Movable barrier operator with energy management control and corresponding method

• US 7,855,475 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amrany; Adi
• Application Number:
  US12/818,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20100257784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 186 Days
• Field of Search: 307/116, 307/125
• US Class Current: 307/125
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/603 using rotary electromotors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/452 for saving energy

Abstract

A movable barrier operator system wherein one or more of the various components of the system is configured to operate selectively in at least either of two operational modes. Each operating mode is characterized by a corresponding energy usage profile. The operational status of the system is monitored and operating modes are selected that serve both to substantially ensure proper operation given current likely operational expectations and an overall desire to reduce energy consumption.

Claims

1. A movable barrier operator apparatus comprising:

a power supply that operably couples to at least one source of alternating current; and

a movable barrier operator comprising a motor, controller, and at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of a radio that is configured to receive instructions from a wireless remote control user device, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, and combinations thereof, the movable barrier operator coupled to the power supply to receive operating power from the power supply, having at least a first and a second mode of energy consumption operation, and being further configured to;

selectively open and close a corresponding movable barrier; and

develop an additional component operating mode control signal from the controller as a function of movable barrier operator state information that indicates whether the barrier is open or closed, the additional component operating mode control signal being operable to directly control the energy usage of the additional component, the control signal from the controller developed as a result of the state information, the state information selected from the group consisting of motor state information, time information, transmission state information, voltage state information, switch state information and combinations thereof,

the at least one additional component operably coupled to the power supply and to the movable barrier operator, configured to receive operating power from the power supply, and having a plurality of operating modes, wherein at least some of the operating modes have different energy usages, and wherein the additional component is directly responsive to the movable barrier operator additional component operating mode control signal to switch between at least the first mode and the second mode of energy consumption such that;

during the first mode of energy consumption operation, the additional component operates using a first energy usage; and

during the second mode of energy consumption operation, the additional component operates using a second energy usage, wherein the operating power used in one of the energy usages is less than the power used by the other.

2. The movable barrier operator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first energy usage comprises at least relatively frequent energization of the additional component.

3. The movable barrier operator apparatus of claim 2 wherein at least relatively frequent energization comprises substantially continuous energization.

4. The movable barrier operator apparatus of claim 2 wherein the relatively frequent energization of the obstacle sensor includes energization of the additional component using at least some power from the power supply.

5. The movable barrier operator apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second energy usage comprises, at most, relatively infrequent energization of the additional component.

6. The movable barrier operator apparatus of claim 5 wherein the relatively infrequent energization comprises substantially no energization.

7. The movable barrier operator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the operating power used in the second energy usage is less than the operating power used by the first energy usage and the second energy usage corresponds to a quiescent state of a movable barrier as is operably coupled to the movable barrier operator system.

8. The movable barrier operator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power supply comprises a plurality of power supplies.

9. The movable barrier operator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the state information includes motor state information and the motor state information includes information about motor RPMs, the movable barrier operator further comprising a motor RPM sensor, and wherein the state information includes motor RPMs.

10. A movable barrier operator apparatus comprising:

a power supply that operably couples to at least one source of alternating current; and

a movable barrier operator comprising a motor, controller, and a radio configured to receive signals from a wireless remote control user device, the movable barrier operator coupled to the power supply to receive operating power from the power supply, having at least a first and a second mode of energy consumption operation, and being further configured to;

selectively open and close a corresponding movable barrier; and

develop a radio operating mode control signal from the controller as a function of movable barrier operator state information, the radio operating mode control signal being operable to directly control the energy usage of the radio, the control signal from the controller developed as a result of the state information, the state information selected from the group consisting of motor state information, time information, transmission state information, voltage state information, switch state information and combinations thereof,

the radio operably coupled to the power supply and to the movable barrier operator, configured to receive operating power from the power supply, and having a plurality of operating modes, wherein at least some of the operating modes have different energy usages, and wherein the radio is directly responsive to the movable barrier operator radio operating mode control signal to switch between at least the first mode and the second mode of energy consumption such that;

during the first mode of energy consumption operation, the radio operates using a first energy usage; and

during the second mode of energy consumption operation, the radio operates using a second energy usage, wherein the operating power used in one of the energy usages is less than the power used by the other.

11. The movable barrier operator apparatus of claim 10 wherein the operating power used in the second energy usage is less than the operating power used by the first energy usage and the second energy usage corresponds to a quiescent state of a movable barrier as is operably coupled to the movable barrier operator system.

12. The movable barrier operator apparatus of claim 10 wherein the power supply comprises a plurality of power supplies.

13. The movable barrier operator apparatus of claim 10 wherein the state information includes motor state information and the motor state information includes information about motor RPMs, the movable barrier operator further comprising a motor RPM sensor, and wherein the state information includes motor RPMs.

