Door actuator and opener

• US 7,719,213 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2006
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Estit S. Ramirez, Garrett J. Swank, Stephen A. Herman
• Original Assignee: Estit S. Ramirez, Garrett J. Swank, Stephen A. Herman
• Inventors: Herman, Stephen A., Swank, Garrett J., Ramirez, Estit S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro; Bentsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luo; David S
• Application Number:
  US11/551,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20080092443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 318/16, 49/25, 340/825.19
• US Class Current: 318/16
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control

Abstract

An actuating mechanism for a door includes a first antenna block having a first integrated microcontroller electrically connected to a first transceiver device and a first antenna. A second antenna block having a second integrated microcontroller is electrically connected to a second transceiver device and a second antenna. A processor device is electrically connected between the first and second microcontrollers and a first switch. The first and second antennas receive a first radio frequency signal from a third, mobile transceiver device. The processor device measures a time difference of arrival (TDOA) of the first radio frequency signal. The processor device computes a direction of arrival (DOA). The DOA measurement is compared against a predefined range of DOAs. The processor device sends a control signal to the first switch to actuate the door in the event of a match.

Claims

1. A system for automatically actuating a door, comprising:

a building structure including a door;

a door motor coupled to the door for actuating the door;

a fixed transceiver unit coupled to the building structure, the fixed transceiver unit including,

(a) a first microprocessor,

(b) a first transceiver coupled to the first microprocessor for processing a first radio frequency (RF) signal and third RF signal,

(c) a second transceiver coupled to the first microprocessor for processing a second RF signal and third RF signal,

(d) a first antenna coupled to the first transceiver for transmitting the first RF signal and receiving the third RF signal, the first antenna being located proximate to a first side of the door, and

(e) a second antenna coupled to the second transceiver for transmitting the second RF signal and receiving the third RF signal, the second antenna being located proximate to a second side of the door, opposite the first side of the door;

a first electrical switch operating in response to the first microprocessor for controlling the door motor to actuate the door;

a wheelchair; and

a mobile transceiver unit mounted to the wheelchair, the mobile transceiver unit including,

(f) a second microprocessor,

(g) a third transceiver coupled to the second microprocessor for processing the first, second, and third RF signals,

(h) a third antenna coupled to the third transceiver for transmitting the third RF signal and receiving the first and second RF signals, and

(i) a battery for providing operating power to the second microprocessor and third transceiver;

wherein;

the third antenna receives the first and second RF signals from the first and second antenna,

the third transceiver and second microprocessor process the first and second RF signals to generate a door activation code,

the third antenna transmits the third RF signal containing the door activation code to the first and second antenna when the wheelchair is within a predefined range of the door to automatically actuate the door without physical action by an occupant of the wheelchair,

the first and second antenna receive the third RF signal containing the door activation code,

the first and second transceivers and first microprocessor process the third RF signal containing the door activation code to determine authorization to actuate the door based on the door activation code,

the first microprocessor further processes the third RF signal to determine a time difference of arrival (TDOA) of the third RF signal incident to the first and second antenna, the third RF signal being received by the first antenna at a first time and received by the second antenna at a second time, the second time being different from the first time, the TDOA being determined from a difference between the first time and second time,

the first microprocessor computes a direction of arrival (DOA) of the wheelchair as cos<sup>−

1</sup>[(v₀/d)Δ

t], where v₀ is speed of light, d is distance between the first and second antenna, and Δ

t is the difference between the first time and second time,

the DOA is compared against a predefined range of stored DOAs to confirm the wheelchair is outside a door footprint area during actuation of the door, and

the first microprocessor actuates the door upon confirming the door activation code and confirming the wheelchair is outside the door footprint area.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a second electrical switch for controlling the door motor to actuate the door in response to a manual operation, motion detector, photoelectric device, or pressure sensor independent of the first electrical switch.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein prior to receiving the first and second RF signals the second microprocessor and third transceiver operate in a power conservation mode which provides for reception of the first and second RF signals.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first microprocessor adjusts the DOA for gain and phase variation of the third RF signal.

