U.S. patent number RE37,784 [Application Number 09/614,222] was granted by the patent office on 2002-07-09 for barrier operator having system for detecting attempted forced entry.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Chamberlain Group, Inc.. Invention is credited to James J. Fitzgibbon, John V. Moravec.
United States Patent |
RE37,784 |
Fitzgibbon , et al. |
July 9, 2002 |
Barrier operator having system for detecting attempted forced
entry
Abstract
A movable barrier or garage door operator has a barrier drive
for moving the movable barrier or garage door between open and
closed positions. Motion of the barrier is detected by a tachometer
connected to the barrier drive or by upper and lower barrier travel
limit switches. A test is made to determine if the barrier has been
commanded to be in a closed state and to determine if a preselected
time interval has elapsed following closure of the barrier. When
both of those conditions are present and the door is moved upward
without authorization an alarm signal is generated and can signal
the barrier drive to apply a closing force. The timer prevents the
barrier from being closed on a person or obstacle during normal
operation and prevents injury. An obstacle detector also prevents
unwanted closure on an obstacle.
Inventors: |
Fitzgibbon; James J. (Batavia,
IL), Moravec; John V. (Egg Harbor, WI) |
Assignee: |
The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
(Elmhurst, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
23759716 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/614,222 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
443178 |
May 17, 1995 |
|
|
|
Reissue of: |
888836 |
Jul 7, 1997 |
05780987 |
Jul 14, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
318/466; 318/16;
318/286; 318/468; 318/480; 318/563; 318/565 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05F
15/668 (20150115); E05Y 2201/41 (20130101); E05Y
2201/434 (20130101); E05Y 2400/51 (20130101); E05Y
2400/81 (20130101); E05Y 2800/106 (20130101); E05Y
2800/252 (20130101); E05Y 2800/426 (20130101); E05Y
2900/106 (20130101); E05F 15/00 (20130101); E05F
15/43 (20150115); E05F 2015/434 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
E05F
15/16 (20060101); E05F 15/00 (20060101); E05F
015/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;318/16,286,466,467,468,469,480,452,563,565,566,264,265,266
;49/25,26 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Ro; Bentsu
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitch, Even, Tabin &
Flannery
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
08/443,178 filed May 17, 1995, now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A barrier operator for opening and closing a movable barrier,
comprising:
a barrier drive;
means for detecting motion of the movable barrier;
means for detecting when a barrier command signal has been given to
the barrier drive;
means for storing a commanded state of the barrier drive;
means for comparing the commanded state with the motion indicated
by said barrier motion detection means, and for indicating if the
motion conflicts with the commanded state; and
means for generating an alarm signal in response to the conflict
indication of said comparing means.
2. A barrier operator for opening and closing a movable barrier
according to claim 1, further comprising means for enabling the
alarm signal generating means a preselected time interval following
closure of the barrier.
3. A barrier operator for opening and closing a movable barrier
according to claim 2, further comprising means for optically
detecting the presence of an obstacle adjacent the barrier and
producing an obstacle detection signal in response thereto, said
obstacle detection means being inhibited in response to the means
for enabling alarm signal generation.
4. A barrier operator for opening and closing a movable barrier
according to claim 1, further comprising a barrier position
detection switch for generating a barrier closure signal when the
barrier is substantially closed and providing the barrier closure
signal to the means for generating the alarm signal indicative of
the fact that the barrier has been closed.
5. A barrier operator for opening and closing a movable barrier
according to claim 1, further comprising means for causing the
barrier drive to supply a closing force to the movable barrier in
response to the alarm signal from the means for generating the
alarm signal.
6. A barrier operator for opening and closing a movable barrier
according to claim 5, further comprising means for the barrier
drive to cease supplying a closing force after a predetermined time
interval.
7. A barrier operator for controlling a movable barrier,
comprising,
a down limit detector disposed to indicate whether said barrier is
at a closed position or not;
memory means for storing one of a set of states of said barrier,
the set of states including a CLOSED state indicating said barrier
is closed;
alarm generation means, responsive to the barrier state stored by
said memory means and said down limit detector, for generating an
alarm signal when the stored barrier state is CLOSED and said down
limit detector indicates said barrier is not at a closed position;
and
alarm enabling means for enabling said alarm generation means a
preselected time interval after said barrier is closed.
