Door operator console with message center

• US 7,047,087 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr., Ronald D
• Application Number:
  US10/310,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 340/521, 340/5.71, 701/1, 700/17.83
• 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;

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;

respective switch actuators for controlling operation of said message recording and playback device whereby voice messages may be recorded and played back at will;

a door operator lock switch mounted on a circuit board supported on said housing and operable at will to disable said door operator; and

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

2. 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;

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;

respective switch actuators for controlling operation of said message recording and playback device whereby voice messages may be recorded and played back at will;

said housing supports a circuit board including an array of switches mounted thereon;

a switch actuator part formed of a flexible light transmitting material and including a plurality of switch actuators associated with respective ones of said switches, said switch actuator part being integrally formed of said 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; and

a light source disposed adjacent said switch actuator part for illuminating at least selected ones of said switch actuators.

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

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

4. The console unit set forth in claim 2 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 a battery.

5. 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;

said housing supports a circuit board for said message recording and playback device and an array of switches for controlling said door operator and said message recording and playback device;

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

a light source disposed adjacent said switch actuator part for illuminating at least selected ones of said switch actuators.

6. The console unit set forth in claim 5 including:

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

7. The console unit set forth in claim 5 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 a battery source of power for said console unit.

8. A door operator console unit for 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;

said housing supporting a circuit board for said message recording and playback device; and

a switch actuator part including a plurality of switch actuators associated with respective ones of plural 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 and said message recording and playback device, said switch actuator part is formed of a light transmitting material and including at least one light transmitting projection formed thereon and disposed adjacent a visual indicator for indicating one of a message awaiting playback and low voltage available from a battery connected to said message recording and playback device.

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

a light source disposed adjacent said switch actuator part for illuminating at least selected ones of said switch actuators.

10. A door operator wall mounted console unit in combination with and operable for controlling a door operator for a motor operated door, said console unit comprising:

a housing;

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

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

a switch actuator part formed of a flexible material supported on said housing and including plural integral switch actuators operable in response to digital actuation, respectively, to control said door operator and for effecting recording and playback of voice messages, at will.

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

a light transmitting projection formed on said switch actuator part and disposed adjacent visual indicator means operably connected to said microcontroller circuit for providing a visual signal indicating a message awaiting playback.

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

a light transmitting projection formed on said switch actuator part and disposed adjacent visual indicator means operably connected to said microcontroller circuit for providing a visual signal indicating low voltage available from a battery power source.