Automatic door

• US 5,789,887 A
• Filed: 06/17/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Company KG (dormakaba Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Company KG (dormakaba Holding AG)
• Inventors: Elischewski, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/664,401
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 318/280, 318/282, 318/286, 318/466, 318/467, 318/468, 318/469, 318/470, 318/603, 318/283, 318/602, 318/640, 318/266, 318/617, 318/452, 364/167.01, 364/178, 364/400, 49/25, 49/28, 49/139, 49/280, 49/348, 49/349, 49/29, 160/1, 160/405, 187/316, 187/336
• US Class Current: 318/468
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/458 for generating service signals
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/50 Fault detection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence

Abstract

A memory system for an automatic door, the memory system being capable of recording for a specified length of time all relevant operational parameters according to the first-in/first-out principle.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring the operation of an automatic door:

said automatic door including;

at least one movable door panel member movable between at least a first position and a second position;

a motor to move said at least one movable door panel member between at least said first and second positions;

a motor control arrangement to control the operation of said motor;

said motor control arrangement including at least one of an open loop control system for the control of said motor and a closed loop control system for the control of said motor;

at least one sensor; and

a processor for receiving and processing values from said at least one sensor and for transmitting control values to said motor control arrangement;

said monitoring apparatus comprising;

an arrangement to receive and retain data, relating to the operation of said automatic door, received operatively from at least said at least one sensor;

apparatus to generate a time ordered series of values relating to the received data relating to the operation of said automatic door;

said time ordered series of values comprising all of the following;

at least one parameter of said at least one movable door panel member;

at least one parameter of said motor;

at least one parameter of said motor control arrangement; and

at least one parameter of said at least one sensor;

an arrangement to store said time ordered series of values in said arrangement to receive and retain;

said arrangement to store said time ordered series of values in said arrangement to receive and retain being configured to store said time ordered series of values in said arrangement to receive and retain on a first in/first out basis;

said arrangement to store said time ordered series of values in said arrangement to receive and retain on a first in/first out basis comprising;

said apparatus to generate said time ordered series of values;

apparatus to sequentially store said generated time ordered series of values in said arrangement to receive and retain;

apparatus to generate a most recent value;

apparatus to store said most recent value in said arrangement to receive and retain;

apparatus to discard the oldest value stored in said arrangement to receive and retain;

said arrangement to receive and retain comprising a non-volatile dynamic memory element;

said time ordered series of values being generated over a determined time period of operation of said automatic door;

apparatus to select said determined time period of operation of said automatic door over which said time ordered series of values are generated;

a remote data acquisition station, said remote data acquisition station being distinct and substantially spatially separated from said automatic door;

an arrangement to transmit at least some of said time ordered series of values from said arrangement to receive and retain to said remote data acquisition station;

apparatus to generate a remote data retrieval command at said remote data acquisition station;

apparatus to transmit said remote data retrieval command from said remote data acquisition station to said automatic door; and

an arrangement to transmit, in response to receipt of said remote data retrieval command at said automatic door, at least some of said time ordered series of values from said automatic door to said remote data acquisition station.

2. Apparatus for monitoring the operation of an automatic door according to claim 1, said apparatus additionally comprising apparatus to retrofit said arrangement to receive and retain to a previously installed automatic door, said apparatus to retrofit comprising:

an arrangement to operatively connect said arrangement to receive and retain to a previously installed automatic door;

said apparatus to generate being configured to generate said time ordered series of values relating to the operation of a previously installed automatic door; and

said arrangement to store said time ordered series of values in said arrangement to receive and retain being configured to store time ordered series of values relating to the operation of a previously installed automatic door to thereby monitor the operation of said previously installed automatic door.

3. An automatic door with apparatus for monitoring the operation of said automatic door, said automatic door comprising:

at least one movable door panel member movable between at least a first position and a second position;

a motor for moving said at least one movable door panel member between at least said first and second positions;

a motor control circuit for controlling the operation of said motor;

said motor control circuit including at least one of an open loop control system for the control of said motor and a closed loop control system for the control of said motor;

at least one sensor;

a microprocessor for receiving and processing signals from said at least one sensor, and for transmitting control signals to said motor control circuit;

said monitoring apparatus comprising;

memory means for receiving and storing data relating to the operation of said automatic door;

means for generating a time ordered series of data samples relating to the received data relating to the operation of said automatic door;

said time ordered series of data samples comprising all of the following;

at least one parameter of said at least one movable door panel member;

at least one parameter of said motor;

at least one parameter of said motor control circuit;

at least one parameter of said at least one sensor; and

means for storing said time ordered series of data samples in said memory means;

said means for storing said time ordered series of data samples in said memory means comprising means for storing said time ordered series of data samples in said memory means on a first in/first out basis;

said means for storing said time ordered series of data samples in said memory means on a first in/first out basis comprising;

said means for generating said time ordered series of data samples;

means for sequentially storing said generated time ordered series of data samples in said memory means;

means for generating a most recent data sample;

means for storing said most recent data sample in said memory means; and

means for discarding the oldest data sample stored in said memory means;

said memory means for storing data comprising a non-volatile dynamic memory element;

said time ordered series of data samples being generated over a determined time period of operation of said automatic door;

means for selecting said determined time period of operation of said automatic door over which said time ordered series of data samples are generated;

a remote data acquisition station, said remote data acquisition station being distinct and substantially spatially separated from said automatic door;

means for transmitting at least some of said time ordered series of data samples from said memory means to said remote data acquisition station;

means for generating a remote data retrieval command at said remote data acquisition station;

means for transmitting said remote data retrieval command from said remote data acquisition station to said automatic door; and

means for, in response to receipt of said remote data retrieval command at said automatic door, transmitting at least some of said time ordered series of data samples from said automatic door to said remote data acquisition station.

