AU2021107445A4 - Movable Barrier Controller - Google Patents

Abstract

A movable barrier system comprises a barrier able to be opened and closed over a region, a motor for moving the barrier to be opened or closed, a controller of the motor to driving movement of the barrier at one of at least two speeds, a receiver of a signal to operate the barrier received from a first input; and a receiver of a signal to operate the barrier received from a second input. The controller is configured to control the motor to close the barrier at a slower of the speeds when the barrier is operated by the second input and the controller is configured to control the motor to close the barrier at a faster of the speeds when the barrier is operated by the first input. m CL 00 C) 0 0 C)1 0 00 C- 04 0 co .2o .21 u0 0 u 0 l0 U- -D CLC 00 0U 00 C.0 E0 0 .0 C) 4 D S 55 C

Description

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Movable Barrier Controller

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to barrier system, including but not limited to garage doors and gates.

Background

[0002] The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

[0003] For safety reasons the speed of lowering a barrier, such as a roller door (eg garage door), so that if an obstacle is in the opening being closed then the impact of the door is limited. The impact limitation is often expressed as a maximum force but in practical terms it is a function of speed.

[0004] When a person is present, such as when using a radio remote control the user can typically see the garage door and ensure there are no obstacles. However nowadays garage doors can be remotely controlled using a smart device or similar via a telecommunications connection to the motor for raising and lowering the door. The user may not be able to see the door so there is a desire to ensure that the lowering of the door under control of a device connected by telecommunication connection is able to produce a maximum impact force of 400N.

[0005] In response manufacturers of garage door openers have slowed the speed of the motor (in response to all lower the door commands) so that the lowering of the door is able to meet the new requirement. However, this has typically changed the time required to lower the door from about 12 to 15 secs to about 24 to 30 sec. Customers find this to be a frustratingly long time.

[0006] The present invention has been developed with this background in mind.

[0007] Throughout the specification unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0008] Throughout the specification unless the context requires otherwise, the word "include" or variations such as "includes" or "including", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Summary of Invention

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a movable barrier system comprising:

a barrier able to be opened and closed over a region; a motor for moving the barrier to be opened or closed; a controller of the motor to driving movement of the barrier at one of at least two speeds, a receiver of a signal to operate the barrier received from a first input; and a receiver of a signal to operate the barrier received from a second input, wherein the controller is configured to control the motor to close the barrier at a first of the speeds when the barrier is operated by the second input and the controller is configured to control the motor to close the barrier at a second of the speeds when the barrier is operated by the first input.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a movable barrier controller comprising:

an output for driving movement of a barrier at one of at least two speeds, a processor for receiving a signal to operate the barrier from a first input and from a second input, wherein the processor is able to determine which of the inputs provided the received signal and the processor is configured to control the output to move the barrier according to the signal at one of the speeds according to which of the inputs is determined to have provided the received signal.

[0011] In an embodiment one of the speeds is faster than the other (slower speed). In an embodiment the faster speed is used when the received signal is from the first input. In an embodiment the slower speed is set to a speed at which a collision between the moving barrier and an object is regarded as acceptable.

[0012] In an embodiment the processor determines the signal is from the first input when it is received from a radio receiver or wired connection. In an embodiment the processor determines the signal is from the second input when it is received via a telecommunications or computer network. In an embodiment the radio receiver receives radio signals of a frequency lower than 1 GHz, and typically in the hundreds of MHz, more typically between 300 and 868 MHz. In an embodiment the telecommunications network has an Internet Protocol address associated with it.

[0013] In an embodiment the output is controlled to raise or lower the barrier. In an embodiment the output is controlled to lower the barrier at the slower speed when the signal is received from the second input. In an embodiment the output is controlled to raise the barrier at the slower speed when the signal is received from the second input.

[0014] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of lower a barrier comprising

receiving a lower the barrier command;

determining whether the command was received from a first input or was received from a secondinput;

operating a motor to lower the barrier at a first speed when the command was received by the second input and operating the motor at a second speed when the command was received by the first input.

[0015] In the three aspects above, in an embodiment the first input is a local input. In an embodiment the first input is via a radio or wire connection. In an embodiment the second input is a remote input. In an embodiment the second input is via a telecommunications/ computer network.

[0016] In an embodiment the controller is configured to control the motor to open the barrier at the slower of the speeds when the barrier is operated by the second input. In an embodiment the controller is configured to control the motor to open the barrier at the faster of the speeds when the barrier is operated by the first input.

