Obstacle detection systems and methods

1. An obstacle detection system of a movable barrier operator, the obstacle detection system comprising:

a light emitter configured to emit a light signal across an opening;

a camera having a field of view adjacent the opening and configured to monitor a zone of interest within the field of view, the zone of interest being associated with the light signal;

a processor operatively coupled to the camera and configured to determine whether the opening is obstructed based at least in part on whether the camera detects an object in the zone of interest, wherein the light signal includes a geometric characteristic associated therewith, and the field of view of the camera is narrowed based at least in part on the geometric characteristic associated with the light signal; and

communication circuitry operatively coupled to the processor, the processor being further configured to cause the communication circuitry to transmit an obstruction signal to the movable barrier operator in response to the camera detecting the object in the zone of interest.

2. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 wherein the light emitter is configured to be mounted at a vertical position above a floor of the opening, and wherein the zone of interest has a height extending above the vertical position of the light emitter.

3. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 wherein the light emitter emits the light signal in a first direction, the light emitter includes an outlet window having a predetermined width perpendicular to the first direction, and the zone of interest has a width larger than the predetermined width of the outlet window of the light emitter.

4. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the camera and the processor utilize the light signal to determine a width of the zone of interest.

5. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 further comprising a light detector separate from the camera and configured to receive a portion of the light signal reflected back from the object; and

the processor is operatively coupled to the light emitter and the light detector and is configured to further determine whether the opening is obstructed using the light emitter and light detector.

6. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 wherein the light signal is an infrared light signal.

7. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 wherein the geometric characteristic comprises apexes of light intensity arcs of the light signal; and

wherein the processor is configured to narrow the field of view of the camera using the apexes of the light intensity arcs of the light signal.

8. A method of operating an obstacle detection system of a garage door operator, the method comprising:

causing a light emitter to emit a light signal across an opening associated with a garage door connected to the garage door operator, wherein the light signal includes a geometric characteristic associated therewith;

narrowing a field of vision of a camera based at least in part on the geometric characteristic associated with the light signal;

operating the camera to monitor a zone of interest;

determining whether the opening is obstructed based at least in part on whether the camera detects an object in the zone of interest; and

stopping and/or reversing movement of the garage door in response to determining the opening is obstructed.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein operating the camera to monitor the zone of interest includes monitoring a portion of the zone of interest above the light signal from the light emitter.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein causing the light emitter to emit the light signal includes causing the light emitter to emit the light signal in a longitudinal direction; and

operating the camera to monitor the zone of interest includes monitoring a portion of the zone of interest on a lateral side of the light signal.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein causing the light emitter to emit the light signal includes causing the light emitter to emit the light signal in a longitudinal direction; and

operating the camera to monitor the zone of interest includes monitoring portions of the zone of interest on opposite lateral sides of the light signal.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising determining a width of the zone of interest based at least in part on the light signal from the light emitter.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving, at a light detector, a portion of the light signal reflected back from the object; and

determining whether the opening is obstructed based on the portion of the light signal received at the light detector.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the light signal is an infrared light signal.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the light emitter is on one side of the opening and the camera is adjacent the light emitter on the one side of the opening.

16. A method of operating an obstacle detection system of a garage door operator, the method comprising:

causing a light emitter to emit a light signal across an opening associated with a garage door connected to the garage door operator;

narrowing a field of vision of a camera to a zone of interest associated with the light signal;

operating the camera to monitor the zone of interest;

determining whether the opening is obstructed based at least in part on whether the camera detects an object in the zone of interest;

stopping and/or reversing movement of the garage door in response to determining the opening is obstructed;

wherein causing the light emitter to emit the light signal comprises causing the light emitter to emit a light signal that forms light intensity arcs across the opening associated with the garage door; and

wherein narrowing the field of vision of the camera comprises:

identifying a center line that passes through apexes of the light intensity arcs; and

narrowing the field of vision of the camera to a zone of interest associated with the light signal by ignoring optical data beyond a certain number of pixels on either side of the center line.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein operating the camera to monitor the zone of interest includes monitoring a portion of the zone of interest above the light signal from the light emitter.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

receiving, at a light detector separate from the camera, a portion of the light signal reflected back from the object; and

wherein determining whether the opening is obstructed comprises determining whether the opening is obstructed based at least in part upon the portion of the light signal received at the light detector.