5. A system for automatically actuating a door, comprising:

a fixed transceiver unit including,

(a) a first microprocessor,

(b) a first transceiver coupled to the first microprocessor for processing a first radio frequency (RF) signal and third RF signal,

(c) a second transceiver coupled to the first microprocessor for processing a second RF signal and third RF signal,

(d) a first antenna coupled to the first transceiver for transmitting the first RF signal and receiving the third RF signal, the first antenna being located proximate to a first side of the door, and

(e) a second antenna coupled to the second transceiver for transmitting the second RF signal and receiving the third RF signal, the second antenna being located proximate to a second side of the door, opposite the first side of the door;

a first electrical switch operating in response to the first microprocessor for actuating the door;

a wheelchair; and

a mobile transceiver unit located in proximity to the wheelchair and in wireless communication with the fixed transceiver unit, the mobile transceiver unit including,

(f) a second microprocessor,

(g) a third transceiver coupled to the second microprocessor for processing the first, second, and third RF signals,

(h) a third antenna coupled to the third transceiver for transmitting the third RF signal and receiving the first and second RF signals, and

(i) a battery for providing operating power to the second microprocessor and third transceiver;

wherein;

the third antenna receives the first and second RF signals from the first and second antenna,

the third transceiver and second microprocessor process the first and second RF signals to generate a door activation code,

the third antenna transmits the third RF signal containing the door activation code to the first and second antenna to automatically actuate the door,

the first and second antenna receive the third RF signal containing the door activation code,

the first and second transceivers and first microprocessor process the third RF signal containing the door activation code to determine authorization to actuate the door based on the door activation code,

the first microprocessor further processes the third RF signal to determine a time difference of arrival (TDOA) of the third RF signal incident to the first and second antenna, the third RF signal being received by the first antenna at a first time and received by the second antenna at a second time, the TDOA being determined from a difference between the first time and second time,

the first microprocessor computes a direction of arrival (DOA) of the wheelchair as cos<sup>−

1</sup> [(v₀/d)Δ

t], where v₀ is speed of light, d is distance between the first and second antenna, and Δ

t is the difference between the first time and second time,

the DOA is compared against a predefined range of stored DOAs to confirm the wheelchair is outside a door footprint area during actuation of the door, and

the first microprocessor actuates the door upon confirming the door activation code and confirming the wheelchair is outside the door footprint area.

6. The system of claim 5, further including a second electrical switch for actuating the door in response to a manual operation, motion detector, photoelectric device, or pressure sensor independent of the first electrical switch.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein prior to receiving the first and second RF signals the second microprocessor and third transceiver operate in a power conservation mode which provides for reception of the first and second RF signals.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the first microprocessor adjusts the DOA for gain and phase variation of the third RF signal.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the mobile transceiver unit is carried by an occupant in the wheelchair.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the third antenna transmits the third RF signal containing the door activation code to the first and second antenna when the wheelchair is within a predefined range of the door to automatically actuate the door without physical action by an occupant of the wheelchair.

11. A system for automatically actuating a door, comprising:

a fixed transceiver unit including,

(a) a first microprocessor,

(b) a first transceiver coupled to the first microprocessor for processing a first radio frequency (RF) signal and third RF signal,

(c) a second transceiver coupled to the first microprocessor for processing a second RF signal and third RF signal,

(d) a first antenna coupled to the first transceiver for transmitting the first RF signal and receiving the third RF signal, the first antenna being located proximate to a first side of the door, and

(e) a second antenna coupled to the second transceiver for transmitting the second RF signal and receiving the third RF signal, the second antenna being located proximate to a second side of the door, opposite the first side of the door;

a first electrical switch operating in response to the first microprocessor for actuating the door;

a wheelchair; and

a mobile transceiver unit located in proximity to the wheelchair and in wireless communication with the fixed transceiver unit, the mobile transceiver unit including,

(f) a second microprocessor,

(g) a third transceiver coupled to the second microprocessor for processing the first, second, and third RF signals,

(h) a third antenna coupled to the third transceiver for transmitting the third RF signal and receiving the first and second RF signals, and

