Barrier Operator Feature Enhancement

• US 20160010382A1
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Cate, Casparus, Fitzgibbon, James J., Keller, Robert R. Jr., Murray, James Scott, Sorice, Cory, Stanek, Gregory John
• Granted Patent: US 9,376,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/60 using electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/42 for multiple openings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/85 User input means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/70 Retrofitting of elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/00 Systems controlled by a computer G05B13/00, G05B19/00 take precedence; automatic controllers with particular characteristics G05B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 Domotique, access through internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25209 Device status answer, response, acknowledge
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25217 Configure communication protocol, select between several
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2628 Door, window
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 : using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 : using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 : for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a barrier operator communication module configured to be able to communicate with a plurality of barrier operator types that use different communication protocols by sending communication signals by wireless or wired communication protocols;

control circuitry configured to use the barrier operator communication module to communicate with any of the plurality of barrier operator types, the control circuitry configured to use the barrier operator communication module to communicate to at least one pre-installed barrier operator to control operation of at least one feature of the at least one pre-installed barrier operator;

an input/output module operatively in communication with the control circuitry, the input/output module configured to communicate with at least one peripheral device configured to provide information regarding an operation status of the pre-installed barrier operator and at least one second peripheral device configured to effect operation of the pre-installed barrier operator;

the control circuitry configured to, in response to the communication with the at least one second peripheral device, effect communicating with the pre-installed barrier operator to effect an action or setting change of the pre-installed barrier operator,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the barrier operator communication module to send communication signals using the different communication protocols to the pre-installed barrier operator;

wherein the input/output module is configured to receive an instruction signal through a user interface provided on a mobile device;

wherein the control circuitry is configured to, in response to receiving the instruction signal, configure the barrier operator communication module to use a communication protocol, of the different communication protocols, that effects an action or setting change of the pre-installed barrier operator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is configured to communicate with at least one peripheral device comprising a computing device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the input/output module is configured to communicate with at least one peripheral device comprising a computing device of one or more of the group consisting of:

a home computer;

a server computing device;

a mobile computing device;

a gateway device configured to enable communications with one or more of a home computer, server computing device, or a mobile computing device over a network;

and combinations thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is configured to communicate with at least one peripheral device comprising a door position sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is configured to communicate with at least one peripheral device comprising a network adaptor to effect a connection to Internet.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is configured to send communications to and receive communications from devices over the Internet.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive commands to one or both of operate the pre-installed barrier operator from a device over the Internet and send status information regarding the pre-installed barrier operator to a device over the Internet.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive communications from at least one peripheral device comprising a sensor disposed to detect a location of a barrier operated by the pre-installed barrier operator.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive communications from the sensor using a protocol different from a protocol used to communicate with the at least one pre-installed barrier operator.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the barrier operator communication module is configured to be able to communicate with a plurality of barrier operator types by sending communication signals by one or more of the group consisting of:

wire-line relay switch activation,

wire-line serial communications,

wire-line encrypted serial communications,

a first wireless transmission protocol based on a handheld transmitter frequency,

a second wireless transmission protocol different from the first wireless transmission protocol,

radio frequency communications based on a frequency different from handheld transmitter frequencies,

radio frequency communications based on frequency hopping for spread spectrum,

and combinations thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive communications from the sensor using one or more of a communication in accord with IEEE 802.11 or in a frequency range between 2.402 GHz to 2.480 GHz.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the received instruction signal comprises information pertaining to a communication protocol of a particular barrier operator type, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to configure the barrier operator communication module to use a communication protocol, of the different communication protocols, based at least in part on the information pertaining to the communication protocol of the particular barrier operator type.

