Movable barrier operator

• US 7,164,246 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James J., Willmott, Colin B., Wanis, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro; Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US11/245,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20060186844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 318/16, 318264-266, 318/286, 318466-468, 49/25
• US Class Current: 318/264
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/38 for upwardly-moving wings, e.g. up-and-over doors
• 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 15/603 using rotary electromotors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/684 by chains
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/726 Ring gears; Internal gears
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/452 for saving energy, e.g. sleep or wake-up
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/456 for programming, e.g. learning or AI [artificial intelligence]
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/83 Travel information display
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 388/904 Stored velocity profile
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 388/909 Monitoring means

Abstract

A movable barrier operator having an electrical motor responsive to control signals for moving the barrier, a controller to control the barrier movements, and two command apparatuses for generating command inputs, which command apparatuses are located remotely from each other. The first command apparatus is mounted in a location remote from the controller and easily accessible by the users, and the second command apparatus is located close proximity to the controller to be easily accessible by an installer at the time of service.

Claims

1. A movable barrier operator, comprising:

an electric motor responsive to control signals for moving the barrier;

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

a controller;

a first command apparatus mounted in a location remote from the controller and accessible by users of the movable barrier operator for manually generating first command inputs, the first command inputs being indicative of a first user-requested change of the motion of the barrier;

a second command apparatus comprising at least one command switch mounted on an exterior housing of the controller and accessible to users of the movable barrier operator for generating second command inputs in response to user interaction with the second command switch, the second command inputs being indicative of a second user-requested change of the motion of the barrier; and

the controller, responsive to the receipt of the first command inputs from the first command apparatus and responsive to the receipt of the second command inputs from the second command apparatus for generating control signals to cause the electric motor to change the motion of the barrier according to the first and second command inputs.

2. A movable barrier operator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second command apparatus includes a plurality of switches.

3. A movable barrier operator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first command apparatus is mounted in a location remote from the housing.

4. A movable barrier operator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first command apparatus comprises a command switch.

5. A movable barrier operator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a digital circuit for processing the functions of the operator, and a memory for storing instructions and data values pertaining to operation of the operator.

6. A movable barrier operator in accordance with claim 5, wherein the controller comprises a receiver responsive to commands from a remote transmitter for operation of the barrier.