(i) a battery for providing operating power to the second microprocessor and third transceiver;

wherein;

the third antenna receives the first and second RF signals from the first and second antenna,

the third transceiver and second microprocessor process the first and second RF signals to generate a door activation code,

the third antenna transmits the third RF signal containing the door activation code to the first and second antenna to automatically actuate the door,

the first and second antenna receive the third RF signal containing the door activation code,

the first and second transceivers and first microprocessor process the third RF signal containing the door activation code to determine authorization to actuate the door based on the door activation code,

the first microprocessor further processes the third RF signal to determine a time difference of arrival (TDOA) of the third RF signal incident to the first and second antenna,

the first microprocessor computes a direction of arrival (DOA) of the wheelchair based on the TDOA and comparing the DOA against a predefined range of stored DOAs to confirm the wheelchair is outside a door footprint area during actuation of the door, and

the first microprocessor actuates the door upon confirming the door activation code and confirming the wheelchair is outside the door footprint area.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the third RF signal is received by the first antenna at a first time and received by the second antenna at a second time and the TDOA is determined from a difference between the first time and second time.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first microprocessor computes a direction of arrival (DOA) of the wheelchair as cos⁻

1 [(v₀/d)Δ

t], where v₀ is speed of light, d is distance between the first and second antenna, and Δ

t is the difference between the first time and second time.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first microprocessor adjusts the DOA for gain and phase variation of the third RF signal.

15. The system of claim 11, further including a second electrical switch for actuating the door in response to a manual operation, motion detector, photoelectric device, or pressure sensor independent of the first electrical switch.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein prior to receiving the first and second RF signals the second microprocessor and third transceiver operate in a power conservation mode which provides for reception of the first and second RF signals.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the third antenna transmits the third RF signal containing the door activation code to the first and second antenna when the wheelchair is within a predefined range of the door to automatically actuate the door without physical action by an occupant of the wheelchair.

18. A method of automatically actuating a door, comprising:

providing a fixed transceiver unit including,

(a) a first microprocessor,

(b) a first transceiver coupled to the first microprocessor for processing a first radio frequency (RF) signal and third RF signal,

(c) a second transceiver coupled to the first microprocessor for processing a second RF signal and third RF signal,

(d) a first antenna coupled to the first transceiver for transmitting the first RF signal and receiving the third RF signal, the first antenna being located proximate to a first side of the door, and

(e) a second antenna coupled to the second transceiver for transmitting the second RF signal and receiving the third RF signal, the second antenna being located proximate to a second side of the door, opposite the first side of the door;

providing a first electrical switch operating in response to the first microprocessor for actuating the door;

providing a wheelchair; and

providing a mobile transceiver unit located proximate to the wheelchair and in wireless communication with the fixed transceiver unit, the mobile transceiver unit including,

(f) a second microprocessor,

(g) a third transceiver coupled to the second microprocessor for processing the first, second, and third RF signals,

(h) a third antenna coupled to the third transceiver for transmitting the third RF signal and receiving the first and second RF signals, and

(i) a battery for providing operating power to the second microprocessor and third transceiver;

wherein;

the third antenna receives the first and second RF signals from the first and second antenna,

the third transceiver and second microprocessor process the first and second RF signals to generate a door activation code,

the third antenna transmits the third RF signal containing the door activation code to the first and second antenna to automatically actuate the door,

the first and second antenna receive the third RF signal containing the door activation code,

the first and second transceivers and first microprocessor process the third RF signal containing the door activation code to determine authorization to actuate the door based on the door activation code,

the first microprocessor further processes the third RF signal to determine a time difference of arrival (TDOA) of the third RF signal incident to the first and second antenna,

the first microprocessor computes a direction of arrival (DOA) of the wheelchair based on the TDOA and comparing the DOA against a predefined range of stored DOAs to confirm the wheelchair is outside a door footprint area during actuation of the door, and

the first microprocessor actuates the door upon confirming the door activation code and confirming the wheelchair is outside the door footprint area.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the third RF signal is received by the first antenna at a first time and received by the second antenna at a second time and the TDOA is determined from a difference between the first time and second time.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first microprocessor computes a direction of arrival (DOA) of the wheelchair as cos⁻

1 [(v₀/d)Δ

t], where v₀ is speed of light, d is distance between the first and second antenna, and Δ

t is the difference between the first time and second time.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the first microprocessor adjusts the DOA for gain and phase variation of the third RF signal.

22. The method of claim 18, further including a second electrical switch for actuating the door in response to a manual operation, motion detector, photoelectric device, or pressure sensor independent of the first electrical switch.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein prior to receiving the first and second RF signals the second microprocessor and third transceiver operate in a power conservation mode which provides for reception of the first and second RF signals.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the third antenna transmits the third RF signal containing the door activation code to the first and second antenna when the wheelchair is within a predefined range of the door to automatically actuate the door without physical action by an occupant of the wheelchair.