DOOR CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 20110227746A1
• Filed: 03/17/2010
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Accessories and Door Controls Group, Inc. (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Yale Security Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Christiander, Asa, McNally, Tommy, Webb, Michael Allen, Smith, Max Stephen, Houser, Blue
• Granted Patent: US 9,163,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• 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 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/74 using photoelectric cells
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/79 using time control
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/483 for detection during opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/22 Additional arrangements for closers, e.g. for holding the wing in opened or other position
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/222 electrically operated E05F3/223 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/53 Wing impact prevention or reduction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/82 Images; Symbols
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/83 Travel information display
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/106 Lighting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors

Abstract

A door control apparatus and methods for controlling a door motion device for a hinged door and, optionally, illuminating a designated area on the floor. During the time the designated area is illuminated, a person can expect that the door will not close. The door control apparatus may include control circuitry, and a sensor, and optionally a light emitter and/or a sound emitter. The sensor detects a person proximate to the door and signals the control circuitry upon a detection event. The light emitter is also connected to the control circuitry. Upon a detection event, the control circuitry signals the light emitter to produce light and signals the door motion device to hold the door open. The light emitter directs light to form an image on the floor in the designated area. The light emitter may be, for example, a laser generator or a light emitting diode lamp.

Claims

1. A door control apparatus in electrical communication with an electromechanical door holder for operative connection to a hinged door, the hinged door being above a floor and pivotally movable between a closed position and a fully open position, and being mounted to a structure surrounding the door in the closed position, the structure including a door frame and a wall, the door control apparatus comprising:

control circuitry; and

a sensor adapted to detect a person, object, or both in a first designated area proximate to the door, the sensor connected to the control circuitry, wherein the sensor is operable to signal the control circuitry upon a detection event,

wherein upon a detection event the control circuitry is operable to signal the electromechanical door holder to hold the door open.

2. The door control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light emitter connected to the control circuitry, wherein upon a detection event the control circuitry is operable to signal the light emitter to produce light.

3. The door control apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light emitter is adapted to direct light to form an image on the floor in a second designated area, wherein when the second designated area is illuminated, the door is not in the process of closing.

4. The door control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control circuitry is operable to signal the light emitter to change the light status a first predetermined time after the sensor detects nothing in the first designated area and is adapted to signal the electromechanical door holder to initiate door closing after a second predetermined time, with the first and second predetermined times being measured by a timer in the control circuitry.

5. The door control apparatus of claim 4, wherein the light status includes on, off, or flashing.

6. The door control apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light emitter includes a laser generator and the light is laser light.

7. The door control apparatus of claim 6, wherein the laser light image to be formed on the floor includes words, other indicia, or a combination thereof.

8. The door control apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light emitter includes a light emitting diode lamp.

9. The door control apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a housing in which the control circuitry, light emitter, and sensor are disposed, wherein the housing is adapted to be mounted to the structure adjacent to the door.

10. The door control apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a mounting member disposed in the housing, wherein the control circuitry, light emitter, and sensor are mounted to the mounting member.

11. The door control apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mounting member comprises a printed circuit board.

12. The door control apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mounting member is mounted to the housing with adjustable fastener components at a plurality of locations that allow varying the angle of the mounting member relative to the housing.

13. The door control apparatus of claim 12, wherein the mounting member is substantially a rectangle and the plurality of locations comprises four locations with each location substantially in a corner of the substantially rectangular mounting member.

14. The door control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sound emitter connected to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is selectively operable to signal the sound emitter to produce sound.

15. A door motion controller for applying force to a hinged door, the hinged door being above a floor and pivotally movable between a closed position and a fully open position, and being mounted to a structure surrounding the door in the closed position, the structure including a door frame and a wall, comprising:

an electromechanical door holder adapted to operatively connect to the hinged door; and

a door control apparatus adapted to be in electrical communication with the electromechanical door holder, the door control apparatus comprising;

control circuitry; and

a sensor adapted to detect a person, object, or both in a first designated area proximate to the door, the sensor connected to the control circuitry, wherein the sensor is operable to signal the control circuitry upon a detection event,

wherein upon a detection event the control circuitry is operable to signal the electromechanical door holder to hold the door open.

16. The door control apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a light emitter connected to the control circuitry, wherein upon a detection event the control circuitry is operable to signal the light emitter to produce light.

17. The door motion controller of claim 16, wherein the light emitter is adapted to direct light to form an image on the floor in a second designated area wherein when the second designated area is illuminated, the door is not in the process of closing.

