Sliding barrier tracking system
AssigneeOverhead Door Corporation
InventorsFederico Romero, David Paul Hewitt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a sliding door system including a motor, a driveshaft coupled to the motor, and a coupling mechanism fastened to the sliding door. The coupling mechanism is configured to convert rotation of the driveshaft into linear motion of the sliding door, such that movement of the coupling mechanism is directly correlated to movement of the sliding door. The sliding door system also includes a rotary encoder, a belt mechanically coupled to the coupling mechanism. The belt, as moved by the coupling mechanism, is configured to turn the rotary encoder as the sliding door moves, such that movement of the rotary encoder is directly correlated to movement of the sliding door and not directly correlated to movement of the motor and driveshaft.
Claims15
A sliding door system comprising:
- a motor;
- a driveshaft coupled to the motor;
- a coupling mechanism fastened to a sliding door and configured to convert rotation of the driveshaft into linear motion of the sliding door, such that movement of the coupling mechanism is directly correlated to movement of the sliding door;
- a rotary encoder;
- and
- a belt mechanically coupled to the coupling mechanism and configured to turn the rotary encoder as the sliding door moves, such that movement of the rotary encoder is directly correlated to the movement of the sliding door and not directly correlated to movement of the motor and the driveshaft.
A barrier operating system comprising:
- a motor;
- a driveshaft coupled to the motor;
- a coupling mechanism comprising a clutch fastened to a slidable barrier;
- a rotary encoder mechanically coupled to the slidable barrier, mechanically operated by sliding movement of the slidable barrier, and configured to generate a position output as a function of movement of the slidable barrier, wherein the rotary encoder is mechanically decouplable from the motor such that there is no direct correlation between movement of the motor and the position output generated by the rotary encoder;
- and
- control circuitry configured to determine a position of the slidable barrier as a function of the position output.
A barrier operating system comprising:
- a motor;
- a driveshaft coupled to the motor;
- a coupling mechanism comprising a clutch fastened to a slidable barrier such that the clutch moves translationally with the slidable barrier;
- a rotary encoder mechanically operated by movement of the slidable barrier and configured to generate a position output as a function of the movement of the slidable barrier;
- and
- control circuitry configured to determine a position of the slidable barrier as a function of the position output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.