Abstract:
A wall console device for controlling a door operator includes a door operator control circuit that transmits signals to at least one door operator, where the at least one door operator operable to move a motorized door. A control pad includes plural touch responsive command selectors and a door operator control means for user control over the opening and closing of the motorized door. The plural command selectors provide input signals to the door operator control circuit and include a command selector to indicate an operating function among a plurality of selectable operating functions, a command selector to select the indicated operating function, and a command selector to cancel the selected operating function. Plural visual indicators assist a user of the wall console device to program the wall console device to control the at least one door operator.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/496,329, filed Jul. 31, 2006, now pending, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/755,578, filed Jan. 12, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,106,168, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the general field of garage door or other barrier entry operators, and more particularly, to an external wall mountable, menu driven, console device for such operators. 
         [0003]    In the art of garage door operators and the like, it is conventional practice to provide a wall mountable, menu driven, console device to control a door operator from the exterior of a building or a residential dwelling. Console devices known in the art are of various sophistication and user friendliness. Some console devices may be hardwired to the door operator. Other console devices may provide a wireless user interface to the door operator. Still other console devices may allow for a key-like entry system to gain access. Yet other console devices provide access to operation of the garage door after performing a keypad type entry. 
         [0004]    It is conventional practice for some console devices to grant access only after entering a user identification or authorization code such as a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Console devices in the art allow a user to program a PIN of their own choosing. 
         [0005]    Some conventional console devices provide programming feedback by a blinking light emitting diode (LED). Blinking LEDs fail to convey the nature of an error or confirm an entry while programming. Thus, blinking LEDs in conventional console devices make programming a user determined PIN tedious and difficult. 
         [0006]    Because console devices with blinking LEDs offer limited feedback and thus have limited programming capabilities, they also have limited functional capabilities. For example, such console devices lack certain functional capabilities such as the ability to easily program and control more than one door, program more than one unique PIN or to create a separate temporary PIN. Limiting the functional capabilities of a console device limits the usefulness and efficiency of a given console device. 
         [0007]    In the art of garage door openers and the like, certain console devices could include liquid crystal displays (or LCDs) to convey console device information to the user. Although these displays may provide the user with some programming feedback, LCDs are costly to manufacture when compared to LEDs, require expensive backlighting, fail to operate in most outdoor environments and do not hold up well in traditional surface mount manufacturing. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, improvements in door operator console devices are desired, particularly in menu-driven programmable keyless wall console devices. There is a need for low cost, efficient and easy to use console devices with desirable features. With an easily programmable console device, users will have the ability to, for example, control and operate more than one door, efficiently program more than one PIN number for each door and easily create temporary PINs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides an improved wall mountable, console device for keyless entry type wall console devices of garage doors, gates and like barriers. The invention provides a wall mountable console device that replaces cumbersome conventional numeric keypad programming with an easy to follow menu driven programming methodology. The invention further provides a menu driven programming methodology where individual visual indicators signal a menu choice. The present invention conveys the nature of an entry and provides a user with meaningful programming feedback. 
         [0010]    The present invention provides a number of advantages over prior art console devices including the ability to easily program the console device by using an LED driven menu. The LED driven menu provides instant feedback during the programming session or during normal use. The LED driven menu may include a “READY” LED to provide information on whether the device is in “home” or ready state and an “ERROR” LED to provide a user with feedback on conditions. The LED driven menu may further include items related to PINs and door designator references. For example, the LED driven menu may have a “PIN 1 ” LED, a “PIN 2 ” LED, a “TEMP PIN” LED and a “# DOOR” LED. The present invention also provides an easily ascertainable indication on whether a low battery condition exists by a “LOW BATT” LED. 
         [0011]    The present invention provides other advantageous features and increased programming capabilities, while maintaining an easily accessible and simply designed interface. The interface includes, for example, features to aid in the programming and in the operation of the console device by providing user-accessible switches for selecting, entering or canceling an LED menu option or entry. A user can easily program the same PIN for multiple doors using the same console device, program multiple PINs for a single door and create a separate temporary PIN for a single door or more than one door. 
         [0012]    The present invention&#39;s LED driven menu offers several advantages over conventional console devices with LCD displays. The LED driven menu console device has a lower manufacturing cost and eliminates the use of expensive display backlighting, while maintaining an easy to use programming methodology. Moreover, LEDs can withstand extreme temperature variations, while LCDs tend to be more sensitive to extreme temperature fluctuations. In addition, the present invention&#39;s LED driven menu arrangement is more suitable for the use of surface mount technology. Moreover, the LED driven menu provides a low cost yet practical solution for using and programming a console device. 
