Microprocessor controlled garage door operator

• US 4,638,433 A
• Filed: 05/30/1984
• Issued: 01/20/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Chamberlain Manufacturing Corporation (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Schindler, Wayne R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grossman, Jon D.
• Application Number:
  US06/615,339
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 364/167, 364/400, 364/513, 318/262, 318/264, 318/265, 318/266, 318/282, 318/466, 318/467, 318/468, 340/696, 49/25, 49/28, 49/31, 160/189
• US Class Current: 700/90
• 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 2400/31 Force or torque control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/34 Pulse count limit setting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/554 sensing motor load
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/58 Sensitivity setting or adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0425 Safety, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/23 for point-to-point control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34215 Microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35473 Input limit values of speed, position, acceleration or force
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36542 Cryptography, encrypt, access, authorize with key, code, password
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42288 Limit, stop drive current if axis obstructed, blocked, force against stop
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45242 Door, panel, window operation, opening, closing
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 : where the code of the lock can be programmed

Abstract

A microprocessor controlled garage door operator which eliminates lower and upper limit switches on the garage door in that the upper and lower limits are set in a program mode of the microprocessor with up and down control switches by the operator. The settings of the door are stored in the memory of the microprocessor. The microprocessor also sets the force limits by establishing them slightly above the actual force required to move the door up and down and this prevents the forces to be set greater than required which could result in a dangerous condition. An external security switch is also connected to the microprocessor of the garage door operator to allow the door to be opened by those knowing the code. In program mode, the user enters in the 4 digit code and the 4 numbers are stored.

Claims

1. A garage door operator for a garage door comprising, a motor with an output shaft connected to said garage door to open and close it, a control unit with an energize switch and up and down setting switches, a microprocessor connected to said control unit and to said motor to energize it, a program switch settable to operate and program positions and connected to said microprocessor, a rotation detector mounted so as to monitor rotation and direction of rotation of the output shaft of said motor, and said rotation detector connected to supply an input to said microprocessor when said program switch is in the program position, and the motor will move in the down direction when said down setting switch is energized and the motor will move in the up direction when said up setting switch is energized and down and up limits will be set when the door has been moved, and means for automatically setting the force limits connected to said microprocessor to set the force limits when the garage door is initially operated, wherein a radio receiver is connected to said microprocessor and a radio transmitter is capable of transmitting a signal to energize said radio receiver to operate said door, including a door condition indicator connected to said microprocessor and energized when a problem exists with the door and the garage door operation, wherein said radio transmitter when energized radiates a coded signal and said radio receiver receives and detects said coded signal, means for storing a stored coded signal at said receiver, said microprocessor receiving and comparing said coded signal with said stored coded signal, and said microprocessor producing a garage door operator signal if said transmitted coded signal and said stored coded signal are the same, wherein said means for storing is a memory means into which the coded signal from the transmitter can be supplied so as to change the stored coded signal in said means for storing, wherein said means for storing is a multicontact switch which can be manually set, wherein said door condition indicator produces an intermittent output when there is a fault in the garage door operator and said indicator produces a continuous output when the mechanical condition of the door is improper, and including a one inch obstruction switch connected to said microprocessor to set a one inch reversal limit.

2. A garage door operator according to claim 1, including a security switch connected to said microprocessor and provided with a plurality of operating contacts which when actuated in a predetermined sequence energize the microprocessor so that it operates said door.