System and method for causing garage door opener to open garage door using sensor input

• US 8,643,467 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2009
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Chutorash, Richard J., Vanderwall, Philip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghayour, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US12/348,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20100171588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.2, 340/5.23, 340/5.64, 340/5.71, 340/825.69, 380/270
• US Class Current: 340/5.71
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/72 responsive to emergency conditions, e.g. fire
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/42 against smoke or gas
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/30 not involving the use of a pass

Abstract

A system and a method for causing a garage door to open using a garage door opener having a wireless receiver is provided. The system comprises an interface coupled to an environment sensor and configured to receive data from the environment sensor. The system can include processing electronics coupled to the interface and configured to receive the data from the interface and to use the received data to determine whether an environmental condition exists. The processing electronics provide a command to cause the garage door opener to open the garage door based on the determination of whether the environmental condition exists.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle configured to cause a garage door opener to open a garage door, the system comprising:

an environment sensor configured to detect a condition external to the vehicle;

an interface coupled to the environment sensor and configured to receive data from the environment sensor; and

processing electronics coupled to the interface and configured to;

receive data from the interface,

use the received data to determine whether an environmental condition exists,

determine whether an engine of the vehicle is operating,

determine whether the vehicle is in a garage,

determine whether the garage door is open, and

provide a command to cause the garage door opener to open the garage door,

wherein the processing electronics is configured to provide a command to cause the garage door opener to open the garage door when a determination is made that;

the environmental condition exists,

the engine in the vehicle is operating,

the vehicle is in the garage, and

the garage door is not open.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the environment sensor includes an emission sensor configured to sense at least one vehicle emission.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sensed vehicle emission includes at least one of hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides (NO_x), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), particulates and sulfur oxides (SO^x).

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the environment sensor includes a temperature sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the environment sensor is coupled to the interface via one of a physical communication connection and a wireless communication connection.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is disposed in a vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a transmitter coupled to the processing electronics, wherein the transmitter is configured to:

receive a command from the processing electronics, and

transmit a control signal to a wireless receiver of the garage door opener in response to

the command, wherein the control signal formatted for recognition by the wireless receiver,

wherein the processing electronics provides the command to the transmitter based on the determination that the environmental condition exists.

8. A method for causing a garage door opener to open a garage door, comprising:

receiving data from an environment sensor, wherein the environment sensor is configured to detect a condition external to a vehicle;

determining, at the vehicle, that an environmental condition exists based on the received data;

determining, at the vehicle, whether an engine in the vehicle is operating;

determining, at the vehicle, whether the vehicle is in a garage;

determining, at the vehicle, whether the garage door is open; and

providing a command, from the vehicle, to cause the garage door opener to open the garage door in response to a determination that;

the environmental condition exists,

the engine in the vehicle is started,

the vehicle is in the garage, and

the garage door is not open.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the environment sensor includes an emission sensor configured to sense at least one vehicle emission.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensed vehicle emission includes at least one of hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides (NO_x), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), particulates and sulfur oxides (SO_X).

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the environment sensor includes a temperature sensor.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the environment sensor is coupled to an interface via at least one of a physical communication connection and a wireless communication connection.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of providing a command includes providing the command to a transmitter to transmit a control signal formatted for recognition by a wireless receiver of the garage door opener and to cause the garage door opener to open the garage door;

and

transmitting the control signal to the wireless receiver of the garage door opener in response to the command;

wherein the control signal is configured to cause the garage door opener to actuate the garage door.