Alarm device for automatic garage door

• US 5,781,107 A
• Filed: 08/29/1996
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wen Shu Ji
• Original Assignee: Wen Shu Ji
• Inventors: Ji, Wen Shu
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/697,685
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545, 340/522
• US Class Current: 340/545.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind

Abstract

An alarm device for an automatic garage door includes a detecting circuit for producing a single negative pulse signal when a detector detects an opening motion of said garage door, an alarm controlling circuit for receiving said single negative pulse signal and producing an alarm signal, a "normal function" detecting circuit connecting to a garage door opening machine for producing a "normal opening" signal when said garage door is normally opened by said garage door opening machine, which is then changed to a "shut off alarm" signal provided to said alarm controlling circuit for preventing the production of said alarm signal, an alarm generating circuit for generating an alarm when said alarm signal is received, and a transformer circuit for providing low voltage for said alarm device. Accordingly, the alarm device for an automatic garage door can provide a warning alarm when said garage door is forced to open or damaged by bandits or burglars. However, as long as the residents operate a normal remote control or in-house switch of said garage door to open or close it, said garage door will be opened and closed as usual (with no alarm).

Claims

1. An alarm device for an automatic garage door of a garage, comprising

a detecting circuit, which comprises at least a detector installed to said garage door, for outputting a single negative pulse signal when said detector detects an opening motion of said garage door;

an alarm controlling circuit, which is electrically connected with said detecting circuit, for receiving said single negative pulse signal from said detecting circuit and producing a warning signal;

a "normal function" detecting circuit connecting to a garage door "normal operation" signal generating source which generates a "normal opening" signal to activate said "normal function" detecting circuit when said garage door is normally opened in a predetermined manner, said "normal opening" signal being then changed to a "shut off alarm" signal provided to said alarm controlling circuit for preventing the production of said alarm signal by said alarm controlling circuit;

an alarm generating circuit connecting with at least an alarm generator for generating a warning alarm when said alarm signal from said alarm controlling circuit is received; and

a transformer circuit for providing a low DC voltage for said detecting circuit, said alarm controlling circuit, said "normal function" detecting circuit, and said alarm generating circuit, which are electrically connected to form a whole alarm circuit of said alarm device.

2. An alarm device as recited in claim 1 further comprising an alarm delay circuit connected between said alarm controlling circuit and said alarm generating circuit for extending said alarm signal output from said alarm controlling circuit so as to maintain said warning alarm generated by said alarm generator automatically for a predetermined period of alarm time.

3. An alarm device as recited in claim 1 in which said detector is an alarm contact unit installed to said garage door, which is closed when said garage door remains closed.

4. An alarm device as recited in claim 3 further comprising an in-house signal indicator connecting to said detecting circuit adapted to generate an in-house warning signal when said garage door is opened.

5. An alarm device as recited in claim 4 in which said detecting circuit comprises three resistors (R1) (R2) (R15), a capacitor (C1) and a transistor (Q1) electrically connected, wherein said resistor (R1) is connected to the control terminal of said transistor (Q1) which is further connected to said resistor (R15), said resistor (R2) being connected in parallel with said capacitor (C1) which is connected in series with said transistor (Q1), and wherein said connected detecting circuit is grounded via said alarm contact unit for discharging and preventing the function of said detecting circuit, so that, normally, said capacitor (C1) is grounded, and when said alarm contact unit is opened (when said garage door is opened), said capacitor (C1) is charged so as to output said single negative pulse signal to said alarm controlling circuit while another negative electrical signal is input to said in-house signal indicator to generate a flashing light as said in-house warning signal for indicating that said garage door is unclosed.

6. An alarm device as recited in claim 1 in which said garage door "normal operation" signal generating source is a garage door opening machine, and two input terminals of said "normal function" detecting circuit are connected to said door opening machine for receiving said "normal opening" signal.

7. An alarm device as recited in claim 6 in which said garage door opening machine has a lamp which provides illuminating light when said garage door opening machine is activated to open said garage door, and said two input terminals of said "normal function" detecting circuit are connected to two terminal contacts of said lamp of said garage door opening machine.

