Patent Application
20130154573
This invention relates generally to movable barrier operator remote controllers.
Movable barrier operator remote controllers are known in the art. These devices typically serve by responding to a user's input (such as a user's assertion of a button) with a wireless transmission that a corresponding movable barrier operator can compatibly receive. Such a transmission can comprise, for example, a command to move a given movable barrier (such as a garage door, a gate, a rolling shutter, an arm, and so forth). This movement may be, for example, from a closed to an opened position or vice versa. Other commands and communications are also sometimes employed.
A typical movable barrier operator remote controller uses electricity to power such a transmission. Movable barrier operator remote controllers that are portable typically utilize a portable power source such as a battery to supply this electricity. Accordingly, it can become necessary to exchange that battery from time to time for a fresh battery. This, in turn, gives rise to a need for the design of the controller to permit a user to access the battery. Such design considerations, unfortunately, often add cost and/or frailty to the resultant product. Permitting the user to open the controller can also risk exposing delicate circuitry and components to damage that can impair future operability of the controller.
The use of a replaceable battery can also impact the effective range of the controller over time. As the battery discharges the available instantaneous power can deplete as well, leaving less power for the wireless transmitter to use when broadcasting to the movable barrier operator. In such a case, while the controller may still be able to transmit, the maximum operating distance between the controller and the movable barrier operator decreases over time.
The above needs are at least partially met through provision of the method and apparatus pertaining to powering a movable barrier operator remote controller described in the following detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.
Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, a movable barrier operator remote controller can comprise a vibration-powered electrical generator, a user interface, and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a movable barrier operator communication in response to the user interface and as powered, at least in part, by the vibration-powered electrical generator. By one approach the vibration-powered electrical generator responds to low vibrational frequencies such as those that typify an ordinary operating motor vehicle such as an automobile.
If desired, the movable barrier operator remote controller can further comprise an electrical-energy storage unit (such as a battery and/or a capacitor) that is coupled to an electric power output of the vibration-powered electrical generator to thereby receive and store electric power from the vibration-powered electrical generator. So configured, the electrical-energy storage unit can provide operating power to the wireless transmitter on an as-needed basis.
These teachings permit provision of a movable barrier operator remote controller having a considerably extended useful life without requiring a change of batteries. Depending upon the requirements of the application setting these teachings may also permit the movable barrier operator remote controller to be smaller in size. These teachings will also permit, if desired, the movable barrier operator remote controller to comprise a sealed unit having a simplified design and components. This, in turn, can lead to reduced cost and/or increased reliability.
These and other benefits may become clearer upon making a thorough review and study of the following detailed description. Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to
By one approach a movable barrier operator remote controller carries out this process 100. Referring momentarily to
Referring again to
The movable barrier operator communication can vary with the needs and/or opportunities as tend to characterize a given application setting. The transmission itself can comprise, for example, a radio-frequency transmission using one or more carriers of choice and/or optical-wavelength transmissions (using, for example, infrared carrier frequencies) as desired. The communication can substantively comprise any of a variety of instructions, status updates/responses, and so forth as desired. Generally speaking, the carrier frequency(ies), modulation, and signaling protocol employed when transmitting the communication will vary with respect to the expectations and requirements of the movable barrier operator itself. Details in these regards are well understood in the art and require no further elaboration here.
By one approach, the vibrations 302 are low vibrational frequencies (for example, less than, say, 60 Hertz). This might comprise, for example, making use of low vibrational frequencies that are less than 40 Hertz or even less than 10 Hertz. Generally speaking, such frequencies are often evident within the vibrational frequencies of an operating motor vehicle (such as an automobile, a truck, or the like). That is to say, the operating components of the vehicle (such as the engine) as well as external influences acting on the vehicle during operation (including, for example, bumps and the like as the vehicle travels over uneven road surfaces) give rise to a variety of low-frequency vibrations having a variety of durations and amplitudes.
Accordingly, a movable barrier operator remote controller 200 located within an operating vehicle (for example, as clipped to a sun visor, stored in a console or a glove compartment, or placed on a dashboard or other interior vehicular surface) will be well exposed to, and experience, such vibrations. This, in turn, helps to ensure that the vibration-powered electrical generator 301 is suitably located to scavenge the energy of such vibrations.
By one approach, the vibration-powered electrical generator 301 can comprise an apparatus as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,579,757, entitled METHOD AND MICRO POWER GENERATOR FOR GENERATING ELECTRICAL POWER FROM LOW FREQUENCY VIBRATIONAL ENERGY (the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by this reference). Such an apparatus is configured to mechanically up-convert low-frequency mechanical vibrations to higher-frequency mechanical vibrations that are, in turn, particularly useful for electricity-generating purposes. In any event, such a generator is well suited for the purposes and in-vehicle operating environment described herein.
By one approach, if desired, this housing 305 can comprise a sealed housing; i.e., a housing that cannot be non-destructively opened. Such a housing could employ, for example, housing halves that are joined using ultrasonic welding or another permanent affixment approach. This, in turn, avoids a need for screws, snaps, or other non-permanent attachment paradigm that would otherwise be necessary to permit the user to non-destructively access and change a battery as needed.
Viewed literally,
In such a case, the electrical-energy storage unit 401 can operably couple to other components of the movable barrier operator remote controller 200 such as the wireless transmitter 303 and a control circuit 402 that may, in turn, be coupled and configured to control the operation of the wireless transmitter 303 (by configuring and forming, for example, the contents/payload of the aforementioned movable barrier operator communication 304).
So configured, a movable barrier operator remote controller 200 can avoid the design and operating issues that arise when employing batteries that eventually deplete and must be replaced. This can lead to greater user satisfaction as well as improved reliability. Such an approach can also comprise a more ecologically-friendly approach that avoids the need to dispose, over time, a plurality of depleted batteries.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.
