Patent Abstract:
A wall control unit for a movable barrier operator sends baseband signals over a wire connection to a head unit of a movable barrier operator to command the movable barrier to perform barrier operator functions. The wall control unit has a wall control unit port for connection to the wire connection. A first switch sends a barrier command signal to the head unit commanding the head unit to open or close a movable barrier. A second switch commands the head unit to provide energization to a light source. An infrared detector causes a command signal to be sent to the head unit to control the illumination state of the light source.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/544,904 filed Apr. 7, 2000 which claims the benefit of provisional application 60/128,209 filed Apr. 7, 1999. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates in general to movable barrier operators and in particular to movable barrier operators such as garage door operators or gate operators which include passive infrared detectors associated with them for detecting the presence of a person or other high temperature object for controlling a function of the movable barrier operator such as illumination.  
           [0003]    It has been known to use pyroelectric infrared detectors or passive infrared (PIR) detectors for the detection of a person in a particular vicinity. For instance, it is well known that pyroelectric infrared detectors can be used in combination with illumination lamps, carriage lamps, spot lamps and the like to form a low cost home security system. The pyroelectric infrared detector typically has a plurality of segments. One or more of the segments may be actuated by infrared radiation focused thereon by a Fresnel lens positioned in front of the PIR detector. The pyroelectric detector provides an output signal when a change occurs in the potential level between one element and another element in the array. Such an infrared detected voltage change indicates that a warm object radiating infrared radiation, typically a person, is moving with respect to the detector. The detectors to provide output signals upon receiving infrared radiation in about the ten micron wavelength range. The micron infrared radiation is generated by a body having a temperature of about 90° F., around the temperature of a human body (98.6° F.).  
           [0004]    It is also known that garage door operators or movable barrier operators can include a passive infrared detector associated with the head unit of the garage door operator. The passive infrared detector, however, needed some type of aiming or alignment mechanism associated with it so that it could be thermally responsive to at least part of the garage interior. The detectors were connected so that upon receiving infrared energy from a moving thermal source, they would cause a light associated with the garage door operator to be illuminated.  
           [0005]    It was known in the past to use timers associated with such systems so that if there were no further thermal signal, the light would be shut off after a predetermined period. Such units were expensive as the passive infrared detector had to be built into the head unit of the garage door operator. Also, the prior PIR detectors were fragile. During mounting of the head unit to the ceiling of the garage a collision with the aiming device associated with the passive infrared detector might damage them. The ability to aim the detection reliably was deficient, sometimes leaving blank or dead spots in the infrared coverage.  
           [0006]    Still other operators using pivoting head infrared detectors required that the detector be retrofitted into the middle of the output circuit of a conventional garage door operator. This would have to have been done by garage door operator service personnel as it would likely involve cutting traces on a printed circuit board or the like. Unauthorized alteration of the circuit board by a consumer might entail loss of warranty coverage of the garage door operator or even cause safety problems.  
           [0007]    What is needed then is a passive infrared detector for controlling illumination from a garage door operator which could be quickly and easily retrofitted to existing garage door operators with a minimum of trouble and without voiding the warranty.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    A passive infrared detector for a garage door operator includes a passive infrared detector section connected to a comparator for generating a signal when a moving thermal or infrared source signal is detected by the passive infrared detector. The signal is fed to a microcontroller. Both the infrared detector and the comparator and the microcontroller are contained in a wall control unit. The wall control unit has a plurality of switches which would normally be used to control the functioning of the garage door operator and are connected in conventional fashion thereto.  
           [0009]    The PIR detector is included with the switches for opening the garage door, closing the garage door and causing a lamp to be illuminated. The microcontroller also is connected to an illumination detection circuit, which might typically comprise a cadmium sulphide (CdS) element which is responsive to visible light. The CdS element supplies an illumination signal to an ambient light comparator which in turn supplies an illuminator level signal to the microcontroller. The microcontroller also controls a setpoint signal fed to the comparator. The setpoint signal may be adjusted by the microcontroller according to the desired trip point for the ambient illumination level.  
           [0010]    The microcontroller also communicates over the lines carrying the normal wall control switch signals with a microcontroller in a head unit of the garage door operator. The wall control microcontroller can interrogate the garage door operator head unit with a request for information. If the garage door operator head unit is a conventional unit, no reply will come back and the wall control microcontroller will assume that a conventional garage door operator head is being employed. In the event that a signal comes back in the form of a data frame which includes a flag that is related to whether the light has been commanded to turn on, the microcontroller can then respond and determine in regard to the status of the infrared detector and the ambient light whether the light should stay on or be turned off.  
