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US 7,208,897 B2Granted
Motion control system for barrier drive
AssigneeLinear Corporation
InventorsRobert Hotto, Paul D. Kahn, Lambert A. Ling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for operating a barrier system such as a garage door, gate or fence. A DC motor is connected to and operates a barrier drive. A power amplifier is configured to receive power signals from a power supply and to output modulated DC signals to the DC motor. A controller implements an intelligent closed-loop motion control algorithm to control the power amplifier according to a non-linear motion profile. A feedback sensor provides status signals to the controller to determine position or speed of the barrier.
Claims17
A barrier operator system comprising:
- a barrier drive;
- a motor connected to and operating the barrier drive;
- a power amplifier that drives the motor;
- a sensor that provides feedback in a form of position, direction or speed;
- a controller with memory that stores a predetermined non-linear motion profile for the barrier drive, and that receives the feedback from the sensor and dynamically adjusts a control signal provided to the power amplifier according to the predetermined non-linear motion profile, wherein said motor, power amplifier, sensor and controller implement a closed-loop motion control algorithm to control the barrier drive according to the stored non-linear motion profile;
- and
- an interface for user-initiated input,
- wherein the non-linear motion profile comprises an opening motion profile comprising:
- an initial over-voltage function to provide increased starting torque and quick acceleration of a barrier;
- a slew function to provide movement at a highest operating speed of the motion profile to open the barrier;
- and
- a concluding deceleration function to provide a soft stop of the barrier at the fully opened position.
9 more elements
A barrier operator system comprising:
- a barrier drive;
- a motor connected to and operating the barrier drive;
- a power amplifier that drives the motor;
- a sensor that provides feedback in a form of position, direction or speed;
- a controller with memory that stores a predetermined non-linear motion profile for the barrier drive, and that receives the feedback from the sensor and dynamically adjusts a control signal provided to the power amplifier according to the predetermined non-linear motion profile, wherein said motor, power amplifier, sensor and controller implement a closed-loop motion control algorithm to control the barrier drive according to the stored non-linear motion profile;
- and
- an interface for user-initiated input,
- wherein the non-linear motion profile comprises a closing motion profile comprising:
- an acceleration mode to overcome inertia of a barrier and accelerate movement of the barrier to a predetermined speed;
- a slew function to provide movement at a highest operating speed of the motion profile to close the barrier;
- and
- a concluding reverse voltage function to assist in stopping motion of the barrier at the fully closed position.
9 more elements
A barrier operator system comprising:
- a barrier drive;
- a motor connected to and operating the barrier drive;
- a power amplifier and direction control circuit;
- a sensor that provides feedback in a form of position, direction, speed;
- and
- a controller with memory that stores a predetermined non-linear motion profile for the barrier drive, and that receives the feedback from the sensor and dynamically adjusts a control signal provided to the power amplifier according to the predetermined non-linear motion profile, wherein said motor, power amplifier, sensor and controller implement a closed-loop motion control algorithm to control the barrier drive according to the stored non-linear motion profile,
- wherein the non-linear motion profile comprises an open motion profile segment for starting the movement of a barrier including an over-voltage mode for increased starting torque and quick acceleration, and a close motion profile segment for stopping movement of the barrier including a reverse voltage function to assist in stopping the barrier.
4 more elements
A barrier operator system comprising:
- a DC motor connected to a barrier drive;
- and
- a variable switching off-line power amplifier connected between the DC motor and a power source that controls the motor with pulse modulated signals,
- wherein the off-line power amplifier lacks a front end transformer.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.