Door operator control system and method

A control system for controlling the operation of a door operator unit to move a door between open and closed positions, said operator unit including a reversible electric drive motor, and a drive unit interconnecting said motor with a door, said control system comprising:

• a programmable microcontroller operable to receive control signals from at least one of plural switches for providing door open, door close and door stop signals, and a single switch for sequentially providing door open, door close and door stop signals;
• a motor power supply control circuit for operating said drive motor in reverse directions of rotation;
• a motor drive circuit including motor relay actuator means, said motor drive circuit being adapted to receive control signals from said microcontroller to effect operation of said drive motor through said motor power supply control circuit to provide for one of opening and closing said door;
• an electrically operated brake connected to said drive unit for braking rotation of an output shaft of said drive unit;
• a brake control circuit operably connected to said microcontroller and said brake for releasing said brake;
• and
• a motor watchdog circuit operably connected to said motor drive circuit and including a switch connected to said motor drive circuit and said brake control circuit and to means for receiving a signal from said microcontroller, said means being operable in response to the absence of a predetermined signal from said microcontroller to effect shutdown of said drive motor and engagement of said brake in response to a malfunction of said control system.

A control system for controlling the operation of a door operator unit to move a door between open and closed positions, said operator unit including a reversible electric drive motor, a drive unit interconnecting said motor with a door, and an electrically operated brake operably connected to said drive motor and said drive unit for braking rotation of an output shaft of said drive unit, said control system comprising:

• a programmable microcontroller operable to receive door open, door close and door stop signals and to provide control signals to a motor drive circuit;
• a motor power supply control circuit for operating said drive motor in reverse directions of rotation;
• a motor drive circuit adapted to receive control signals from said microcontroller to effect operation of said drive motor through said motor power supply control circuit to provide for one of opening and closing said door;
• a brake control circuit operably connected to said microcontroller and operable to control engagement and release of said brake;
• and
• a keypad operably connected to said microcontroller including a calibration mode key and plural keys for operating said control system to cause said operator unit to open said door, close said door and stop operation of said operator unit, respectively, said plural keys being operable in response to actuation of said calibration mode key in a calibrate mode of said microcontroller for providing calibration of a selected function controlled by said microcontroller including at least one of a door limit position overrun time delay, a progressive braking rate for applying braking action by said brake to stop rotation of said output shaft, a mid-stop setting for arresting movement of said door between its open and closed positions, a maximum run time of said operator unit and deenergizing said drive motor for a predetermined time commencing with deenergization of said drive motor.

A method for controlling the operation of a door operator unit to move a door between open and closed positions, said operator unit including a reversible electric drive motor, a drive unit interconnecting said motor with a door, an electrically operated brake operably connected to said drive unit for braking rotation of an output shaft of said drive unit, and a control system including a programmable microcontroller operably connected to means for providing door position limit signals to said microcontroller, said method comprising the steps of:

• moving said door toward one of an open and closed limit position by energizing said motor and releasing said brake;
• causing said microcontroller to deenergize said motor and effect arresting movement of said door in a position between an open limit position and a closed limit position after expiration of a first predetermined time which is automatically set by said microcontroller and commences with movement of said door from one of said limit positions toward the other of said limit positions;
• and
• causing said microcontroller to not respond to a signal to effect one of opening and closing said door for a predetermined time commencing with deenergization of said motor to arrest movement of said door.

A control system for controlling the operation of a door operator unit to move a door between open and closed positions, said operator unit including a reversible electric drive motor, a drive unit interconnecting said motor with a door, and an electrically operated brake operably connected to said motor and said drive unit for braking rotation of an output shaft of said drive unit, said control system comprising:

• a programmable microcontroller operable to receive control signals from at least one of plural switches for providing door open, door close and door stop signals, and a single switch for sequentially providing door open, door close and door stop signals;
• a motor power supply control circuit for operating said motor in reverse directions of rotation;
• a motor drive circuit including motor drive relay actuators and at least two motor interlock relays in circuit with said motor drive relay actuators, respectively, said motor drive circuit being adapted to receive control signals from said microcontroller to effect operation of said motor through said motor power supply control circuit to provide for one of opening and closing said door and said motor interlock relays being operable to prevent energization of one of said motor drive relay actuators when the other of said motor drive relay actuators is energized to rotate said drive motor in a selected direction to one of open and close said door;
• and
• a brake control circuit operably connected to said microcontroller and operable to provide signals for releasing said brake and for progressively applying said brake to brake rotation of said output shaft.

A control system for controlling the operation of a door operator unit to move a door between open and closed positions, said operator unit including a reversible electric drive motor, and a drive unit interconnecting said motor with a door, said control system comprising:

• a programmable microcontroller operable to receive control signals from at least one of plural switches for providing door open, door close and door stop signals, and a single switch for sequentially providing door open, door close and door stop signals;
• a motor power supply control circuit for operating said motor in reverse directions of rotation;
• a motor drive circuit including motor drive relay actuators and at least two motor interlock relays in circuit with said motor drive relay actuators, respectively, said motor drive circuit being adapted to receive control signals from said microcontroller to effect operation of said motor through said motor power supply control circuit to provide for one of opening and closing said door and said motor interlock relays being operable to prevent energization of one of said motor drive relay actuators when the other of said motor drive relay actuators is energized to rotate said drive motor in a selected direction to one of open and close said door;
• and
• a motor watchdog circuit operably connected to said motor drive circuit and including a switch connected to said motor drive circuit and to means for receiving a signal from said microcontroller, said means being operable in response to the absence of a predetermined signal from said microcontroller to effect shutdown of said motor.