Patent Application
20200340288
The present disclosure relates to the field of remote network monitoring and controlling of the status of a movable barrier, more particularly to the determination of the open/close status of a garage door and the subsequent wireless transmission, via the Internet, of such status to an Internet access device such as a user's handheld Smartphone, and even more particularly, in response to the receipt of such garage door status, the transmission, via the Internet, of a change-door-status command to move the garage door in compliance with such command.
Movable barriers, such as upward-acting sectional or single panel garage doors, residential and commercial rollup doors, and slidable and swingable gates, are used to alternatively allow and restrict entry to building structures and property. These barriers are driven between their respective open and closed positions by motors or other motion-imparting mechanisms, which are themselves controlled by barrier moving units, sometimes referred to as “movable barrier operators,” and in the specific case of a door, as “door operators,” and in the even more specific case of a garage door, as “garage door operators.” Garage door operators are effective to cause the DC or AC motor, and accompanying motor drive assembly, to move the associated garage door, typically between its open and closed positions.
Each garage door operator includes a door controller (typically, a microprocessor, microcontroller, or other programmable platform) for processing incoming door commands and generating output control signals to the motor which, in combination with its associated drive assembly, moves the garage door in accordance with the incoming door commands. The incoming door commands, in the past, have been in the form of wired or wireless signals transmitted from interior or exterior wall consoles, or from proximately located hand held or vehicle mounted RF transmitters.
However, with the near ubiquity of the Internet and the proliferation of electronic devices and equipment designed to access the Internet, such as personal computers, cellphones, and Smartphones, systems are currently being designed and implemented in the trade that enable non-proximate, or remote, monitoring and control, via the Internet, of door status. For example, if a homeowner is not in proximity to its residence, and wants to determine whether the garage door the homeowner had intended to close, did in fact close, or whether the garage door it intended to leave open for a workman to enter, had in fact been left open, using one of these systems, the homeowner can, through access to the Internet, remotely monitor the status of the garage door (e.g., whether it is open or closed). Moreover, if the garage door is not in the desired position, these systems are designed to also enable the homeowner to transmit change-door status commands over the Internet to move the garage door to the desired position, all without having to be physically proximate the garage to do so.
These aforestated systems typically use means capable of determining the status of the garage door that is then remotely transmitted to the homeowner. For example, some systems use door status monitoring apparatus affixed to, or proximate, the garage door to directly monitor the garage door status. While this approach is generally acceptable for many applications, the requirement to have separate apparatus affixed to, or proximate, the garage door may, for various reasons, not be the most desired approach. Other systems have indirectly determined door status from the door controller of the garage door operator (i.e., from the microprocessor, microcontroller or other programmable platform of the garage door opener). However, these systems have not been entirely acceptable for all conditions of service.
It is therefore among the objectives of the embodiments of the remote door status monitoring and control system and method disclosed herein to present a new and improved version of such system and method that is reliable, takes advantage of Internet signal transmission, and is convenient to install and use.
In an example aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a garage door status monitoring and control system. The system may include a control module comprising a programmable platform configured to: receive a change-door-status command to change a position of a door; in response to the change-door-status command, generate and communicate a light or sound command to a wireless controller; delay a period of time after communicating the light or sound command to the wireless fixture controller; and only after the delay, generate a door command corresponding to said change-door-status command to change the position of the door.
In an aspect, the wireless controller may be a Bluetooth microprocessor controllably generating a wireless signal in response to receipt of the light or sound command to wirelessly actuate a remote fixture. In an aspect, the remote fixture may include a microprocessor for wirelessly returning an acknowledge signal indicating receipt of the light or sound command to actuate the remote fixture. In an aspect, the remote fixture may be configured to communicate the acknowledge signal to the wireless controller, and the wireless controller may be configured to communicate the acknowledge signal to the control module. The control module may be configured so that receipt of the acknowledge signal authorizes the control module to generate the door command, and the absence of receipt of the acknowledge signal during the period of time prevents the generation of the door command. In an aspect, the wireless controller may be a Bluetooth controller configured to communicate via a Bluetooth low energy radio link. In an aspect, the remote fixture may comprise a light or sounder. In an aspect, the remote fixture may comprise both a sounder and a light actuatable in response to the wireless signal. In an aspect, the delay in the control module may be in a range between about 1 to 15 seconds. In an aspect, the system may include a door controller in communication with the control module and responsive to the door command to control a motor to change to the status of the garage door. The door controller may also be in communication with the wireless controller and may be configured to generate and communicate a signal to the wireless controller to activate a light on a remote fixture. In an aspect, the control module may further comprise a Wi-Fi transceiver configured to receive the change-door-status command from a remote Internet access device.
