Power conserving mobile transmitter used with an automated barrier operating system

• US 8,085,129 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2008
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HRH Newco Corporation
• Original Assignee: Homerun Holdings Corporation
• Inventors: Mullet, Willis J., Mamaloukas, Jason L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barakat, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US12/229,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20100045429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.7, 340/5.72, 340/5.71, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/436, 701201-226, 318/16
• US Class Current: 340/5.7
• 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 operator system for automatically controlling access barriers based on movement of a carrying device. The system consists of an operator controller associated with an access barrier, a base receiver associated with the base controller, and a mobile transmitter that includes an activity sensor configured to monitor movement in at least one axis of movement and a mobile emitter. The mobile transmitter is configured to automatically emit from the mobile emitter a mobile open signal and a mobile close signal containing at least one warning data bit that is placed in a set state when the activity sensor first detects a change in movement of the mobile transmitter. The base receiver receives the mobile open signal and mobile close signal, and the operator controller resets a last process variable when the at least one warning bit is received.

Claims

1. An operator system for automatically controlling access barriers based on movement of a carrying device, comprising:

an operator controller associated with an access barrier;

a base receiver associated with said base controller, said base receiver configured to only receive signals when in an operate mode;

a mobile transmitter including an activity sensor configured to monitor movement in at least one axis of movement and a mobile emitter, said mobile transmitter configured to automatically emit from said mobile emitter a mobile open signal and a mobile close signal containing at least one warning data bit that is placed in a set state when said activity sensor first detects a change in movement of said mobile transmitter, wherein said base receiver in said operate mode receives said mobile open signal and said mobile close signal and said operator controller resets a last process variable when said at least one warning bit is received and said operator controller controls movement of the access barrier based on the status of said at least one warning bit and receipt of said mobile open signal and said mobile close signal.

2. The operator system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one warning bit is a just active bit and a sleep bit, wherein said just active bit is set when said mobile transmitter first detects movement of the carrying device after not detecting movement for a predetermined period of time, and wherein said sleep bit is set when said mobile transmitter first detects non-movement of the carrying device after a period of movement.

3. The operator system according to claim 2, wherein said just active bit is cleared after said activity sensor has detected movement of the carrying device for a predetermined period of time.

4. The operator system according to claim 2, wherein said sleep bit is cleared after said activity sensor detects movement of the carrying device.

5. The operator system according to claim 2, wherein if said operator controller receives said mobile open signal and said last process variable is not set to open, and said just active bit is set, then said last process variable is reset to open.

6. The operator system according to claim 2, wherein if said operator controller does not receive said mobile open signal nor said mobile close signal, and said operator controller determines that said last process variable is not set to close and said sleep bit is set, then said operator controller sets said last process variable to close.

7. The operator system according to claim 2, wherein said operator controller maintains a lose close counter that is updated each time said base receiver does not detect said mobile close signal, such that when said lose close count value is greater than a predetermined value, said access barrier is closed.

8. The operator system according to claim 7, wherein said operator controller resets said lose close count value if said mobile open signal and said mobile close signal are received and said just active bit has been set.

9. A method for automatically controlling at least one access barrier comprising:

providing a mobile transmitter having an activity sensor and a mobile emitter, said mobile emitter configured to automatically generate a mobile open signal and a mobile close signal when said activity sensor detects movement of said mobile transmitter;

providing an operator controller associated with a base receiver and an access barrier, said base receiver receiving said mobile open signal and said mobile close signal when in an operate mode;

setting at least one warning bit that is included in said mobile open signal and said mobile close signal when said activity sensor first detects a change in movement of said mobile transmitter; and

moving said access barrier by said operator controller when in said operate mode depending upon a status of said at least one warning bit and receipt of said mobile open signal or loss of said mobile close signal.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

setting a just active bit that is included in said mobile open signal and said mobile close signal when said activity sensor first detects movement after not detecting movement for a predetermined period of time; and

setting a sleep bit that is included in said mobile open signal and said mobile close signal when said activity sensor first detects non-movement after a period of movement.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

clearing said just active bit after said activity sensor has detected movement for a predetermined period of time.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

clearing said sleep bit after said activity sensor detects movement.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

maintaining a last process variable by said operator controller which is set by either movement of the at least one access barrier or receipt of said just active bit or said sleep bit.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

setting said last process variable to open upon receiving said mobile open signal with said just active bit set and when said last process variable is not set to open.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

setting said last process variable to close upon not receiving said mobile open signal nor said mobile close signal with said sleep bit set and when said last process variable is not set to close.

16. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

maintaining a lose close counter by said operator controller; and

updating said lose close counter each time said base receiver does not detect said mobile close signal, such that when said lose close count is greater than a predetermined value, said access barrier is closed.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

resetting said lose close counter if said at least one warning bit has been set by said mobile transmitter.