Patent Application
20070296049
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for ease of understanding and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions 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 in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of the various embodiments of the present invention.
Referring now to the drawings and especially
In this example, the barrier 104 is a gate arm and the barrier operator 102 is a gate operator. However, other types of barriers (e.g., swinging gates, sliding gates, and garage doors) and barrier operators (e.g., gate operators and garage door operators) may be used.
A photo detector includes an emitter 106 and a detector 108. The emitter 106 transmits an energy beam 107 and the transmitted energy beam 107 is detected by the detector 108. In one example, the energy beam 107 may be visible or infrared light. If an obstruction is present in the pathway of the barrier 104, the energy beam is interrupted and not detected by the detector 108. When an obstruction is detected, the operator 102 may take action, for instance, by halting movement of the barrier 104. An apparatus may be used to secure the emitter 106 and detector 108 to the barrier 104. In one example, the apparatus may be screws, nails, brackets, or some combination of these elements.
A controller 116 is coupled to the emitter 106 and the detector 108 by a coupler 118. The coupler 118 may be a wired connection or an unwired connection. The controller 116 is programmed to determine whether an obstruction exists in a pathway of the moveable barrier 104 based upon input received from the photo beam detector (emitter 106 and detector 108).
As the barrier 104 rotates in the movement 110, it detects all obstructions that are present in the path of the barrier 104 as the barrier 104 rotates. For example, if a bumper 104 of a vehicle were positioned below the barrier 104 (while the barrier 104 was in position 122) and the barrier were closed, the bumper would be detected as the barrier 104 came down to the position 120. This approach is advantageous over previous approaches wherein the emitter 106 and 108 were both in a fixed position since, in these previous approaches, the bumper or other obstruction would remain undetected.
Another emitter/detector pair may be positioned at the top of the barrier 104. In addition, the emitter 106 may be positioned on the operator 102. In this case, the emitter 106 remains fixed while the detector 108 rotates. The emitter 106 and detector 108 may also be partially embedded in the barrier 104.
Referring now to
In this example, the barrier 204 is a gate arm and the barrier operator 202 is a gate operator. However, other types of barriers (e.g., swinging gates, sliding gates, and garage doors) and barrier operators (e.g., gate operators and garage door operators) may be used.
A photo detector includes an emitter/detector 206 and a reflector 208. The emitter/detector 206 transmits an energy beam 207 and the transmitted energy is detected by the detector 207. In one example, the energy beam 207 may be visible or infrared light. If an obstruction is present in the pathway of the barrier 204, the energy beam 207 is interrupted and not detected by the emitter/detector 206. The operator 202 can take action, for instance, halting movement of the barrier. An apparatus may be used to secure the emitter/detector 206 to the barrier 204. In one example, the apparatus may be screws, nails, brackets, or some combination of these elements. Other examples of an apparatus are possible.
A controller 216 is coupled to the emitter 206 and the detector 208 by a coupler 218. The coupler 218 may be a wired connection or an unwired connection. The controller 216 is programmed to determine whether the obstruction exists in a pathway of the moveable barrier 204 based upon input received from the photo beam detector (emitter/detector 206 and reflector 208).
As the barrier 204 rotates in the movement 210, it detects all obstructions that are present in the path of the barrier 204 as the barrier 204 rotates. For example, if a bumper 204 of a vehicle were positioned below the barrier 204 (while the barrier 204 was in position 222) and the barrier closed, the bumper would be detected as the barrier 204 came down to position 220. This approach is advantageous over previous approaches wherein the emitter 206 and 208 were both fixed since and the bumper may remain undetected.
Another emitter/detector/reflector may be positioned at the top of the barrier 204. In addition, the emitter/detector 206 may be positioned on the operator 202. In this case, the emitter/detector 206 remains fixed while the reflector 208 rotates. The emitter/detector 206 and reflector 208 may also be partially embedded in the barrier 204.
Referring now to
A first photo detector on one side of the barrier 316 includes an emitter/detector 308 and a reflector 310. The emitter/detector 308 transmits an energy beam 307 and this energy is reflected as return energy 309 by the reflector 310. In one example, the energy beams 307 and 309 may be visible or infrared light. A second photo detector is located on the opposite side of the barrier 316 and includes an emitter/detector 312 and reflector 314. The emitter/detector 312 transmits an energy beam 317 and this is reflected as energy beam 315 and detected by the emitter detector 312. If an obstruction is present in the pathway of the barrier 316, the energy beams 317 or 309 are not detected by the emitter/detector 308 or the emitter/detector 312. The operator 306 can take action, for instance, by halting movement of the barrier. An apparatus may be used to secure the emitter/detector 308 and emitter/detector 312 to the barrier 316. In one example, the apparatus may be nails, bolts, screws, brackets, or other fastening members. Other examples of an arrangements are possible.
A controller 326 is coupled to the emitter/detector 308 and the emitter/detector 312 by a coupler 328. The coupler 328 may be a wired connection or an unwired connection. The controller 326 is programmed to determine whether the obstruction exists in a pathway of the moveable barrier 316 from input received from the photo beam detector (emitter/detectors 308 and 312, and reflectors 310 and 314).
As the barrier 316 rotates in the movement 320, it detects all obstructions that are present in the path of the barrier 316 as the barrier 316 rotates. For example, if an obstruction (e.g., a person or bicycle) were positioned in the path of the barrier 316 (e.g., along the arc 320) and the barrier 316 opened, the obstruction would be detected as the barrier 316 came down to position 324. In contrast, prior approaches where the sensors are fixed would not detect the obstruction.
Various types of photo detectors may be used. For example, separate emitters and detectors may be used as described with respect to
While there has been illustrated and described particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications which fall within the true scope of the present invention.