In another example aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of monitoring status and controlling a garage door with a jackshaft operator. The method may include generating and wirelessly communicating an alert signal from the jackshaft operator to a remote fixture; receiving an acknowledgement at the jackshaft operator from the remote fixture indicating that the remote fixture received the alert signal; in response to receiving the acknowledgement, delaying for a period of time sufficient for the remote fixture to alert observers of imminent movement of the garage door; after delaying for the period of time, generating a door command to change a status of the garage door; and activating a motor of the jackshaft operator to change the status of the garage door.
In an aspect, the method may include receiving a change-door-status command from an internet access device and comparing the change-door-status command to a current position of the garage door. In an aspect, the method may include monitoring a current position of the garage door with an absolute position sensor and communicating the current position to a door control module. The comparing the change-door-status command to the current position of a garage door may be performed by the door control module. In an aspect, the absolute position sensor is operably coupled to an output shaft of the motor. In an aspect, the alert signal is a command for the remote fixture to flash a light or make a sound. In an aspect, generating and wirelessly communicating the alert signal from the jackshaft operator to the remote fixture comprises transmitting the alert signal via a Bluetooth low energy radio link. In an aspect, delaying a period of time comprises delaying between about 1 and 15 seconds. In an aspect, the method may include receiving a change-door-status command from a wall console and in response generating and wirelessly communicating an on-light command from the jackshaft operator to the remote fixture. In an aspect, the method may include comparing a change-door-status command to a current position of a garage door, and generating and wirelessly communicating the alert signal only if the change-door-status command is different than the current position of the garage door.
In another example aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a garage door status monitoring and control system. The system may include a control module to receive garage door position information and to receive a change-door-status command from a remotely located Internet access device. The door control module may comprise a programmable platform configured to: route said garage door position information to a wireless interface for transmission to said Internet access device, and cause said change-door-status command to generate a light or sound command to a Bluetooth controller, as well as generate a door command corresponding to said change-door-status command. The said door command may be delayed a defined period of time after the generation of the light or sound command. The Bluetooth controller may controllably generate a wireless signal in response to receipt of the light or sound command to actuate a remote fixture with light or sounder. The remote fixture may be configured to wirelessly return an acknowledge signal indicating receipt of the light or sound command. The acknowledge signal may be conductively transmitted to the programmable platform, the receipt of which may allow the door command to be generated by the programmable platform, and the absence of which acknowledge signal during the defined period of time preventing the generation of the door command.
In an aspect, the control module is disposed at a jackshaft operator and the remote fixture is remote from the jackshaft operator.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following drawings and detailed description are exemplary and explanatory in nature and are intended to provide an understanding of the present disclosure without limiting the scope of the present disclosure. In that regard, additional aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following. One or more features of any embodiment or aspect may be combinable with one or more features of other embodiment or aspect.
The accompanying drawings illustrate implementations of the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.
These Figures will be better understood by reference to the following Detailed Description.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the implementations illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is intended. Any alterations and further modifications to the described devices, instruments, methods, and any further application of the principles of the present disclosure are fully contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates. In addition, this disclosure describes some elements or features in detail with respect to one or more implementations or Figures, when those same elements or features appear in subsequent Figures, without such a high level of detail. It is fully contemplated that the features, components, and/or steps described with respect to one or more implementations or Figures may be combined with the features, components, and/or steps described with respect to other implementations or Figures of the present disclosure. For simplicity, in some instances the same or similar reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
With initial reference now to
The motor 167 is operatively coupled to a drive assembly 196. The motor 167 and drive assembly 196 are effective to impart movement to the door 195 in accordance with door commands remotely and/or proximately transmitted to operator control module 180 and thereafter to the motor 167. The drive assembly 196 may be any of the standard and conventional drive assemblies available on the market that are suitable to move the garage door 195 in response to motor 167. In the example described herein, the drive assembly 196 is a part of a jackshaft drive assembly.
