Movable barrier operator with energy management control and corresponding method
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A movable barrier operator apparatus comprising:
- a power supply that operably couples to at least one source of alternating current;
an obstacle detector; and
a movable barrier operator which includes a controller, the movable barrier operator operably coupled to the power supply, receives operating power from the power supply and has at least a first and a second mode of energy consumption operation and being further configured and arranged to;
selectively open and close a corresponding movable barrier; and
develop an obstacle detector operating mode control signal from the controller as a function of movable barrier operator system state information that indicates whether the barrier is open or closed, the obstacle detector operating mode control signal being operable to directly control the energy usage of the obstacle detector, the control signal from the controller developed as a result of the state information, the state information selected from the group consisting of motor state information, time information, transmission state information, voltage state information, switch state information and combinations thereof,the obstacle detector operably coupled to the power supply and to the movable barrier operator, receives operating power from the power supply, and has a plurality of operating modes, wherein at least some of the operating modes have different energy usages, and wherein the obstacle detector is directly responsive to the movable barrier operator obstacle detector operating mode control signal such that;
during the first mode of energy consumption operation, the obstacle detector operates using a first energy usage; and
during the second mode of energy consumption operation, the obstacle detector operates using a second energy usage, wherein the operating power used in one of the energy usages is less than the power used by the other energy usage.
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Abstract
A movable barrier operator system wherein one or more of the various components of the system is configured to operate selectively in at least either of two operational modes. Each operating mode is characterized by a corresponding energy usage profile. The operational status of the system is monitored and operating modes are selected that serve both to substantially ensure proper operation given current likely operational expectations and an overall desire to reduce energy consumption.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A movable barrier operator apparatus comprising:
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a power supply that operably couples to at least one source of alternating current; an obstacle detector; and a movable barrier operator which includes a controller, the movable barrier operator operably coupled to the power supply, receives operating power from the power supply and has at least a first and a second mode of energy consumption operation and being further configured and arranged to; selectively open and close a corresponding movable barrier; and develop an obstacle detector operating mode control signal from the controller as a function of movable barrier operator system state information that indicates whether the barrier is open or closed, the obstacle detector operating mode control signal being operable to directly control the energy usage of the obstacle detector, the control signal from the controller developed as a result of the state information, the state information selected from the group consisting of motor state information, time information, transmission state information, voltage state information, switch state information and combinations thereof, the obstacle detector operably coupled to the power supply and to the movable barrier operator, receives operating power from the power supply, and has a plurality of operating modes, wherein at least some of the operating modes have different energy usages, and wherein the obstacle detector is directly responsive to the movable barrier operator obstacle detector operating mode control signal such that; during the first mode of energy consumption operation, the obstacle detector operates using a first energy usage; and during the second mode of energy consumption operation, the obstacle detector operates using a second energy usage, wherein the operating power used in one of the energy usages is less than the power used by the other energy usage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A movable barrier operator apparatus as used with a movable barrier, comprising:
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a power supply that operably couples to at least one source of alternating current; obstacle detection means operably coupled to the power supply to receive operating power from the power supply for detecting an obstacle to the movable barrier; control means operably coupled to the power supply to receive operating power from the power supply and to the obstacle detection means for automatically selectively directly controlling; opening and closing of the movable barrier; and energy consumption of the obstacle detection means as a function of movable barrier operator system state information that indicates whether the barrier is open or closed and the state information selected from the group consisting of motor state information, time information, transmission state information, voltage state information, switch state information and combinations thereof, the state information effecting a plurality of power consumption modes which are different, at least one of the power consumption mode consuming less power than another power consumption mode. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A movable barrier operator apparatus comprising:
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a power supply that operably couples to at least one source of alternating current; an obstacle detector; and a movable barrier operator which a controller, the movable barrier operator operably coupled to the power supply, receives operating power from the power supply and has at least a first and a second mode of energy consumption operation and being further configured and arranged to; selectively open and close a corresponding movable barrier; and develop an obstacle detector operating mode control signal from the controller as a function of movable barrier operator system state information that indicates whether the barrier is travelling, the obstacle detector operating mode control signal being operable to directly control the energy usage of the obstacle detector and the state information selected from the group consisting of motor state information, time information, transmission state information, voltage state information, switch state information and combinations thereof, the obstacle detector operably coupled to the power supply and to the movable barrier operator, receives operating power from the power supply, and has a plurality of operating modes, wherein at least some of the operating modes have different energy usages, and wherein the obstacle detector is directly responsive to the movable barrier operator obstacle detector operating mode control signal such that; during the first mode of energy consumption operation, the obstacle detector operates using a first energy usage; and during the second mode of energy consumption operation, the obstacle detector operates using a second energy usage, wherein the second energy usage is lower than the first energy usage. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A movable barrier operator apparatus comprising:
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a power interface configured to be operably coupled to at least one source of alternating current; a movable barrier operator configured to be operably coupled to the power interface, to receive operating power, to selectively open and close a corresponding movable barrier, and to have at least a first and a second mode of energy consumption operation, the movable barrier operator comprising; a motor; an obstacle detector; and a controller configured to receive movable barrier operator system state information that indicates barrier location, the controller configured to develop an obstacle detector operating mode control signal as a function of the movable barrier operator system state information, the state information selected from the group consisting of motor state information, time information, transmission state information, voltage state information, switch state information and combinations thereof, and the obstacle detector operating mode control signal being operable to directly control the energy usage of the obstacle detector, the obstacle detector, the obstacle detector having a plurality of operating modes at least some of the operating modes having a lower energy usage than another energy usage. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification