Abstract: A movable barrier opener system is provided. The movable barrier opener system may include one or more edge lit panel modules. The one or more edge lit panel modules may include edge light sources that can be selectably illuminated by a controller of a movable barrier operator to communicate a system status to a user of the movable barrier opener system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a moving barrier responsive to a transmission by a barrier operator controller comprising a plurality of 4-bit output nibbles generated from a 32 bit rolling code. The bit positions of the rolling code are inverted, divided by 16, converted to four bit base 9 coefficients, each four bit base 9 coefficients is substituted with a corresponding 4-bit output nibble. Receipt of the plurality of 4-bit output nibbles causes a barrier operator to actuate a motor connected to the moving barrier.

Abstract: A system for enabling both the remote monitoring and receipt of remote change-of-door status commands, via the Internet, of the open or closed status of the garage door. The system includes an encoder generating signal pulses as a function of the motor and garage door movement. A microprocessor processes the signal pulses to generate digital pulses indicative of the open or closed status of the garage door, which status is wirelessly transmitted, via the Internet, for remote monitoring. Change-of-door status commands remotely transmitted, via the Internet, are received by the system to activate a warning and delayed change of door status.

Abstract: Movable barrier monitoring apparatus and methods are provided for rapidly responding to barrier travel obstructions and other abnormal occurrences to cause the movable barrier operator to halt barrier travel or stop and reverse barrier travel, while ignoring typical and normal impediments to barrier travel. Alternate methods are described for programming the barrier operator controller to compare characteristics of the monitored barrier run over the defined travel path with the characteristics of a good barrier run without interruption to barrier travel, with the degree of differentiation of such characteristics determinative of whether the operator controller is to interrupt barrier travel or not.

Abstract: A system for moving a barrier includes a motor with an integrated encoder operative to generate pulses as a function of rotation of the rotatable shaft of the motor. A preferred form of encoder is a rotary optical encoder to generate optical pulses as a function of rotational movement of the rotatable shaft. Both a microcontroller to determine door status and a controller to control door movement receive the pulses and separately execute methods in response thereto.

Abstract: A movable barrier opener system is provided. The movable barrier opener system may include one or more edge lit panel modules. The one or more edge lit panel modules may include edge light sources that can be selectably illuminated by a controller of a movable barrier operator to communicate a system status to a user of the movable barrier opener system.

Abstract: A movable barrier opener system having a multiphase brushless DC motor in the drive assembly is provided. The multiphase brushless DC motor may impart motive force to a movable barrier in response to barrier movement instructions from the barrier operator controller to the drive assembly. The barrier operator controller of the movable barrier opener system is configured to detect a back EMF of at least one winding of the multiphase brushless DC motor and determines a position of the movable barrier and/or determines a torque of the multiphase brushless DC motor in response to the detected back EMF. A position sensor and a back EMF sensor module provides actual operating parameters to the controller.

Abstract: A movable barrier opener system having a brushless DC motor is provided. The movable barrier opener system may have a power supply unit with a drive circuit power module and a storage bank. The storage bank may be chargeable by the drive circuit power module and may be connectable to the drive assembly to provide electrical power to the drive assembly to move the movable barrier. The drive circuit power module may be selectably turned on and off to improve efficiency of power consumption by turning off during periods of lowered demand.

Abstract: A system for moving a barrier includes a motor with an integrated encoder operative to generate pulses as a function of rotation of the rotatable shaft of the motor. A preferred form of encoder is a rotary optical encoder to generate optical pulses as a function of rotational movement of the rotatable shaft. Control circuitry is configured to receive the optical pulses from the motor, convert the optical pulses to electrical pulses, and thereafter to digital pulses indicative of the status of the barrier.

Abstract: An apparatus that detects the occurrence of slack in a cable and that compensates for detected slack is disclosed. The apparatus includes body parts that are movable relative to each other between fully extended and fully retracted positions. A bias device biases the body parts toward the fully retracted position. However, normal tension conditions in the monitored cable overcome the bias and extend the body parts to their fully extended relation. If the cable becomes slack, the body parts retract to take up the slack. If the cable slack is to such an extent that the body parts move to a predetermined relative position, the apparatus generates a signal warning of extreme slack conditions. The present invention also is a cable slack control apparatus for a door operator, with such control apparatus including a cable slack detection and compensation device and a door motor drive control device.

Abstract: A door operator includes a low noise, low radiation emission but high sensitivity super-regenerative receiver. The low radiation emission of the receiver allows the installation of plural operators in close proximity. The door operator receiver includes a super-regenerative circuit apparatus with a super-regenerative circuit and a resistively loaded cascode preamplifier stage that phase shifts a received RF signal and tightly couples the preamplifier stage output to the super-regenerative circuit. A cascode circuit arrangement of a field effect transistor (FET) and a bipolar transistor provides forward gain and very high reverse direction gain or isolation for the preamplifier stage. Preferably, the resistive loading elements and the phase-shifting elements are coupled to the cascode circuit between the transistors. The present invention also relates to a cascode preamplifier stage, a super-regenerative circuit, and a RF receiver each including such a preamplifier stage.

Abstract: A garage door operator is disclosed to have a front coupling for a threaded screw of the operator and the rotor of the motor. The coupling includes a first coupling device that is a unitary coupling member with opposing recesses for receiving each of the rotor shaft and an end portion of the screw. The unitary coupling member thereby connects the screw to the motor for torque transmission from the motor. The second coupling device includes a thrust containment device that is supported on the screw, and an intermediate assembly disposed between the thrust containment device and an end portion of the guide rail of the door operator. A retainer component of the intermediate assembly restricts expansion of the thrust containment device.

Abstract: A tip-resistant canister for use in wet/dry vacuums is disclosed. The tip-resistant canister has recessed caster supports and a skirt for resisting tipping. The recessed caster supports lower the center of gravity of the canister thereby making the canister more difficult to tip. The skirt of the canister, on the other hand, strikes the ground whenever the canister does begin to tip thereby preventing the canister from falling completely onto its side. The impact of the canister skirt against the ground also has a tendency to cause the canister to return to an upright position.

Abstract: A garage door operator is disclosed to have a front coupling for a threaded screw of the operator and the rotor of the motor. The coupling includes a first coupling device that is a unitary coupling member with opposing recesses for receiving each of the rotor shaft and an end portion of the screw. The unitary coupling member thereby connects the screw to the motor for torque transmission from the motor. The second coupling device includes a thrust containment device that is supported on the screw, and an intermediate assembly disposed between the thrust containment device and an end portion of the guide rail of the door operator. A retainer component of the intermediate assembly restricts expansion of the thrust containment device.

Abstract: A circuit which gives a continuous voltage output indication of whether a contact is open or closed. The circuit senses the voltage across the contact to detect whether the contact is open or closed. When there is a significant voltage, the circuit indicates that the contact is open. When the voltage is negligible, the circuit indicates that the contact is closed. Alternatively, the current through the contact can be sensed to provide an indication of whether the contact is conducting or not. The circuit can be used to indicate the welding close of a relay contact in which case power to the load can be turned off or the contact can be opened by other than normal corrective actions. One application is to discontinue closing movement of a garage door when the motor relay switch does not open as desired, but there are innumerable other applications.

Abstract: A control unit remotely operates several different functions of a gas fireplace. The functions include ignition of a fire, control of flame height, blower control, and damper control. An RF or IR transmitter has several different switches corresponding to desired operations to be performed. Each switch or combination of switches sends different coded signals to a receiver in the control unit. The control unit operates a gas valve and an ignitor to start the fire in response to a start signal. The gas valve is further controlled to vary the height of the flame or extinguish the flame in response to corresponding signals. The blower, damper and other functions can be controlled in response to other signals.

Abstract: A tip-resistant canister for use in wet/dry vacuums is disclosed. The tip-resistant canister has recessed caster supports and a skirt for resisting tipping. The recessed caster supports lower the center of gravity of the canister thereby making the canister more difficult to tip. The skirt of the canister, on the other hand, strikes the ground whenever the canister does begin to tip thereby preventing the canister from falling completely onto its side. The impact of the canister skirt against the ground also has a tendency to cause the canister to return to an upright position.

Abstract: An improved switch assembly for an electrical appliance is provided which is easily manipulated when the appliance assumes a variety of operating modes. The switch assembly includes a slidably mounted control unit for opening and closing a switch, the latter being concealed within a housing for the appliance and disposed within an electric circuit for the appliance. The control unit is provided with a plurality of exposed, finger-engageable surfaces to effect selective movement of the unit.