In accordance with the overall operation of the garage door status monitoring and control system 10, information from the absolute position sensor 166 indicative of the extent and direction of motor shaft rotation, and therefore the extent and direction (up or down) of garage door 195, are conductively transmitted by wire to the door control module 150 and the operator control module 180. An example of specific signal routing from the absolute position sensor 166 is shown in
The door control module 150 includes a microprocessor and memory and is effective to process and convert the incoming motor signal pulses to digital door status signals indicative of the garage door status, for example “open/closed” or “closed/not closed” status, of the garage door 195. This door status information may be then wirelessly transmitted by the door control module 150, via a Wi-Fi home router 94, to (and for storage in) cloud server 92 of the Internet 93, where such status information is subsequently pushed to a Smartphone 90, or any other suitable Internet access device, such as a desktop or laptop computer, personal data assistant (PDA), mobile phone, tablet, or the like, for user review of the then current garage door status. In some examples herein, nowhere in system 10 is door status ever requested, with the door status information always being “pushed” to the next component or stage.
With continuing reference to
Upon receipt of the remotely generated change-door-status command, the door control module 150 may be configured to transmit a door command (door position command) and a light/sound command (light or sound command) respectively to a door controller 183 and a remote fixture 218 that may include a work light 198 and/or a sounder 199. More specifically the door control module 150 is configured to transmit the door command to the door controller 183 of the operator control module 180 and to transmit the light/sound command to a wireless controller 212 of the operator control module 180. The wireless controller 212 is a wireless controller for the remote fixture 218. Accordingly, the wireless controller 212 then communicates wirelessly with the remote fixture 218 to activate a visual alert with the work light 198 or an audible alert with the sounder 199.
In accordance with conventional procedure, user-generated door commands, such as toggle open/close commands may also be transmitted to the operator control module 180 from a wall console 165 connected to the operator control module 180 via a connector 185. In this implementation, the door controller 183 may also communicate a light command (such as an on-light command) to the wireless controller 212 to turn on or activate the remote fixture 218, such as the work light 198, simultaneously with the operation of the motor 167. One or more hand-held or vehicle-mounted RF transmitters 91 proximate to the garage door 195 may also transmit door commands to the operator control module 180 in a manner to that of the wall console 165.
Each of
In this embodiment, the jackshaft 130 of the motor drive assembly 196 extends horizontally and is directly coupled to, and adapted to be rotatably driven by, the motor 167 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. A torsion spring 138 extends around the jackshaft 130.
In this implementation, the remote fixture 218 is disposed on the ceiling 217 in a location more appropriate for garage lighting. Although
Depending upon the implementation, the remote fixture 218 may be powered from a 120V AC main but may be controlled through a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) radio link to the jackshaft operator 95. Since the door control module 150 is integral to the jackshaft chassis 100, the door control module 150 does not have direct access to the light control circuitry. Accordingly, the door control module 150 signals the remote fixture 218 (with, for example an alert signal or an on-light signal or off-light signal) by providing a discrete output directly to the Bluetooth low energy radio link on the operator control module 180, which will pass this signal onto the remote fixture 218.
Although the jackshaft operator 95 may include an onboard sounder, its location and orientation in an installed jackshaft operator may render its output noncompliant or less effective than if were disposed in a more suitable location, such as a central location. To accommodate, the remote fixture 218 may include the sounder 199, which may be installed in a more favorable location and orientation. The same discrete output that controls the work light 198, in a similar manner, may also control the sounder 199.
The power head chassis 100 of the jackshaft operator notably allows for manual operation of the door after activation of a manual release (pull cord not shown). An advantage of the APE in this application is that the system also detects manual operation of the door between the preset upper limit and the preset closed limit and pushes the door status to the cloud without activation of the motor control. This feature is different from trolley operators with similar integrated Wi-Fi control modules, which do not detect manual operation of the door if the trolley is manually released. That is, because the APE is disposed on or operably coupled to the output shaft of the motor, which is directly correlated with the jackshaft rotation, the position of the door can be determined whether the motor is powered or now. Because the APE detects the absolute position of the door, the system can additionally identify a change in door status during a power outage once power is restored. That is, if the homeowner opens the door by manual release while power is out, and leaves it open, when power is restored, the system will push the change to the cloud, enabling the smartphone 90 to convey accurate information to the user.
Also, it is worth noting that in the implementation shown, the APE is shared by the operator control module 180 and the Wi-Fi door control module 150. This arrangement may provide a cost and manufacturing efficiency over using separate encoders for each of the operator control module 180 and the Wi-Fi door control module 150.
As illustrated in
With continuing reference to
The Wi-Fi transceiver 151 of door control module 150 is effective to receive any remotely generated change-door-status commands from the smartphone 90 or other internet access device. This may be routed to the microprocessor 155. After the change-door-status command is compared with the actual door status information previously stored in microprocessor 155 to assure that the change-door-status command is not the same as the previously stored status, the incoming change-door-status command is then routed by microprocessor 155 (in direction of downwardly pointed arrow) to the microprocessor 157.