14. A movable barrier operator apparatus comprising:

a power supply that operably couples to at least one source of alternating current; and

a movable barrier operator comprising a motor and controller, the movable barrier operator coupled to the power supply, the movable barrier operator configured to receive operating power from the power supply and the power supply having at least a first and a second mode of energy consumption operation, the movable barrier operator being further configured to;

selectively open and close a corresponding movable barrier; and

develop a power operating mode control signal from the controller as a function of movable barrier operator state information, the power operating mode control signal being operable to directly control the energy usage of the power supply, the control signal from the controller developed as a result of the state information, the state information selected from the group consisting of motor state information, time information, transmission state information, voltage state information, switch state information and combinations thereof,

the power supply being directly responsive to the movable barrier operator power operating mode control signal to switch between at least the first mode and the second mode of energy consumption such that;

during the first mode of energy consumption operation, the power supply operates using a first energy usage; and

during the second mode of energy consumption operation, the power supply operates using a second energy usage, wherein the operating power used in one of the energy usages is less than the power used by the other.

15. The movable barrier operator apparatus of claim 14 wherein the operating power used in the second the energy usage is less than the operating power used by the first energy usage and the second energy usage corresponds to a quiescent state of a movable barrier as is operably coupled to the movable barrier operator system.

16. The movable barrier operator apparatus of claim 14 wherein the power supply comprises a plurality of power supplies.

17. The movable barrier operator apparatus of claim 14 wherein the state information includes motor state information and the motor state information includes information about motor RPMs, the movable barrier operator further comprising a motor RPM sensor, and wherein the state information includes motor RPMs.

18. A method of operating movable barrier operator apparatus comprising a power supply that operably couples to at least one source of alternating current and a movable barrier operator which includes a motor operatively connected to move a barrier between open and closed positions, controller, and at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of a radio that is configured to receive instructions from a wireless remote control user device, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, and combinations thereof, the movable barrier operator coupled to the power supply, receives operating power from the power supply, and having at least a first and a second mode of energy consumption, the method comprising:

monitoring movable barrier operator state information that indicates whether the barrier is open or closed, the state information selected from the group consisting of motor state information, time information, transmission state information, voltage state information, switch state information and combinations thereof;

developing an additional component operating mode control signal from the controller as a function of the movable barrier operator state information;

directly controlling energy usage of the additional component in response to the additional component operating mode control signal by switching the at least one additional component between at least a first operating mode and a second operating mode, wherein at least some of the operating modes have different energy usages; and

operating the additional component using a first energy usage during the first mode of energy consumption operation; and

operating the at least one additional component using a second energy usage during the second mode of energy consumption operation, wherein operating power used in one of the energy usages is less than the operating power used by the other.

19. A method of operating movable barrier operator apparatus comprising a power supply operably coupled to at least one source of alternating current and a movable barrier operator which includes a motor operatively connected to move a barrier between open and closed positions, controller, and a radio that is configured to receive instructions from a wireless remote control user device, the movable barrier operator coupled to the power supply to receive operating power from the power supply and having at least a first mode and a second mode of energy consumption, the method comprising:

monitoring movable barrier operator state information, the state information selected from the group consisting of motor state information, time information, transmission state information, voltage state information, switch state information and combinations thereof;

developing a radio component operating mode control signal from the controller as a function of the movable barrier operator state information;

directly controlling energy usage of the radio in response to the radio component operating mode control signal by switching the radio between at least a first operating mode and a second operating mode, wherein at least some of the operating modes have different energy usages; and

operating the radio using a first energy usage during the first mode of energy consumption operation; and

operating the radio using a second energy usage during the second mode of energy consumption operation, wherein the operating power used in one of the energy usages is less than the power used by the other.

20. A method of operating a movable barrier operator apparatus comprising a motor operatively connected to move a barrier between open and closed positions and a controller, the movable barrier operator coupled to the power supply, the movable barrier operator configured to receive operating power from the power supply and the power supply having at least a first mode and a second mode of energy consumption operation, the method comprising:

monitoring movable barrier operator state information that indicates whether the barrier is open or closed, the state information selected from the group consisting of motor state information, time information, transmission state information, voltage state information, switch state information and combinations thereof;

developing a power operating mode control signal from the controller as a function of the movable barrier operator state information;

directly controlling energy usage of the power supply in response to the power operating mode control signal by switching the power supply between at least the first mode and the second mode, wherein at least some of the operating modes have different energy usages; and

operating the power supply using a first energy usage during the first mode of energy consumption operation; and

operating the power supply using a second energy usage during the second mode of energy consumption operation, wherein the operating power used in one of the energy usages is less than the power used by the other.