US 10,801,247 B2Granted

Barrier operator feature enhancement

AssigneeThe Chamberlain Group, Inc.

InventorsJames Joseph Fitzgibbon, Robert R. Keller, Jr.

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Abstract

A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a communication module configured to communicate with a garage door operator, the communication module comprising a wired communication port configured to be connected through one or more wires to the garage door operator;
control circuitry configured to cause the communication module to communicate with the garage door operator to control movement of a garage door associated with the garage door operator;
and
an input/output module in communication with the control circuitry, the input/output module configured to communicate with a computing device and a wireless door position sensor, the wireless door position sensor configured to provide information regarding the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
the input/output module configured to receive an instruction signal sent relative to an interaction with a user interface of the computing device and to receive a communication from the wireless door position sensor for determination of at least one of a position, a status, and movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to receipt of the instruction signal from the computing device via the input/output module, effect communication with the garage door operator to control movement of the garage door between an open position and a closed position;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to monitor usage of the garage door operator and to store information pertaining to a history of the usage in a memory, the information pertaining to the history of the usage includes at least one of:
information pertaining to an instruction signal received by the input/output module in response to an interaction with the user interface provided on the computing device;
and
information pertaining to the determination of at least one of the position, the status, and the movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator,
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to communicate, via the input/output module, the information pertaining to the history of usage to the computing device,
wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect a forced entry causing movement of the garage door based at least in part on the communication from the wireless door position sensor;
wherein the control circuitry is configured to communicate, via the input/output module, an indication of the forced entry to the computing device.

10 more elements

A kit comprising:

a wireless door position sensor configured to provide information regarding a garage door associated with a garage door operator;
and
a barrier operator feature enhancement device including:
a communication module configured to communicate with the garage door operator via a wired communication port configured to be connected through one or more wires to the garage door operator;
control circuitry configured to cause the communication module to communicate with the garage door operator to control movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
and
an input/output module in communication with the control circuitry, the input/output module configured to communicate with a computing device and the wireless door position sensor;
the input/output module configured to receive an instruction signal sent relative to an interaction with a user interface of the computing device, and to receive a communication from the wireless door position sensor for determination of at least one of a position, a status, and movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to receipt of the instruction signal from the computing device via the input/output module, cause the communication module to send a communication signal to the garage door operator that effects movement of the garage door by the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to monitor usage of the garage door operator, and to store information pertaining to a history of the usage in a memory, the information pertaining to the history of the usage includes at least one of:
information pertaining to an instruction signal received by the input/output module in response to an interaction with the user interface provided on the computing device;
and information pertaining to the determination of at least one of the position, the status, and the movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to communicate, via the input/output module, the information pertaining to the history of usage to the computing device;
wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect a forced entry causing movement of the garage door based at least in part on the communication from the wireless door position sensor;
wherein the control circuitry is configured to communicate, via the input/output module, an indication of the forced entry to the computing device.

12 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

a wired communication port configured to be connected through one or more wires to a garage door operator;
control circuitry configured to cause the wired communication port to communicate with the garage door operator to control movement of a garage door associated with the garage door operator;
and
communication circuitry operably coupled to the control circuitry, the communication circuitry configured to communicate with a computing device and a wireless door position sensor, the wireless door position sensor configured to provide information regarding the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
the communication circuitry configured to receive an instruction signal sent relative to an interaction with a user interface of the computing device and to receive a communication from the wireless door position sensor for determination of a position, a status, and/or a movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to receipt of the instruction signal from the computing device, cause the wired communication port to send a communication signal to the garage door operator that effects movement of the garage door by the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to monitor usage of the garage door operator and to store information pertaining to a history of the usage in a memory, the information pertaining to the history of the usage including:
information pertaining to an instruction signal received by the control circuitry in response to an interaction with the user interface provided on the computing device;
and/or
information pertaining to the determination of the position, the status, and/or the movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to communicate, via the communication circuitry, the information pertaining to the history of usage to the computing device,
wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect a forced entry causing movement of the garage door based at least in part on the communication from the wireless door position sensor;
wherein the control circuitry is configured to communicate, via the input/output module, an indication of the forced entry to the computing device.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/570,659Filed 13 Sep 2019 · continuation
Priority: 8 Nov 2012
Published: US 2020/0002997 A12 Jan 2020
Granted: 13 Oct 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification30 codes

E05F 15/77
With automatic actuation: using wireless control
E05F 15/40
Power-operated mechanisms for wings: safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
E05F 15/60
Power-operated mechanisms for wings: using electrical actuators
E05F 15/668
For vertically-sliding wings: for overhead wings

Family

Application13/671,602Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Nov 2012
Application14/010,143Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Aug 2013
US 9,122,254 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 1 Sep 2015
Application14/858,497Parent of this division · filed 18 Sep 2015
US 9,141,099 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Sep 2015
Application15/069,351Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Mar 2016
US 9,376,851 B2Parent of this division · filed 28 Jun 2016
Application15/587,786Parent of this continuation · filed 5 May 2017
US 9,644,416 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 9 May 2017
Application15/881,406Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Jan 2018
US 9,896,877 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Feb 2018
Application16/194,937Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Nov 2018
US 10,138,671 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Nov 2018
US 2020/0002997 A1Pre-grant publication · published 2 Jan 2020
Application15/069,351Parent of this division
Application14/858,497Parent of this continuation
US 10,597,928 B2Related patent
US 2014/0125499 A1Published application
US 2014/0129606 A1Published application
US 2016/0010382 A1Published application
US 2016/0194912 A1Published application
US 2017/0241189 A1Published application
US 2018/0148971 A1Published application
US 2019/0085615 A1Published application
US 10,801,247 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.