8. A barrier operator according to claim 7, wherein said alarm
enabling means is responsive to an indication from said down limit
detector that said barrier is closed for initiating the preselected
time interval.
9. A barrier operator according to claim 7, further comprising:
down motor signal means, for providing a down motor signal in
response to said alarm signal; and
a barrier drive responsive to said down motor signal for closing
said barrier.
10. A barrier operator according to claim 9, further
comprising:
obstacle detector for detecting an obstacle to movement of said
barrier, and for generating an obstacle signal in response thereto;
and
means for disabling said barrier drive in response to the obstacle
signal.
11. A barrier operator according to claim 10, wherein said obstacle
detector comprises:
an optical light emitter for emitting light; and
an optical light detector for receiving the light from said
emitter, and generating a signal indicative of whether light is
received from said emitter or not.
12. A barrier operator according to claim 9, wherein said alarm
enabling means is disposed to continuously enable without a
preselected time delay said alarm generation means after said alarm
generation means has generated an alarm signal, and after said
barrier drive has closed said barrier in response to said alarm
signal.
13. A barrier operator according to claim 9, further
comprising:
a barrier drive motion detector for detecting actual motion of said
barrier drive and generating a motion signal indicative thereof;
wherein
said alarm generation means receives the motion signal and
generates the alarm signal when the stored barrier state is CLOSED,
said down limit detector indicates said barrier is not at a closed
position, and said motion detector indicates motion of said barrier
drive.
14. A barrier operator according to claim 9, further
comprising:
a command signal receiver for receiving a signal commanding said
barrier to open, and generating an indication thereof; and
means for providing an up motor signal in response to the receiver
indication; wherein
said barrier drive responds to the up motor signal by opening said
barrier; and
said memory means stores a state selected from the set of barrier
states, other than the CLOSED state, in response to the receiver
indication.
15. A garage door operator for opening and dosing a garage door,
comprising:
a motor for moving the garage door;
a down limit detector, for indicating when the garage door is moved
to a closed position by said motor;
timer means enabled by the indication from said down limit detector
that the garage door is closed, disposed to indicate when a
preselected interval has expired;
command signal means for receiving a commanded state of the garage
door; and
a microprocessor responsive to said command signal means for
causing said motor to move the garage door to the commanded state,
disposed to cause the motor to close the garage door when said
timer means indicates the preselected interval has expired, said
down limit detector indicates the garage door is not closed, and
said command signal means has not received a new commanded
state.
16. A garage door operator according to claim 15, further
comprising:
a tachometer for detecting rotation of said motor, and for
providing an indication thereof to said microprocessor, wherein
said microprocessor is disposed to cause said motor to close the
garage door when said timer means indicates the preselected
interval has expired, said tachometer indicates said motor has
rotated beyond a preselected threshold, and said command signal
means has not received a new commanded state.
17. A garage door operator according to claim 15, further
comprising:
an optical obstacle detector, for optically detecting the presence
of an obstacle adjacent the garage door and producing an obstacle
detection signal in response thereto, wherein
said microprocessor is responsive to the obstacle detection signal
to cease causing said motor to close the garage door.
18. A garage door operator according to claim 15, wherein said
command signal means comprises a radio frequency
receiver..Iadd.
19. A barrier operator for opening and closing a movable barrier,
comprising:
a barrier drive;
a motion detector for detecting motion of the movable barrier;
a command signal detector for detecting when a barrier command
signal has been given to the barrier drive;
circuitry for storing a commanded state of the barrier drive;
a controller for comparing the commanded state with the motion
indicated by said barrier motion detector, and for indicating if
the motion conflicts with the commanded state; and
a signal generator for generating an alarm signal in response to
the conflict indication of said controller..Iaddend..Iadd.
20. A barrier operator for opening and closing a movable barrier
according to claim 19, further comprising apparatus for enabling
the alarm signal generator a preselected time interval following
closure of the barrier..Iaddend..Iadd.
