Barrier operator feature enhancement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10801247-B2
Application number	US-201916570659-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2019
Priority date	Nov 8, 2012
Publication date	Oct 13, 2020
Grant date	Oct 13, 2020

Abstract

A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a communication module configured to communicate with a garage door operator, the communication module comprising a wired communication port configured to be connected through one or more wires to the garage door operator;
control circuitry configured to cause the communication module to communicate with the garage door operator to control movement of a garage door associated with the garage door operator; and
an input/output module in communication with the control circuitry, the input/output module configured to communicate with a computing device and a wireless door position sensor, the wireless door position sensor configured to provide information regarding the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
the input/output module configured to receive an instruction signal sent relative to an interaction with a user interface of the computing device and to receive a communication from the wireless door position sensor for determination of at least one of a position, a status, and movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to receipt of the instruction signal from the computing device via the input/output module, effect communication with the garage door operator to control movement of the garage door between an open position and a closed position;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to monitor usage of the garage door operator and to store information pertaining to a history of the usage in a memory, the information pertaining to the history of the usage includes at least one of:
information pertaining to an instruction signal received by the input/output module in response to an interaction with the user interface provided on the computing device; and
information pertaining to the determination of at least one of the position, the status, and the movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator,

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to communicate, via the input/output module, the information pertaining to the history of usage to the computing device,
wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect a forced entry causing movement of the garage door based at least in part on the communication from the wireless door position sensor;
wherein the control circuitry is configured to communicate, via the input/output module, an indication of the forced entry to the computing device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is configured to send communications to and receive communications from devices over the Internet.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive one or more commands to cause at least one of: operation of the garage door operator from the computing device via the Internet; and communication of status information regarding the garage door operator to the computing device via the Internet.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein communications from the wireless door position sensor are received via a first protocol different from a second protocol used to communicate with the computing device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is configured to send status information regarding the garage door operator to the computing device over at least one network, wherein the status information includes information based at least in part on the communication received from the wireless door position sensor regarding the garage door as moved by the garage door operator.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising the garage door operator.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a peripheral device configured to communicate with at least one of the garage door operator and the input/output module, the peripheral device selected from the group consisting of an obstacle detector, a network adapter, a barrier operator, a hand-held transmitter, a wall control, a presence detector, or combinations thereof.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a light, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to effect flashing of the light in coordination with communication with the garage door operator to control movement of the garage door between the open position and the closed position.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a sound generator, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to effect generation of a sound by the sound generator in coordination with communication with the garage door operator to control movement of the garage door between the open position and the closed position.

10. A kit comprising:
a wireless door position sensor configured to provide information regarding a garage door associated with a garage door operator; and
a barrier operator feature enhancement device including:
a communication module configured to communicate with the garage door operator via a wired communication port configured to be connected through one or more wires to the garage door operator;
control circuitry configured to cause the communication module to communicate with the garage door operator to control movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator; and
an input/output module in communication with the control circuitry, the input/output module configured to communicate with a computing device and the wireless door position sensor;
the input/output module configured to receive an instruction signal sent relative to an interaction with a user interface of the computing device, and to receive a communication from the wireless door position sensor for determination of at least one of a position, a status, and movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator;

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to receipt of the instruction signal from the computing device via the input/output module, cause the communication module to send a communication signal to the garage door operator that effects movement of the garage door by the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to monitor usage of the garage door operator, and to store information pertaining to a history of the usage in a memory, the information pertaining to the history of the usage includes at least one of: information pertaining to an instruction signal received by the input/output module in response to an interaction with the user interface provided on the computing device; and information pertaining to the determination of at least one of the position, the status, and the movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to communicate, via the input/output module, the information pertaining to the history of usage to the computing device;
wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect a forced entry causing movement of the garage door based at least in part on the communication from the wireless door position sensor;
wherein the control circuitry is configured to communicate, via the input/output module, an indication of the forced entry to the computing device.

11. The kit of claim 10 wherein the input/output module is configured to send communications to and receive communications from devices over the Internet.

12. The kit of claim 11 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive one or more commands to cause at least one of: operation of the garage door operator from the computing device via the Internet; and communication of status information regarding the garage door operator to the computing device via the Inter

Assignees

• Chamberlain Group Inc

Inventors

• Fitzgibbon James Joseph
• Keller Jr Robert R

Classifications

• E05Y2400/85

  User input means · CPC title

• E05Y2400/44

  Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement · CPC title

• G05B2219/2628

  Door, window · CPC title

• G07C2009/00928

  for garage doors · CPC title

• G05B2219/25168

  Domotique, access through internet protocols · CPC title