Systems and methods for controlling garage door opener operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10167661-B2
Application number	US-201715788867-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2017
Priority date	Oct 20, 2016
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A garage door opener system includes sensor components and actuatable components. When a condition is detected based on sensor output, a responsive action is selected. The actuatable component is controlled to perform the selected responsive action. Accessory sensors and actuatable accessories may be in communication with the garage door system. When the accessories are found to be present by the garage door opener system, and a condition is detected by the accessory sensor, a responsive action is selected and the actuatable accessory is controlled to perform the responsive action. In either case, the responsive actions may be selected based on rules. The responsive actions may be performed by a combination of the actuatable components of the garage door opener system and the actuatable accessories in communication with the garage door opener system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a garage door opener, the method comprising:
detecting, by an electronic processor of the garage door opener, a condition in a space associated with the garage door opener based on an output received from a condition sensor of the garage door opener;
determining, by the electronic processor, a time associated with the condition detected in the space associated with the garage door opener;
selecting, by the electronic processor, a responsive action based on the condition detected in the space associated with the garage door opener and the time associated with the condition detected; and
controlling, by the electronic processor, an actuatable component of the garage door opener to perform the responsive action.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the condition sensor is at least one selected from the group consisting of an environmental sensor, a motion sensor, a garage door position sensor, a door sensor, an obstruction sensor, and a camera.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting, by the electronic processor, a second condition in the space associated with the garage door opener based on a second output received from a second condition sensor of the garage door opener; and
determining, by the electronic processor, a time associated with the second condition detected in the space associated with the garage door opener,
wherein selecting, by the electronic processor, the responsive action is further based on the second condition detected in the space associated with the garage door opener.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actuatable component is an accessory device selectively attached to an electromechanical port of the garage door opener and is at least one selected from the group consisting of: a backup battery unit, a speaker, a fan, an extension cord reel, a parking assist laser, an environmental sensor, a flashlight, and a security camera.

5. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
detecting, by the electronic processor, a second condition in the space associated with the garage door opener based on a second output received from a second condition sensor of the garage door opener;
selecting, by the electronic processor, a second responsive action based on the second condition detected in the space associated with the garage door opener; and
controlling, by the electronic processor, a second actuatable component of the garage door opener to perform the second responsive action, wherein the second actuatable component includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: a motor that controls opening and closing functions of a garage door and a light unit of the garage door opener.

6. A garage door opener comprising:
a housing;
a motor within the housing and configured to drive a garage door;
a condition sensor configured to sense conditions in a space associated with the garage door opener;
an actuatable component;
a memory storing instructions;
an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to retrieve and execute the instructions, a clock, the actuatable component, and the condition sensor, wherein the electronic processor is configured to:
detect a condition in the space associated with the garage door opener based on an output of the condition sensor;
determine a time associated with the condition detected in the space associated with the garage door opener;
select a responsive action based on the condition detected in the space associated with the garage door opener and the associated time; and
control the actuatable component to perform the selected responsive action.

7. The garage door opener of claim 6 , wherein the electronic processor determines the responsive action based on a rule stored in the memory that specifies that the responsive action corresponds to the condition detected in the space associated with the garage door opener and the associated time.

8. The garage door opener of claim 6 , wherein the condition sensor is at least one selected from the group consisting of an environmental sensor, a motion sensor, a garage door position sensor, a door sensor, an obstruction sensor, and a camera.

9. The garage door opener of claim 6 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to:
detect a second condition in the space associated with the garage door opener based on a second output received from a second condition sensor of the garage door opener,
determine a time associated with the second condition detected in the space associated with the garage door opener, and
select the responsive action further based on the second condition detected in the space associated with the garage door opener.

10. The garage door opener of claim 6 , wherein the actuatable component is an accessory device selectively attached to an electromechanical port of the garage door opener and is at least one selected from the group consisting of: a backup battery unit, a speaker, a fan, an extension cord reel, a parking assist laser, an environmental sensor, a flashlight, and a security camera.

11. A method for controlling a garage door opener, the method comprising:
determining, by an electronic processor, a presence of a condition accessory selectively attached and in communication with the garage door opener;
determining, by the electronic processor, a presence of an actuatable accessory selectively attached and in communication with the garage door opener;
detecting, by the electronic processor, a condition sensed by the condition accessory in communication with the garage door opener;
selecting, by the electronic processor, a responsive action based on the detected condition sensed by the condition accessory in communication with the garage door opener; and
controlling, by the electronic processor, the actuatable accessory in communication with the garage door opener to perform the responsive action.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving a first identifier from the condition accessory in communication with the garage door opener, the first identifier used by the electronic processor to determine the presence of the condition accessory, and
receiving a second identifier from the actuatable accessory in in communication with the garage door opener, the second identifier used by the electronic processor to determine the presence of the actuatable accessory.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
comparing, by the electronic processor, the detected condition sensed by the condition accessory to a set of rules stored in a memory in communication with the electronic processor, and
utilizing, by the electronic processor, a rule of the set of rules that corresponds to the detected condition sensed by the condition accessory to make the selection of the responsive action based on the detected condition sensed by the condition accessory in communication with the garage door opener.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
controlling, by the electronic processor, an actuatable component of the garage door opener to perform a second responsive action in response to the detected condition, in addition to controlling the actuatable accessory in communication with the garage door opener to perform the responsive action, the actuatable component of the garage door opener being integrated and hardwired into the garage door opener and being at least one selected from the group consisting of a motor, a light, and a speaker.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
wherein the condition detected is a first condition and the

Assignees

• Tti Macao Commercial Offshore Ltd

Inventors

• Preus Michael
• Mcnabb William

Classifications

• G08C17/02 Primary

  using a radio link · CPC title

• H04Q9/00

  Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom · CPC title

• E05Y2900/106

  for garages · CPC title

• E05F15/77 Primary

  using wireless control · CPC title

• E05F15/79

  using time control · CPC title