21. A barrier operator for opening and closing a movable barrier
according to claim 20, further comprising an obstacle detector for
optically detecting the presence of an obstacle adjacent the
barrier and producing an obstacle detection signal in response
thereto, said obstacle detector being inhibited in response to the
signal generator for enabling alarm signal
generation..Iaddend..Iadd.
22. A barrier operator for opening and closing a movable barrier
according to claim 19, further comprising a barrier position
detection switch for generating a barrier closure signal when the
barrier is substantially closed and providing the barrier closure
signal to the signal generator indicative of the fact that the
barrier has been closed..Iaddend..Iadd.
23. A barrier operator for opening and closing a movable barrier
according to claim 19, further comprising apparatus for enabling
the barrier drive to supply a closing force to the movable barrier
in response to the alarm signal from the signal generator for
generating the alarm signal..Iaddend..Iadd.
24. A barrier operator for opening and closing a movable barrier
according to claim 23, wherein the barrier drive ceases supplying a
closing force after a predetermined time
interval..Iaddend..Iadd.
25. A barrier operator for controlling a movable barrier,
comprising:
a down limit detector disposed to indicate whether said barrier is
at a closed position or not;
memory for storing one of a set of states of said barrier, the set
of states including a CLOSED state indicating said barrier is
closed;
an alarm generator, responsive to the barrier state stored by said
memory and said down limit detector, for generating an alarm signal
when the stored barrier state is CLOSED and said down limit
detector indicates said barrier is not at a closed position;
and
an alarm enabler for enabling said alarm signal generator a
preselected time interval after said barrier is
closed..Iaddend..Iadd.
26. A barrier operator according to claim 25, wherein said alarm
enabler is responsive to an indication from said down limit
detector that said barrier is closed for initiating the preselected
time interval..Iaddend..Iadd.
27. A barrier operator according to claim 25, further
comprising:
down motor circuitry, for providing a down motor signal in response
to said alarm signal; and
barrier drive responsive to said down motor signal for closing said
barrier..Iaddend..Iadd.
28. A barrier operator according to claim 27, further
comprising:
obstacle detector for detecting an obstacle to movement of said
barrier, and for generating an obstacle signal in response thereto;
and for disabling said barrier drive in response to the obstacle
signal..Iaddend..Iadd.
29. A barrier operator according to claim 28, wherein said obstacle
detector comprises:
an optical light emitter for emitting light; and
an optical light detector for receiving the light from said
emitter, and generating a signal indicative of whether light is
received from said emitter or not..Iaddend..Iadd.
30. A barrier operator according to claim 27, wherein said alarm
enabler is disposed to continuously enable without a preselected
time delay said alarm generator after said alarm generator has
generated an alarm signal, and after said barrier drive has closed
said barrier in response to said alarm signal..Iaddend..Iadd.
31. A barrier operator according to claim 27, further
comprising:
a barrier drive motion detector for detecting actual motion of said
barrier drive and generating a motion signal indicative
thereof;
wherein said alarm generator receives the motion signal and
generates the alarm signal when the stored barrier state is CLOSED,
said down limit detector indicates said barrier is not at a closed
position and said motion detector indicates motion of said barrier
drive..Iaddend..Iadd.
32. A barrier operator according to claim 27, further
comprising:
a command signal receiver for receiving a signal commanding said
barrier to open, and generating an indication thereof; and
circuitry for providing an up motor signal in response to the
receiver indication: wherein
said barrier drive responds to the up motor signal by opening said
barrier; and
said memory stores a state selected from the set of barrier states,
other than the CLOSED state, in response to the receiver
indication..Iaddend..Iadd.
33. A garage door operator for opening and closing a garage door
comprising:
a motor for moving the garage door;
a down limit detector, for indicating when the garage door is moved
to a closed position by said motor;
a timer enabled by the indication from said down limit detector
that the garage door is closed, disposed to indicate when a
preselected interval has expired;
a command signal receiver for receiving a commanded state of the
garage door; and
a microprocessor responsive to said command signal receiver for
causing said motor to move the garage door to the commanded state,
disposed to cause the motor to close the garage door when said
timer indicates the preselected interval has expired, said down
limit detector indicates the garage door is not closed, and said
command signal receiver has not received a new commanded
state..Iaddend..Iadd.
