Patent Application
20180114427
The present invention relates to a garage door opener system and method. More specifically, certain embodiments of the invention relate to sensing condition events that occur in or near a garage door opener system and taking action based on the condition events.
The present invention provides, in one aspect, a garage door opener including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, a network interface coupled to the processor, and one or more sensors coupled to the processor. The garage door opener further includes program instructions, stored in the memory, for causing, responsive to a garage door opener system condition logging event, the processor of the garage door opener recording to the memory of the garage door opener a garage door opener event data report comprising system condition data collected from the one or more sensors of the garage door opener. The garage door opener further includes program instructions, stored in the memory, for causing, responsive to a garage door system condition reporting event, the processor of the garage door opener reporting over the network interface of the garage door opener to a remote server one or more garage door opener event data reports. In some embodiments, the one or more garage door opener event data reports comprise the garage door opener event data report, and the garage door system condition reporting event requires one or more conditions distinct from conditions of the garage door system condition logging event.
In some embodiments, the processor of the garage door system performs reporting over the network interface of the garage door opener to the remote server the one or more garage door opener event data reports asynchronous to the processor of the garage door opener recording to the memory of the garage door opener the garage door opener event data report comprising the system condition data.
In some embodiments, the processor of the garage door system performs reporting over the network interface of the garage door opener to the remote server the one or more garage door opener event data reports on a periodic time schedule, and the processor of the garage door opener records to the memory of the garage door opener the garage door opener event data report comprising the system condition data in response to aperiodic system interrupts. In some embodiments, the aperiodic system interrupts include interface events. In some embodiments, the aperiodic system interrupts include sensor data alarm events.
In some embodiments, the processor of the garage door system performs reporting over the network interface of the garage door opener to the remote server the one or more garage door opener event data reports in response to a first set of system interrupts, and the processor of the garage door opener records to the memory of the garage door opener the garage door opener event data report including the system condition data in response to a second set of system interrupts. In some embodiments, the second set of system interrupts includes interface events and the first set of interrupts includes network data request events.
Some embodiments provide an overhead garage door opener system equipped for diagnosing operations of an overhead garage door opener. In some embodiments, the system includes a garage door opener including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, a network interface coupled to the processor, and one or more sensors coupled to the processor. The garage door opener system further includes, in some embodiments, program instructions, stored in the memory, for causing, responsive to a garage door opener system condition logging event, a processor of a garage door opener recording to a memory of the garage door opener a garage door opener event data report including system condition data collected from one or more sensors of the garage door opener. The garage door opener system further includes, in some embodiments, program instructions, stored in the memory, for causing, responsive to a garage door system condition reporting event, a processor of the garage door opener reporting over a network interface of the garage door opener to a remote server one or more garage door opener event data reports.
In some embodiments, the one or more garage door opener event data reports include the garage door opener event data report and diagnostic information derived at least in part from the garage door opener event data reports.
The garage door opener system further includes, in some embodiments, program instructions, stored in the memory, for causing, the processor of the garage door system generating the diagnostic information based at least in part on sensor information from one or more garage door opener event data reports.
In some embodiments, the processor of the garage door system performs generating the diagnostic information based at least in part on sensor information from one or more garage door opener event data reports on a periodic time schedule, and the processor of the garage door opener records to the memory of the garage door opener the garage door opener event data report including the system condition data in response to aperiodic system interrupts. In some embodiments, the aperiodic system interrupts include interface events. In some embodiments, the aperiodic system interrupts include sensor data alarm events.
In some embodiments, the processor of the garage door system performs reporting over the network interface of the garage door opener to the remote server the one or more garage door opener event data reports in response to a first set of system interrupts, and the processor of the garage door opener records to the memory of the garage door opener the garage door opener event data report including the system condition data in response to a second set of system interrupts. In some embodiments, the second set of system interrupts includes interface events and the first set of interrupts includes network data request events.
