Movable barrier operator auto-force setting method and apparatus

A movable barrier operator for use with a movable barrier, which movable barrier is selectively moved through selective application of force via the movable barrier operator, the movable barrier operator comprising:

• at least one force sensor;
• a movable barrier obstacle detector that is at least partially responsive to the at least one force sensor and to at least one automatically determined excess force threshold value;
• a motor controller operably coupled and responsive to the movable barrier obstacle detector;
• a motor on-time sensor and wherein the at least one automatically determined excess force threshold value comprises an automatically determined motor on-time-compensated excess force threshold value;
• wherein the movable barrier operator has no user-initiable dedicated learning mode of operation.

A movable barrier operator having a user-selectable learning mode of operation and a normal mode of operation for use with a movable barrier, which movable barrier is selectively moved through selective application of force via the movable barrier operator, the movable barrier operator comprising:

• at least one force sensor;
• an automatically determined excess force threshold value that is determined during the normal mode of operation;
• a movable barrier obstacle detector that is at least partially responsive to the at least one force sensor and to at least one automatically determined excess force threshold value;
• a motor controller operably coupled and responsive to the movable barrier obstacle detector;
• an automatic characteristic force value indicator responsive to the at least one force sensor and having a characteristic force value output that is substantially dependent on a difference between at least one previous characteristic force value output and a substantially present force value that is based, at least in part, on the at least one force sensor, and wherein the at least one automatically determined excess force threshold value is based, at least in part, on the characteristic force value output.

A movable barrier operator having a user-selectable learning mode of operation and a normal mode of operation for use with a movable barrier, which movable barrier is selectively moved through selective application of force via the movable barrier operator, the movable barrier operator comprising:

• at least one force sensor;
• an automatically determined excess force threshold value that is determined during the normal mode of operation;
• a movable barrier obstacle detector that is at least partially responsive to the at least one force sensor and to at least one automatically determined excess force threshold value;
• a motor controller operably coupled and responsive to the movable barrier obstacle detector;
• a motor on-time sensor and wherein the automatically determined excess force threshold value further comprises an automatically determined motor on-time-compensated excess force threshold value.

A movable barrier operator having both a user-initiable dedicated learning mode of operation and a normal mode of operation for use with a movable barrier, which movable barrier is selectively moved through selective application of force via the movable barrier operator, the movable barrier operator comprising:

• at least one force sensor;
• a movable barrier obstacle detector that is at least partially responsive to the at least one force sensor and to at least one automatically determined excess force threshold value that is at least partially determined during the normal mode of operation;
• a motor controller operably coupled and responsive to the movable barrier obstacle detector;
• an automatic characteristic force value indicator responsive to the at least one force sensor and having a characteristic force value output that is substantially dependent on a difference between at least one previous characteristic force value output as provided during a previous normal mode of operation and a substantially present force value that is based, at least in part, on the at least one force sensor, and wherein the at least one automatically determined excess force threshold value is based, at least in part, on the characteristic force value output.

A movable barrier operator having both a user-initiable dedicated learning mode of operation and a normal mode of operation for use with a movable barrier, which movable barrier is selectively moved through selective application of force via the movable barrier operator, the movable barrier operator comprising:

• at least one force sensor;
• a movable barrier obstacle detector that is at least partially responsive to the at least one force sensor and to at least one automatically determined excess force threshold value that is at least partially determined during the normal mode of operation;
• a motor controller operably coupled and responsive to the movable barrier obstacle detector;
• a motor on-time sensor and wherein the at least one automatically determined excess force threshold value comprises an automatically determined motor on-time-compensated excess force threshold value.

A movable barrier operator for use with a movable barrier, which movable barrier is selectively moved through selective application of force via the movable barrier operator, the movable barrier operator comprising:

• at least one force sensor;
• an automatic characteristic force value indicator responsive to the at least one force sensor and having a characteristic force value output;
• a movable barrier obstacle detector that is at least partially responsive to the at least one force sensor and to the characteristic force value output;
• and
• a motor controller operably coupled and responsive to the movable barrier obstacle detector;
• wherein the characteristic force value output is substantially dependent on a difference between at least one previous characteristic force value output and a more current force value that is based, at least in part, on the at least one force sensor.

A movable barrier operator for use with a movable barrier, which movable barrier is selectively moved through selective application of force via the movable barrier operator, the movable barrier operator comprising:

• at least one force sensor;
• an automatic characteristic force value indicator responsive to the at least one force sensor and having a characteristic force value output, wherein the automatic characteristic force value indicator includes a characteristic force value updater responsive to a substantially current force measurement and to a substantially current characteristic force value, with the characteristic force value updater having an updated characteristic force value output substantially comprising one of:
• the substantially current force measurement when a first condition is met;
• and
• a value that is different than the substantially current force measurement and different than the substantially current characteristic force value when a second condition is met;
• an automatic excess force threshold value indicator responsive to the characteristic force value output and having an excess force threshold value output;
• a movable barrier obstacle detector that is at least partially responsive to at least one force sensor and to the excess force threshold value output;
• and
• a motor controller operably coupled and responsive to the movable barrier obstacle detector.

A movable barrier operator for use with a movable barrier, which movable barrier is selectively moved through selective application of force via the movable barrier operator, the movable barrier operator comprising:

• at least one force sensor;
• an automatic characteristic force value indicator responsive to the at least one force sensor and having a characteristic force value output, wherein the automatic characteristic force value indicator includes a characteristic force value updater responsive to a current force measurement and to a current characteristic force value, with the characteristic force value updater having an updated characteristic force value output substantially comprising one of:
• an increased value determined pursuant to a first determination process when the current force measurement is greater than the current characteristic force value;
• and
• a decreased value determined pursuant to a second determination process, which second determination process is different from the first determination process, when the current force measurement is less than the current characteristic force value;
• an automatic excess force threshold value indicator responsive to the characteristic force value output and having an excess force threshold value output;
• a movable barrier obstacle detector that is at least partially responsive to at least one force sensor and to the excess force threshold value output;
• and
• a motor controller operably coupled and responsive to the movable barrier obstacle detector.