34. A garage door operator according to claim 33, further
comprising:
a tachometer for detecting rotation of said motor, and for
providing an indication thereof to said microprocessor; wherein
said microprocessor is disposed to cause said motor to close the
garage door when said timer indicates the preselected interval has
expired, said tachometer indicates said motor has rotated beyond a
preselected threshold, and said command signal receiver has not
received a new commanded state..Iaddend..Iadd.
35. A garage door operator according to claim 33, further
comprising:
an optical obstacle detector, for optically detecting the presence
of an obstacle adjacent the garage door and producing an obstacle
detection signal in response thereto, wherein
said microprocessor is responsive to the obstacle detection signal
to cease causing said motor to close the garage
door..Iaddend..Iadd.
36. A garage door operator according to claim 33, wherein said
command signal receiver comprises a radio frequency
receiver..Iaddend..Iadd.
37. A barrier operator for opening and closing a barrier
comprising:
a command signal receiver for receiving barrier open and barrier
close signals directing the opening or closing respectively of the
barrier;
a barrier drive responsive to barrier open and barrier close
signals for opening and closing the barrier, respectively;
a closed limit detector for sensing the closed state of the
barrier; and
a barrier controller responsive to received command signals and the
closed limit detector for generating an alarm signal when the
barrier has been in the closed position and an attempt is made to
raise the door when no door open command has been
received..Iaddend..Iadd.
38. A barrier operator according to claim 37 comprising a timer
enabled by the closed limit detector for indicating that a
predetermined period of time has passed..Iaddend..Iadd.
39. A barrier operator according to claim 37 wherein the barrier
drive responds to the alarm signal by applying a closing force to
the barrier..Iaddend..Iadd.
40. A method of controlling a movable barrier for movement between
an open position and a closed position comprising:
receiving barrier movement commands including barrier open commands
directing opening movement of the barrier and barrier close
commands directing a closing movement of the barrier;
moving the barrier to the closed position in response to a barrier
close command;
sensing that the barrier has been moved to the closed position;
and
generating an alarm signal when the sensing step indicates that the
barrier has moved from the closed position, and the receiving step
does not indicate that a barrier open command has been
received..Iaddend..Iadd.
41. The method of claim 40 comprising directing closing movement of
the barrier in response to the alarm signal..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates, in general, to barrier operators and, in
particular to a garage door operator including a system for
detecting when an attempt is made to force open a closed garage
door.
Several garage door operator systems are available on the market
for maintaining a garage door either in a closed or open position.
It is clear that the systems should be relatively easy to use and
should be able to open the door relatively rapidly to allow quick
and easy access to the garage. In addition, many systems are
provided which include detectors, pressure detectors and the like
that sense when the garage door is being brought down and the
bottom edge of the door comes in contact with an obstacle prior to
the door reaching the fully closed position. These systems are
important because they prevent the garage door from closing on
people, pets or small objects and, therefore, prevent personal
injury and property damage. One of the drawbacks of such systems,
however, is that for some such systems, when the door has been
closed, if a lifting force is applied to the door, or instance by
an unwanted intruder grabbing the handle of the door and attempting
to raise it by jacking the door or the like, some systems through a
force measurement routine, automatically cause the door to be
opened, in order to prevent what the garage door operator senses
might be potential harm. Of course, if the person operating the
door is attempting to break and enter the garage for nefarious
purposes and it is important that while the system prevents harm,
the system also be provided such that the door cannot be forced
open if the operator does not want it to be and if no persons or
property are in danger.
A system available from the Stanley Company provides a garage door
operator having upper travel limit and lower travel limit switches
associated therewith. The switches may be set or moved so that the
limits of travel may be changed. In the Stanley system, for
instance, if the door has reached a nominal closed position and the
operator has its down limit switch position changed, the door will
actually dynamically track changes in the switch position and open
or close according to switch commands.
