Movable barrier disengagement detection
AssigneeThe Chamberlain Group, Inc.
InventorRobert Jude Axtolis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatus for detecting movable barrier disengagement are provided. A movable barrier operator system includes a motor configured to be coupled to a movable barrier and move the movable barrier, a motor sensor configured to measure a load value of the motor, communication circuitry configured to receive, from a remote control, a state change request to cause movement of the movable barrier, and a processor circuit. The processor circuit is configured to cause actuation of the motor in response to receipt of the state change request, detect, based on the load value, a disengagement between the motor and the movable barrier, and cause a communication to be sent, in response to detecting the disengagement, to a remote server, the communication indicative of motor disengagement.
Claims28
A movable barrier operator system comprising:
- a motor configured to be coupled to a movable barrier and move the movable barrier;
- a motor sensor configured to measure a load value of the motor;
- communication circuitry configured to receive, from a remote control, a state change request to cause movement of the movable barrier;
- and
- a processor circuit coupled to the motor sensor and the communication circuitry, the processor circuit configured to:
- cause actuation of the motor in response to receipt of the state change request;
- detect, based on the load value, a disengagement between the motor and the movable barrier;
- and
- cause a communication to be sent to a remote server in response to detecting the disengagement, the communication indicative of motor disengagement;
- wherein the motor sensor comprises a safety sensor configured to detect an obstruction in a path of the movable barrier based on the load value.
A method for operating a movable barrier operator system, the method comprising:
- actuating a motor in response to receipt of a state change request via communication circuitry, the state change request configured to cause movement by the motor of a movable barrier associated with the motor;
- measuring a load value of the motor via a motor sensor;
- detecting at a processor circuit, based on the load value, a disengagement between the motor and the movable barrier;
- and
- sending a communication, in response to detecting the disengagement, to a remote server, the communication indicative of motor disengagement;
- wherein the motor sensor comprises a safety sensor configured to detect an obstruction in a path of the movable barrier based on the load value.
A server system for managing movable barrier operators, the server system comprising:
- communication circuitry configured to communicate via a network with a movable barrier operator and a remote control;
- a movable barrier operator database storing a user account associated with the movable barrier operator;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- receive a state change request associated with the movable barrier operator from the remote control;
- send a state change command to the movable barrier operator via the communication circuitry;
- determine a disengagement between a motor of the movable barrier operator and a movable barrier based on communications with the movable barrier operator, wherein the movable barrier operator comprises a motor sensor configured to measure a load value of the motor;
- and
- send a motor disengagement alert to at least one user device associated with the user account in response to the disengagement.
A method for managing movable barrier operators, the method comprising:
- receiving, via communication circuitry, a state change request associated with a movable barrier operator from a remote control;
- sending, via the communication circuitry, a state change command to the movable barrier operator;
- determining a disengagement between a motor of the movable barrier operator and a movable barrier based on a communication with the movable barrier operator, wherein the movable barrier operator comprises a motor sensor configured to measure a load value of the motor;
- identifying a user account associated with the movable barrier operator based on information stored in a movable barrier operator database;
- and
- sending a motor disengagement alert to at least one user device associated with the user account in response to the disengagement.
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a server, cause the server to perform operators comprising:
- receiving, via communication circuitry, a state change request associated with a movable barrier operator from a remote control;
- sending, via the communication circuitry, a state change command to the movable barrier operator;
- determining a disengagement between a motor of the movable barrier operator and a movable barrier based on a communication with the movable barrier operator, wherein the movable barrier operator comprises a motor sensor configured to measure a load value of the motor;
- identifying a user account associated with the movable barrier operator based on information stored in a movable barrier operator database;
- and
- sending a motor disengagement alert to at least one user device associated with the user account in response to the disengagement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.