable barrier operator is operable to move a movable barrier from an open to a closed position. A sensor controls the operation of a service-providing device through the controller of a movable barrier operator or by direct communication to a controller for the service-providing device. The sensing device senses whether a vehicle is present in the secured area. The sensor is operatively connected to the moveable barrier operator and is used to control the operation of at least one service-providing device without necessarily effecting movement of a barrier by the movable barrier operator. Operation of the service-providing device is effected upon sensing whether a vehicle is present in the secured area to effect an operation of the service-providing device.
60 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method which uses a movable barrier operator to control the operation of at least one service-providing device, the moveable barrier operator configured to move a barrier from an open to a closed position and control access to a secured area which houses vehicles, the method comprising:
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sensing with a sensing device whether a vehicle is present within the secured area, the movable barrier operator operatively connected to the sensing device; and effecting at least one operation of the service-providing device upon sensing whether a vehicle is present in the secured area without moving the barrier. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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2. The method of claim one wherein more than one vehicle is present in the secured area.
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17. A movable barrier operator apparatus comprising:
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a motor that is operable to move a movable barrier from an open position to a closed position, the barrier controlling access to a secured area which houses vehicles; a sensing device that is configured to sense whether a vehicle is present within the secured area; and a controller coupled to the motor and the sensing device, the controller being configured to effect an operation of a service-providing device upon receiving a signal from the sensing device whether a vehicle is present in the secured area to effect an operation of the service-providing device, the controller configured to effect the action of the service-providing device without causing movement of the barrier. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A movable barrier operator apparatus positioned in and controlling access to a secured area, the movable barrier operator comprising:
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a motor for moving a movable barrier; a sensor, the sensor being disposed in integral relationship with the movable barrier operator, the sensor being configured to sense a presence of a vehicle proximate to the sensor in the secured area and to form a first signal indicative of the presence; at least one service-providing device; an interface, the interface having an output, the output being in communicatively coupled to the at least one service-providing device; a controller, the controller coupled to the motor, the sensor, and the interface, the controller being configured to selectively actuate the motor to move the movable barrier, the controller being configured to receive the first signal from the sensor indicative of the presence of the vehicle in the secured area, the controller being further configured to form a second signal for transmission at the output of the interface, the second signal operative to alter at least one operational parameter of the at least one service-providing device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification