Speech activated door operator system

• US 20030018478A1
• Filed: 07/19/2001
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Mays, Wesley M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,194,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/85 User input means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/31 Voice input
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A barrier operator system, such as a garage door operator system, includes one or more remote control units, such as an inside remote control unit, an external wall mounted remote control unit and portable vehicle disposed remote control units which include speech recognition modules for recognizing spoken command signals to open or close a garage door or energize or de-energize lighting associated with the garage. The speech recognition modules are operably connected to interface or microcontroller circuits for operating a radio frequency transmitter for sending signals to operate lighting, and/or the barrier operator to move a barrier between open and closed positions, and possibly perform other functions.

Claims

1. A barrier operator system for moving a barrier between open and closed positions, including:

an operator mechanism operably connected to a barrier for moving said barrier between open and closed positions;

a base controller operably associated with said operator mechanism for causing said operator mechanism to move said barrier;

at least one remote controller adapted for signal transmitting communication with said base controller, said at least one remote controller including a speech activatable unit comprising a speech recognition module programmable to recognize one or more spoken words for effecting operation of said barrier to move between said open and closed positions.

2. The barrier operator system set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said at least one remote controller includes a radio frequency (RF) transmitter operably connected to said speech recognition module for transmitting a radio frequency signal to said base controller in response to a signal from said speech recognition module.

3. The barrier operator system set forth in claim 2 including:

a microcontroller operably connected to said RF transmitter and to said speech recognition module and operable to transmit a signal to said RF transmitter on receipt of a signal from said speech recognition module.

4. The barrier operator system set forth in claim 3 wherein:

said microcontroller is operable to provide a rolling code signal for transmission by said RF transmitter.

5. The barrier operator system set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said at least one remote controller includes a keypad operably connected to a microcontroller and operable to provide a signal to said microcontroller to command operation of said RF transmitter.

6. The barrier operator system set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said at least one remote controller is hardwired to said base controller.

7. The barrier operator system set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said at least one remote controller includes a radio frequency (RF) transmitter operably connected to a microcontroller for transmitting signals to said base controller.

8. The barrier operator system set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said speech recognition module includes a microphone for receiving a human voice signal including a gateway word and at least one command word for effecting at least one of controlling lighting within or adjacent to an enclosure closed by said barrier and controlling opening and closing of said barrier.

9. The barrier operator system set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said barrier comprises an upward acting garage door.

10. The barrier operator system set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said speech recognition module is operable to respond to voice commands in a speaker dependent mode.

11. The barrier operator system set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said speech recognition module is operable to continuously listen for at least one of a gateway word and a command word for causing said at least one remote controller to effect transmission of a signal to said base controller.

12. The barrier operator system set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said at least one remote controller includes a manually actuatable switch for effecting operation of said barrier to move between open and closed positions.

13. The barrier operator system set forth in claim 12 wherein:

said at least one remote controller includes a multi-digit keypad.

15. The operator system set forth in claim 14 wherein:

said microcontroller is operable to provide a rolling code signal for transmission by said RF transmitter.

16. The operator system set forth in claim 14 wherein:

said remote controller includes a keypad operably connected to said microcontroller and operable to provide a signal to said microcontroller to command operation of said RF transmitter.

17. The operator system set forth in claim 14 wherein:

said speech recognition module includes a microphone for receiving a human voice signal including a gateway word and at least one command word for effecting at least one of controlling lighting within or adjacent to an enclosure closed by said door and controlling opening and closing of said door.

18. The operator system set forth in claim 14 wherein:

said speech recognition module is operable to respond to voice commands in a speaker dependent mode.

19. The operator system set forth in claim 14 wherein:

said speech recognition module is operable to continuously listen for at least one of a gateway word and a command word for causing said remote controller to effect transmission of a signal to said base controller.

20. The operator system set forth in claim 14 wherein:

said remote controller includes a manually actuatable switch for effecting operation of said door to move between open and closed positions.

21. The operator system set forth in claim 20 wherein:

said remote controller includes a multi-digit keypad, for controlling said microcontroller.

14. A door operator system for moving an upward acting door between open and closed positions, including:

an operator mechanism operably connected to a door for moving said door between open and closed positions;

a base controller operably associated with said operator mechanism for causing said operator mechanism to move said door;

a wall mounted remote controller adapted for signal transmitting communication with said base controller, said remote controller including a speech activatable unit comprising a speech recognition module programmable to recognize one or more spoken words for effecting operation of said door to move between said open and closed positions;

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter operably connected to said speech recognition module for transmitting a radio frequency signal to said base controller in response to a signal from said speech recognition module; and

a microcontroller operably connected to said RF transmitter and to said speech recognition module and operable to transmit a signal to said RF transmitter on receipt of a signal from said speech recognition module.