Remote control and monitoring of barrier operators with radio frequency transceivers

In a movable barrier operator system including a base controller having a radio frequency base transceiver and a remote control unit for controlling movement of said barrier, said remote control unit including a radio frequency remote transceiver operable to communicate with said base transceiver, a method including the steps of:

• communicating a wireless control signal from said remote transceiver to said base transceiver instructing said operator system to change the state of said barrier by either one of opening said barrier or closing said barrier;
• said base transceiver, upon receiving said wireless control signal, causing said base controller to either open or close said barrier;
• transmitting a wireless status signal from said base transceiver to said remote transceiver indicating a change of state of said barrier;
• causing said remote control unit to provide a signal to alert a user thereof as to the status of said barrier;
• communicating a wireless control signal from at least one of said base transceiver and said remote transceiver to an obstruction detector transceiver;
• and
• energizing said obstruction detector from a power consumption mode to a higher power consumption mode upon receipt of said wireless control signal.

In a barrier operator system for moving a barrier between open and closed positions, a motor operably connected to a mechanism connected to said barrier, a base controller operably connected to said motor and operable to receive signals from barrier position limit detection means, at least one remote control unit operable for wireless communication with said base controller, at least one of a barrier status indicating unit and an obstruction detection unit operable for wireless communication with at least one of said base controller and said at least one remote control unit;

• said base controller including an RF base transceiver, said at least one remote control unit including an RF remote transceiver, said at least one of said barrier status indicating unit and obstruction detection unit including an RF transceiver;
• said transceivers being operable to transmit signals to at least one of said base transceiver and said remote transceiver indicating a status of said barrier of being one of in an open position, moving toward an open position, a closed position, moving toward a closed position and an obstruction detected;
• said remote control unit includes signal means for generating a status signal in response to transmissions from at least one of said base transceiver and said transceiver of said status indicating unit and said obstruction detection unit;
• and
• said obstruction detection unit includes control means responsive to a signal from at least one of said base transceiver and said remote transceiver for changing a power consumption mode of the obstruction detection unit.

In a barrier operator system for moving a barrier between open and closed positions, a motor operably connected to a mechanism connected to said barrier, a base controller operably connected to said motor and operable to receive signals from barrier position limit detection means, and at least one remote control unit operable for wireless communication with said base controller, the improvement characterized by:

• said base controller includes an RF base transceiver and said at least one remote control unit includes an RF remote transceiver for communicating with said base transceiver, said remote control unit including status indicator means operable to indicate the status of said barrier as being one of open, opening, closed, closing, and obstruction detected in response to receiving signals from said base transceiver by way of said remote transceiver;
• a diagnostic and calibration control unit including a keypad, microprocessor, visual display, and diagnostic transceiver, said diagnostic and calibration control unit diagnosing and setting operating characteristics of said base controller;
• an obstruction detector including a detector transceiver for communicating obstruction detection signals to at least one of said base transceiver, said diagnostic transceiver, and said remote transceiver;
• and
• a power controller switching said obstruction detector between a power consumption mode and a low power consumption mode;
• wherein said detector transceiver receives wireless control signals from at least one of said base transceiver, said diagnostic transceiver, and said remote transceiver, and switches said power controller upon receipt of said wireless control signals;
• and
• wherein said diagnostic transceiver communicate with at least one of said base transceiver, said remote transceiver, and said detector transceiver.