13. A method comprising:

receiving at a communication module a communication comprising an instruction signal through a user interface provided on a mobile device, the instruction signal comprising information pertaining to a particular barrier operator type;

in response to receipt of the instruction signal, accessing, via control circuitry, a memory that associates at least one communication protocol, of a plurality of communication protocols, with barrier operator types and configuring the communication module to operate according to an assigned communication protocol, of the plurality of communication protocols, that is associated with the particular barrier operator type;

receiving at the communication module information from a peripheral device;

determining at the communication module an action or setting change for a pre-installed barrier operator based on the information from the peripheral device;

sending from the communication module a communication signal according to the communication protocol to the pre-installed barrier operator, the communication signal configured to effect an action or setting change of the pre-installed barrier operator r in response to receipt of a communication from a peripheral device configured to effect an action or setting change of the pre-installed barrier operator.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the receiving information from a peripheral device further comprises receiving information from one or more from the group consisting of:

an obstacle detector, a network adaptor, a separate barrier operator, a handheld transmitter, a wall controller, a door position sensor, and combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising detecting presence of a vehicle with a presence detector and effecting communication with one or more peripheral devices in response to an initial detection of absence of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the effecting communication with one or more peripheral devices in response to an initial detection of absence the vehicle is one or more from the group consisting of:

effecting communication with a thermostat device to effect a change in temperature setting for a climate control system;

effecting communication with a lighting controller device to effect a change in a lighting configuration;

effecting communication with a security system to effect a change in status of the security system;

effecting communication with a home-based computing device to effect sending a message to a user of the home-based computing device;

effecting communication with a gateway communication device configured to communicate with one or more of a thermostat device, climate control system, lighting controller, computing device, security system, and home-based computing device;

and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising effecting generation of a sound by a sound generator and flashing of a light in coordination with sending a signal to effect closing of the barrier by the pre-installed barrier operator.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising disabling generation of a sound by a sound generator and flashing of a light in response to determining that the pre-installed barrier operator includes a sound generator and light effective to provide an alert regarding closing of a barrier by the pre-installed barrier operator.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising sending communications to and receiving communications from devices over the Internet.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising receiving commands to operate the pre-installed barrier operator from a device over the Internet.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising sending status information regarding the pre-installed barrier operator to a device over the Internet.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the receiving information from a peripheral device further comprises receiving information from at least one peripheral device comprising a sensor disposed to detect a location of a barrier operated by the pre-installed barrier operator.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a communication module configured to communicate with a pre-installed barrier operator by sending communication signals by wired communication protocol, the communication comprising a wired communication port configured to be connected through one or more wires to the barrier operator;

control circuitry configured to use the communication module to communicate with the pre-installed barrier operator, the control circuitry configured to use the barrier operator communication module to communicate to the pre-installed barrier operator to control movement of a barrier operated by the pre-installed barrier operator;

an input/output module operatively in communication with the control circuitry, the input/output module configured to communicate with at least one wireless door position sensor configured to provide information regarding movement of a barrier operated by the pre-installed barrier operator, and at least one mobile computing device configured to effect operation of the pre-installed barrier operator;

wherein the input/output module is configured to receive an instruction signal through a user interface provided on a mobile device;

wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the barrier operator communication module to send communication signals to the barrier operator according to communication protocols that effect movement of the barrier by the pre-installed barrier operator; and

wherein the control circuitry is configured to, in response to receiving the instruction signal from the mobile computing device via the input/output module, effect communicating with the pre-installed barrier operator to control movement of the barrier between an open and closed position.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the input/output module is configured to communicate with at least one peripheral device comprising a network adaptor to effect a connection to Internet.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the input/output module is configured to send communications to and receive communications from devices over the Internet.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive commands to one or both of operate the pre-installed barrier operator from the mobile computing device over the Internet and send status information regarding the pre-installed barrier operator to the mobile computing device over the Internet.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive communications from the wireless door position sensor to detect a location of a barrier operated by the pre-installed barrier operator.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive communications from the wireless door position sensor using a protocol different from a protocol used to communicate with the at least one pre-installed barrier operator.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the input/output module is configured to send status information regarding the pre-installed barrier operator to the mobile computing device over the Internet, wherein the status information includes information based at least in part on the communications received from the wireless door position sensor regarding the detected location of the barrier operated by the pre-installed barrier operator.