System and methods for automatically moving access barriers initiated by mobile transmitter devices

• US 20080169900A1
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HRH Newco Corporation
• Original Assignee: HRH Newco Corporation
• Inventors: Mullet, Willis J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,179,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.71
• 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: E05F 15/76 responsive to devices carried by persons or objects, e.g. magnets or reflectors E05F15/77 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/82 Images, Symbols
• 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: E05Y 2900/538 Interior lids
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed

Abstract

An operator system provides a mobile transmitter configured to communicate with a base operator to automatically open and close an access barrier based on the position of a carrying device that maintains the mobile transmitter. The mobile transmitter periodically transmits a mobile open signal as it moves away from the reception range of the base operator until that signal is lost. When the base operator again receives the open signal, the access barrier is automatically opened. In addition, the mobile transmitter is configured to monitor the change in position of the carrying device as it moves away from the enclosure. When the angular and/or linear position of the carrying device changes by an amount greater than a predetermined threshold, the mobile transmitter automatically transmits a mobile close signal to the base operator to close the access barrier.

Claims

1. An operator system for automatically controlling access barriers used to enclose a carrying device, comprising:

a base controller associated with at least one access barrier;

at least one base receiver associated with said base controller; and

at least one mobile transmitter transmitting an open signal and a close signal, wherein said transmitter monitors a change in position of the carrying device and transmits said close signal when said mobile transmitter detects that the position of the carrying device has changed a predetermined amount, and wherein said mobile transmitter transmits said open signal automatically, said base controller selectively generating barrier movement commands depending upon when said open and close signals are received by said at least one base receiver.

2. The operator system of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory device associated with said base controller, said base controller storing said open and close signals in said device for later generating barrier movement commands.

3. The operator system according to claim 2, wherein said base controller monitors the conditions of the access barrier.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said base controller initiates movement of the access barrier based upon a condition of the access barrier.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein if said open signal is received and the last course of action by said base controller was not to attain an open condition, said base controller generates a command to attain said open condition.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein if said close signal is received and the last course of action was not to attain a close condition, said base controller generates a command to attain said close condition.

7. The system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a counter which is incremented when said open signal is not received, and wherein the status of the access barrier is checked by said base controller after said counter reaches a predetermined value.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a position detector coupled to said mobile transmitter to monitor a change in the position of the carrying device, wherein said mobile transmitter transmits said close signal to said barrier operator so as to close the access barrier when said position detector detects that the position of the carrying device has changed a predetermined amount.

9. The operator system according to claim 8 further comprising:

an emitter configured to transmit said close signal; and

a mobile controller coupled to each of said emitter and to said position sensor;

wherein said emitter transmits said close signal to said barrier operator to automatically close the access barrier.

10. The operator system of claim 9, wherein said mobile transmitter periodically cycles from a sleep state to an awake state.

11. The operator of claim 10, wherein said mobile transmitter comprises an activity sensor coupled to said mobile controller to monitor the activity of the carrying device, such that when said activity sensor detects activity during said awake state, said mobile transmitter is turned on.

12. The operator of claim 11, wherein after the transmission of said close signal said mobile transmitter is prevented from transmitting a subsequent close signal until after said activity sensor detects that the carrying device has been inactive.

13. The operator system according to claim 9, further comprising:

an activity sensor coupled to the carrying device to detect when the carrying device is active; and

a mobile controller coupled to each of said position detector, said activity sensor, and said emitter, wherein said mobile transmitter is activated when said activity sensor detects that the carrying device is active; and

wherein when said mobile transmitter is active, said emitter transmits a close signal to the barrier operator to close the access barrier when said position detector detects that the angular position of the carrying device has changed by a predetermined amount.

14. The operator system of claim 13, wherein said position detector, comprises a two-axis compass.

15. The operator of claim 13, wherein after the transmission of said close signal said mobile transmitter is prevented from transmitting subsequent close command signals until after said activity sensor detects that the carrying device is inactive.

16. The operator system of claim 13, wherein said emitter transmits a close signal to the barrier operator to close the access barrier when said position detector detects that the carrying device has traveled a predetermined distance and the angular position of the carrying device has not changed by said predetermined amount.

17. A method of automatically closing and opening an access barrier based on a change in position of a carrying device comprising:

automatically and periodically transmitting from a mobile transmitter maintained in the carrying device an open signal;

determining whether a positional change of the carrying device exceeds a predetermined threshold value;

transmitting from said transmitter a close signal if a change in a position of the carrying device exceeds said predetermined threshold value;

receiving in a barrier operator that controls movement of the access barrier said open signal and said close signal;

closing the barrier when said close signal is received and the access barrier is open; and

opening said access barrier after receiving said open signal and the access barrier is closed, but only after not receiving said open signal for a predetermined period of time.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining whether angular movement of said carrying device exceeds a predetermined angular value; and

transmitting said close signal to said barrier operator to automatically close said access barrier if the angular change in position of the carrying device exceeds said predetermined threshold value.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

determining whether a linear movement of said carrying device exceeds a predetermined threshold distance value in the event the angular change has not been exceeded; and

transmitting said close signal to said barrier operator to automatically close said access barrier if a predetermined threshold distance value is exceeded.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

determining whether a linear movement of said carrying device exceeds a predetermined threshold distance value; and

transmitting said close signal to said barrier operator to automatically close said access barrier if a predetermined threshold distance value is exceeded.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising;

continuously cycling between a sleep state and an awake state, such that if said mobile transmitter detects that the carrying device is active during said awake state, said mobile transmitter is fully turned on.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

detecting whether the carrying device is on and awaiting said mobile transmitter to perform the determining and transmitting functions.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

setting said predetermined threshold distance value of at least 15 to 500 feet.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

setting said predetermined threshold angle value of at least 35 to 45 degrees.