         [0013]    For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying drawing in which corresponding numerals in the different drawings refer to corresponding parts. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an LED menu driven keyless wall console device of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the LED menu driven keyless wall console device; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of the keypad switches of the LED menu driven keyless wall console device; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram of the power supply circuit of the LED menu driven keyless wall console device; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  is a circuit diagram of a battery connected to the LED menu driven keyless wall console device; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram of the microcontroller of the LED menu driven keyless wall console device; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a circuit diagram of the menu LEDs of the LED menu driven keyless wall console device; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram of the backlight LEDs of the LED menu driven keyless wall console device; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a circuit diagram of the radio frequency (RF) circuitry of the LED menu driven keyless wall console device; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a circuit diagram of an audio feedback circuit. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    In the description that follows, like elements are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certain elements may be shown in somewhat generalized or schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. Commercially available circuit elements are used throughout. 
         [0025]    The present invention comprises an improved menu driven keyless wall console device.  FIG. 1  depicts a preferred embodiment of a menu driven keyless wall console device  10 . The console device  10  is particularly adapted to mount on an exterior wall of a residential garage, not shown, for use in opening or closing a garage door also not shown. The console device  10  essentially comprises two major structural components, a suitable weather proof housing  12  and a cover  14 .  FIG. 1  depicts the console device  10  with the cover  14  in the accessible or open position. The cover  14  is preferably hingably attached to an extension  16  of the housing  12  for easy access and for protection from weather elements when in a closed position. When the cover  14  is in an open position, the console device  10  allows a user access to a removable battery compartment cover  18  and thus to a battery  19 . 
         [0026]    Housing  12  includes a front wall  12 a at which several components described herein are disposed, as shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, the console device  10  may have a low battery LED type visual indicator  20 , labeled here as LOW BATT, a visual indicator array or menu  24  and backlight LEDs, not shown in  FIG. 1 , to provide an illuminated background for the console device  10 . 
         [0027]    A visual indicator array or menu  24 , shown in  FIG. 1 , in a preferred embodiment, comprises, for example, LED type visual indicators including at least the following menu items: a READY LED  26 , a PIN  1  LED  28 , a PIN  2  LED  30 , a TEMP PIN LED  32 , an # DOORS LED  34  and an ERROR LED  36 . Each LED menu item is a visual indicator of a selected function, programming object or programming state. For example, an enabled READY LED  26  indicates that the control circuitry of console device  10  is in its home position and is awaiting an entry by a user. 
         [0028]    In a preferred embodiment, a user can program the console device  10  with at least two permanent PINs and a temporary PIN. Console device  10  provides an LED menu  24  with options that aid in programming such PINs. For example, by choosing the PIN  1  LED  28  a user may program a first programmable PIN using an alphanumeric keypad  48 . A user can, similarly, choose the PIN  2  LED  30  to program a second programmable PIN. A user can further choose the TEMP PIN LED  32  to designate a temporary PIN to accommodate, for example, household guests or service persons that may require temporary access to the household. 
         [0029]    The LED menu  24  also provides a menu item to allow the console device  10  the ability to control a plurality of doors. The #DOORS LED  34  menu option allows the user to set the total number of doors that the console device  10  is to control. For example, once the #DOORS LED  34  is selected, the user enters via the keypad  48  either ‘2’, ‘3’ or ‘4’ and then presses the “ENTER” input push button  42 . The console device  10  then accepts the entered number and the #DOORS LED  34  goes out and the READY LED  26  comes on, indicating that the entry was accepted without an error. Once the number of doors is set, the user can control multiple doors by first entering the correct PIN, then pressing the “OPEN/CLOSE” push button switch  50 , then pressing the specific door to be controlled (i.e. 1, 2, 3 or 4). 
         [0030]    The LED menu  24  further provides the ERROR LED  36 . The ERROR LED  36  signals a user that the console device  10  detects an error. The ERROR LED  36  may be enabled, for example, subsequent to an incorrect PIN entry or programming entry. 
         [0031]    The user also has access to the alphanumeric keypad  48  which may include a set  38  of menu input push button switches  40 ,  42  and  44 , a set of alphanumerically labeled push button switches  46  and an OPEN/CLOSE button  50 . The set  38  of input button switches may include a “SELECT” input push button  40 , an “ENTER” input push button  42  and a “CANCEL” input push button  44 . Each of the alphanumerically labeled push button switches  46  may be designated to correlate with at least one or more numbers and/or letters, as shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, the alphanumerically labeled push button switch  46  labeled as number “ 5 ” also correlates to the letters “J”, “K” and “L”. 
