Door operator console with message center

• US 20040117039A1
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: McMahon, Michael T., Hantke, Bryan R., Hrusch, Gerard J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,047,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/17
• 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 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/512 of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/612 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/80 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00785 by light
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/002 integral with membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent

Abstract

A console or controller unit for a garage door operator includes a message recording and playback device. The console unit may be wall mounted or configured as a remote transmitter type unit and includes a molded light transmitting switch actuator part mounted on a housing part of the console unit between an outer wall and a circuit board and comprising integrally molded door operator, garage lighting and message record, playback and erase switch actuators. LED indicators provide light for illuminating the switch actuators and for indicating a message waiting and low battery power. The message recording and playback circuitry is electrically isolated from the door operator control circuitry and is battery powered. The message recording and playback device includes a programmable microcontroller for controlling a voice message recording and playback circuit.

Claims

1. A door operator console unit, particularly adapted for use in controlling a door operator for a motor operated door, said console unit comprising:

a housing;

a door operator control circuit including a door operator control switch supported on said housing for actuation to control opening and closing of said door; and

a voice message recording and playback device supported on said housing including a microphone, a message recording and playback circuit, a microcontroller for controlling message recording and playback, a speaker for enunciating a recorded message, and respective switches for initiating a record function and a message playback function whereby voice messages may be recorded and played back at will.

2. The console unit set forth in claim 1 including:

a message erase switch supported on said housing to effectively erase a message previously recorded by said message recording and playback circuit.

3. The console unit set forth in claim 1 including:

a lighting control switch including a switch actuator supported on said housing for controlling operation of lighting.

4. The console unit set forth in claim 1 including:

a door operator lock switch supported on said housing and operable at will to disable said door operator.

5. The console unit set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said operator lock switch includes a lock switch actuator mounted on said housing for sliding movement between two positions, said lock switch actuator being engageable with a lock switch mounted on a circuit board.

6. The console unit set forth in claim 1 including:

a visual indicator operably connected to said microcontroller for indicating that a message has been recorded

7. The console unit set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said message recording and playback device is connected to a battery source of electrical power for operating said microcontroller and said message recording and playback circuit, and said microcontroller is operably connected to a visual indicator supported on said housing for indicating a low battery power condition of said battery.

8. The console unit set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said housing supports a circuit board including an array of switches mounted thereon including said door operator control switch, a lighting control switch and said switches for said record and message playback functions; and

a switch actuator part including a plurality of switch actuators associated with respective ones of said switches, said switch actuator part being integrally formed of a flexible material to provide plural switch actuators responsive to digital actuation to effect operation of said door operator, said lighting and said message recording and playback device.

9. The console unit set forth in claim 8 wherein:

said switch actuator part is formed of a flexible light transmitting material and said console unit includes a light source disposed adjacent said switch actuator part for illuminating at least selected ones of said switch actuators.

10. The console unit set forth in claim 9 including:

a first light transmitting projection formed integral with said switch actuator part and disposed adjacent a visual indicator for indicating a message awaiting playback.

11. The console unit set forth in claim 9 including:

a light transmitting projection associated with said switch actuator part and disposed adjacent a visual indicator associated with said message recording and playback device for indicating low voltage available from said battery.

12. The console unit set forth in claim 8 wherein:

said switch actuator device is mounted in said housing between a front wall and said circuit board.

13. The console unit set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said door operator control switch, a lighting control switch and a door operator lock switch are in circuit with said door operator and electrically isolated from said message recording and playback device.

14. The console unit set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said housing includes a first housing part and a second housing part, said first and second housing parts being separable one from the other to provide access to a circuit board supported between said housing parts, said circuit board including an array of dome switches mounted thereon and disposed adjacent a switch actuator part comprising an integral flexible member having plural switch actuators formed thereon, said switch actuators being operable to control operation of said door operator, lighting and said message recording and playback device.

15. A door operator console unit, particularly adapted for use in controlling a door operator for a motor operated door, said console unit being adapted for mounting on a wall, said console unit comprising:

a housing;

a voice message recording and playback device supported on said housing including a microphone, a message recording and playback circuit, a microcontroller for controlling message recording and playback, a speaker for enunciating a recorded message, and respective switches for initiating a record function and a message playback function whereby voice messages may be recorded and played back at will;

a door operator control circuit including a door operator control switch supported on said housing for actuation to control opening and closing of said door;

a message erase switch supported on said housing to effectively erase a message previously recorded by said message recording and playback circuit; and

a lighting control switch including a switch actuator supported on said housing for controlling operation of lighting.

16. The console unit set forth in claim 15 including:

a door operator lock switch supported on said housing and operable at will to disable said door operator.

17. A door operator console unit, particularly adapted for use in controlling a door operator for a motor operated door, said console unit being adapted for mounting on a wall, said console unit comprising:

a housing;

a voice message recording and playback device supported on said housing including a microphone, a message recording and playback circuit, a microcontroller for controlling message recording and playback and a speaker for enunciating a recorded message; and

said housing supports a circuit board for said message recording and playback device and an array of switches including a door controller operating switch, a lighting control switch and plural switches for recording and playback of voice messages.

18. The console unit set forth in claim 17 including:

a switch actuator part including a plurality of switch actuators associated with respective ones of said switches, said switch actuator part being integrally formed of a flexible material to provide plural switch actuators responsive to digital actuation to effect operation of said door operator, said lighting and said message recording and playback device.

19. The console unit set forth in claim 18 wherein:

said switch actuator part is formed of a flexible light transmitting material and said console unit includes a light source disposed adjacent said switch actuator part for illuminating at least selected ones of said switch actuators.

20. The console unit set forth in claim 19 including:

a light transmitting projection formed integral with said switch actuator part and disposed adjacent a visual indicator for indicating a message awaiting playback.

21. The console unit set forth in claim 19 including:

a light transmitting projection associated with said switch actuator part and disposed adjacent a visual indicator associated with said message recording and playback device for indicating low voltage available from said battery source.

22. A door operator wall mounted console unit adapted for use in controlling a door operator for a motor operated door, said console unit being adapted for mounting on a wall, said console unit comprising:

a housing;

a door operator control circuit supported on said housing and including a button type switch for effecting operation of said door operator and at least one of a lighting control switch and a door operator lock switch; and

an electrical circuit isolated electrically from said door operator control circuit and including a battery power source, said isolated electrical circuit including a microcontroller circuit operably connected to a voice message recording and playback circuit, a first voltage regulator circuit operably connected to said microcontroller and a second voltage regulator circuit operably connected to said message recording and playback circuit for providing selected operating voltages to said microcontroller circuit and said message recording and playback circuit, respectively, and switch means operably connected to said microcontroller circuit for effecting recording of a voice message and playback of a voice message, at will.

23. The console unit set forth in claim 22 including:

switch means on said housing for causing said microcontroller circuit and said message recording and playback circuit to record a voice message and playback a voice message, respectively.

24. The console unit set forth in claim 23 including:

switch means on said housing for effecting erasure of a message previously recorded by said message recording and playback circuit.

25. The console unit set forth in claim 22 including:

visual indicator means operably connected to said microcontroller circuit for providing a visual signal indicating a message awaiting playback.

26. The console unit set forth in claim 22 including:

visual indicator means connected to said microcontroller circuit for providing a visual signal indicating low battery power available from said battery source.