Movable barrier operator having force and position learning capability

• US 6,806,665 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• 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: Farris, Bradley, Moravec, John V., Fitzgibbon, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DUDA, RINA I
• Application Number:
  US10/083,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20030025470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 318/282, 318/286, 318/466, 318/468, 318/432, 318/433, 318/471, 49/26, 49/28
• US Class Current: 318/282
• 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 an automatic force incrementing system for adjusting the maximal opening and closing force to be placed upon the movable barrier during a learn operation. The movable barrier operator also includes a control unit with an ambient temperature detector which controls the motor to move at a specified force and is used to inhibit motor operation depending on the motor temperature derived from the temperatur detected by the temperature detector.

Claims

1. A movable barrier operator having automatic force setting capabilities, the operator comprising:

a motor coupled to a movable barrier to be moved;

a temperature detector for detecting temperatures; and

a controller operatively coupled to the motor and the temperature detector for estimating motor temperature as a function motor operation and elapsed time and commanding the motor to move at a maximum force, for changing the maximum force according to changes of estimated temperature, and for controlling the motor to stop moving the barrier when the maximum force is exceeded.

2. A movable barrier operator according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises:

a controller for increasing the maximum force when a decrease in estimated temperature has been detected.

3. A method of selecting force settings for a movable barrier operator, the method comprising:

controlling the movement of the barrier in response to a maximum force setting;

detecting temperature changes;

estimating motor temperature as a function of detected temperature, motor operation and elapsed time; and

changing the maximum force setting according to the temperature change detected.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein changing the maximum force setting comprises:

increasing the maximum force setting when a decrease in estimated temperature is detected.