Wireless barrier-edge monitor method

• US 6,732,476 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2002
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Staub, Christopher J., Pongrazzi, Kevin, Mehalshick, George M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Strimbu, Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US10/075,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20030150164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 49/26, 49/27, 49/28, 495/06, 318/280, 318/282, 318/283, 160/188, 160/310
• US Class Current: 49/506
• 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 15/42 Detection using safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/487 Fault detection of safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/452 for saving energy, e.g. sleep or wake-up
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/61 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/66 Wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/46 in or on the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/00 Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6827 sensing light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/88 for limiting unrolling

Abstract

A remote unit (14) couples to an obstacle detection sensor (13) to both detect an obstacle in the path of a movable barrier (11) and operability of the obstacle detection sensor (13) itself. Information regarding these and, optionally, other parameters (such as battery status) is coded and transmitted as a short burst wireless transmission to an interface unit (15). The interface unit (15) decodes the message and provides controlling information to a movable barrier operator (12) as appropriate when an obstacle is present, when the sensor (13) is faulty, or when other monitored parameters are out of normal bounds. In addition, the interface unit (15) can provide local alarms (auditory and visual) when detecting one or more of the above conditions.

Claims

1. A method for use with a movable barrier having an obstacle sensor affixed thereto and a movable barrier operator operably coupled to the movable barrier, comprising:

at a first location;

substantially continuously monitoring the obstacle sensor to determine both that the obstacle sensor is operable and when an obstacle has been detected by the obstacle sensor;

though not receiving any wirelessly transmitted messages, substantially continuously repeatedly wirelessly transmitting short burst messages, at least some of which messages include information regarding whether the obstacle has detected by the obstacle sensor and whether the obstacle sensor is operable;

at a second location, which second location is remote from the first location;

receiving the short burst messages and extracting the information regarding whether the obstacle has been detected by the obstacle sensor and whether the obstacle sensor is operable;

notifying the movable barrier operator whenever either the obstacle sensor detects the obstacle and when the obstacle sensor is not operable.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the substantially continuously monitoring the obstacle sensor to determine that the obstacle sensor is operable includes testing the obstacle sensor at least once every two seconds.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the substantially continuously monitoring the obstacle sensor to determine that the obstacle sensor is operable includes testing the obstacle sensor at least once about every second.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the substantially continuously repeatedly wirelessly transmitting short burst messages includes substantially continuously repeatedly wirelessly transmitting short burst messages such that one of said short burst messages is transmitted at least once every two seconds.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the substantially continuously repeatedly wirelessly transmitting short burst messages includes substantially continuously repeatedly wirelessly transmitting short burst messages such that the one of said short burst messages is transmitted at least once about every second.

6. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

at the second location;

providing an alarm whenever the obstacle sensor is not operable.

7. The method of claim 6 providing the alarm includes providing an audible alarm.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein providing the alarm includes providing a visual alarm.

12. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

at the first location;

substantially continuously monitoring a movable barrier operational parameter;

and wherein the substantially continuously repeatedly wirelessly transmitting short burst messages, at least some of which messages include information regarding whether the obstacle has been detected by the obstacle sensor and whether the obstacle sensor is operable includes substantially continuously repeatedly wirelessly transmitting short burst messages, at least some of which messages include information regarding the movable barrier operational parameter.

9. The method further comprising:

at the first location;

monitoring at least one portable power source;

and wherein the substantially continuously repeatedly wirelessly transmitting short burst messages, at least some of which messages include information regarding whether the obstacle has been detected by the obstacle sensor and whether the obstacle sensor is operable includes substantially continuously repeatedly wirelessly transmitting short burst messages, at least some of which messages include information regarding a status of the at least one portable power source.

10. The method of claim 9 and further comprising:

at the second location;

providing a first alarm whenever the obstacle sensor is not operable; and

providing a second alarm whenever the status of the at least one portable power source reaches a predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the providing a first alarm includes providing a first audible alarm and wherein the providing a second alarm includes providing a second audible alarm, wherein the first audible alarm is different than the second audible alarm.

13. A method for use with a movable barrier having an obstacle sensor affixed thereto and a movable barrier operator operably coupled to the movable barrier, comprising:

at a first location;

substantially continuously monitoring the obstacle sensor to determine both that the obstacle sensor is operable and when an obstacle has been detected by the obstacle sensor;

substantially continuously monitoring a movable barrier operational parameter comprising alignment between the movable barrier and a corresponding movable barrier track;

though not receiving any wirelessly transmitted messages, substantially continuously repeatedly wirelessly transmitting short burst messages, at least some of which messages include information regarding whether the obstacle has been detected by the obstacle sensor information regarding whether the obstacle sensor is operable, and information regarding the movable barrier operational parameter;

at a second location, which second location is remote from the first location;

receiving the short burst messages and extracting the information regarding whether the obstacle has been detected by the obstacle sensor and whether the obstacle sensor is operable;

notifying the movable barrier operator whenever either the obstacle sensor detects the

obstacle and when the obstacle sensor is not operable.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the notifying the movable barrier operator whenever either the obstacle sensor detects the obstacle and when the obstacle sensor is not operable includes notifying the movable barrier operator when the alignment between the movable barrier and the corresponding movable barrier track is unacceptable.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:

the notifying the movable barrier operator whenever the obstacle sensor is not operable includes causing the movable barrier operator to stop moving the movable barrier in a first direction and to begin moving the movable barrier in a reverse direction; and

the notifying the movable barrier operator whenever the alignment between the movable barrier and the corresponding movable barrier track is unacceptable includes causing the movable barrier operator to stop moving the movable barrier in the first direction and to not move the movable barrier in the reverse direction.