18. The door control apparatus of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry is operable to signal the light emitter to change the light status a first predetermined time after the sensor detects nothing in the first designated area and operable to signal the electromechanical door holder to initiate door closing after a second predetermined time, with the first and second predetermined times being measured by a timer in the control circuitry.

19. The door control apparatus of claim 18, wherein the light status includes on, off, or flashing.

20. The door control apparatus of claim 17, wherein the light emitter includes a laser generator and the light is laser light.

21. The door control apparatus of claim 20, wherein the laser light image to be formed on the floor includes words, other indicia, or a combination thereof.

22. The door control apparatus of claim 17, wherein the light emitter includes a light emitting diode lamp.

23. The door control apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a housing in which the control circuitry, light emitter, and sensor are disposed, wherein the housing is adapted to be mounted to the structure adjacent to the door.

24. The door control apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a mounting member disposed in the housing, wherein the control circuitry, light emitter, and sensor are mounted to the mounting member.

25. The door control apparatus of claim 24, wherein the mounting member comprises a printed circuit board.

26. The door control apparatus of claim 24, wherein the mounting member is mounted to the housing with adjustable fastener components at a plurality of locations that allow varying the angle of the mounting member relative to the housing.

27. The door control apparatus of claim 26, wherein the mounting member is substantially a rectangle and the plurality of locations comprises four locations with each location substantially in a corner of the substantially rectangular mounting member.

28. The door control apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a sound emitter connected to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is selectively operable to signal the sound emitter to produce sound.

29. A door assembly, the assembly being positioned above a floor proximate to a structure including a door frame and wall, comprising:

a hinged door pivotally movable between a closed position and a fully open position, and being mounted to the structure surrounding the door in the closed position;

a door motion device operatively connected to the hinged door; and

a door control apparatus in electrical communication with the door motion device comprising;

control circuitry;

a sensor adapted to detect a person, object, or both in a first designated area proximate to the door, the sensor connected to the control circuitry, wherein the sensor signals the control circuitry upon a detection event; and

a light emitter for directing light to form an image on the floor in a second designated area, wherein when the second designated area is illuminated, the door is not in the process of closing, the light emitter connected to the control circuitry,

wherein upon a detection event the control circuitry signals the light emitter to turn on the light and signals the door motion device to hold the door open.

30. A method of operating a hinged door using an electromechanical door holder, the hinged door being above a floor and pivotally movable between a closed position and a fully open position, and being mounted to a structure surrounding the door in the closed position, the structure including a door frame and a wall, the method comprising:

a sensor detecting a person, object, the door moving to an open position, or a combination thereof in a first designated area, the sensor signaling control circuitry;

a timer in the control circuitry starting;

the control circuitry signaling the electromechanical door holder to hold the door open or to open the door; and

the electromechanical door holder maintaining the door in an open position.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the control circuitry signaling a light emitter to produce light and the light emitter directing light to form an image on a second designated area on the floor.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

the sensor continuing to detect a person or object in the first designated area and signaling the control circuitry to keep the door open;

when the sensor detects nothing in the first designated area, ceasing signaling the control circuitry;

the control circuitry signaling the light emitter to flash the light for a set period;

if the sensor again detects a person or object in the first designated area, the sensor signaling the control circuitry, and the control circuitry signaling the electromechanical door holder to keep the door open and signaling the light emitter to produce constant light;

if the sensor detects nothing in the first designated area by the end of the set period, the control circuitry signaling the light emitter to turn off the light and signaling the electromechanical door holder to initiate closing of the door.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the electromechanical door holder includes a door closer with at least one spring and at least one solenoid, the control circuitry signaling the electromechanical door holder to hold the door open comprises the control circuitry signaling the electromechanical door holder to energize a solenoid to actuate a valve in the electromechanical door holder, and the electromechanical door holder holding the door open comprises the electromechanical door holder holding the door open proximate to the position at which the door was released, and further comprising:

energizing the solenoid after the electromechanical door holder receives a signal from the control circuitry;

the sensor continuing to detect a person or object in the first designated area and signaling the control circuitry to keep the solenoid energized;

when the sensor detects nothing in the first designated area, ceasing signaling the control circuitry;

the control circuitry signaling the light emitter to flash the light for a set period;

if the sensor again detects a person or object in the first designated area, the sensor signaling the control circuitry, and the control circuitry signaling the electromechanical door holder to keep the solenoid energized and signaling the light emitter to produce constant light; and

if the sensor detects nothing in the first designated area by the end of the set period, the control circuitry signaling the light emitter to turn off the light and signaling the electromechanical door holder to initiate closing of the door.