Mechanical systems may be available that in effect, jam the door
closed; however, once these systems are placed in effect, if a
person not knowing that the door is down and effectively
mechanically locked attempts to open the door the garage door
operator then attempts to lift the door against the locking
mechanism and the garage door operator may be inadvertently damaged
thereby or, at the very least, not open the door because it is
locked.
What is needed then is a system which provides a sensing modality
for a garage door or other barrier operator which, while
maintaining all safety features to prevent personal injury or
property damage due to unwanted closing of the door, nevertheless
senses when an intruder attempts to open the door and prevents the
door from being opened by a positive drive force provided by the
garage door operator motor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates, in general, to a barrier system operator
and, in particular, to a garage door operator which while having
all safety features for preventing personal injury and property
damage due to inadvertent closing of the garage door, nevertheless
provides a positively actuated door closure system which prevents
forcing the door once it has closed without having detected any
objects underneath it. The system includes a barrier drive
including an electric motor which may be connected to a belt, chain
or screw drive. Means are provided for detecting motion of the
movable barrier. These means may include a motor tachometer, upper
and lower limit switches and the like. Means are also provided for
detecting when a barrier command signal has been given to the
barrier drive so that when a door has been commanded by a radio
frequency control, the keypad control, indoor wired control or the
like to open, the door may be automatically opened. The system also
includes a storage device for storing the commanded state of the
barrier drive which may be a microcontroller or a microprocessor in
combination with a memory or some other integrated circuit device
capable of storing digital or analog information. The commanded
state is stored and is then compared in a comparator means with the
position indicated by the barrier detection. In the event that the
comparison of the barrier state signal and the barrier position
signal indicates that the system already has been in a lowered
position, usually for given time intervals, such as 27 seconds and
attempt is made to raise the door causing unwanted motion of the
door when there has been no up command given, an alarm signal is
generated which may be passed through electronic and
electromechanical logic to the door motor causing the door motor to
provide thrust to the door to hold the door in the closed
position.
In the alternative, the system may also provide a signal to operate
a visual or audio alarm or to call over a telephonic or other wired
system to a police department or to a security service to indicate
that the system is being broken into.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a
barrier operator for opening and closing a movable barrier which
includes an electronic system for detecting when forced entry is
being attempted on the carrier and for preventing the barrier from
being opened.
Other objects of this invention will become obvious to one of
ordinary skill in the art upon a perusal of the following
specification and claims in light of the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus comprising a garage
door operator and embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a portion of the head unit and
associated controls of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
.[.FIG. 3 is.]. .Iadd.FIGS. 3A-3C are .Iaddend.a schematic diagram
showing details of the circuit shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a top level flow diagram for the
apparatus embodying the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an upper limit routine;
FIGS. 6A and 6B are a flow diagram controlling travel upward;
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a down limit routine;
FIGS. 8A and 8B are a flow chart of a downward or closing movement
routine;
FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a barrier closed routine; and
FIG. 10 is a flow chart of an auto-reverse time delay routine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings and especially to FIG. 1, more
specifically a movable barrier door operator or garage door
operator is generally shown therein and includes a head unit 12
mounted within a garage 14. More specifically, the head unit 12 is
mounted to the ceiling of the garage 14 and includes a rail 18
extending therefrom with a releasable trolley 20 attached having an
arm 22 extending to a multiple paneled garage door 24 positioned
for movement along a pair of door rails 26 and 28. The system
includes a hand-held transmitter unit 30 adapted to send signals to
an antenna 32 positioned on the head unit 12 and coupled to a
receiver as will appear hereinafter. An external control pad 34 is
positioned on the outside of the garage having a plurality of
buttons thereon and disposed to communicate via radio frequency
transmission with the antenna 32 of the head unit 12. An optical
emitter 42 is connected via a power and signal line 44 to the head
unit. An optical detector 46 is connected via a wire 48 to the head
unit 12.
