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

• US 9,230,378 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Chutorash, Richard J., Vanderwall, Philip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US14/171,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20140145824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.2, 340/5.23, 340/5.64, 340/5.71, 340/825.69, 380/270
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 causing a garage door opener to open a garage door, the system comprising:

a distance sensor configured to detect a distance to the garage door by directing a signal towards an opening defined by the garage door;

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

processing electronics coupled to the interface, configured to receive data from the interface, configured to use the received environment data to determine whether an environmental condition exists, configured to use the received distance data to determine if a vehicle is in a garage based on whether the detected distance is below a threshold, and configured to provide a command to cause the garage door opener to open the garage door based on a determination that the environmental condition exists and a determination that the vehicle is in the garage.

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 1, wherein the system is disposed in a garage.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the environment sensor is coupled to the interface via one of a physical communication connection and a wireless communication connection.

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

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a transmitter coupled to the processing electronics and configured to receive a command from the processing electronics and to transmit a control signal to a wireless receiver of the garage door opener in response to the command, 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 and the determination that the vehicle is in the garage.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store and provide state data to the interface, wherein the state data includes an open state and a closed state of the garage door, and wherein the processing electronics is configured to use the state data to determine whether the garage door is closed.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

two parallel direction sensors disposed proximate to the opening defined by the garage door, wherein a near direction sensor is disposed closer to the opening than a far direction sensor;

wherein the interface is coupled to the two parallel direction sensors and configured to receive direction data from the two parallel direction sensors; and

wherein the processing electronics is configured to;

use the received direction data determine whether a vehicle is in a garage further based on which direction sensor is blocked first when a vehicle enters or leaves the garage.

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

receiving environment data from an environment sensor;

receiving distance data indicating a distance to the garage door from a distance sensor directed towards an opening defined by the garage door;

determining that an environmental condition exists based on the received environment data;

determining that a vehicle is in a garage based on whether the distance is below a threshold; and

providing a command to cause the garage door opener to open the garage door, wherein providing the command is based on the determination that the environmental condition exists and the determination that the vehicle is in the garage.

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

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining step is performed by processing electronics disposed in a garage.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the environment sensor is coupled to the interface via at least one of a physical communication connection and a wireless communication connection.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining step is performed by processing electronics disposed in a vehicle.

14. The method of claim 9, 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.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving state data from a memory, wherein the state data includes an open state and a closed state of the garage door; and

determining whether the garage door is closed based on the state data;

wherein the step of providing the command includes providing the command further based on the determination of whether the garage door is closed.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving direction data from two parallel sensors disposed proximate to the opening defined by the garage door, wherein a near direction sensor is disposed closer to the opening than a far direction sensor;

wherein the step of determining whether a vehicle is in the garage is further based on the direction data indicating which direction sensor is blocked first when a vehicle enters or leaves the garage.

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

an interface coupled to a distance sensor and configured to receive distance data indicating a distance to the garage door from the distance sensor, wherein the distance sensor is directed towards an opening defined by the garage door;

processing electronics coupled to the interface, configured to receive the distance data from the interface, and configured to use the distance data to determine whether to actuate the garage door based on whether the distance is below a threshold;

a transmitter coupled to the processing electronics and configured to receive a command from the processing electronics and to transmit a control signal to a wireless receiver of the garage door opener in response to the command, the control signal formatted for recognition by the wireless receiver and to cause the garage door opener to open the garage door; and

a receiver coupled to the processing electronics and configured to receive second data from a remote device disposed in the garage, wherein the processing electronics is configured to receive the second data and the distance data to determine whether to actuate the garage door, wherein the second data indicates at least one of whether an engine of the vehicle has started, whether the vehicle is in the garage, and whether the garage door is closed;

wherein the processing electronics provides the command to the transmitter based on the determination of whether to actuate the garage door.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a memory configured to store and provide state data to the interface, wherein the state data includes an open state and a closed state of the garage door, and wherein the processing electronics is further configured to use the state data to determine whether to actuate the garage door.

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

an interface coupled to a distance sensor and configured to receive distance data indicating a distance to the garage door from the distance sensor, wherein the distance sensor is directed towards an opening defined by the garage door;

processing electronics coupled to the interface, configured to receive the distance data from the interface, and configured to use the distance data to determine whether to actuate the garage door based on whether the distance is below a threshold;

a transmitter coupled to the processing electronics and configured to receive a command from the processing electronics and to transmit a control signal to a wireless receiver of the garage door opener in response to the command, the control signal formatted for recognition by the wireless receiver and to cause the garage door opener to the garage door;

two parallel direction sensors disposed proximate to the opening defined by the garage door;

wherein a near direction sensor is disposed closer to the opening than a far direction sensor;

wherein the interface is coupled to the two parallel direction sensors and configured to receive direction data from the two parallel direction sensors;

wherein the direction data indicates whether a vehicle is entering or exiting a garage based on which direction sensor is blocked first;

wherein the processing electronics is further configured to use the direction data to determine whether to actuate the garage door; and

wherein the processing electronics provides the command to the transmitter based on the determination of whether to actuate the garage door.