Automatic gate operator
View Patent ↗A barrier movement operator is having a position sensor in a telescoping barrier control arm is described. A controller, remote from the arm, senses the barrier position to identify limits of barrier travel and to control rate of travel of the barrier between limits. The operator includes both optical and edge sensor obstruction detectors and is responsive to wireless communication for receiving user initiated command signals.
1. A method of setting open and closed limits of motion in a movable barrier operator comprising a barrier coupled to a motor and having apparatus for sensing a position of the barrier comprising:
initiating a limit learn procedure;
first manually placing the barrier at either of the first or second limit after uncoupling the barrier from the motor;
reading from the sensing apparatus a first representation of the barrier position at the first manual placement and storing the first representation;
second manually placing the barrier at the limit other than the one at which the barrier was placed in the first manually placing step after uncoupling the barrier from the motor;
reading from the sensing apparatus a second representation of the barrier position at the second manual placement and storing the second representation,
controlling the movement of the barrier between the open and closed limits in response to the stored first and second representations.
2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the limit at which the barrier is placed in the first manually placing step is user selected.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of generating digital signals representing the barrier position at a location remote from a location at which the remaining steps are performed.
4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the limit at which the barrier is first placed in the manually placing step is used to determine the direction of travel between the open and closed limits.
5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first limit corresponds to an open limit and the second limit corresponds to a closed limit, the first manually placing step comprises manually placing the barrier at the open limit and the second manually placing step comprises manually placing the barrier at the closed limit.
6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first limit corresponds to a closed limit and the second limit corresponds to an open limit, the first manually placing step comprises manually placing the barrier at the closed limit and the second manually placing step comprises manually placing the barrier at the open limit.
7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein a direction of travel for the barrier is determined from the stored representations of barrier position at the first limit position and the second limit position.
8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus for sensing position of the barrier, senses barrier position when the barrier is coupled to the motor and when the barrier is not coupled to the barrier.
9. A method according to claim 1 comprising signaling by the user when the barrier is placed at the first position and signaling by the user when the barrier is placed in the second position.
10. A method according to claim 9 wherein signaling by the user comprises transmitting wireless signals under user control.
11. A method according to claim 9 wherein signaling by the user comprises user interaction with a command switch.
12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the apparatus for sensing a position of the barrier generates digital signals representing barrier position.
13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the barrier movement operator comprises a motor coupled to the barrier by a coupling arm and the apparatus for sensing position of the barrier is disposed in the coupling arm.