Movable barrier having force and position learning capability

• US 6,097,166 A
• Filed: 07/28/1999
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James J., Farris, Bradley, Moravec, John V.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARTIN, DAVID S
• Application Number:
  US09/362,361
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 318/280-300, 318/445-489, 318/255-267, 318/437, 318/430, 361/23, 361/25-27
• US Class Current: 318/471
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• 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: E05F 2015/436 the beam being parallel to the wing edge
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/315 Curve setting or adjusting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/342 Pulse count value setting or correcting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/554 sensing motor load
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/80 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/414 against high or low temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/75 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/42 Recording and playback systems, i.e. in which the programme is recorded from a cycle of operations, e.g. the cycle of operations being manually controlled, after which this record is played back on the same machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35472 Mode selection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36457 During teaching, force set point is automatically adapted to circumstances
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36463 Manual switch to drive motor to wanted position, store, memorize position
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36464 Position, teach, store extreme, full open, closed positions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36489 Position and force
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37429 Temperature of motor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42281 If estimated temperature rise of motor is too high, inhibit motor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42311 : Store working torque profiles as function of time, position, compare with real torque
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45242 : Door, panel, window operation, opening, closing
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 : Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/0851 : for motors actuating a movable member between two end positions, e.g. detecting an end position or obstruction by overload signal
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/0852 : directly responsive to abnormal temperature by using a temperature sensor in a control circuit H02H7/0833

Abstract

A movable barrier operator includes a wall control switch module having a learn switch thereon. The switch module is connectable to a control unit positioned in a head of a garage movable barrier operator. The head unit also contains an electric motor which is connected to a transmission for opening and closing a movable barrier such as a garage door. The switch module includes a plurality of switches coupled to capacitors which, when closed, have varying charge and discharge times to enable which switch has been closed. The control unit includes an automatic force incrementing system for adjusting the maximal opening and closing force to be placed upon the movable barrier during a learn operation. Likewise, end of travel limits can also be set during a learn operation upon installation of the unit. The movable barrier operator also includes an ambient temperature sensor which is used to derive a motor temperature signal, which motor temperature signal is measured and is used to inhibit motor operation when further motor operation exceeds or is about to exceed set point temperature limits.

Claims

1. A movable barrier operator comprising:

an electric motor;

a switch operatively coupled to the electric motor for commanding the electric motor to move;

a transmission connected to the electric motor to be driven thereby and for connection to a movable barrier to be moved;

an ambient temperature detector positioned near the electric motor;

means for storing a difference between the integral of the motor speed with respect to time when the motor is energized less the time the motor is not energized as adjusted for by the ambient temperature; and

means for anticipating the contribution to the time integral during the next commanded operation of the motor and inhibiting the motor if the predicted result exceeds a set point.

2. A movable barrier operator comprising:

an electric motor;

a transmission connected to the electric motor to be driven thereby and for connection to a movable barrier to be moved;

an ambient temperature detector positioned near the electric motor for detecting the ambient temperature in a vicinity of the electric motor;

a controller for storing a difference between the integral of the motor speed with respect to time when the motor is energized less the time the motor is not energized as adjusted for by the detected ambient temperature and for anticipating the contribution to the time integral during a next commanded operation of the motor and for inhibiting the motor if the predicted result exceeds a set point.

3. A movable barrier operator according to claim 2, further comprising an indicator for indicating when the motor is inhibited.

4. A movable barrier operator according to claim 3, wherein the indicator comprises an LED light.

5. A movable barrier operator according to claim 2, wherein the ambient temperature sensor comprises a RTD sensor driving a capacitor, wherein the capacitor charge time is an indication of the ambient temperature detected.

6. A movable barrier operator according to claim 2, wherein when the motor is running, the controller updates the temperature of the motor by adding a running motor constant to the motor temperature.

7. A movable barrier operator according to claim 6, wherein when the motor is running, the controller updates the temperature of the motor every predetermined period by adding the running motor constant to the motor temperature.

8. A movable barrier operator according to claim 6, wherein when the motor is not running, the controller updates the temperature of the motor in accordance with:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">MTC=MTP-(MTP-AT)*K,

where MTC is the current motor temperature, MTP is the prior stored motor temperature, AT is the detected ambient temperature and K is a thermal decay constant.

9. A movable barrier operator according to claim 8, wherein when the motor is not running, the controller updates the temperature of the motor every predetermined period in accordance with:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">MTC=MTP-(MTP-AT)*K,

where MTC is the current motor temperature, MTP is the prior stored motor temperature, AT is the detected ambient temperature and K is a thermal decay constant.