[0017] In an embodiment the first speed is a slower speed and the second speed is a faster speed.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0018] In order to provide abetter understanding, embodiments of the present invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic flow diagram showing a method of controlling the speed of a barrier according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a barrier system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of Embodiments

[0019] Figure 2 shows a movable barrier system 50 comprising a barrier such as a garage door 60 able to be opened and closed over a region by operation of a motor 58 for moving the barrier to be opened or closed. The motor speed and direction is controlled by a controller 52 that received input commands.

[0020] Figure 1 shows a method 10 of lowering the barrier 60. The method commenced by either: receiving 12 a lower the barrier command from a local device, or receiving 14 a lower the barrier command from a remote device. The local device may be a device that is not connected via telecommunication or computing network, such as from a wired connection to a push button, or a garage door remote control that typically operates at one of 300 MHz, 310 MHz, 315 MHz, 318 MHz, 390 MHz or 433 MHz. The remote device may be a device that is connected via telecommunication or computing network, such as a smartphone with an App for controlling the barrier 60, or a home automation or building management system. The source of the received command is kept track of or otherwise determined so that the motor 58 for raising and lowering the barrier can be operated 16 at the correct speed.

[0021] When the command is received from the local device the barrier 60 can be lowers at a faster speed 30. When the command is received from the remote device the barrier 60 can be lowered at a slower speed 32. The barrier will then be lowered and thus closed 18.

[0022] When a command is to raise the barrier 60 is received 20 it can be raised at the faster speed 34. Typically, the slower speed is not needed with raising the door, although it is possible to raise the door at a slower speed depending on the source.

[0023] Returning to Figure 2, the controller 52 has a receiver 56 of a signal to operate the barrier 60 from the local device and a receiver 54 of a signal to operate the barrier from a telecommunications network. The controller 52 is configured to control the motor 58 with a control signal to operate at a controlled speed to close the barrier 60. When the receiver 54 receives the command the controller is configured to operate the motor to lower the barrier 60 at a slower speed 32. When the receiver 56 receives the command the controller is configured to operate the motor to lower the barrier 60 at a faster speed 30. When the barrier receives a command to raise the barrier the controller is configured to operate the motor at the faster speed 34.

[0024] In an embodiment slower speed is set to a speed at which a collision between the moving barrier and an object is regarded as acceptable. Typically, this is at a speed at which a maximum of 400N of force is received.

[0025] As indicated in Figure 1, typically, the controller 58 is also configured to control the motor 60 to start movement to open or close with a slow start and build up to the main running speed as described above. Further, typically, the controller 58 is also configured to control the motor 60 to end movement to open or close at a slower speed than the main running speed as described above.

[0026] The present invention provides one or more advantages allowing by allowing the door to be closed at a faster rate when operated by a local device but closed as a slower speed when operated by a remote device connected by a telecommunication network.

[0027] The present invention is applicable to automatically closable barriers other than doors, such as for example gates and shutters.

[0028] Modifications may be made to the present invention within the context of that described and shown in the drawings. Such modifications are intended to form part of the invention described in this specification.

Claims (3)

Claims

1. A movable barrier system comprising:

a barrier able to be opened and closed over a region; a motor for moving the barrier to be opened or closed; a controller of the motor to driving movement of the barrier at one of at least two speeds, a receiver of a signal to operate the barrier received from a first input; and a receiver of a signal to operate the barrier received from a second input, wherein the controller is configured to control the motor to close the barrier at a slower of the speeds when the barrier is operated by the second input and the controller is configured to control the motor to close the barrier at a faster of the speeds when the barrier is operated by the first input.

2. A movable barrier controller comprising:

an output for driving movement of a barrier at one of at least two speeds, a processor for receiving a signal to operate the barrier from a first input and from a second input, wherein the processor is able to determine which of the inputs provided the received signal and the processor is configured to control the output to move the barrier according to the signal at one of the speeds according to which of the inputs is determined to have provided the received signal.

3. A method of lower a barrier comprising

receiving a lower the barrier command;

determining whether the command was received from a first input or was received from a secondinput;

operating a motor to lower the barrier at a first speed when the command was received by the second input and operating the motor at a second speed when the command was received by the first input.

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54 52 Fig 1 60 32 Telecoms Input Controller Door motor Door Radio Input 56 58 30 34 Fig 2