Cable Tension Monitor
AssigneeThe Chamberlain Group, Inc.
InventorsEdward Thomas Laird, Robert John Olmsted
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor apparatus for a movable barrier system having a rotatable drum and an elongate member that winds up on and pays out from an external surface of the rotatable drum. The sensor apparatus includes a base portion, a sensing portion, and a controller. The sensing portion senses a first spaced apart proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensing portion and a second spaced apart proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensing portion. The controller detects a change in the proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensing portion without the elongate member contacting the sensing portion.
Claims26
1) A sensor apparatus for a movable barrier system having a rotatable drum and an elongate member that winds up on and pays out from an external surface of the rotatable drum, the sensor apparatus comprising:
- a base portion for securing to a mounting surface;
- a sensing portion connected to the base portion, the sensing portion configured to sense a first spaced apart proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensing portion and a second spaced apart proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensing portion;
- and
- a controller operably connected to the sensing portion, the controller configured to detect a change in the proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensing portion without the elongate member contacting the sensing portion.
21) A movable barrier system comprising:
- a movable barrier operator configured to move a movable barrier in a first direction and a second direction;
- a rotatable drum;
- an elongate member that winds up on and pays out from an external surface of the rotatable drum to at least support corresponding movement of the movable barrier;
- and
- a sensor apparatus comprising:
- a base portion for securing to a mounting surface;
- a sensing portion connected to the base portion, the sensing portion configured to sense a first spaced apart proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensing portion and a second spaced apart proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensing portion;
- and
- a controller connected to the sensing portion, the controller configured to detect a change in the proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensing portion without the elongate member contacting the sensing portion.
24) A method comprising:
- sensing at a sensor a first spaced apart proximity of an elongate member relative to the sensor;
- sensing at the sensor a second spaced apart proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensor, the second spaced apart proximity different than the first spaced apart proximity;
- in response to sensing the second spaced apart proximity different than the first spaced apart proximity, determining a change in proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensor;
- and
- transmitting a signal in response to determining the change in proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.