4. The automatic door according to claim 3, wherein:

said memory means comprises means for retrofitting said memory means on a previously installed automatic door;

said means for retrofitting comprises;

means for operatively connecting said memory means to a previously installed automatic door;

said means for generating said time ordered series of data samples being configured to generate time ordered series of data samples relating to the operation of a previously installed automatic door; and

said means for storing said time ordered series of data samples in said memory means being configured to store time ordered series of data relating to the operation of a previously installed automatic door in said memory means to thereby monitor the operation of said previously installed automatic door.

5. A process for monitoring the operation of an automatic door, said automatic door comprising:

at least one movable door panel member movable between at least a first position and a second position;

a motor for moving said at least one movable door panel member between at least said first and second positions;

a motor control circuit for controlling the operation of said motor;

said motor control circuit including at least one of an open loop control system for the control of said motor and a closed loop control system for the control of said motor;

at least one sensor; and

a microprocessor for receiving and processing signals from said at least one sensor, and for transmitting control signals to said motor control circuit;

said process comprising the steps of;

generating a time ordered series of data samples relating to the operation of said automatic door;

said time ordered series of data samples comprising a plurality of the following;

at least one parameter of said at least one movable door panel member;

at least one parameter of said motor;

at least one parameter of said motor control circuit; and

at least one parameter of said at least one sensor;

storing said time ordered series of data samples in memory means;

said step of storing said time ordered series of data samples in said memory means being on a first in/first out basis and comprising the steps of;

generating said time ordered series of data samples;

sequentially storing said generated time ordered series of data samples in said memory means;

generating a most recent data sample;

storing said most recent data sample in said memory means; and

discarding the oldest data sample stored in said memory means;

said memory means comprising a non-volatile dynamic memory element;

said time ordered series of data samples being generated over a determined time period of operation of said automatic door;

selecting said determined time period of operation of said automatic door over which said time ordered series of data samples are generated;

transmitting at least some of said time ordered series of data samples from said memory means to a remote data acquisition station, the remote data acquisition station being distinct and substantially spatially separated from said automatic door;

generating a remote data retrieval command at said remote data acquisition station;

transmitting said remote data retrieval command from said remote data acquisition station to said automatic door; and

in response to receipt of said remote data retrieval command at said automatic door, transmitting at least some of said time ordered series of data samples from said automatic door to said remote data acquisition station.

6. A process for monitoring the operation of an automatic door according to claim 5, said process additionally comprising the further step of retrofitting said memory means to a previously installed automatic door, said step of retrofitting comprising:

operatively connecting said memory means to said previously installed automatic door;

generating said time ordered series of data samples relating to the operation of said previously installed automatic door; and

storing said time ordered series of data samples relating to the operation of said previously installed automatic door in said memory means to thereby monitor the operation of said previously installed automatic door.

7. A process for monitoring the operation of an automatic door according to claim 6, wherein said time ordered series of data samples comprises all of the following:

said at least one parameter of said at least one movable door panel member;

said at least one parameter of said motor;

said at least one parameter of said motor control circuit; and

said at least one parameter of said at least one sensor.

8. A process for monitoring the operation of an automatic door according to claim 5, wherein said time ordered series of data samples comprises all of the following:

said at least one parameter of said at least one movable door panel member;

said at least one parameter of said motor;

said at least one parameter of said motor control circuit; and

said at least one parameter of said at least one sensor.

9. A monitoring apparatus to monitor the operation of an automatic door;

said automatic door including;

at least one door panel movable between at least a first position and a second position;

a motor for moving said at least one door panel between said at least said first and second positions;

a motor control arrangement to control the operation of said motor;

said motor control arrangement comprising at least one of an open loop control system for the control of said motor and a closed loop control system for the control of said motor;

at least one sensor; and

a processor to receive and process values from said at least one sensor, and to transmit control values to said motor control arrangement;

said monitoring apparatus comprising;

a memory arrangement to receive and retain data relating to the operation of said automatic door;

apparatus to generate a time ordered series of values relating to the received data relating to the operation of said automatic door;

said time ordered series of values comprising at least one of the following;

at least one parameter of said at least one movable door panel member;

at least one parameter of said motor;

at least one parameter of said motor control arrangement; and

at least one parameter of said at least one sensor;

an arrangement to store said time ordered series of values in said memory arrangement;

a remote data acquisition station, said remote data acquisition station being distinct and substantially spatially separated from an automatic door;

an arrangement to transmit at least some of said time ordered series of values from said memory arrangement to said remote data acquisition station;

said remote data acquisition station comprising apparatus to generate a remote data retrieval command;

apparatus to transmit said remote data retrieval command from said remote data acquisition station; and

said arrangement to transmit being configured to transmit at least some of said time ordered series of values from said memory arrangement to said remote data acquisition station, in response to receipt of said remote data retrieval command.