Some embodiments include a method for collecting data representing operations of an overhead garage door opener. In some embodiments, the method includes, responsive to a garage door opener system condition logging event, a processor of a garage door opener recording to a memory of the garage door opener a garage door opener event data report including system condition data collected from one or more sensors of the garage door opener, and responsive to a garage door system condition reporting event, a processor of the garage door opener reporting over a network interface of the garage door opener to a remote server one or more garage door opener event data reports, wherein the one or more garage door opener event data reports include the garage door opener event data report, and the garage door system condition reporting event requires one or more conditions distinct from conditions of the garage door system condition logging event.
In some embodiments, the method includes the processor of the garage door system reporting over the network interface of the garage door opener to the remote server the one or more garage door opener event data reports asynchronous to the processor of the garage door opener recording to the memory of the garage door opener the garage door opener event data report including the system condition data.
In some embodiments, the method includes the processor of the garage door system reporting over the network interface of the garage door opener to the remote server the one or more garage door opener event data reports on a periodic time schedule, and the processor of the garage door opener recording to the memory of the garage door opener the garage door opener event data report including the system condition data in response to aperiodic system interrupts. In some embodiments, the aperiodic system interrupts include interface events. In some embodiments, the aperiodic system interrupts include sensor data alarm events.
In some embodiments, the method includes the processor of the garage door system reporting over the network interface of the garage door opener to the remote server the one or more garage door opener event data reports in response to a first set of system interrupts, and the processor of the garage door opener recording to the memory of the garage door opener the garage door opener event data report including the system condition data in response to a second set of system interrupts. In some embodiments, the second set of system interrupts includes interface events and the first set of interrupts includes network data request events.
Some embodiments include a method for diagnosing operations of an overhead garage door opener. In some embodiments, the method includes, responsive to a garage door opener system condition logging event, a processor of a garage door opener recording to a memory of the garage door opener a garage door opener event data report including system condition data collected from one or more sensors of the garage door opener. In some embodiments, the method includes, responsive to a garage door system condition reporting event, a processor of the garage door opener reporting over a network interface of the garage door opener to a remote server one or more garage door opener event data reports. The one or more garage door opener event data reports include the garage door opener event data report and diagnostic information derived at least in part from the garage door opener event data reports.
In some embodiments, the method includes the processor of the garage door system generating the diagnostic information based at least in part on sensor information from one or more garage door opener event data reports.
In some embodiments, the method includes the processor of the garage door system generating the diagnostic information based at least in part on sensor information from one or more garage door opener event data reports on a periodic time schedule, and the processor of the garage door opener recording to the memory of the garage door opener the garage door opener event data report including the system condition data in response to aperiodic system interrupts. In some embodiments, the aperiodic system interrupts include interface events. In some embodiments, the aperiodic system interrupts include sensor data alarm events.
In some embodiments, the method includes the processor of the garage door system reporting over the network interface of the garage door opener to the remote server the one or more garage door opener event data reports in response to a first set of system interrupts, and the processor of the garage door opener recording to the memory of the garage door opener the garage door opener event data report including the system condition data in response to a second set of system interrupts. In some embodiments, the second set of system interrupts includes interface events and the first set of interrupts includes network data request events.
Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The trolley 132 is releaseably coupled to the shuttle 124 such that the garage door system 50 is operable in a powered mode and a manual mode. In the powered mode, the trolley 132 is coupled to the shuttle 124 and the motor is selectively driven in response to actuation by a user (e.g., via a key pad or wireless remote in communication with the garage door opener 100). As the motor is driven, the drive chain 120 is driven by the motor along the rail assembly 128 to displace the shuttle 124 (and, therefore, the trolley 132), thereby opening or closing the garage door 104. In the manual mode, the trolley 132 is decoupled from the shuttle 124 such that a user may manually operate the garage door 104 to open or close without resistance from the motor. The trolley 132 may be decoupled, for example, when a user applies a force to a release cord 136 to disengage the trolley 132 from the shuttle 124. In some embodiments, other drive systems are included such that, for example, the drive mechanism 116 includes a transmission coupling the motor to a drive belt that is operatively coupled to the garage door 104 via a rail and carriage assembly.
