Multiple barrier control system

• US 8,330,572 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HRH Newco Corporation
• Original Assignee: Homerun Holdings Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Yan, Murray, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SYED, NABIL H
• Application Number:
  US11/724,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20080224886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.7, 340/5.71, 340/531, 340/539.1, 340/825.72, 340/5.26, 340/510, 340/5.72, 340/5.22, 340/5.61, 340/5.62, 340/5.63, 340/5.64, 455/66.1, 455/344
• US Class Current: 340/5.71
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00269 opening and locking of all locks at the same time
• 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

A multiple barrier control system includes a plurality of barrier operators configured to move associated access barriers between limit positions. Each of the barrier operators are enabled to communicate with one or more local transmitters. The local transmitters may maintain an all-close button, an all-open button, and an all-stop button, which are associated with corresponding functions maintained by the barrier operators. Upon the actuation of one of the buttons, the associated function is simultaneously carried out by each of the associated barrier operators. Additionally, a portable network control may invoke the simultaneous control of functions at each of the barrier operators via an associated communication network. Moreover, scenes may be created wherein the barrier operators and other accessories, such as lights and appliances, may be moved or actuated to a desired status upon actuation of a scene button on either the local transmitter or the portable network control.

Claims

1. A multiple barrier control system to simultaneously control the movement of a plurality of barriers as part of a scene, the system comprising:

a plurality of barrier operators, each of which are configured to be operatively associated with a corresponding barrier, said barrier operators each having at least two functions in which to control the movement of the corresponding barrier;

at least one appliance adapted to be remotely controlled; and

a transmitter adapted to be learned with said plurality of barrier operators, said transmitter having at least two command buttons, at least one function button and at least one scene button, wherein after said transmitter is learned with each of said plurality of barrier operators and said appliance, said at least two command buttons are enabled to simultaneously invoke said at least two barrier movement functions at each of said plurality of barrier operators, said at least one function button is enabled to invoke barrier movement functions at a specific one of said plurality of barrier operators and said at least one scene button is enabled to operatively control said at least one appliance to a predetermined condition and invoke predetermined barrier movement functions at all of said plurality of barrier operators to adjust each barrier to a close position, an open position, or a desired position in between the open and close position, wherein said predetermined barrier movement functions move each barrier to a position which is different than the position of the other barriers.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said function maintained at said plurality of barrier operators and invoked by said at least two command buttons are at least a stop all function and either an open all function or a close all function.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication network configured to communicate with each of said plurality of barrier operators and said at least one appliance via network signals, said communication network configured to simultaneously invoke two of said at least two barrier movement functions maintained by each of said plurality of barrier operators and/or control said at least one appliance to said predetermined condition.

4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising;

a portable network control associated with said communication network, wherein said function or control of said at least one appliance is invoked in response to a portable network control command sent by said portable network control.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said portable network control includes a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to present a status/command region and a simultaneous control region.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said status/command region comprises a barrier field configured to display an operator tag identifying each said barrier operator, a status tag associated with each said operator tag, said status tag indicating the operational status of each said barrier operator, and wherein said status/command region comprises a command option set associated with each said respective barrier operator, each said command option set providing at least two user selectable command options associated with respective functions maintained at each said barrier operator, such that when said command option is invoked said function is carried out at said barrier operator associated with said respective command option.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said command option is selected from the group consisting of an open option, a close option, and a stop option.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein said simultaneous control region comprises three simultaneous control options associated with each said function maintained at each of said plurality of barrier operators, such that when said simultaneous control option is selected, said function is simultaneously performed at each of said barrier operators, wherein said simultaneous control options are selected from the group consisting of an all open option, an all close option, and an all stop option.

13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a multiple frequency transceiver operatively associated with each said barrier operator, each said transceiver configured to communicate via local signals; and

said transmitter configured to transmit said local signals receivable by said transceiver.

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

a communication network associated with said multiple frequency transceiver via network signals, said communication network associated with a network device that is configured to transmit network signals to each said barrier operator so as to simultaneously invoke a function maintained thereby.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said network device includes a network scene control button that when actuated is configured to simultaneously move each of the access barriers to a predetermined close position, a redetermined open position, or a predetermined position in between the open or close positions.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said local transmitter includes a local scene control button that when actuated is configured to simultaneously move each of the access barriers to a predetermined close position, a predetermined open position, or a predetermined position in between the open or close positions.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a fume detector configured to be coupled to at least one of said barrier operators; and

an alarm configured to be coupled to at least one of said barrier operators, wherein said local transmitter or said network device is configured to invoke an alarm scene mode when said fume detector detects the presence of fumes.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein when said fume detector detects the presence of fumes at least one of said plurality of access barriers is moved to a predetermined position to allow the fumes to escape.

19. The system according to claim 13, said transmitter configured to transmit local signals to control movement of a specific barrier operator.

21. The system according to claim 3, wherein said at least one appliance is selected from the group consisting of a light, HVAC units, a radio, a coffee maker, a thermostat, door locks, security lights, home alarm systems, an alarm, a carbon monoxide detector, and a fume detector.

22. The system according to claim 3, wherein said transmitter further comprises a first scene button and a second scene button, wherein actuation of said first scene button operatively controls said at least one appliance to a first condition and invokes barrier movement functions at all of said plurality of barriers to adjust each barrier to a close position, an open position or a desired position in between the open and close position, and actuation of said second scene button operatively controls said at least one appliance to a second condition and invokes barrier movement functions at all of said plurality of barriers to adjust each barrier to a close position, an open position or a desired position in between the open and close position, wherein at least one of the barriers is in a different position in said second scene than in said first scene.

9. A method of simultaneously controlling a plurality of barrier operators to actuate a plurality of barriers as part of a scene comprising:

providing a local transmitter maintaining at least one user invoked function button, at least two user invoked command buttons, and at least one scene button, wherein the function button controls movement of a specific barrier, the command buttons control movement of a plurality of barriers including said specific barrier and said at least one scene button controls at least one appliance and selected ones of said plurality of barriers;

learning said local transmitter to a specific barrier operator, a plurality of barrier operators that includes said specific barrier operator, and said at least one appliance;

associating said function and command buttons with a respective movement function maintained by each said learned barrier operator;

associating said at least one scene button with a predetermined condition of said at least one appliance and a predetermined open, close or in between position for selected ones of said plurality of barriers;

actuating one of said command buttons at said local transmitter;

simultaneously carrying out said respective movement function at each barrier operator learned with said transmitter at said learning step wherein said command buttons invoke at least two barrier movement functions at each of said plurality of barrier operators; and

actuating said at least one scene button at said local transmitter and invoking said predetermined condition of said appliance and moving selected said barriers to said predetermined positions, wherein each selected said barrier is moved to a predetermined position which is different than a predetermined position of the other selected said barriers.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

communicating with said plurality of barrier operators via a communication network and a network device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a viewable display on said network device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface (GUI) on said viewable display to indicate the status of each of the access barriers.

20. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

invoking with said command buttons an all stop command and at least one of an all open command and an all close command.

23. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

actuating a first scene button to operatively control said at least one appliance to a first condition and invoke barrier movement functions at all of said plurality of barriers to adjust each barrier to a close position, an open position or a desired position in between the open and close position; and

actuating a second scene button to operatively control said at least one appliance to a second condition and invoke barrier movement functions at all of said plurality of barriers to adjust each barrier to a close position, an open position or a desired position in between the open and close position, wherein at least one of the barriers is in a different position in said second scene than in said first scene.