In response to receiving the change-door-status command, the microprocessor 157 is configured to actuate the door command generator 160 of the door control module 150 to generate a door command to change the door status, such as to raise or lower the door. The door command is communicated from the door command generator 160, and via the input circuitry 184 of the operator control module 180 (
In implementations described herein, prior to the microprocessor 157 initiating sending of the door command to the door controller 183, the microprocessor 157 activates the piezo sounder 154 and/or the light interface circuitry 159 to respectively sound the on-board sounder 154 (such as with a buzzer) and/or flash the work light 198 or activate the sounder 199 of the remote fixture 218, to warn anyone near the garage door 195 of the unattended imminent movement of the garage door 195.
When the microprocessor 157 activates the light interface circuitry 159, the light interface circuitry 159 communicates a light/sound command from the door control module 150 to a wireless controller 212, and the wireless controller 212 communicates an actuation signal, such as an alert signal, via an antenna 214 to an antenna 216 of the remote fixture 218. In an example, the wireless controller 212 is a Bluetooth microprocessor and the remote fixture 218 is a Bluetooth fixture with a work light 198 and a sounder 219. The actuation signal (alert signal or on-light signal) provides actuation of the work light 198 and the sounder 199. Confirmation of receipt of the actuation signal (irrespective of whether the work light is actually illuminated or the sounder makes a noise) is wirelessly transmitted as a light/sound acknowledgement (acknowledge signal) by the remote fixture 218 back to the wireless controller 212 via the antennas 216 and 214. The light/sound acknowledgment is conductively transmitted by the wireless controller 212 to the microprocessor 157 of the door control module 150 for the purpose subsequently to be described.
As described herein, after receiving the light/sound acknowledgment, the microprocessor 157 executes a delay for a defined time period. The delay allows the work light 198 and the sounder 199 to warn bystanders of the forthcoming unattended movement of the barrier (garage door) before the door is commanded to move. In some embodiments, the defined time period is between about 1 and 15 seconds, and in some embodiments, between about 1 and 6 seconds. Time periods greater than 15 seconds are also contemplated. Some implementations do not employ a defined time period of delay.
After the delay, the microprocessor 157 is configured to instruct the door command generator 160 to generate the door command to be sent to the operator control module 180 to activate the motor and move the door. The door command generator directs the door command to input circuitry 184 and the door controller 183.
If, after generating the light/sound command, the microprocessor 157 fails to receive the light/sound acknowledgement with the defined time period (i.e., there is an absence of an acknowledgement that the remote fixture 218 has been actuated), the microprocessor 157 is configured or programmed to not initiate generation or transmission of the door command. Thus, this feature acts as a failsafe that the unattended door movement of the garage door 195 will not occur without confirmation that the light and sounder remote fixture 218 has been actuated. Accordingly, when the microprocessor 157 receives the command to move the door 195, an annunciation period begins, during which the piezo sounder 154 and the remote fixture 218 (such as a flashing light 198) are activated at the rate and duration in compliance with UL325 requirements. After this annunciation period has expired, the microprocessor 157 then transmits the door command to the door controller 183.
In some implementations, the smartphone 90 (
The processing of the motor signal from the APE 166 may be in accordance with programmable software executed by microprocessor 157. For example, the processing algorithms of such software may be directed to reliably performing the task of determining the location of the close limit and tracking position to determine when the garage door is in sufficient proximity to that close limit to declare the door as being “closed.” All other detected positions of the door may then be declared as “not closed”, or “open.” Thus, the microprocessor 157, under control of the algorithm of the software, may infer, from the motor signal inputs, that it has run in one direction for a predetermined minimum time and then stopped, that the door is away from the other limit. Therefore, if the door runs upwardly and then stops, the determination is that it is not at the close limit. Another algorithm may then be used to confirm that finding. Thus, microprocessor 157, under control of that algorithm, may record that the minimum and maximum positions that are detected are the working limits. An example of a suitable absolute position sensor that can be used to generate a signal is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,113,263, to Reed et al., issued Feb. 14, 2012, and entitled Barrier Operator With Magnetic Position Sensor, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
At 502, a user may select or direct the Internet access device to generate and send a signal to the jackshaft operator 95. In some implementations, the signal may be a command to either open or close the garage door. In some implementations, the user may utilize an app particularly configured to communicate with a particular associated garage door system. The signal from the Internet access device may be communicated as described herein to the door control module 150.