The housing 108 is coupled to the rail assembly 128 and a surface above the garage door (e.g., a garage ceiling or support beam) by, for example, a support bracket 148. The garage door opener further includes a light unit 152 including a light (e.g., one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs)) enclosed by a transparent cover or lens 156), which provides light to the garage. The light unit 152 may either be selectively actuated by a user or automatically powered upon actuation of the garage door opener 100. In one example, the light unit 152 may be configured to remain powered for a predetermined amount of time after actuation of the garage door opener 100.
The garage door opener 100 further includes an antenna 158 enabling the garage door opener 100 to communicate wirelessly with other devices, such as a smart phone or network device (e.g., a router, hub, or modem), as described in further detail below. The garage door opener 100 is also configured to receive, control, and/or monitor a variety of accessory devices, such as a backup battery unit 190, a speaker 192, a fan 194, an extension cord reel 196, among others.
The wireless board 220 includes a wireless microcontroller 240, among other components. The GDO board 210 includes, among other components, a garage door opener (GDO) microcontroller 244 and a radio frequency (RF) receiver 246.
The RF receiver 246 is wirelessly coupled to various user actuation devices, including one or more wireless remotes 262 and wireless outdoor keypads 264, to receive and provide to the GDO microcontroller 244 user actuation commands (e.g., to open and close the garage door 104). The personal wireless device 256 may also receive user input and, in response, provide (directly or via the network 254) to the wireless microcontroller 240 user actuation commands for the garage door opener 100 or commands to control one or more of the accessory devices. The multiplexor 260 enables communication between and among the wireless microcontroller 240, the GDO microcontroller 244, and the accessory microcontrollers 266 (of the accessory devices previously noted).
The garage door opener 100 includes a controller 330. Only select components of the controller 330 are illustrated, including a network interface 345 (e.g., including a wireless transceiver), a clock 332, a processor (e.g., an electronic processor) 350, and a memory 355. The network interface 345 may be part of the wireless microcontroller 240 (
The garage door opener 100 further includes one or more sensing components 386, such as door sensors 216 of
In some embodiments, the system condition data is obtained from the sensing component(s) 386 and indicates an instance of opening the garage door with indoor keypad, closing the garage door with outdoor keypad, opening the garage door with personal wireless device, enabling the light unit 152, detecting motion, errors/faults of components, and the like. In some embodiments, the system condition data includes measurements, such as a current level of the motor 212, provided by the sensing component 386. In some embodiments, the system condition data includes image, video, or audio data obtained by the sensing component 386 (e.g. taking the form of a camera). The system condition data may further be associated with a timestamp obtained based on the clock 332.
Responsive to a garage door system condition reporting event (herein, “a “reporting event”), the processor 350 reports over the network 254 to the server 250 one or more event data reports (block 610). Examples of such reporting events include time as measured by clock 332 reaching a scheduled reporting time (e.g., daily at 1:00 am, or once an hour), an error condition reported by processor 350, and a request for performance of reporting at user interface 384. In some embodiments, reporting over the network interface 345 includes wireless transmission of the event data 380 using the network interface 345 over the network 254 to the server 250 for storage as the event data 325 in the server memory 305. In some embodiments, an identifier of the garage door opener 100, such as a unique serial number, is provided with the event data report for indexing in the server memory 305 enabling later retrieval.
In some embodiments, the one or more event data reports reported in block 610 include groups of event data reports that are aggregated over time and transmitted as a batch, rather than transmitted individually at the time of generation or individually upon a reporting event. In some embodiments, the reporting event requires one or more conditions distinct from conditions of the garage door system condition logging event. For example, in some embodiments, the reporting event is a request for data received from the server 250 over the network interface 345, while the garage door system condition logging event is a sensor reading from the sensing component 386.