           [0011]    In the event that a conventional garage door operator head is used, the microcontroller can, in effect, create a feedback loop with the head unit by sending a light toggling signal to the microcontroller in the head unit commanding it to change the light state. If the light turns on, the increase in illumination is detected by the cadmium sulphide sensor and so signaled to the microcontroller head allowing the light to stay on. If, in the alternative, the light is turned off and the drop in light output is detected by the cadmium sulphide detector, the wall control microcontroller then retoggles the light, switching it back on to cause the light to stay on for a full time period allotted to it, usually two-and-one-half to four-and-one-half minutes.  
           [0012]    It is a principal aspect of the present invention to provide a quickly and easily retrofitted passive infrared detector for controlling the illumination of a garage door operator through conventional signaling channels.  
           [0013]    It is another aspect of the instant invention to provide a garage door operator having a passive infrared detector which passive infrared detector can-control a variety of garage door operators.  
           [0014]    Other aspects and advantages of the present 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  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a garage including a movable barrier operator, specifically a garage door operator, having associated with it a passive infrared detector in a wall control unit and embodying the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the relationship between major electrical systems of a portion of the garage door operator shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    FIGS.  3 A-C are schematic diagrams of a portion of the electrical system shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the wall control including the passive infrared detector;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wall control;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the wall control shown in FIG. 6;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a side view of the wall control shown in FIG. 6;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the wall control shown in FIG. 6;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is a side view, shown in cross section, of the wall control in FIG. 7;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 is a plan view, shown in cross section, of the wall control;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 is a partially exploded perspective view of the wall control shown in FIG. 5; and  
         [0026]    FIGS.  12 A-H are flow charts showing details of a program flow controlling the operation of a microcontroller contained within the wall control as shown in FIGS.  3 A-C. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0027]    Referring now to drawings and especially to FIG. 1, a movable barrier operator embodying the present invention is shown therein and generally identified by reference numeral  10 . The movable barrier operator, in this embodiment a garage door operator  10 , is positioned within a garage  12 . More specifically, it is mounted to a ceiling  14  of the garage  12  for operation, in this embodiment, of a multipanel garage door  16 . The multipanel garage door  16  includes a plurality of rollers  18  rotatably confined within a pair of tracks  20  positioned adjacent to and on opposite sides of an opening  22  for the garage door  16 .  
         [0028]    The garage door operator  10  also includes a head unit  24  for providing motion to the garage door  16  via a rail assembly  26 . The rail assembly  26  includes a trolley  28  for releasable connection of the head unit  24  to the garage door  16  via an arm  30 . The arm  30  is connected to an upper portion  32  of the garage door  16  for opening and closing it. The trolley  28  is connected to an endless chain to be driven thereby. The chain is driven by a sprocket in the head unit  24 . The sprocket acts as a power takeoff for an electric motor located in the head unit  24 .  
         [0029]    The head unit  24  includes a radio frequency receiver  50 , as may best be seen in FIG. 2, having an antenna  52  associated with it for receiving coded radio frequency transmissions from one or more radio transmitters  53  which may include portable or keyfob transmitters or keypad transmitters. The radio receiver  50  is connected via a line  54  to a microcontroller  56  which interprets signals from the radio receiver  50  as code commands to control other portions of the garage door operator  10 .  
         [0030]    A wall control unit  60  embodying the present invention, as will be seen in more detail hereafter, communicates over a line  62  with the head unit microcontroller  56  to effect control of a garage door operator motor  70  and a light  72  via relay logic  74  connected to the microcontroller  56 . The entire head unit  24  is powered from a power supply  76 . In addition, the garage door operator  10  includes an obstacle detector  78  which optically or via an infrared pulsed beam detects when the garage door opening  22  is blocked and signals the microcontroller  56  of the blockage. The microcontroller  56  then causes a reversal or opening of the door  16 . In addition, a position indicator  80  indicates to the head unit microcontroller  56 , through at least part of the travel of the door  16 , the door position so that the microcontroller  56  can control the close position and the open position of the door  16  accurately. FIGS.  3 A-C are schematic diagrams of a portion of the electrical system shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0031]    The wall control  60 , as may best be seen in FIG. 4, includes a passive infrared sensor  100  having an output line  102  connected to a differential amplifier  104 . The differential amplifier  104  feeds a pair of comparators  106  and  108  coupled to a wall control microcontroller  110 , in this embodiment a Microchip PIC 16505. The sensor  100  changing signals from the comparators when the infrared illumination changes at the passive infrared sensor  100 . The microcontroller  110  provides an output at line  112  to the line  62 , which is connected to the microcontroller in the GDO head. Also associated with the wall control is a momentary contact light switch  120 , a door control switch  122 , a vacation switch  124 , and an auto-manual select switch  126 . The light switch  120  is connected through a capacitor  130  to other portions of the wall control  60 . The vacation switch  124  is connected through a capacitor  132  to the wall control  60 . The capacitor  132  has a different value than the capacitor  130 . The wall control  60  controls the microcontroller  56  through its switches by the effective pulse width or charging time required when a respective switch closes as governed by its associated capacitor or by the direct connection, as is set forth for the door control switch  122 .  
