Garage door remote system with alert feature

• US 8,373,555 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clifford A. Redden, Memphis Yin, Phillip Haralson
• Original Assignee: Clifford A. Redden, Memphis Yin, Phillip Haralson
• Inventors: Yin, Memphis, Redden, Clifford A., Haralson, Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akhter, Sharmin
• Application Number:
  US12/751,892
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.71, 340/686.1, 340/815.48, 340/539.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/814 Sound emitters, e.g. speakers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages

Abstract

A garage door opening system for alerting a user if the garage door is left open featuring an interface unit for integrating into the garage door, the interface unit comprises a motor microprocessor, a door position sensor; and an interface transceiver; and a remote device comprising a remote microprocessor, a remote transceiver, a speaker, and a push button, wherein the push button functions to move the garage door between the open and closed positions, wherein the transceivers are in two-way communication with each other within a range, wherein if the remote device is out of range and the garage door is left open the alarm is activated to alert the user.

Claims

1. A garage door opening system comprising:

(a) an interface unit comprising;

(i) a motor microprocessor for operatively connecting to a standard motor unit of a standard garage door;

(ii) a door position sensor operatively connected to the motor microprocessor and to the standard motor unit of the standard garage door controller, the door position sensor functions to detect a position of the garage door, the position being either a closed position or an open position; and

(iii) an interface transceiver operatively connected to each the motor microprocessor and the door position sensor; and

(b) a remote device for manipulating the position of the garage door and for indicating the position of the garage door, the remote device comprising;

(i) a remote microprocessor;

(ii) a remote transceiver operatively connected to the remote microprocessor, the remote transceiver and the interface transceiver are in two-way communication with each other within a range, the interface transceiver functions to relay the position of the garage door to the remote transceiver and remote microprocessor, the remote transceiver functions to detect the interface transceiver within the range;

(iii) a speaker adapted to emit an alarm when activated, the speaker is operatively connected to the remote microprocessor; and

(iv) an indicator system disposed on the remote device for visually indicating the position of the garage door, wherein the indicator system is operatively connected to the remote microprocessor, wherein the indicator system is a slider, wherein the slider is used to both indicate the position of the garage door and to manipulate the garage door, wherein the slider slides between a first position, a second position, and a center position, wherein the position of the slider reflects a real-time status of the garage door,

wherein, when the slider is moved to the first position, the slider sends a first button input signal to the remote microprocessor, wherein upon receipt of the first button input signal, the remote microprocessor sends a first remote transceiver output command to the remote transceiver to cause the remote transceiver to send a first door signal to the interface transceiver, wherein upon receipt of the first door signal, the interface transceiver sends a first motor microprocessor signal to the motor microprocessor, whereupon the motor microprocessor sends a first motor output command to the motor unit (and controller) to move the garage door to the closed position,

wherein, when the slider is moved to the second position, the slider sends a second button input signal to the remote microprocessor, wherein upon receipt of the second button input signal, the remote microprocessor sends a second remote transceiver output command to the remote transceiver to cause the remote transceiver to send a second door signal to the interface transceiver, wherein upon receipt of the second door signal, the interface transceiver sends a second motor microprocessor signal to the motor microprocessor, whereupon the motor microprocessor sends a second motor output command to the motor unit (and controller) to move the garage door to the open position.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a door monitor for housing the interface unit, the door monitor comprises indicator lights for indicating the position of the garage door.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface transceiver is integrated into the motor microprocessor or the remote transceiver is integrated into the remote microprocessor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the range of the transceivers is between about 100 to 200 feet.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the range of the transceivers is between about 200 to 500 feet.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the range of the transceivers is between about 500 to 5000 feet.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the range of the transceivers is between about 5000 feet to 10 miles.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator system comprises a light disposed on the remote device for visually indicating the position of the garage door, wherein the indicator system is operatively connected to the remote microprocessor, wherein the tight is illuminated if the garage door is in the open position.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote device further comprises a light and a light switch.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the speaker with alarm of the remote device is replaced with a vibration system.

11. The system of claim 1 comprising a vibration system in combination with the speaker with alarm of the remote device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the alarm is emitted for about 5 seconds, about 10 seconds, or about 20 seconds.