Patent ID: 7019478

Claim:
A movable barrier operator for use with a movable barrier, which movable barrier is selectively moved through selective application of force by a motor via the movable barrier operator, wherein the motor has a corresponding range of output forces, the movable barrier operator comprising: at least one force sensor; a maximum force-setting limit that is within the corresponding range of output forces; an excess force threshold determination unit that is responsive to the maximum force-setting limit and having a maximum force-setting limited excess force threshold value output, wherein the excess force threshold determination unit comprises an automatic excess force threshold determination unit that is responsive to the maximum force-setting limit and having an automatically determined maximum force-setting limited excess force threshold value output; a movable barrier obstacle detector that is at least partially responsive to the at least one force sensor and to the maximum force-setting limited excess force threshold value output; and a motor controller operably coupled and responsive to the movable barrier obstacle detector.