The head unit 12 has a wired wall control panel 43 connected to it
via a line or wire 43a, as is shown in FIG. 2. More specifically,
the wall control panel 43 is connected to a charging circuit 70 and
a discharging circuit 72 coupled via respective lines 74 and 76 to
a wall control decoder 78. The wall control decoder 78 decodes
closures of a plurality of switches 80, 82 and 84 in the wall
circuit. The wall control panel also includes a light emitting
diode 86 connected by a resistor 88 to the line 43a and to ground.
Switch 80 is the command switch, switch 82 is the work light switch
and switch 84 is the vacation switch. Switch closures are decoded
by the wall decoder 78 which sends signals along lines 90 and 92 to
a motor control 94 coupled via motor control lines 96 to an
electric motor 98 positioned within the head unit. A tachometer 100
receives a mechanical feed from the motor 98 and provides feedback
signals on lines 102 to the motor controller.
The receiver unit also includes an antenna 110 coupled to receive
radio frequency signals either from the fixed RF keypad 34 or the
hand-held transmitter 30. The RF signals are fed to a radio
frequency receiver 112 where they are buffer amplified and supplied
to a bandpass circuit 114 which outputs low frequency signals in
the range of 1 Hz to 1 kHz. The low frequency signals are fed to an
analog-to-digital converter 116 that sends digitized code signals
to a radio controller 118. The radio controller 118 is also
connected to receive signals from a non-volatile memory 120 over a
non-volatile memory bus 122 and to communicate via lines 124 and
126 with the motor controller 94. A timer 128 is also provided,
coupled via lines 130 with the radio controller, a line 132 with
the motor controller and a line 134 with the wall control decoder
78. A barrier travel limit detection device 190 includes an up
limit detector 190a and a down limit detector 190b that sends
signals to pins P20 and P21 of the microcontroller 282 .Iadd.(as
depicted in FIG. 3b).Iaddend.. The obstacle detector comprising the
emitter 42 and detector 46 send signals to pins P03 and P30 of the
microcontroller 282 .Iadd.(as depicted in FIG. 3b)
.Iaddend.indicating when an obstacle is blocking the path of the
door.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the system shown in FIG. 3 is shown
therein with the antenna 110 coupled to a reactive divider network
250, comprised of a pair of series connected inductances 252 and
254 and capacitors 256 and 258, which supplies an RF signal to the
buffer amplifier 112 having an NPN transistor 260 connected to
receive the RF signal at its emitter 261. The NPN transistor 260
has a capacitor 262 connected to it for power supply isolation. The
buffer amplifier 112 provides a buffered radio frequency output
signal on a lead 268. The buffered RF signal is fed to an input 270
which forms part of a super-regenerative receiver 272 having an
output at a line 274 coupled to the bandpass filter 114 which
provides output to a comparator 278. The bandpass filter 114 and
analog-to-digital converter provide a digital level output signal
at a lead 280 which is supplied to an input pin P32 of an 8-bit
Zilog microcontroller 282.
The microcontroller 282 may have its mode of operation controlled
by a programming or learning switch 300 positioned on the outside
of the head unit 12 and coupled via a line 302 to the P26 pin of
the microcontroller 282. The wired control panel 43 is connected
via the lead 43a to input pins P06 and P07 The microcontroller 282
has a 4 MHz crystal 328 connected to it to provide clock signals. A
force sensor 330 includes a bridge circuit having a potentiometer
332 for setting the up force and a potentiometer 334 for setting
the down force, respectively connected to inverting terminals of a
first comparator 336 and a second comparator 338. The comparator
336 sends an up force signal over a line 339a. The comparator 338
sends a down force signal over the line 339b, respectively to pins
P04 and P05 of the 8-bit microcontroller 282. Although details of
the operation of the microcontroller in conjunction with other
portions of the circuit will be discussed hereinafter, it should be
appreciated that the P01 pin of the microcontroller is connected
via a resistor 350 to a line 352 which is coupled to an NPN
transistor 354 that controls a light relay 356 which may supply
current via a lead 358 to a fight in the head unit or the like.
