Automatic barrier operator system
First Claim
1. A method for operating a barrier to move between open and closed positions, said barrier being operably connected to an operator system including a controller comprising a base control circuit, a radio frequency base transmitter and a radio frequency base receiver and plural remote control units operable to communicate with said controller, each of said remote control units including a radio frequency remote transmitter and a radio frequency remote receiver, said method comprising the steps of:
- causing said base transmitter to transmit a search signal to said remote receivers of said plural remote control units;
causing said control circuit to effect one of opening and closing said barrier depending on whether or not said base receiver receives an acknowledgement signal transmitted from at least one of said remote transmitters in response to said search signal;
making determinations whether individual ones of said plural remote control units are within a communication range of said controller, wherein said determinations are made in response to receipt of acknowledgement signals transmitted from said remote transmitters of said plural remote control units, and said acknowledgement signals are transmitted in response to said search signal;
causing said barrier to move from a closed position to an open position in response to an acknowledgement signal from any one of said remote transmitters and remain in an open position automatically as long as any one, but not all, of said remote control units is within the communication range of said controller; and
causing said barrier to move from an open position to a closed position and maintain said barrier in the closed position automatically in response to determining that all of said remote control units have returned to the communication range of said controller.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic barrier operator system for operating a gate or upward acting garage door, for example, includes a controller for operating a reversible motor, a base radio frequency transmitter and a base radio frequency receiver. One or more remote control units include a radio frequency remote receiver and remote transmitter. The controller is operable to automatically close or open the barrier in response to a query signal sent from the base transmitter to the remote receiver and when the remote receiver is within range, returning a signal to effect operation of the barrier. The system is operable to effect operation or maintain the status quo of the barrier depending on the state of the barrier and a particular signal or lack of signal received by the controller from an authorized remote control unit or units. The system provides essentially hands-free automatic operation of opening and closing a garage door and the like.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method for operating a barrier to move between open and closed positions, said barrier being operably connected to an operator system including a controller comprising a base control circuit, a radio frequency base transmitter and a radio frequency base receiver and plural remote control units operable to communicate with said controller, each of said remote control units including a radio frequency remote transmitter and a radio frequency remote receiver, said method comprising the steps of:
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causing said base transmitter to transmit a search signal to said remote receivers of said plural remote control units; causing said control circuit to effect one of opening and closing said barrier depending on whether or not said base receiver receives an acknowledgement signal transmitted from at least one of said remote transmitters in response to said search signal; making determinations whether individual ones of said plural remote control units are within a communication range of said controller, wherein said determinations are made in response to receipt of acknowledgement signals transmitted from said remote transmitters of said plural remote control units, and said acknowledgement signals are transmitted in response to said search signal; causing said barrier to move from a closed position to an open position in response to an acknowledgement signal from any one of said remote transmitters and remain in an open position automatically as long as any one, but not all, of said remote control units is within the communication range of said controller; and causing said barrier to move from an open position to a closed position and maintain said barrier in the closed position automatically in response to determining that all of said remote control units have returned to the communication range of said controller.
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2. A method for operating a barrier, such as a gate or garage door, to move between open and closed positions, said barrier being operably connected to an operator system including a controller comprising a base control circuit, a base transmitter and a base receiver and a plurality of remote control units operable to communicate with said base control circuit, said remote control units each including a remote transmitter and a remote receiver, said method comprising the steps of:
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causing said base transmitter to transmit a signal to any of said remote receivers; causing at least one remote receiver to effect operation of at least one remote transmitter to generate a remote signal when said remote receiver receives a signal from said base transmitter; causing said control circuit to effect at least one of opening or closing said barrier depending on whether or not said base receiver receives a signal from said at least one remote transmitter; causing said operator system to open said barrier solely in response to said base receiver receiving said signal transmitted by said at least one remote transmitter; in response to opening said barrier solely in response to receiving said signal transmitted by said at least one remote transmitter, sending an additional signal from said base transmitter to said at least one remote receiver to cause said at least one remote receiver to cease responding to said signal from said base transmitter; and causing said base transmitter to continue to transmit a signal to an additional remote receiver that has not responded to the base transmitter to search for said additional remote receiver. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. An operator for moving a barrier of a garage between an open position and a closed position, the barrier operator comprising:
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an operator system including a controller comprising a base control circuit, a base transmitter and a base receiver to enable the barrier to open when a vehicle is proximate to the barrier to enable ingress of a vehicle into the garage; a plurality of remote control units operable to communicate with said base control circuit, said remote control units each including a remote transmitter and a remote receiver; wherein said base transmitter is adapted to transmit a signal to any of said remote receivers, wherein at least one remote receiver effects operation of at least one remote transmitter to generate a remote signal when said remote receiver receives a signal from said base transmitter; wherein said control circuit is adapted to effect at least one of opening or closing said barrier depending on whether or not said base receiver receives a signal from said at least one remote transmitter; wherein said operator system is configured to open said barrier solely in response to said base receiver receiving said signal transmitted by said at least one remote transmitter; a switch disposed on a wall such that when the switch is actuated, a signal is received by said operator system to cause said barrier to close and cause said operator system to send an additional signal from said base transmitter to said at least one remote receiver to cause said at least one remote receiver to cease responding to said signal from said base transmitter and cause said base transmitter to continue to transmit a search signal to an additional remote receiver that has not responded to the base transmitter to search for said additional remote receiver; and wherein said operator system is adapted to cause said control circuit to effect opening of said barrier in response to said base receiver receiving a signal transmitted by said additional remote transmitter that has moved into range of said base transmitter search signal to receive such transmitter search signal.
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Specification