         [0032]    In addition, an ambient light sensor  140  is provided connected in a voltage divider circuit having a variable resistance  134  which feeds a comparator  150  which supplies an ambient light level signal over a line  152  to the microcontroller  110 .  
         [0033]    In addition, the microcontroller  110  supplies a setpoint signal on a line  160  back to the comparator  150  so that the microcontroller  110 , through the use of pulse width modulation, can control the setpoint of the light level comparator  150  to determine the point where the ambient light comparator  150  trips and thereby determine the ambient light illumination level. FIGS.  5 - 11  are various views of the wall control  60  discussed above. FIGS.  12 A-H are flow charts showing details of a program flow controlling the apparatus of microcontroller  56  contained within the wall control  60  as shown in FIGS.  3 A-C.  
         [0034]    As may best be seen in FIG. 12 when the processor or microcontroller  110  powers up ports and outputs are set as well as the timer in a step  500  at which point a main loop is entered and the timer is read in a step  502 . A test is made to determine if 10 milliseconds have elapsed in step  504  if they have not, control is transferred back to step  502 . If they have, the pulse width modulation cycle is cleared in a step  506  in order to start the pulse width modulation to govern the setpoint for the illumination. In step  508 , the pulse width modulation output is turned on and the pulse width modulation counter is cleared. In step  510 , the pulse width modulation counter is incremented and a test is made to determine whether the pulse width modulation counter is equal to the pulse width modulation value in a step  512 . If it is not, control is transferred to step  510 . If it is, control is transferred to a step  514  where the pulse width modulator has the counter cleared and is turned off and the pulse width modulation value is output. Followed by a step  516  where the pulse width modulation counter is incremented and a test is made to determine whether the value of the pulse width modulation counter is equal to pwm rem in a step  518 . If it is not, control is transferred back to step  516 .  
         [0035]    If it is, as may best be seen in FIG. 12B, the pulse width modulation cycle is incremented in a step  520 , and a test is made in step  522  to determine whether it is equal to six. If it is not, control is transferred back to step  508  to restart the pulse width modulation. If it is, the pulse width modulator is turned off in step  526  and a read comparison is made in a step  530 . If the read comparator is high, the plunge counter is decremented in a step  532 , and the increment counter is incremented in a step  534 . In a step  536 , the value of the incremented counter is tested to determine whether it is greater than  10 . If it is, the counter is cleared and a step  538 . If it is not, control is transferred to a step  540  where the pulse width remainder value is set equal to pulse width modulation value compliment.  
         [0036]    In the event that the value of the read comparison step  530  yields a low value, a leap counter is cleared in a step  550  and a decrement counter is incremented in a step  552 . A test is made in a step  554  to determine whether the decrement counter value is greater than  10 . If it is not, control is passed to step  540 . If it is, the decrement counter is cleared in a step  556  and a test is made to determine whether the pulse width modulation value is zero in a step  560 . If it is zero, control is transferred to step  540 . If it is not, the pulse width modulation value is decremented, the plunge counter is incremented in a step  562 . In a step  564 , the plunge counter is tested to determine whether it is greater than  12 . If it is, the pulse width modulation value is tested for whether it is less than  20  in a step  566 . If it is not, the pulse width modulation value is set equal to the pulse width modulation value minus nine in a step  568  and control is transferred to the step  540 .  
         [0037]    Upon exiting the step  540 , as may best be seen in FIG. 12C, a test step  570  is entered to determine whether the light on state has been set by the head unit of the movable barrier operator. If it is not, a test is made in a step  522  to determine whether the awake timer is active. If the awake timer is active, control is transferred to a step  574  causing a 16-bit counter timer to be incremented and to blank any bit counter. If the timer is not active, control is transferred to determine whether the blank timer is active in a step  576 . If it is, control is transferred to step  574 . If it is not, control is transferred to a test step  578  to determine whether checking is active. If checking is active, the checking counter is incremented in the step  530  and a test is made to determine whether the value of the checking counter is equal to one second in a step  582 . If it is not, control is transferred to a test step  600 , as shown in FIG. 12D. If it is, a test is made to determine whether the light-on flag is on or not in a step  602 . If it is on, a test is made in a step  604  to determine whether the present pulse width modulation value is equal to the stored modulation value. If it is indicated to be lighter, control is transferred to a step  606  to clear checking. If it is indicated to be dimmer, control is transferred to a step  608  causing the work light signal to e toggled by the wall control over the lines connected to the head unit. If the light-on value flag is indicated to be off, a test is made in a step  610  to determine whether the present pulse width modulation value is equal to the stored value. If it&#39;s indicated to be dimmer, control is transferred to the step  606 . If it&#39;s indicated to be lighter, step  612  turns on the work light toggle to flip the light state and transfers control to step  606 .  