Similarly, the pin P000 feeds an output signal on a line 360 to a
resistor 362 which biases a base of an NPN transistor 364 to cause
the transistor 364 to conduct, drawing current through the coil of
the relay an up relay 366 causing an up motor command to be sent
over a line 90 to the motor 98. Finally, the P02 pin sends a signal
through a line 370 to a resistor 372 via a line 374 to the base of
an NPN transistor 376 connected to control current through a coil
of a down control relay 378 which is coupled by one of the leads to
the motor 98 to control motion of the motor 98.
Electric power is received on a hot AC line 390 and a neutral line
AC line 392 which are coupled to a transformer 393 at its primary
winding 394. The AC is stepped down at a secondary winding 395 and
is full wave rectified by a full wave rectifier 3%. It may be
appreciated that, in the alternative, a half wave rectifier may
also be used.
A plurality of filter capacitors 398 receive the full wave
rectified fluctuating voltage and remove some transients from the
voltage supplying a voltage with reduced fluctuation to an input of
a voltage regulator 400. The voltage regulator 400 produces a
5-volt output signal available at a lead 402 for use in other
portions of the circuit.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a top level routine is shown therein which
is entered every two milliseconds upon at timing interrupt in a
step 500. The routine then enters a variety of other routines
depending upon the value of a state number. When the state number
is 2 an upper limit routine is entered in a step 502. If the state
number is 1, a traveling up routine is entered in a state 504. If
the state is 5, a down limit routine is entered in a step 506. If
the state is 4, a traveling down routine is entered in a step 508.
If the state is 6, a barrier halt or stopped in middle routine is
entered in a step 510. If the state is 0, an auto-reverse time
delay routine is entered in a step 512. When any of the
aforementioned routines 502 through 512 are exited, a return step
514 is entered and other portions of code not pertinent to this
invention are executed.
In the event that the state equals 2, the routine 502 is entered as
may best be seen in FIG. 5 wherein the upper limit switch has
indicated that the door has reached the upper end of its authorized
travel, the motor is switched off and a watchdog timer is started
in a step 514. The work light command flag is set in step 516 to
toggle the work light on. In a step 518, a radio command or wall
control command flag is tested for and, if set, the state is set to
4. In a step 520, the routine is exited and return is switched to
the step 514. In the event that the state has been set equal to 4,
in step 518 at the next 2 millisecond interval, control is
transferred to the routine 508.
In the event that the state has been set equal to 1, control is
transferred to a barrier traveling up or a barrier opening routine
shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. In a step 522, the work light is turned
on and in the event that the light was off, a delay of 40
milliseconds is then provided to turn on the up motor output, the
down motor output is turned off and the hold door closed flag is
cleared. In a step 524, after a start up delay of 1 second the rpm
period of the tachometer is tested against the look up force and if
the rpm period is too brief, a state is set to indicate that the
door has stopped in mid travel. In a step 526, a test is made to
determine whether the one second timer has exceeded one second and
whether the rpm period is below the set force limit indicating that
the door has been halted in an unwanted manner. If it is not,
control is transferred to a step 528 wherein the state variable is
set to 6, following which the routine is exited in a step 530. In
the event that the decision in step 526 is positive, the up limit
input is tested. If the voltage is low, it is increased. If it is
high, the debounce is decreased. Control is then transferred to a
test step 532 to test whether the limit debounce is greater than 24
milliseconds. If it is, the state is set equal to 2 in a step 534
and the routine is exited in a step 536. If the limit debounce is
less than 24 milliseconds, control is transferred to a step 540
where a 27 second time out is decremented and tested for. If the
time out is zero, the state is set as indicating that the door has
stopped in mid travel. A step 542 is executed to test for either a
radio or wall control command flag having been set and, if so, the
state is set as stop in mid travel. The routine is then executed in
a step 544.
