Overhead garage door position monitoring system

• US 6,184,787 B1
• Filed: 06/04/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Duane A. Morris
• Original Assignee: Duane A. Morris
• Inventors: Morris, Duane A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/090,780
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 340/521, 340/517, 340/531, 340/533, 340/539, 340/686.1, 340/687, 340/691.6, 340/584, 340/600, 340/628, 340/632, 340/692, 455/420, 307/116, 49/31
• US Class Current: 340/521
• 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 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/72 responsive to emergency conditions, e.g. fire
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/322 by using absolute position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/354 End positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/51 of position, of back drive
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/814 Sound emitters, e.g. loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/816 Voice
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/82 Images; Symbols
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/414 against high or low temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/416 against fire
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/42 against smoke or gas
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems

Abstract

Overhead garage door position monitoring systems including one or more smoke detector sensors, carbon monoxide sensors, thermal sensors and/or magnetic sensors to measure the smoke concentration level, the carbon monoxide level, the temperature and the position of an overhead garage door, respectively. These sensors are controlled by and report the status of parameters to a controller, such as a microcontroller. This controller is programmed to report the status of parameters through, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) and/or a voice synthesizer and an audio speaker.

Claims

1. An overhead garage door position monitoring system, comprising a carbon monoxide sensor, a thermal sensor, a magnetic sensor to monitor the position of the overhead garage door and a controller for receiving input from said carbon monoxide sensor, said thermal sensor and said magnetic sensor to monitor the position of the overhead garage door and reporting out said input received, said controller includes a microphone and permits users to leave and retrieve prerecorded audio message on said controller.

2. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller is hard-wired to household electrical current and receives power from said household electrical current.

3. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller includes one or more dry cell batteries and receives power from said one or more dry cell batteries.

4. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller includes an on/off switch which is operable by a tip of a pen so said on/off switch is not readily accessible to children and unauthorized individuals.

5. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said input received is reported out by a low power liquid crystal display (LCD).

6. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said input received is reported out by a voice synthesizer and audio speaker.

7. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermal sensor is positioned outside to monitor and report the external temperature.

8. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller is a microcontroller.

9. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller reports out the information received to a house unit via a radio frequency (RF) link.

10. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller is housed in a wall mountable enclosure fabricated from one of a plastic material and a metallic material.

11. An overhead garage door position monitoring system, comprising a garage unit including a carbon monoxide sensor, a thermal sensor, a magnetic sensor to monitor the position of the overhead garage door and a controller for receiving input from said carbon monoxide sensor, said thermal sensor and said magnetic sensor to monitor the position of the overhead garage door and reporting out said input received to a house unit, said house unit including a visible message display to report out selected information from said input received from said garage unit, a voice synthesizer which converts said input received from said garage unit into one or more spoken word audible warnings, an audio speaker to report out said one or more spoken word audible warnings received from said voice synthesizer and a microphone which permits users to leave and retrieve prerecorded audio messages on said house unit.

12. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said garage unit reports out the information received to said house unit via a radio frequency (RF) link.

13. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said garage unit is hard-wired to household electrical current and receives power from said household electrical current.

14. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said house unit includes one or more dry cell batteries and receives power from said one or more dry cell batteries.

15. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said visible message display in said house unit is a low power liquid crystal display (LCD).

16. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said thermal sensor is positioned outside to monitor and report the external temperature.

17. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said house unit includes a microcontroller.

18. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said garage unit and said house unit are housed in wall mountable enclosures fabricated from one of a plastic material and a metallic material.

19. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said garage unit includes an on/off switch which is operable by a tip of a pen so said on/off switch is not readily accessible to children and unauthorized individuals.

20. The overhead garage door position monitoring system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said prerecorded audio message are replayed through said audio speaker.