IP Library Granted Patent US 41,452
Granted Patent E1
US 41,452 · App. 11/431,948 · Granted Jul 27, 2010

System and method of actuating a movable barrier operator

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 41,452
App. No.
11/431,948
Granted
Jul 27, 2010
Kind
E1
Abstract

A system and method for actuating a moveable barrier operating system. A wireless time signal at a receiver. A time-of-day signal is supplied at the output of the receiver. The receiver is automatically reset using the wireless time signal when the time-of-day signal is different than the time represented by the wireless time signal. A moveable barrier is actuated using the time-of-day signal at the output of the receiver.

Claims (51)

1. A method for controlling a moveable barrier operating system comprising:

receiving a generally available wireless time signal at a receiver;

supplying a time-of-day at the output of the receiver;

automatically resetting the receiver using the generally available wireless time signal when the time-of-day signal is different than a time represented by the generally available wireless time signal; and

actuating a moveable barrier operator in response to the time-of-day output of the receiver.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the generally available wireless time signal includes receiving a time signal indicating time from a clock reference.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein actuating the moveable barrier operator includes actuating the moveable barrier operator to close the movable barrier operator at a predetermined time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein actuating the moveable barrier operator includes actuating a movable barrier operator to prevent the movement of a movable barrier operator at a predetermined time.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein actuating the moveable barrier operator includes actuating the movable barrier operator to open a movable barrier operator at a predetermined time.

6. A method for controlling a moveable barrier operator comprising:

receiving user input indicating when a moveable barrier should be actuated;

adjusting a time signal representing the time-of-day in response to a received generally available wireless time signal;

comparing the user input to the time signal; and

actuating a movable barrier operator based upon comparing the user input to the signal.

7. A system for controlling a movable barrier operator comprising:

a receiver receiving a generally available wireless time signal and adjusting a time signal in response to the generally available received wireless time signal; and

a movable barrier operator coupled to the receiver and receiving the generally available wireless time signal output, the movable barrier operator selectively actuating a movable barrier operator based upon the time signal output.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a keypad communicatively coupled to the movable barrier operator for receiving user input, the user input including information indicating when an actuation of the movable barrier should occur.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the information indicates closing the movable barrier operator at a predetermined time.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the information indicates preventing the movement of a movable barrier operator at a predetermined time.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the information indicates opening a movable barrier operator at a predetermined time.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the time signal is received from is a clock reference.

13. A method for controlling a moveable barrier operating system comprising:

receiving a generally available wireless time signal at a receiver;

supplying the generally available wireless time signal at the output of the receiver; and

actuating the moveable barrier operator using the generally available wireless time signal output of the receiver.

14. A method for actuating a movable barrier operator comprising:

operating a clock at a moveable barrier operator, the clock having an associated time of day;

programming an alarm time for the clock and storing the alarm time in a memory;

receiving other information at the moveable barrier operator;

comparing the alarm time to the time of day, and when the alarm time matches the time of day, actuating the moveable barrier operator to move a barrier; and

controlling the actuation of the moveable barrier operator using, at least in part, the other information.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein actuating the moveable barrier operator causes the opening of the barrier.

16. The method of claim 14 comprising displaying the time of day on a display to the user.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein actuating the moveable barrier operator causes the closing the barrier.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein programming an alarm time comprises entering the alarm time using a keypad.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein programming an alarm time comprises entering the alarm time using at least one button.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein controlling the actuation of the moveable barrier operator using, at least in part, the other information comprises determining whether an obstruction is present in a path of the barrier and preventing the actuating of the moveable barrier operator when the obstruction is present.

21. A moveable barrier operator for moving a moveable barrier comprising:

only one motor, the one motor coupled to a barrier;

a clock, the clock having an associated time of day;

an interface device adapted to receive commands from a user, the commands setting an alarm time for the clock; and

a controller coupled to the clock, the interface device, and the one motor, the controller programmed to actuate the one motor to move the moveable barrier when the time of day of the clock matches the alarm time set by the user.

22. The moveable barrier operator of claim 21 wherein the interface device comprises a keypad.

23. The moveable barrier operator of claim 21 wherein the interface device comprises at least one button.

24. The moveable barrier operator of claim 21 wherein the controller is programmed to actuate the one motor to open the barrier when the time of day of the clock matches the alarm time set by the user.

25. The moveable barrier operator of claim 21 wherein the controller is programmed to actuate the motor to close the barrier when the time of day of the clock matches the alarm time set by the user.

26. The moveable barrier operator of claim 21 comprising a clock display for displaying the time of day to the user.

27. The moveable barrier operator of claim 21 wherein the controller is programmed to determine whether an obstruction is present in a path of the barrier based upon sensed inputs and prevent the actuating of the motor when the obstruction is present.

28. The moveable barrier operator of claim 21 wherein the clock is based upon a 24 - day period.

Assignments (3)
NOTICE OF TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 26, 2024
From: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: THE CHAMBERLAIN GROUP LLC; SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 066374/0749 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: THE CHAMBERLAIN GROUP LLC; SYSTEMS, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058014/0931 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: THE CHAMBERLAIN GROUP LLC; SYSTEMS, LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058015/0001 →