         [0032]    The OPEN/CLOSE button  50  allows the user control over opening and closing a designated door. In a preferred embodiment, the OPEN/CLOSE button  50  toggles a door operator from the open position to the closed position and visa versa. (Note: the actual toggling actually takes place within the opener itself). 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the LED menu  24  driven wireless wall console device  10 . A microcontroller  52  monitors the logic inputs and outputs of the console device  10 . The microcontroller  52  is operably connected to keypad  48 , to the menu LEDs  24 , to backlight LEDs  22 , to a power supply circuit  58  and to an RF transmitter circuit  60 . The microcontroller  52  monitors the keypad  48  by sequentially driving outputs  54 , see  FIG. 3 , and reads inputs  56  from the keypad to determine if any keypad switches have been actuated. When a switch  46  on the console device  10  is actuated, the microcontroller  52  may also turn on the backlight LEDs  22 . In addition, the microcontroller  52  monitors and measures the voltage of battery  19  and enables the LOW BATT indicator  20  if the battery voltage falls below a predetermined amount. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  illustrates a circuit diagram of the keypad  48  of the console device  10 . Keypad  48  comprises the set of menu input buttons  38 , alphanumerically labeled push button switches  46  and the OPEN/CLOSE button  50 . As mentioned above, set  38  includes the SELECT button  40 , ENTER button  42  and CANCEL button  44 . There are ten alphanumerically labeled push buttons  46 , each corresponding to a unique set of alphanumeric characters. The circuit diagrams of  FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 through 8  are interconnected at the encircled letters “A” through “E” and as otherwise described herein. 
         [0035]    When idle, the microcontroller  52  is not powered because the power supply circuitry  58  is off. When any keypad switch  48  is pressed, transistor Q 2  is turned on and the power supply circuitry  58  is turned on thus applying power to the microcontroller  52 . The microcontroller  52  then outputs a high voltage level on  110  line  109  and biases transistor Q 2  on, thus latching ‘on’ the power supply circuitry  58 . The microcontroller  52  sequentially pulses  110  lines  101  thru  104  to the keypad input  54  and reads the keypad output  56  to determine which switch was pressed. 
         [0036]    To enable programming of the console device  10 , a user preferably enters a PIN, by actuating the corresponding alphanumerically labeled switches  46 . After the user has completed entering their PIN, the user then depresses the ENTER button  42 . If a correct PIN has been entered, the console device  10  will light the LED menu item READY LED  26 . Thus, the console device  10  allows secured access only to those knowing a particular pre-programmed PIN. If a user enters an incorrect PIN, the console device  10  will energize the ERROR LED  36 . The console device  10  may deny access to a user for a predetermined time period if plural incorrect PINs have been entered consecutively. 
         [0037]    The LED menu  24 , the set of menu input buttons  38  and the alphanumerically labeled buttons  46 , assist the user to program the PINs. Once the user enters the correct PIN 1  followed by pressing the ENTER button  42 , the console device  10  will indicate its programming mode ‘home’ position by a lit READY LED  26 . The user may sequentially select a menu function from the LED menu  24  by pressing the SELECT button  40  until the function the user desires to program or choose lights up. The user then makes the appropriate keypad entry and then presses the ENTER button  42 . The console device  10  then will light the READY LED  26  indicating that a correct entry was made and that the console device is now ready for the user to select an additional function, if so desired. If no further input is provided by the user, the console device  10  will turn off after a predetermined amount of time. 
         [0038]    When idle, the microcontroller  52  is not powered because the power supply circuitry  58  is off. The user would approach the console device  10  and place it in the open position, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The user then would press a desired button on the wall console device  10 . This action would turn on the power supply circuitry  58  and supply power to the microcontroller  52 . The microcontroller  52 , in turn, enables the backlight LEDs  22 . The user may enter PIN 1  followed by pressing the ENTER button  42 , thus placing the console device  10  in the programming mode. The microcontroller  52  would then light the READY LED  26  indicating that the console device  10  is waiting for a program function to be selected. If the user desired to change PIN  1 , the user would sequentially actuate the SELECT button  40  until PIN 1  LED  28  is selected. Then, while PIN 1  LED  28  is selected, the user can enter a new PIN, to be designated as ‘PIN 1 ’. After entering the new PIN 1 , the user would then actuate the ENTER button  42 . The console device  10  recognizes this new entry and indicates its programming home position by lighting the READY LED  26 . Thus, a first PIN 1  has successfully been programmed into the console device  10  by using the LED driven menu  24 . If, however, the console device  10  recognizes that the PIN does not meet some predetermined criteria (for example a certain minimal or maximum number of characters), then the LED menu  24  may enable the ERROR LED  36 . The user would, in that case, repeat the programming process. If at any time during programming, a predetermined amount of time passes without any keypad activity by the user, the microcontroller  52  would turn off the power supply circuitry  58 , thus conserving battery  19  energy. 
