Movable barrier safety sensor override
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of controlling movable barrier movement, the method comprising:
- determining whether a safety system is in an operation failure or misalignment state based on whether the safety system indicates an obstruction for a period of time exceeding a threshold, the safety system being configured to detect obstruction in a path of movement of a movable barrier;
receiving a state change request for the movable barrier from a transmitter utilized by a human operator;
in an event that the safety system is in the operation failure or misalignment state;
measuring a signal strength of the state change request in response to receiving the state change request;
determining a proximity of the transmitter based on the signal strength;
determining whether a safety override condition exists, wherein the safety override condition comprises the transmitter being within a prescribed distance from the movable barrier; and
overriding the safety system and actuating the movable barrier if the safety override condition exists; and
in an event that the safety system is not in the operation failure or misalignment state and obstruction is detected;
preventing the movable barrier from being actuated in response to the state change request regardless whether the safety override condition exists.
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Abstract
Controlling movable barrier movement with respect to selectively overriding a safety system includes determining whether a safety system is in an operation failure or misalignment state, the safety system being configured to detect obstruction in a path of movement of a movable barrier, receiving a state change request for the movable barrier while the safety system is in the operation failure or misalignment state, determining whether a safety override condition exists, and overriding the safety system and actuating the movable barrier if the safety system is in the operation failure or misalignment state and the safety override condition exists.
55 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of controlling movable barrier movement, the method comprising:
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determining whether a safety system is in an operation failure or misalignment state based on whether the safety system indicates an obstruction for a period of time exceeding a threshold, the safety system being configured to detect obstruction in a path of movement of a movable barrier; receiving a state change request for the movable barrier from a transmitter utilized by a human operator; in an event that the safety system is in the operation failure or misalignment state; measuring a signal strength of the state change request in response to receiving the state change request; determining a proximity of the transmitter based on the signal strength; determining whether a safety override condition exists, wherein the safety override condition comprises the transmitter being within a prescribed distance from the movable barrier; and overriding the safety system and actuating the movable barrier if the safety override condition exists; and in an event that the safety system is not in the operation failure or misalignment state and obstruction is detected; preventing the movable barrier from being actuated in response to the state change request regardless whether the safety override condition exists. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A movable barrier operator apparatus comprising:
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a safety system configured to detect obstruction in a path of movement of a movable barrier; a movable barrier operator comprising a processor configured to; determine whether the safety system is in an operation failure or misalignment state based on whether the safety system indicates an obstruction for a period of time exceeding a threshold, the safety system being configured to detect obstruction in the path of movement of the movable barrier; receive a state change request for the movable barrier from a transmitter utilized by a human operator; in an event that the safety system is in the operation failure or misalignment state; measure a signal strength of the state change request in response to receiving the state change request; determine a proximity of the transmitter based on the signal strength; determine whether a safety override condition exists, wherein the safety override condition comprises the transmitter being within a prescribed distance from the movable barrier; and override the safety system and actuating the movable barrier if the safety override condition exists; and in an event that the safety system is not in the operation failure or misalignment state and obstruction is detected; prevent the movable barrier from being actuated in response to the state change request regardless whether the safety override condition exists. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of controlling movable barrier movement, the method comprising:
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receiving a state change request for a movable barrier; determining whether a safety system indicates an obstruction in response to receiving the state change request; determining whether the safety system is in an operation failure or misalignment state based on whether the safety system indicates an obstruction for a period of time exceeding a threshold; in an event that the safety system is in the operation failure or misalignment state; measuring a signal strength of the state change request in response to receiving the state change request; determining a proximity of the transmitter based on the signal strength; activating a warning system and actuating the movable barrier in response to the state change request only if the transmitter is determined to be within a prescribed distance from the movable barrier; and in an event that the safety system is not in the operation failure or misalignment state and obstruction is detected; preventing the movable barrier from being actuated in response to the state change request. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method of controlling movable barrier movement, the method comprising:
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receiving a state change request for a movable barrier from a portable transmitter; determining whether a safety system indicates an obstruction; determining whether the safety system is in an operation failure or misalignment state based on whether the safety system indicates an obstruction for a period of time exceeding a threshold; receiving a user input from the portable transmitter to override the safety system; in an event that the safety system is in the operation failure or misalignment state; measuring a signal strength of a signal transmitting the user input to override the safety system in response to receiving the signal; determining a proximity of the portable transmitter based on the signal strength; actuating the movable barrier in response to receiving the user input to override the safety system only if the portable transmitter is determined to be within a prescribed distance from the movable barrier; and in an event that the safety system is not in the operation failure or misalignment state and obstruction is detected; preventing the movable barrier from being actuated in response to the user input to override the safety system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification