Barrier movement operator having service reminders

• US 20030213177A1
• Filed: 05/15/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James J., Gioia, William G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,493,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/31
• 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 15/43 responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/436 the beam being parallel to the wing edge
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/487 Fault detection of safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/458 for generating service signals
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/45 in or on the fixed frame
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages

Abstract

An electronic service reminder to automatically notify a user as to when and what type of maintenance should be performed on the garage door operator, based on a variety of factors, including time, materials and operating environment. The garage door operator is configured to automatically generate an electronic service reminder in the form of an audible or visual alert based on one or more operating parameters of the garage door operator meeting or exceeding a predefined threshold. The predefined threshold is variable based on the values of the operating parameters.

Claims

1. A movable barrier operator for opening and closing a barrier, comprising:

a controller for accumulating operating data relating to operation of the movable barrier operator, the operating data including information representative of one or more categories of barrier operator operating parameters;

a counter for measuring elapsed time;

a sensor for measuring ambient temperature; and

an alert state based on a result of a function of the elapsed time, ambient temperature and the operating data having reached a predefined threshold.

2. The movable barrier operator of claim 1, wherein the predefined threshold is dynamically variable based on the measured ambient temperature.

3. The movable barrier operator of claim 1, wherein the predefined threshold is dynamically variable based on the long-term average of the temperature.

4. The movable barrier operator of claim 1, wherein the alert indicates that the barrier operator requires or soon will require service.

5. The movable barrier operator of claim 4, wherein the alert is a visual indicator comprising an LED configured to turn off and on.

6. The movable barrier operator of claim 4, wherein the alert comprises an LCD configured to display the existence of an alert condition and to display information regarding the required service.

7. The movable barrier operator of claim 4, wherein the alert comprises a coded audible sound signal.

8. The movable barrier operator of claim 1, wherein the alert state is based on a result of an accumulation function of the elapsed time, ambient temperature and the operating data having reached a predefined threshold.

9. A movable barrier operator for opening and closing a barrier, comprising:

a controller for accumulating operating data relating to operation of the movable barrier operator, the operating data including information representative of one or more categories of barrier operator operating parameters;

a counter for measuring elapsed time;

a sensor for measuring a representation of the force required to open and close the barrier; and

an alert state based on a result of a function of the elapsed time, the measured force and the operating data having reached a predefined threshold.

10. The movable barrier operator of claim 9, wherein the alert indicates that the barrier operator requires testing to determine whether the barrier operator is operating in its prescribed manner.

11. The movable barrier operator of claim 9, wherein the alert is a visual indicator comprising an LED configured to turn off and on.

12. The movable barrier operator of claim 9, wherein the alert comprises an LCD configured to display the existence of an alert condition and to display information relating to the alert condition.

13. The movable barrier operator of claim 9, wherein the alert comprises a coded audible sound signal.

14. The movable barrier operator of claim 9, wherein the alert state is based on a result of an accumulation function of the elapsed time, measured force and the operating data having reached a predefined threshold.

15. A movable barrier operator for opening and closing a barrier, comprising:

a controller for accumulating operating data relating to operation of the movable barrier operator, the operating data including information representative of a number of opening and closing cycles of the barrier;

a spring having an identifiable type for assisting the movable barrier operator in moving the barrier between an opened and closed position; and

an alert state responsive to operating data indicating that the number of opening and closing cycles having reached a predefined threshold representative of spring type.

16. The movable barrier operator of claim 15, further comprising a counter for determining a number of operations executed by the movable barrier operator representative of a count of opened and closed cycles executed by the movable barrier operator, wherein the alert is activated based on a result of a function of the number of cycles having executed, operating data and the spring type having reached a predefined threshold.

17. The movable barrier operator of claim 16, further comprising a user controlled input device for indicating the type of spring assisting the barrier.

18. The movable barrier operator of claim 15, wherein the alert indicates that the spring requires service.

19. The movable barrier operator of claim 18, wherein the alert is a visual indicator comprising an LED configured to turn off and on.

20. The movable barrier operator of claim 18, wherein the alert comprises an LCD configured to display the existence of an alert condition and to display information regarding the required service.

21. The movable barrier operator of claim 18, wherein the alert comprises a coded audible sound signal indicating that one or more of the operating parameters has reached a predetermined threshold.

22. The movable barrier operator of claim 15, wherein the alert is activated based on the number of cycles having executed.

23. The movable barrier operator of claim 15, wherein the alert is activated based on a result of a function of distance traveled by the barrier between opening and closing.

24. The movable barrier operator of claim 15, wherein the value of the threshold varies based on the operating data received by the controller.

25. The movable barrier operator of claim 18, wherein the value of the threshold varies based on the operating data received by the controller.

26. The movable barrier operator of claim 18, wherein the alert state is based on a result of an accumulation function of the number of opening and closing cycles having reached a predefined threshold.

27. A movable barrier operator for opening and closing a barrier, comprising:

a controller for accumulating operating data relating to operation of the movable barrier operator, the operating data including information representative of one or more categories of barrier operator operating parameters;

a spring for assisting the movable barrier operator in moving the barrier between an opened and closed position;

a counter for measuring elapsed time;

a sensor for measuring ambient temperature;

a sensor for measuring a force required to open and close the barrier;

an alert state based on a result of a function of the elapsed time and sensor data having reached a predefined dynamically variable threshold.

28. The movable barrier operator of claim 27, further comprising an alarm responsive to the alert state for indicating that the movable barrier operator requires servicing.

29. The movable barrier operator of claim 27 wherein the alarm is disabled through a predefined action by a user.

30. The movable barrier operator of claim 27, wherein the alarm is a visual indicator.

31. The movable barrier operator of claim 28, wherein the alarm is an aural indicator.

32. The movable barrier operator of claim 31, wherein the visual indicator displays a text message.

33. The movable barrier operator of claim 28, wherein the alarm is configured to communicate wirelessly with the controller.

34. The movable barrier operator of claim 27, wherein the alert state is based on a result of an accumulation function of the elapsed time and sensor data having reached a predefined dynamically variable threshold.