In some embodiments, the processor 350 performs reporting over the network interface 345 to the server 250 the one or more event data reports asynchronous to the processor 350 recording to the memory 355 the event data report including the system condition data.
In some embodiments, the processor 350 performs reporting over the network interface 345 to the server 250 of the one or more event data reports on a periodic time schedule as defined by clock 332, and the processor 350 of the garage door opener 100 records to the memory 355 of the garage door opener 100 the event data report including the system condition data in response to aperiodic system interrupts, such as sensor readings from sensing component 386. In some embodiments, the aperiodic system interrupts include interface events, such as user input from a user interface 384. In some embodiments, the aperiodic system interrupts include sensor data alarm events, such as the detection of an excessive voltage reading in electric motor 212.
In some embodiments, the processor 350 performs reporting over the network interface 345 to the server 250 the one or more event data reports in response to a first set of system interrupts, such as a periodic broadcast schedule tied to clock 332. In such embodiments, the processor 350 further records to the memory 355 the event data report, as event data 380, including the system condition data, such as sensor readings at a sensing component 386, in response to a second set of system interrupts, such as receipt of data readings from sensing component 386. In some embodiments, the second set of system interrupts includes interface events, such as user input at a user interface 384, and the first set of interrupts includes network data request events received from server 250 over network 254.
In some embodiments, a method of receiving and analyzing event data reports is performed by the server 250. For example, the server processor 310 receives event data reports generated by the processor 350 via the network 254, where the event data reports are sent by the processor 350 responsive to reporting event as described with respect to block 610 and where the event data reports were generated by the processor 350 in response to respective logging events as described with respect to block 605.
The server processor 310 stores the received event data reports in the server memory 305 as the event data 325, and analyzes the event data reports to generate diagnostic information regarding the garage door opener 100. For example, the server processor 310 may analyze the event data reports to determine a typical load on the motor 212 (e.g., based on sensed motor current by the sensing component 386) during opening or closing operations of the garage door opener 100. Based on the determined load, the server processor 310 identifies the type of garage door driven by the garage door opener 100, adjusts motor cycling to increase the life of the motor 212. In another example, the server processor 310 may analyze the event data reports over time to determine whether the load on the motor 212 is increasing over time (e.g., with a slope that exceeds a predetermined threshold or if the load exceeds a predetermined threshold). In response to determining that the load on the motor exceeds a slope or other threshold, the server processor 310 generates a notification to indicate that springs attached to the garage door should be replaced. The notification may be communicated to personal wireless device 256 via the network 254. In another example, the server processor 310 generates the diagnostic information by executing diagnostic reporting algorithms to pair error messages and associated sensor readings that are linked by a common time stamp from the clock 332. Further examples of generated diagnostic information include filtered data readings, averages of data readings, collections of error messages, or system interrupts.
Responsive to a reporting event of the garage door opener 100, the processor 350 reports over the network interface 345 to the server 250 one or more garage door opener diagnostic event data reports (herein, one or more “diagnostic data reports”) including an event data report with system condition data and including diagnostic information derived at least in part from the event data report (block 710). Examples of such diagnostic information include filtered data readings, averages of data readings, collections of error messages, or system interrupts. Examples of such reporting events may be similar to those described above with respect to block 610 of
In some embodiments, the processor 350 generates the diagnostic information based at least in part on sensor information from one or more event data reports, for example, by executing diagnostic reporting algorithms to pair error messages and associated sensor readings that are linked by a common time stamp from the clock 332. In some embodiments, the processor 350 generates the diagnostic information using similar techniques as described above with respect to the server processor 310.
In some embodiments of the method 700, the processor 350 generates the diagnostic information for use in block 710 based at least in part on sensor information from one or more event data reports on a periodic time schedule assessed from readings of clock 332, and the processor 350 records to the memory 355 the event data report, as event data 380, including the system condition data in response to aperiodic system interrupts, such as sensor readings from a sensing component 386. In some embodiments, the aperiodic system interrupts include interface events, such as user input at a user interface 384. In some embodiments, the aperiodic system interrupts include sensor data alarm events, representing abnormal readings at a sensing component 386, such as an abnormal temperature at a temperature sensor.