         [0039]    A similar programming method may be followed to program a second PIN by selecting PIN  2  LED  30 . A user may also decide to program a separate temporary PIN to grant temporary access to, for example, a service worker or houseguest, by selecting the TEMP PIN LED  32 . Although the console device  10  shown here provides for two PIN numbers, it is believed that those skilled in the art can easily modify console device  10  to allow more than two PINs. 
         [0040]    Similarly, the LED menu  24  visually assists a user to program other desirable features. For example, a user may program a single PIN for multiple doors controlled by the same console device  10  by selecting the # DOORS LED  34  after entering the correct PIN followed by pressing the ENTER button  42 . Suppose for example, the user has a console device  10  controlling three doors. While the # DOORS LED  34  is lit, the user would enter the number ‘3’ from the keypad  48  followed by pressing the ENTER button  42 . The console device  10  would no be programmed to control three separate door openers. Now if the user desires to control one of the three doors, for example, the third door, they would wait for the console device  10  to turn off, enter the correct PIN, then press the OPEN/CLOSE button  50  and then press the alphanumeric keypad entry for ‘3’. After a user has access to a door, a user can, for example, decide to open or close the door by pressing any keypad pushbutton switch. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  depicts a preferred embodiment of the power supply circuit  58 , comprising a simple series pass regulator, of the console device  10 . The microcontroller  52  manages the power supply  58  as also seen in  FIG. 5 . For example, when one of the menu input buttons of set  38  or alphanumerically labeled push button switches  46  is actuated, transistor Q 5  is turned on, thus turning the power supply section  52  “on”. The microcontroller  52  outputs a logical ‘1’ on Input/Output (I/O) line  9 , which enables transistor Q 2 . Q 2  maintains a ground path for transistor Q 5  and thus the microcontroller  52  enables the power supply  58  regardless of which keypad switch or button  46  is actuated. After a predetermined amount of time of no keypad activity, the microcontroller  52  will set I/O line  9  to a logic ‘0’ and turn off the power supply section  58 . Thus, the microcontroller  52  and the power supply section  58  work in conjunction to maintain an energy efficient system for the console device  10 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  further depicts connection “A” between the collector of transistor Q 2  of the power supply section  58 , depicted in  FIG. 4 , and the circuit diagram of the keypad  48 , depicted in  FIG. 3 . Connection “B” connects pin  9  of the microcontroller  52 , depicted in  FIG. 5 , and the power supply section  58 , depicted in  FIG. 4 . Connection “C” connects the power supply section  58  to the LED menu  24  and ‘low battery’ indicator LED  20  of the console device  10 , depicted in  FIG. 6 . A +V 1  is output from the emitter of transistor Q 3  and connects the power supply section  58  to pin number  14  of the microcontroller  52 , see  FIG. 5 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 4A  depicts a preferred battery connection circuit supply of console device  10 . A nine-volt battery  19 , connects to a typical circuit board (not shown) and secured to the circuit board by way of connectors J 2 - 1  and J 2 - 2 . Battery  19  supplies positive nine volts (+9V) to various locations on the circuits depicted, for example, in  FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 8 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 5  depicts a preferred embodiment of the microcontroller  52  used in console device  10 . The microcontroller  52  is a preferably an 18-pin semiconductor device which controls and manages the functions of the console device  10 . The microcontroller  52  may be of a type commercially available, such as an 8-bit PICmicro® 16 series microcontroller, available from Microchip Technology, Chandler, Ariz. 
         [0045]    The microcontroller  52  is responsible for monitoring the set  38  of menu input buttons  38  and alphanumerically labeled push button switches  46  to determine which have been actuated. Specifically, the microcontroller  52  sequentially drives I/O lines  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  and reads I/O lines  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  to determine which switch  46  was actuated. Pin numbers  1 - 4  of the microcontroller  52  are connected to I/O lines  4 ,  3 ,  2  and  1 , while pin numbers  10 - 13  tie into I/O lines  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8 , see  FIG. 3 . Pin  5  of the microcontroller  52  is tied to ground while Pin  6  is tied to the audio feedback circuit  64 , as illustrated by connection “F.” Pins  7  and  15 - 17  are multiplexed to the LED menu  24  and the LOW BATT indicator  20 , as depicted in  FIG. 6 . Pin  8  is tied to the backlight LEDs  22 , as illustrated by connection “D”. Pin  14  is tied to a +V 1 . 
