Garage door opener with light control

A garage door operator with light control, comprising:

• a garage door movement apparatus for moving the garage door in an open and in a close direction within a doorway;
• a light having an on and an off state;
• a controller for generating a door movement signal for operating the door movement apparatus and for generating a light enable signal for operating the light in one of a plurality of on and off states;
• an obstacle detection apparatus for detecting the presence of an obstruction in the doorway;
• wherein the controller, responsive to a door movement command generates a door movement signal for enabling movement of the door in a commanded direction and generates a light enable signal for enabling the light in an on state for a predetermined period of time;
• wherein the controller, subsequent to a door close movement command and responsive to the detection of an obstruction in the doorway, generates an auto-reverse signal for enabling movement of the door in the open direction;
• and
• wherein the controller, when the door is in an open and stopped state and responsive to the detection of an obstruction in the doorway, generates a light enable signal for enabling the light in an on state for a predetermined period of time when the light is in an off state, and generates a light enable signal for enabling the light in a predetermined pattern of on and off states when the light is in an on state.

A method of operating a garage door operator with light control, the operator having a garage door movement apparatus for moving the garage door in an open and in a close direction within a doorway, a light having an on and an off state and an obstacle detection apparatus for detecting the presence of an obstruction in the doorway, comprising:

• responsive to a door movement command, generating a door movement signal for enabling movement of the door in the commanded direction and generating a light enable signal for enabling the light in an on state for a predetermined period of time;
• detecting an obstruction in the doorway while the door is moving in a close direction, then generating an auto-reverse signal for enabling movement of the door in the open direction;
• and
• detecting an obstruction in the doorway when the door is in a stopped and open state, then, when the light is in an off state, generating a light enable signal for enabling the light in an on state for a predetermined period of time, and when the light is in an on state, generating a light enable signal for enabling the light in a predetermined pattern of on and off states.