         [0038]    Once the light has been toggled, a test is made in step  600 , as shown in FIG. 12D, to determine whether the awake flag has been set. If it has, a test is made in a step  620  to determine whether the work light toggle is active. If it is, the pulse width value is incremented in a step  622 , and a test is made to determine whether the pulse width count is equal to 20 (which is equivalent to 200 milliseconds) in a step  624 . If it is not, the work light is toggled off in a step  626 . In the event that the awake flag has not been set, a test is made in a step  630  to determine whether the RC time constant for the power supply has expired. In other words, has the power been kept high for more than 1.5 minutes as tested for in step  630 . If it has not, control is transferred back to the main loop in FIG. 12A. If it is, the awake value is set and the timer is cleared in the step  634 , and control is transferred back to the main loop. In the event that the time constant has expired in step  630 , the awake flag is cleared and the counts are set high in the step  636  after which control is transferred back to the main loop. After the work light has been toggled and the step  626 , a step is made in a step  660 , as may best be seen in FIG. 12E to determine if the blank timer is active. If it is, it is checked. If it is not, a test is made to determine whether there is indicated to be activity from the passive infrared input indicating a change in a step  662 . If not, a quiet state is entered. If the PIR has been indicated to be active, a second test is made to determine whether the PIR still indicates that it is changing to indicate that a false signal has not been received. If it is, a test is made to determine whether the work light is on within the garage. If the work light is on, control is transferred back to the main loop. If the work light is indicated not to be on, a test is made to determine whether the pulse width value is greater than  128 , in other words, whether the garage is indicated to be bright or dim. If it is indicated to be bright, indicating it&#39;s illuminated control is transferred back to the main loop. If it&#39;s indicated to be dim, control is transferred to the test step  680 , as may best be seen in FIG. 12G to determine whether two-and-one-half seconds had elapsed. If they have not, the blank timer is turned off in the step  682 . If they have, a test is made in the step  684  to determine whether the light-on state has been set. If it has, a test is made in a step  686  to determine whether six minutes have passed. If they have, the timer is cleared, the light-on flag is cleared, the blank flag is set, and an attempt is made to read the light state from the head unit via serial communication in a step  688 . A test is made in a step  690  to determine whether the serial communication has been successful. If it has, a test is then made in a step  692  to determine whether the light-on flag has been returned from the head unit to the wall control. If it has, indicating the light has been set on, the toggle output is set in a step  694 . If it has not, control has been transferred to the main loop. If serial communication has failed, as tested for in step  690 , the toggle output is set in a step  700 , pulse width modulated value is stored in a step  702 , and checking is set in a step  704  prior to transfer back to the main loop.  
         [0039]    In order to respond to the query function, which is used to interpret the word sent back by the head unit, as may best be seen in FIG. 12H. In a step  750 , there is a delay until a key reading pulse in a step  752  and a timer is reset in a step  754 . A 500 microsecond delay is waited for in a step  756 . A series of delays are used to generate an on-off output code of varying pulse widths followed by a 100 microsecond delay in a step  758 . A test is then made in a step  760  to determine whether the wall control input pin is low. If it is not, the test is remade. If it is, control is transferred to a step  762  to set a flag indicating serial communication is successful. A time value is set is a step  766  and status is read in a step  768 . A test is made in step  770  to determine whether the serial is okay and in a test  772  a brake signal is tested for and sent.  
         [0040]    In order to respond to the query light, as is shown in FIG. 12F, in a step  800  the query light is called. A test is made in a step  802  to determine whether it was readable by a serial communication with the head. If it was, a test is made in a step  804  to determine whether the light was on. If it was, control is transferred back to the main loop. If it was not, the toggle output is set to indicate that the state was light-on in step  806  to force the light to be on.  
         [0041]    In the event that the serial communication was not readable, the toggle output state was set, it&#39;s light on in step  810 , pulse width modulation value restored in the step  812 , and the checking flag is set in the step  814 . Attached is an Appendix consisting of pages A-1 to A-12 which comprises a listing of the software executing on the microcontroller  110 .  
         [0042]    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 and scope of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4