         [0046]    The microcontroller  52  manages the power supply section  58 , as seen in  FIG. 5 . Pin  9  is tied to the power supply section  58 , as illustrated by connection “B”. The RF section  60  is enabled and modulated by algorithms programmed into the microcontroller  52 . Pin  18  is tied to the RF section  32 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 6  depicts a preferred embodiment of the LED menu  24  and ‘low battery’ indicator LED  20  of the console device  10 . Six of the seven LEDs depicted correspond to the LED menu  24 : READY LED  26 , PIN  1  LED  28 , PIN  2  LED  30 , TEMP PIN LED  32 , #DOORS LED  34  and ERROR LED  36 . Each individual LED in the LED menu  24  serves as programming and operational menu choices. The seventh LED corresponds to the LOW BATT indicator  20 . 
         [0048]    The LED menu  24  is preferably multiplexed such that the microcontroller  52  controls the seven LEDs in the LED menu  24  with only four input/output or I/O lines. For example, if the microcontroller  52  finds that the console device  10  is ready for user input, it will forward bias the READY LED  26  by essentially disabling I/O lines  10  &amp;  11 , setting I/O line  12  high and setting I/O line  13  low. 
         [0049]    The LED menu  24  preferably aids a user to program a multitude of functions and generally utilize console device  10 . The console device  10  is ready for programming when the READY LED  26  is enabled. Using the SELECT input button  40  a user can sequentially select a desired LED menu  24  function to use or program the console device  10 , see  FIG. 3 . The READY LED  26  would then turn off and the selected LED menu  24  function would be enabled. The user accordingly inputs the desired entries and actuates the ENTER input button  42  when the entry is complete. If the console device  10  does not enable the ERROR LED  36 , the user has successfully completed the previously selected menu  24  function and console device  10  will return to the home state, enabling the READY LED  26 . If at some point during the programming process, a user decides that an incorrect menu  24  function is enabled, the user may actuate the CANCEL push button  44  and return to home state, again enabling the READY LED  26 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 6  also depicts a preferred low battery indicator LED  20 . As discussed earlier, the low battery indicator LED  20  is enabled when the microcontroller  52  detects that the battery  19  voltage falls below a predetermined voltage. 
         [0051]      FIG. 7  depicts a preferred embodiment for backlight LEDs  22  of the LED menu driven keyless wall console device  10 . The backlight LEDs  22  illuminate the keypad  48  such that it is visible in dark ambient conditions. The backlight LEDs  22  are preferably placed as a set of three LEDs in parallel with another set of three LEDs. The backlight LEDs  22  are triggered on when either a menu input button  38  or alphanumerically labeled push button switches  46  of the console device  10  is actuated. When activity is detected, the microcontroller  52  powers transistor Q 4 , and thus turns on the backlight LEDs  22 . Likewise, after a predetermined duration of time without any activity, the microcontroller  52  disables the backlight LEDs  22  by turning off transistor Q 4 , thus conserving energy. The backlight LED  22  circuit ties into pin number  8  of the preferred microcontroller  52 , as seen by connection “D”. 
         [0052]    Although the console device  10  may be configured to communicate with a door operator by hardwiring,  FIG. 8  illustrates a diagram of an RF circuit or section  60  of the console device  10 . The RF section  60  is enabled and modulated by algorithms programmed into the microcontroller  52 . The RF section  60  has an antenna  62  enabling it to transmit appropriate commands to the door operator. The RF section  60  is tied, by way of connection “E”, to pin number  18  of the microcontroller  52 . A typical mode of operation may be that which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,289 to Dennis Waggamon et al., and which is incorporated herein by reference. It is should be understood by one skilled in the art, that the console device  10  need not be wireless, but alternatively could be hardwired to a desired garage door or the like. 
         [0053]      FIG. 9  depicts a preferred embodiment for an audio feedback circuit  64 . Microcontroller  52  modulates a piezo electric transducer  66  to produce various audio tones. Console device  10  may incorporate audio signals, periodically, corresponding to ERROR LED  36 , and to alert the user of an error both visually and audibly through the programming process. Console device  10  may also incorporate audio signals to alert the user of other user feedback functions such as low battery  19  conditions or simply positive feedback for a keystroke entry. 
         [0054]    Although a preferred embodiment of a menu driven wall console device  10  and various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail herein, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. For example, while the description has principally referenced a operator for a garage door, it is to be understood that the console of the present invention may also be utilized for gate and other barrier operators. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention, and do not delimit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various substitutions and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.