Abstract: A baby gate assembly which opens automatically only when detecting a designated person, by IR detection, RFID tagging or voice recognition. One or more IR detectors are mounted on a telescopic mast, enabling designation by height selection and the sensed signal compared with a datum or another IR facing in an opposite direct to provide signal operating reversible stepping motor to unlatch the gate. The control circuitry maintains the gate unlatched for sufficient time for the designated person to push open and walk through the gate in a hands free operation. A pedal release mechanism is also enabling unlatching during a power cut. The automatic and pedal unlatching mechanisms are linked for lost motion permitting independent operation.

Abstract: The amplitude of a swing powered by an electric motor is controlled by detecting a peak voltage induced in the motor coil by the swing motion when the motor is not being powered and comparing the detected voltage with a one of a set of pre-measured reference values of peak voltages obtained at corresponding amplitude settings to provide a signal to a motor controller which adjusts the power supplied to the motor to bring the swing amplitude to. The motor controller supplies a PWM signal voltage to power the motor and adjusts the voltage on-time to bring or restore the swing to the selected amplitude.