In the event that the state has been set equal to 5, a routine 506
to handle down limits, as shown in FIG. 7, is entered. In a step
550, a hold door closed flag is tested to determine whether it is
set or not. If it is not set, control is transferred to a step 552
to determine whether the 27 seconds timer has timed out following
the down limit having been set, indicating that the door has safely
closed and did not contact an obstruction or obstacle. In the event
that the hold door closed flag has been set, as tested for in step
550, control is transferred to a step 554 testing whether the down
limit indicates the door is open and whether the motor has been
given enough current or turned on long enough to provide 10 rpm
pulses. In the event that the 27 second clock has not been timed
out as indicated by step 552, control is transferred to a step 556,
switching the motor off, and starting a watchdog timer. Control is
then transferred to a step 558 to determine if the work light
command flag has been set and, if it has, the work light is
toggled. Control is then transferred to a step 560, testing for
whether there is a radio command or wall control command flag. If
so, the state is set equal to 1 and the routine is exited in a
return step 562. In the event that the down limit does not indicate
that the door is open and the motor has been turned enough to give
10 rpm pulses, control is transferred to a step 564 setting the
state equal to 4 and setting the hold door closed flag. The state
equal 4 indicates that the door is to be traveling down, thereby
causing the barrier to close after the 27 second limit has timed
out.
In the event the state has been set equal to 4 to command the door
to travel down, the routine 508 is entered as shown in FIGS. 8A and
8B. In a step 570, the work light is turned on, and if the light
had previously been off, a delay of 40 milliseconds occurs
following which down motor output is turned on and the up motor
output is turned off, the watchdog is also started. In a step 572,
a test is made to determine whether the 1 second timer has exceeded
1 second and whether the rpm period is indicative of a force limit
having been exceeded. If so, indicating that the door is stalled on
an obstacle, control is transferred to a step 574, setting a state
equal to zero and the routine is exited in a step 576. If the door
has not been indicated to be stalled by the step 572, control is
transferred to a step 578 testing the status of the down limit
input. If it is low, the debounce is increased. If it is high, the
debounce is decreased. In a step 580, the limit debounce is tested
to determine whether it is greater than or equal to 24
milliseconds. If it is, the state is set equal to 5 in a step 582
and the routine is exited in a step 584. If it is not, the 27
second time out is decremented and tested to determine if it is
zero. If it is zero, the state is set equal to zero in a step 586.
In a step 588, a test is made to determine whether the radio or
wall control command flag has been set and, if so, the state is
then set equal to 6. In a step 590, as shown in FIG. 8B, the timer
associated with the optical detector is tested to determine whether
it is greater than 10 milliseconds and, if it is, indicating that
an obstacle is blocking the light path, the state is set equal to
zero to cause the auto-reverse routine 512 to be entered following
exiting from this routine. It will be entered on the next interrupt
which is in less than 2 milliseconds. Control is then transferred
to a step 592, testing whether the motor speed indicated that the
door had been forced upward. If it is not the routine is exited in
a step 594. If the rpm sensing indicates that the door has been
forced upward, a test is made in the step 596 to determine if the
command is still valid, indicating the door is to move upward. If
it is not, control is transferred to a step 598 setting the state
equal to zero which will cause the door to auto reverse and move
down. Control is then transferred to a step 600 exiting the
routine.
In the event that the state has been set equal to 6, the routine
510 shown in FIG. 9 is entered. A test is made to determine whether
the motor motion indicates that the door has been forced upward. If
so, a flag is set to turn off the light and the electric motor is
switched off and the watchdog is started. If the worklight command
flag has been set in a step 604, the work light is then toggled. In
a step 606, a test is made to determine whether the radio command
or wall control command flag has been set and, if it has, the state
is then set equal to 4 which will cause entry of the traveling down
routine 508. The routine is then exited in a step 608.
In the event that the state has been set equal to zero indicating
that an auto reverse is to be commanded, the routine 512 is entered
in a step 620, the motor is turned off and a watchdog timer is
started. In the step 622, the delay timer is decreased and if 0.5
seconds has expired, the state is set equal to 1 to cause the door
to travel upward on the next 2 millisecond interrupt. In a step
624, a test is made for the radio command or wall control command
flag being set. If it has, the stopped in middle routine 510 will
be entered on the next interrupt. The routine 512 is then exited in
a step 626.
While there has been illustrated and described a particular
embodiment 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 spirit
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