Barrier movement operator human interface method and apparatus
View Patent ↗Improvements in human interaction with barrier movement operators are disclosed. A controller of the barrier movement operator is capable of a number of learning modes in which the controller cooperates with a user to learn operating parameters. The controller guides and corrects the necessary actions by the user. The barrier movement operator also includes an input/output unit remote from the main controller of the operator. Human interaction with the remote input/output unit enables diagnosis of operator faults remotely.
1. A barrier movement operator comprising:
a controller, responsive to user input signals and operational signals for selectively energizing a motor to open and close a barrier;
a remote input/output unit connected to the controller and remote therefrom for receiving user inputs and for displaying status of portions of the barrier movement operator;
the controller for identifying faults in the operation of the barrier movement operator; and
apparatus for communicating the identities of faults in the operation of the barrier movement operator to the remote input/output unit and for displaying the identified faults at the remote input/output unit.
2. A barrier movement operator in accordance with claim 1 wherein the controller comprises apparatus for selecting one of an operating mode or a diagnostic mode.
3. A barrier movement operator according to claim 2 wherein the remote input/output unit comprises a first input device responsive to user interaction while in the operating mode for transmitting signals to the controller representing barrier movement requests.
4. A barrier movement operator according to claim 3 wherein the remote input/output unit is responsive to user interaction while in the diagnostic mode for transmitting signals to the controller representing diagnostic inquiries.
5. A barrier movement operator according to claim 2 wherein the remote input/output unit comprises a first display device operative while in the operating mode for displaying operating parameters and operative in the diagnostic mode for displaying diagnostic parameters.
6. A barrier movement operator in accordance with claim 1 wherein the remote input/output unit comprises a user actuatable error code query input device.
7. A barrier movement operator in accordance with claim 6 wherein the controller responds to an error code query input from the remote input/output unit by sending to the remote input/output unit, error codes identifying faults detected in the operation of the barrier movement operator.
8. A barrier movement operator in accordance with claim 7 comprising display apparatus at the remote input/output unit on which the error codes from the controller can be displayed.
9. A barrier movement operator in accordance with claim 8 comprising apparatus at the remote input/output unit for requesting a plurality of error codes in sequence from the controller.
10. A barrier movement operator in accordance with claim 1 wherein the apparatus for communicating communicates error codes representing the fault identities to the remote input/output unit and the remote input/output unit comprises display apparatus for displaying the error codes.
11. A barrier movement operator according to claim 1 wherein the controller comprises apparatus for storing error messages generated during the operation of the barrier movement operator.
12. A barrier movement operator according to claim 11 wherein the remote input/output device comprises apparatus for requesting stored error messages from the controller.
13. A barrier movement operator according to claim 12 wherein the remote input/output device comprises a user actuatable push button for requesting stored error messages from the controller.
14. A barrier movement operator according to claim 11 wherein the error messages are displayed as predetermined number of flashes on an LED of the remote input/output device.
15. A barrier movement operator according to claim 14 wherein the remote input/output device comprises a user actuatable push button for clearing the error messages stored by the controller.
16. A barrier movement operator according to claim 14 wherein the remote input/output device comprises a user actuatable push button for requesting the number of error messages stored by the controller.
17. A barrier movement operator comprising:
a motor for moving a barrier between an open and closed position;
a controller for selectively energizing the motor in response to door control input signals;
a command unit, remote from the controller, comprising at least one user controllable device for sending door control input signals to the controller and comprising an indicator light; and
the controller, comprises a routine for communicating error messages to a user by controllidly turning the indicator light on and off.
18. A method of assisting in the installation and maintenance of a barrier movement operator including a controller, comprising:
activating a learn mode activity of the controller of the barrier movement operator which learning mode requires pre-determined activities by a user;
first identifying by the controller the present status of the barrier movement operator;
second identifying by the controller, the activities to be completed by a user of the barrier movement operator; and
responsive to the first and second identifying steps transmitting guidance signals to an annunciating unit for guidance of the user.
19. A barrier movement operator according to claim 18 comprising receiving indications of activities performed by a user during the learn mode; and
annunciating the next activity to the user after the performance of a prior activity by the user, when the prior activity meets pre-determined parameters.
20. A barrier movement operator according to claim 19 annunciating incorrect performance to a user when the prior activity does not meet pre-determined parameters.
21. A method of controlling a barrier movement operator comprising:
identifying a user interactive mode of operation;
determining the operator statuses and the user actions to complete the interactive mode;
signaling the user to perform a first action in furtherance of the interactive mode operation;
determining that the first action has been correctly performed and signaling the user of a next action in the interactive mode operation.
22. A method of controlling a barrier movement operator according to claim 21 comprising
determining that the first action was not correctly performed and signaling an alert to the user.
23. A method of controlling a barrier movement operator according to claim 21 comprising
determining that the status of the barrier movement operator is correct before signaling that a first action is to be performed by the user.
24. A method of controlling a barrier movement operator according to claim 21 comprising
determining that the status of the barrier movement apparatus is not correct for the performance of the first action; and
signaling the user to correct the status of the barrier movement operator.
25. A method of controlling a barrier movement operator according to claim 21 wherein
the user interacts with the barrier movement operator to initiate the interactive mode.