8. An alarm device as recited in claim 7 in which said "normal function" detecting circuit comprises three resistors (R12) (R13) (R14), wherein said resistor (R14) is connected to the control terminal of a transistor (Q6), a photoelectric coupling tube (D1) (D2) being connected in series with said resistors (R12) (R13) (R14), for generating a "normal opening" signal when said garage door is opened normally by said garage door opening machine, said photoelectric coupling tube (D1) (D2) being adapted to prevent an electrical connection between a high voltage of said garage door opening machine and the low voltage of said alarm circuit of said alarm device so as to enable said "normal function" detecting circuit to be activated through the small current.

9. An alarm device as recited in claim 8 in which said alarm controlling circuit is adapted to receive said single negative pulse signal and said "shut off alarm" signal from said detecting circuit and said "normal function" detecting circuit respectively, and produce a warning signal to activate said alarm generating circuit for activating said alarm generator to generate alarm warning sound.

14. An alarm device as recited in claim 1 in which said alarm generating circuit has a function of a predetermined period of time delay in order to prevent being interfered with by said alarm controlling circuit when said alarm generating circuit produces said warning signal to said alarm controlling circuit, and whereby after said predetermined period of time delay, a switch of said alarm controlling circuit, connecting to said alarm generator, is switched on to activate said alarm generator to provide said warning alarm.

15. An alarm device as recited in claim 14 in which said predetermined period of time delay of said alarm generating circuit is two seconds.

16. An alarm device as recited in claim 14 in which said alarm generator is an independent alarm generator installed in said garage, and that said switch is a normally open switch which is activated to close so as to activate said alarm generator to provide said warning alarm.

17. An alarm device as recited in claim 16 in which said alarm generating circuit further comprises a normally closed switch connected to an in-house main alarm system, so that when said alarm generating circuit is activated by said warning signal from said alarm controlling circuit, both said alarm generator installed in said garage and said in-house main alarm system are activated to provide a warning alarm.

18. An alarm device as recited in claim 1 in which said transformer circuit receives a predetermined low AC voltage from a transformer which transforms a high voltage of an in-house power source to said low AC voltage and provides a predetermined low DC voltage for said entire alarm circuit to function.

19. An alarm device as recited in claim 18 in which said transformer circuit further comprises a DC battery and a control switch electrically connected, whereby once said in-house power source fails, said control switch connects said battery automatically for providing a constant DC current from said battery in order to maintain a normal function of said alarm device.

10. An alarm device as recited in 9 in which said alarm controlling circuit includes four resistors (R3) (R4) (R5) (R6) wherein said resistors (R3) and (R4) are connected to the control terminal of a transistor (Q2) which is further connected to said resistor (R5), a capacitor (C2) being connected in parallel with said resistor (R6) to form a time delay means which is connected in series with said transistor (Q2), so that said alarm controlling circuit is connected with said detecting circuit by connecting said resistor (R4) in series with said capacitor (C1), whereby when said garage do or is forced to open, said garage door opening machine has not been activated so that said "normal function" detecting circuit is an open circuit and does not function, said single negative pulse signal being input to said alarm controlling circuit, said capacitor (C2) gradually discharging electricity to said alarm generating circuit so as to generate said warning signal to activate said alarm generating circuit and constitute a delay function for controlling said predetermined alarm period of time of said warning alarm generated by said alarm generator, and whereby when said garage door is opened by said garage door opening machine, said "normal function" detecting circuit which is connected to the output of said time delay means of said alarm controlling circuit becomes a closed circuit, said capacitor (C2) discharging electricity to said "normal function" detecting circuit, so that production of said warning signal to said alarm generating circuit is prevented and no alarm is generated.