At 504, in response to receiving the signal from the Internet access device, the door control module 150 may confirm the current position of the garage door based on information stored in the microprocessor 157. Here, the signal from the Internet access device may be a command to change the status of the garage door (e.g., a change-door-status command to open the garage door from a closed position or close the garage door from an open position). Confirming the current position of the garage door may include comparing the commanded action to the current status of the garage door. If the commanded action is different than the current status, the door control module 150 may take action to carry out the change-door-status command as described herein.
In response to determining that the current position of the garage door is different than the command from the Internet access device, the system 10 prepares to carry out the command. At 506, the microprocessor 157 of the door control module 150 first communicates the light/sound command to the wireless controller 212. In the implementation of
At 510, the remote fixture 218 may communicate the light/sound acknowledgement back to the wireless controller 212. In some implementations, the remote fixture 218 may communicate the light/sound acknowledgement back to the wireless controller 212 immediately after receipt of the activation command. Thus, the receipt may not be contingent upon the remote fixture being activated, but instead may be contingent only upon the light/sound command having been received at the remote fixture 218. As such, if the work light 198 were a burned-out bulb, the receipt would still be acknowledged by the remote fixture. In other implementations, the remote fixture 218 may communicate the light/sound acknowledgement back to the wireless controller 212 only after carrying out the visual or audible warning.
At 512, the wireless controller 212 may communicate the acknowledgment to the door control module 150. In some implementations, the acknowledgment may be transmitted to a general purpose discrete input 191 to the microprocessor 157 on the door control module 150.
At 514, upon receipt of the light/sound acknowledgement, the microprocessor 157 may activate the time delay for the preestablished amount of time. As described herein, the preestablished amount of time may be several seconds, and in some embodiments, may be in the range of about 1 to 15 seconds. This delay may provide time for persons located in the proximity of the garage door to take action to move away from the garage door before it begins movement. After the defined delay, the microprocessor 157 may instruct the door commanded generator 162 generate and communicate a door command, which may be communicated from the door control module 150 to the door controller 183 on the operator control module 180.
The door controller 183 of the operator control module 180 may receive the door command through input circuitry 184 and may execute the command by activating the motor according to the door command to move the garage door, at 516. Accordingly, persons in the vicinity of the garage door may receive sufficient warning that the garage door is about to move, even when activated by someone not in the proximity of the garage door.
As described herein, a user may also activate the garage door from a location proximate to the jackshaft operator 95. In such implementations, the door command may be received from an RF transmitter, communicated along the bus to the door controller 183, which may carry out the command. Likewise, the door command may be received from a Bluetooth enabled device, such as the smartphone 90, via the Bluetooth antenna 214 and the wireless controller 212. In these instances, the door controller 183 may receive the signals and carry out the door commands without the delay because the user initiating the command is in the general proximity of the door, and presumably can notify nearby observers or visually observe sufficient door clearance.
Likewise, the door controller 183 may communicate via the UART with the wireless controller 212 and may turn on the work light 198 of the remote fixture 218 automatically in response to receipt of a door command. Thus, the same remote fixture 218 may be used as a warning, and also as a work light.
At 554, the APE may generate an output signal corresponding to the position of the door and communicate that position to the microprocessor 157 of the door control module 150. At 556, the microprocessor may communicate the door position to a remote Internet access device. It may do this by transmitting the door status signal to a microprocessor 155, in communication with the Wi-Fi transceiver 151. The Wi-Fi transceiver 151 may communicate via a network, such as the Internet to an Internet accessible device such as a smartphone 90.
In some implementations, the door status is stored on the smartphone 90, and any changes to door status are automatically pushed to the smartphone 90, so that the smartphone 90 is up-to-date as to the status. In some implementations, because the smartphone 90 has up-to-date information on the status, the comparison (as described herein) of a door command to the status of the door in the microprocessor 157, may be unnecessary.
Various modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the principles of the present invention. For example, while the specific examples set forth above describe transmitting the door status information or transmitting the change-door-status command, via a separate Wi-Fi home router 94, it should be understood that this is a non-limiting example, and the router 94 may alternatively be part of the Internet 93.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the implementations encompassed by the present disclosure are not limited to the particular exemplary implementations described above. In that regard, although illustrative implementations have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change, combination, and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure. It is understood that such variations may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the present disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application 62/838,052, filed Apr. 24, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62838052 | Apr 2019 | US |
