Light beam detector for door openers using fiber optics

• US 5,233,185 A
• Filed: 02/28/1992
• Issued: 08/03/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GMI Holdings Incorporated (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: GMI Holdings Incorporated (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Whitaker, Louis G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Messinger, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/843,264
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 250/227.21, 250/227.22, 250/222.1, 340/555-557, 385/12, 318/468, 318/264, 318/480, 49/28, 49/25
• US Class Current: 250/222.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/436 the beam being parallel to the wing edge
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/47 Springs; Spring tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/664 by radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/13 by motors, magnets, springs, weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/45 in or on the fixed frame
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/46 in or on the wing
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/24 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/186 using light guides, e.g. optical fibres

Abstract

A light beam transmitter and receiver are located in or near a door opener enclosure, and fiber optics connect the transmitter and receiver to the sides of the door opening. Lens arrangements are attached to the ends of the optic cables and are mounted near the bottom of the door frame. Thus, the transmitter and receiver do not need to be located near the door which eliminates the need for wiring from the enclosure to the door area and protects the transmitter and detector from physical abuse at the doorway.

Claims

1. An obstruction detection safety device for a garage door which closes a garage door opening comprising:

means for opening and closing the garage door, the opening and closing means including a motor driven opener connected to the garage door, the opener having a motor mounted remote from the garage door;

a control circuit mounted adjacent to the motor and operatively connected to the opener for controlling opening and closing of the garage door;

a light transmitter mounted with the control circuit adjacent to the motor, the transmitter transmitting a light beam;

a light receiver mounted with the control circuit adjacent to the motor, the receiver in communication with the control circuit and indicating to the control circuit whether it is receiving the light beam such that, when it is not receiving the light beam, the control circuit will inhibit garage door closing; and

a pair of optical transmission lines each having a termination at the garage door opening, the transmission lines connecting the transmitter and receiver to the garage door opening, so that the light beam from the transmitter can travel through the transmission lines and across the garage door opening to the light receiver.

2. A detection device as set forth in claim 1, wherein termination of each of said transmission lines is near the bottom of a side of the garage door opening.

3. A detection device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a reflector is located opposite the termination of one of the transmission lines.

4. A detection device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transmission line comprises fiber optics.

5. A detection device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits an infrared beam.

6. A detection device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits a pulsed beam.

7. A detection device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits a coded beam.

8. A detection device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an enclosure within which the control circuit is located, the transmitter and receiver being located within the enclosure.

9. A detection device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits the beam as a beam directed across the door opening.

10. A detection device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the termination of the transmission line includes a lens arrangement for one of collecting and directing the beam.

11. A detection device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the termination of the transmission line is attached to the garage door near the bottom.

12. A detection device as set forth in claim 11, wherein at least one of the terminations is retractable away from the garage door opening.

13. An obstruction detection safety device for a garage door which closes a garage door opening comprising:

means for opening and closing the garage door, the opening and closing means including a motor driven opener connected to the garage door, the opener having a motor mounted remote from the garage door;

a control circuit mounted adjacent to the motor and operatively connected to the opener for controlling opening and closing of the garage door;

a light transmitter mounted with the control circuit adjacent to the motor, the transmitter transmitting a light beam;

a light receiver mounted with the control circuit adjacent to the motor, the receiver in communication with the control circuit and indicating to the control circuit whether it is receiving the light beam such that, when it is not receiving the light beam, the control circuit will inhibit garage door closing;

a first optical transmission line having a termination at the garage door opening, the first transmission line connecting the transmitter to the garage door opening; and

a second optical transmission line having a termination at the garage door opening, the second transmission line connecting the receiver to the garage door opening, such that the light beam from the transmitter can be sent across the door opening and the receiver can receive the light beam across the garage door opening from the transmitter through the transmission lines.

14. A detection device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the termination of said first transmission line is near the bottom of a side of the garage door opening and the termination of said second transmission line is near the bottom of a side of the garage door opening.

15. A detection device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the termination of said second transmission line is near the bottom of one side of the garage door opening an the termination of said first transmission line is near the bottom of the opposite side of the garage door opening.

16. A detection device as set forth in claim 15, wherein the termination of said first transmission line is located to direct the beam at the termination of said second transmission line.