11. An alarm device as recited in claim 10 in which an alarm delay circuit is connected between said alarm controlling circuit and said alarm generating circuit for extending said warning signal, whereby said alarm delay circuit is a warning time control which assists said alarm controlling circuit with an auto-stop function so as to enable said warning alarm sound activated by said alarm generating circuit to automatically stop after a predetermined period of alarm time.

12. An alarm device as recited in claim 11 in which said alarm delay circuit comprises four resistors (R7) (R8) (R9) (R10) and two transistors (Q3) (Q4), wherein said resistor (R5) is connected to the control terminal of said transistor (Q3) which is further connected with said resistors (R7) and (R9), and that said transistor (Q3) is connected in parallel with said transistor (Q4) and is connected in series with said resistors (R8) and (R10) of said alarm delay circuit and a resistor (R11) of said alarm generating circuit.

13. An alarm device as recited in claim 12 in which said alarm generating circuit has a function of a predetermined period of time delay in order to prevent being interfered with by said alarm controlling circuit when said alarm generating circuit produces said warning signal to said alarm controlling circuit, and whereby after said predetermined period of time delay, a normally open switch of said alarm controlling circuit which is connected to said alarm generator in said garage is activated to close to activate said alarm generator to provide said warning alarm, and whereby said alarm generating circuit further comprises a normally closed switch connected to an in-house main alarm system which is activated to open to activate said in-house main alarm system to provide a simultaneous warning alarm.

20. An alarm device for an automatic garage door of a garage, comprising

a detecting circuit which comprises at least a detector installed to said garage door for producing a single negative pulse signal when said detector detects an opening motion of said garage door;

a central controlling circuit which comprises an integrated circuit for receiving said single negative pulse signal and producing an alarm signal for a predetermined period of alarm time, at least an alarm generator which is an independent alarm generator installed in said garage for generating a warning alarm for said predetermined period of alarm time when said alarm signal is received;

a "normal function" detecting circuit connected to a garage door "normal operation" signal generating source which is a garage door opening machine for outputting a "normal opening" signal when said garage door is normally opened by said garage door opening machine, wherein said "normal opening" signal is then changed to an alarm inhibit signal provided to said central controlling circuit for inhibiting the output of said alarm signal, said "normal function" detecting circuit including a photoelectric coupling tube for isolating a 110 V high voltage of said garage door machine from said central controlling circuit; and

a transformer circuit for providing a low DC voltage for said detecting circuit, said central controlling circuit and said "normal function" detecting circuit, which are electrically connected to form a whole alarm circuit of said alarm device.

21. An alarm device as recited in claim 20 in which said detecting circuit comprises a magnetic control switch (S1), a transistor (Q1), two capacitors (C1) (C2), and two resistors (R1) (R2) electrically connected, wherein a terminal (C) of said transistor (Q1) is connected with said resistor (R2) and said capacitor (C1), said resistor (R2) further being connected to an in-house lighting signal indicator for installation inside a resident house, a terminal (B) of said transistor (Q1) being connected with said resistor (R1) and said capacitor (C2) which is connected in parallel with said magnetic control switch (S1), a terminal (E) of said transistor (Q1) being grounded, so that when said garage door is opened, said alarm contact unit is opened and generates a detecting signal, at that moment, said transistor (Q1) provides a continuous potential difference to charge said capacitor (C1) so as to output said single negative pulse signal via said capacitor (C1) for a predetermined period of alarm time to said central controlling circuit while another negative electrical signal is input to an in-house signal indicator to generate an in-house warning signal for alerting said residents that said garage door is opened, and that thereafter said capacitor (C1) outputs said single negative pulse signal by discharging said capacitor (C1) to zero.

