Operating system for a motorized barrier operator with a radio frequency energized light kit and/or switch and methods for programming the same

• US 7,397,342 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HRH Newco Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corporation (HRH Door Corp.)
• Inventors: Gagnon, Richard E., Vandrunen, Paul, Maurer, Steven, Rodriguez, Yan, Mullet, Willis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US10/782,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,601 Days
• Field of Search: 340/8.22, 340/825.69, 340/5.23, 340/5.71, 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.61, 340/5.62, 340/5.63, 340/825.72, 340/5.22, 341/176
• US Class Current: 340/5.22
• 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: E05Y 2400/80 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/452 in or on the floor or wall
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

An operating system for a motorized barrier includes an operator for controlling movement of the barrier between various positions. The operator may receive wireless signals from a wireless or wired wall station transmitter, a wireless keyless entry device and/or a portable remote transmitter device. The system also includes a device such as a light kit or switch that controls a load, wherein the device is capable of also receiving wireless signals to control the kit or the load. And the transmitters are capable of generating wireless signals receivable by the operator and the device for independent operation of each.

Claims

1. An operator system for a motorized barrier, comprising:

a motorized barrier;

an operator which controls said motorized barrier, said operator taught to receive selected wireless operational signals to control said motorized barrier;

a device which controls an electrical load, said device taught to receive selected wireless operational signals to control said load, wherein said selected wireless operational signals are recognizable by both said operator and said device and both said operator and said device are configured to transmit said selected wireless operational signals; and

at least one transmitter generating wireless operational signals upon a single button actuation receivable by both said operator and said device for at least one of independent operation of each and collective operation of both said operator and said device, wherein during collective operation said selected wireless operational signals are received at said operator for actuation of said motorized barrier and retransmitted to said device for actuation of said device, and wherein said device is configured to indicate the status of said electrical load coupled to said device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one transmitter is selected from a group consisting of a wall station transmitter, a remote transmitter, and a keyless entry transmitter.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said operator and said device both receive only the same frequency wireless signals from said at least one transmitter.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said device is a fixture that controls a light.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said fixture comprises;

a transceiver for at least receiving said wireless signals; and

a controller connected to said transceiver, wherein said controller validates said wireless signal and controls said light if said wireless signal is validated.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said fixture further comprises:

a program button operative with said controller;

a memory device associated with said controller, and

wherein actuation of said program button places said controller in a learn mode such that any valid signal received while in said learn mode is stored in said memory device.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said controller is able to distinguish between a group of transmitters, and wherein said at least one transmitter is selected from a group consisting of a wall station transmitter, a remote transmitter, and a keyless entry transmitter.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said remote transmitter has plurality of function buttons, and wherein actuation of a first button of said remote transmitter in said learn mode designates said first button as a barrier command, and wherein actuation of any other button of said remote transmitter while in said learn mode designates said other button as a work light command.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein generation of said barrier command by said at least one transmitter is separately and directly receivable by said operator and said fixture for illumination of said light for only a predetermined period of time.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein generation of said work light command by said at least one transmitter illuminates said light if in an off condition, and returns said light to said off condition only if no door command had been previously received within a designated time period.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein generation of said barrier command is specifically limited to valid first buttons learned from said remote transmitters, said keyless entry transmitter, and selected buttons from said wall station transmitters.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said selected buttons of said wall station transmitters include an up/down button, a delay close button, a pet height button, and a door profile button.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein generation of said barrier command while said light is illuminated as a result of receiving said work light command causes said controller to turn said light off after a predetermined period of time.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said device is a switch that controls a load.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said switch further comprises:

a transceiver for at least receiving said wireless signals; and

a controller connected to said transceiver, wherein said controller validates said wireless signal and control said load if said wireless signal is validated.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said switch further comprises:

a program button operative with said controller;

a memory device associated with said controller, and

wherein actuation of said program button places said controller in a learn mode such that any valid signal received while in said learn mode is stored in said memory device.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said controller is able to distinguish between said at least one transmitter, and

wherein said at least one transmitter is selected from a group consisting of a wall station transmitter, a remote transmitter and a keyless entry transmitter.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said operator is capable of generating wireless signals and wherein said controller is able to distinguish operator wireless signals and transmitter wireless signals.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said switch further comprises:

an on button connected to said controller;

an off button connected to said controller;

a switch on indicator connected to said controller; and

a switch off indicator connected to said controller;

a memory device associated with said controller;

wherein one of said buttons function as a program button operative with said controller when actuated for a predetermined period of time to place said controller in a learn mode such that any valid signal received in said learn mode is stored in said memory device.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the learning of a valid transmitter wireless signal and a valid operator wireless signal by said controller initiates illumination of one of said indicators in a predetermined manner.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein receipt of said valid wireless signal by said controller when not in said learn mode causes said switch to turn said load on if previously off.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein receipt of said valid wireless

signal by said controller when not in said learn mode causes said switch to turn said load off if previously on.

23. The system according to claim 19, wherein said switch on indicator is active when said load is active and said switch off indicator is active when said load is inactive.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein actuation of said on button turns said load on and precludes said controller from receiving any wireless signals, and wherein actuation of said off button turns said load off and allows said controller to receive any valid wireless signals.

25. The system according to claim 1, wherein said operator and said device both receive wireless signals from said at least one transmitter having only the same frequency.

26. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one transmitter generates said wireless signals at a first frequency and said operator generates wireless signals at a second frequency different from said first frequency.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said operator generates said wireless signals at said second frequency upon receipt of said wireless signals at said first frequency.

28. The system according to claim 1, wherein said operator generates said wireless signals at a first frequency upon receipt of said wireless signals from said at least one transmitter at said first frequency.

29. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one device comprises:

a controller; and

a program button connected to said controller, wherein actuation of said program button places said controller in a learn mode for a predetermined period of time, and wherein actuation of said at least one function button during said predetermined period of time associates said at least one function button with said device.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein said at least one function button is associated with more than one said device.

31. The system according to claim 29, wherein said at least one device is associated with more than one said transmitter.

32. The system according to claim 29, wherein said at least one function button is associated with more than one device;

and wherein said at least one device is associated with more than one said transmitter.

33. The system according to claim 29, further comprising:

a memory device associated with said controller for storing a valid signal received during said learn mode.

34. A system for controlling a motorized barrier and a device, comprising:

a barrier operator which controls the motorized barrier, said barrier operator receiving and transmitting wireless operational signals;

a device which controls an electrical load, said device receiving and transmitting wireless operational signals; and

at least one transmitter generating wireless operational signals receivable by one of said barrier operator and said device for actuation thereof, wherein in one mode

one of said barrier operator and said device subsequently transmits another wireless operational signal to the other of said barrier operator and said device, and wherein in another mode said barrier operator retransmits received operational signals to said device to control the actuation of both said motorized barrier and said device, wherein said device is configured to indicate the status of said electrical load coupled to said device.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said at least one transmitter generates wireless operational signals in one frequency range receivable by one of said barrier operator and said device, wherein one of said barrier operator and said device subsequently transmits wireless operational signals in another frequency range different from said one frequency range to the other of said barrier operator and said device.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein said device is a light fixture.

37. The system according to claim 35, wherein said device is a switch that controls a load.