Current profile method and apparatus for controlling gate operation

• US 6,650,076 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elite Access Systems, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Perez, Daniel, Hom, Wayne C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duda, Rina I.
• Application Number:
  US10/280,524
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 318/457, 318/280, 318/282, 318/286, 318/456, 318/461, 318/466, 318/468, 493/48, 493/49, 491/38
• US Class Current: 318/457
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2628 Door, window

Abstract

A method and apparatus for moving a gate a distance in a predetermined period of time. In one embodiment the current load for an electric motor to move a gate is first measured to determine whether the gate'"'"'s motion is being hindered or helped. A microprocessor then controls voltage supplied to the motor to enhance or retard the evolved power of the motor according to the load and the predetermined time.

Claims

1. A method for moving a powered gate through an opening or closing cycle in a predetermined desired time period comprising the steps of:

a) providing a gate that is mechanically connected to be moved by a power unit, wherein power to the power unit is regulated by a microprocessor,

b) providing power to the power unit and measuring the power required of the power unit to move the gate,

c) executing a program with the microprocessor to determine the effective inertia or mass of the gate based on the power drawn by the power unit,

d) further executing the program with the microprocessor to determine an acceleration profile calculated to move the gate from a start position to a predetermined end position in a predetermined desired time, and,

e) executing the program to attenuate the power provided the power unit to cause the gate to move from the start position to the predetermined end position in the desired period of time.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the acceleration profile is determined by mathematically calculating an acceleration profile.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the acceleration profile is determined by referring to a lookup table.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the power unit is an electrical motor and the power provided is electrical current provided to the electrical motor that is regulated by the microprocessor, current is provided to the electrical motor and measured by the microprocessor to determine a correlated effective inertia or mass of the gate, and, current provided to the electrical motor is attenuated by the microprocessor to move the gate through the acceleration profile.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the effective initial inertia or mass is determined by:

a) supplying electricity to the motor,

b) sampling the current drawn by the motor one or more times to determine the load on the motor,

d) quantizing the samples,

e) determining an acceleration variable based on the samples, and

d) adjusting the speed of the motor based on the acceleration variable.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the acceleration profile is determined by mathematical calculation by the microprocessor, without reference to a lookup table.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the acceleration profile is mathematically calculated by the microprocessor using a lookup table for reference.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the microprocessor further determines an acceleration profile having an acceleration phase, a running phase and a deceleration phase.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the acceleration phase and the deceleration phase take a substantially equivalent period of time.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the acceleration phase and the deceleration phase take different periods of time.

11. An apparatus for moving a powered gate through an opening or closing cycle in a predetermined period of time, comprising:

a gate that is mechanically connected to be moved by a power unit, wherein power to the power unit is regulated by a microprocessor,

the power required to cause the power unit to move the gate is first measured to determine a value proportional to the effective inertia or mass of the gate and the microprocessor determines an acceleration profile based on the determined effective inertia or mass of the gate to move the gate from a start position through the acceleration profile to stop the gate at a predetermined end position in a predetermined period of time, and

the microprocessor can regulate the power to the power unit so that the gate is moved from a start position through the acceleration profile to stop the gate at a predetermined end position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the acceleration profile is determined by mathematically calculating an acceleration profile.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the acceleration profile is determined by referring to a lookup table.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the power unit is an electrical motor and the power provided is electrical voltage to the electrical motor that is regulated by the microprocessor, current is provided to the electrical motor and measured by the microprocessor to determine a correlated effective inertia or mass of the gate, and, voltage provided to the electrical motor is attenuated by the microprocessor to move the gate through the acceleration profile.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the effective initial inertia or mass is determined by:

a) supplying electricity to the motor,

b) sampling the current drawn by the motor one or more times to determine the load on the motor,

d) quantizing the samples,

e) determining an acceleration variable based on the samples, and

d) adjusting the speed of the motor based on the acceleration variable.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the acceleration profile is determined by mathematical calculation by the microprocessor, without reference to a lookup table.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the acceleration profile is mathematically calculated by the microprocessor using a lookup table for reference.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the microprocessor further determines an acceleration profile having an acceleration phase, a running phase and a deceleration phase.