22. An alarm device as recited in claim 21 in which said "normal function" detecting circuit comprises a photoelectric coupler (U1) for isolating high voltage and low voltage, a transistor (Q2), a capacitor (C3) for anti-interference, and four resistors (R4) (R5) (R8) (R9), wherein to input ends of said photoelectric coupler (U1) are connected in series with said resistors (R8) (R9) and two terminals (P1) (P2) respectively, said two output ends of said photoelectric coupler (U1) being connected in series with said resistor (R4) which is further connected to a terminal (B) of said transistor (Q2), said resistor (R5) connecting to a terminal (C) of said transistor (Q2) and said in-house signal indicator, said capacitor (C3) being connected to both said terminal (C) and a terminal (E) of said transistor Q2, said two terminals (P1) (P2) being connected to said garage door "normal operation" signal generating source, so that once said garage door is opened by operating said garage door opening machine, said "normal function" detecting circuit detects same and outputs said alarm inhibit signal to said central controlling circuit, said photoelectric coupler (U1) preventing an electrical connection between said 110 V high voltage of said garage door opening machine and said low voltage of said alarm device so as to enable said "normal function" detecting circuit to be activated through a small current of 0.2-0.3 μ

A, whereby when said garage door is opened normally by said garage door opening machine, a "normal opening" signal current is received by said photoelectric coupler (U1), and said photoelectric coupler (U1) electrically conducts to said terminal (E) and terminal (C) of said transistor (Q2) so as to feed a negative electrical signal to a first terminal of said integrated circuit (IC1) to inhibit the function thereof, so that said alarm generator does not provide warning alarm.

23. An alarm device as recited in claim 22 in which said central controlling circuit further comprises a resistor (R3) connected to a second terminal of said integrated circuit (IC1) which is an alarm activating terminal, a diode (D6) connected in parallel with said resistor R3 whereby said diode (D6) incorporates with said resistor (R3) to provide an anti-interference function, a relay (J1) connected to a third terminal of said integrated circuit (IC1) which is a positive potential difference output terminal after activation for activating said relay (J1) to enable said alarm generator to provide said warning alarm, a diode (D7) connected in parallel with said relay (J1), wherein said first terminal of said integrated circuit (IC1) which is connected to said terminal (C) of said transistor (Q2) is a negative potential difference input receiving terminal when said garage door is opened normally in order to prevent an alarm activation from said detecting circuit (A10), and that a capacitor (C4) is connected to a fourth terminal of said integrated circuit (IC1) to provide an anti-oscillating and anti-bypass effect, a fifth terminal and a sixth terminal of said integrated circuit (IC1) being connected to a capacitor (C5) and a resistor (R6) to provide said delay function for controlling said predetermined period of alarm time of said warning alarm generated by said alarm generator, whereby when said integrated circuit (IC1) is activated, said sixth terminal is inhibited and said resistor (R6) starts to charge said capacitor (C5), and that when a potential difference between said fifth terminal and said sixth terminal rises to a value equal to two-thirds of a potential difference of an in-house power source, said sixth terminal conducts for discharging to said capacitor (C5) so as to control said warning alarm generated by said alarm generator for 3-5 minutes, moreover, a seventh terminal of said integrated circuit (IC1) is grounded and an eighth terminal of said integrated circuit (IC1) acting as a VCC positive electricity input terminal.

24. An alarm device as recited in claim 23 in which said central controlling circuit further comprises a normally open switch (K1) which is activated to close by said relay (J1) so as to activate said alarm generator to provide an alarm sound, and a normally closed switch (K2) which is connected with at least an alarm generator of an in-house main system installed in said resident house and is activated to open by said relay (J1) so as to activate said in-house main alarm system.

25. An alarm device as recited in claim 24 in which said transformer circuit comprises a rectifier constituted by four diodes (Dl) (D2) (D3) (D4) and connected with a transformer which transforms in-house power to 12 VAC, a capacitor (C6) connected in series with said alarm generator and a diode (D5), a resistor (R7) connected in series with said diode (D5) and said rectifier, and a 1.5 mA and 12 VDC rechargeable battery connected in parallel with said rectifier, whereby said rectifier rectifies said 12 VAC voltage from said transformer to 12 VDC voltage for supplying said entire alarm circuit and recharging said 12 VDC rechargeable battery, and said capacitor (C6) is a filter capacitor with high capacity and said rechargeable battery provides a temporary power supply for a predetermined period of time when said in-house power fails.