Door State Sensor

• US 20150027057A1
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Britt, Joe Freeman Jr., Ellis, Shawn, Heninwolf, Paul, Wurz, William
• Application Number:
  US13/951,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20150027057A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/14
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/326 of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/66 Wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/80 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/70 Retrofitting of elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind

Abstract

Doors such as garage doors can be automated by pushing commands to a removable device attached to the garage door. The state of the door (e.g. whether the door is open or closed) may be obtained from a position sensor located within a removable device. An implementation may indicate, over a wireless network, the state of the door to a user. The user may send a command to a wireless transmitter located within the device to change the state of the door. An implementation may also send a signal to the door to change the state of the door.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a first position sensor located within a removable device attached to a door;

determining the state of the door based upon the first signal;

indicating, over a wireless network, the state of the door to a user; and

receiving a command from the user, via the wireless network, to change the state of the door.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the door is a garage door.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving a second signal from a second position sensor located within the removable device attached to the door, and determining the state of the door based upon the second signal.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising sending a signal to the door to change the state of the door.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the removable device comprises at least one position sensor and a wireless transmitter.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the removable device comprises an attachment mechanism for attaching to the door.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user is a person using a mobile device.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user is an automated system.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the state of the door comprises an indication of whether the door is open, closed, or partially open.

10. A device comprising:

a first position sensor configured to obtain a state of a door;

a processor configured to indicate, over a wireless network, the state of the door to a user;

a first wireless transmitter configured to receive a command from the user to change the state of the door; and

an attachment mechanism for attaching to the door.

11. A device as recited in claim 10, further comprising a second position sensor configured to obtain the state of the door.

12. A device as recited in claim 10, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to attach the device to a garage door.

13. A device as recited in claim 10, further comprising a second wireless transmitter configured to send a signal to a door opener to change the state of the door.

14. A device as recited in claim 10, wherein the user is a person using a mobile device.

15. A device as recited in claim 10, wherein the user is an automated system.

16. A device as recited in claim 10, wherein the state of the door comprises an indication of whether the door is open, closed, or partially open.

17. A device as recited in claim 10, wherein the device weighs no more than 280 grams.

18. A device as recited in claim 10, wherein the device weighs no more than 140 grams.

19. A device as recited in claim 10, wherein the device comprises at least one dimension which is no more than 60 mm thick.

20. A device as recited in claim 10, wherein the device comprises at least one dimension which is no more than 116 mm in length.