In some embodiments, the processor 350 reports over the network interface 345 to the server 250 the one or more diagnostic data reports in response to a first set of system interrupts, such as a request for data received over the network interface 345 from the server 250, and the processor 350 of the garage door opener 100 records to the memory 355 the diagnostic data report in response to a second set of system interrupts, such as user input at a user interface 384. In some embodiments, the second set of system interrupts includes interface events (e.g., at the user interface 384) and the first set of interrupts includes network data request events (e.g., received via the network interface 345).
In some embodiments, the server processor 310 may receive and store event data reports for a plurality of garage door openers 100, using similar techniques as described with respect to a single of the garage door openers 100 in the method 600 of
The server processor 310 may further analyze the aggregated report data to generate global diagnostic information, for example, which has various applications. For example, global diagnostic information may indicate average usage of the garage door openers. This data, in turn, can be used to predict life expectancy for the garage door openers, to make maintenance scheduling suggestions, and select components of the garage door opener (e.g., the motor 212) such that the garage door opener will achieve certain life expectancy levels. Additionally, in some embodiments, global diagnostic information is used to identify peak use times (e.g., heavy usage on weekdays between 7:00 am and 9:00 am) and identify low use times (e.g., Sunday from 1:00 am to 3:00 am). In turn, the server 250 may be configured to receive an update via the network 254 from another computing device (not shown), such as a software update to update instructions on the server memory 305 executed by the server processor 310 to communicate with the garage door opener 100, during the identified low use time. By performing the update in the low use time, the number of garage door openers that may experience service outages is reduced or minimized. Moreover, the server 250 may be provided with additional computing resources during the identified peak times to address heavier data traffic without a slowdown in server to garage door openers. For example, the server 250, while illustrated as having a single server processor 310, single memory 305, and single network communication interface 315, may, in some embodiments, include a plurality of each. Accordingly, the server 250 may provide parallel computing to address, for example, processing, data storage, and communication operations (such as described above) with a plurality of garage door openers 100. To obtain additional computing resources, the server 250 may, for example, request and be allocated additional server processors, server memories, and network communication interfaces from a larger server system.
Additionally, in some embodiments, the server processor 310 is configured to analyze the aggregated report data and determine feature usage rates for features of the garage door openers 100. For example, the server processor 310 may identify that the outdoor keypad 264 is used more than the wireless remotes 262, and that the wireless remotes 262 are used more than another user interface (e.g., the personal wireless device 256). This information may be then used to guide further design efforts for the garage door openers 100.
Accordingly, embodiments disclosed herein enable monitoring of and diagnosis of garage door openers by logging data, reporting out data asynchronous to the logging of data, and providing diagnostic reports based on the data. Provision of this information over a network allows performance monitoring by parties lacking direct access to the garage door opener. In response to events internal to or external to the garage door opener, which are detected by sensors associated with the garage door opener, logging operations can be activated, thus allowing the garage door opener to capture data for subsequent transmission when events indicate that transmission is preferred.
Further, where events are linked to time of day or time relationships between events and are accompanied by motion detectable by a motion detector, detection of events and response to the events enables response by components of the garage door opener to respond to motion detected by the garage door opener in a time-appropriate fashion. Further, embodiments disclosed herein provide the ability for the responses to conditions and motion to be learned by the garage door opener or to be encoded as rules by an external server and then provided to the garage door opener based on events recorded by the garage door opener. Some embodiments disclosed herein include other advantages not expressly listed as well.
The processors described herein may be configured to carry out the functionality attributed thereto via execution of instructions stored on a computer readable medium (e.g. one of the illustrated memories), in hardware circuits (e.g., an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or field programmable gate array) configured to perform the functions, or a combination thereof.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described.
This application makes reference to, claims priority to, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/410,542, filed on Oct. 20, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62410542 | Oct 2016 | US |
