Abstract: A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.

Abstract: A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.

Abstract: A movable barrier operator having a motor controller (10) and motor (11) that control selective movement of a movable barrier (12) also has an obstacle detector (14) that utilizes an automatically determined excess force threshold value to permit reliable detection of an obstacle under a wide variety of operational circumstances, including changing physical circumstances, aging components, temperature variations, and motor runtime. In a preferred embodiment, a characteristic force value for the system is frequently updated as a function of actual measured force requirements (and further compensated, pursuant to various embodiments, with respect to other conditions such as temperature and motor runtime). This characteristic force value is then utilized to determine the excess force threshold value.

Abstract: A barrier movement operator includes an A.C. motor having a rotatable rotor connected to a barrier for movement thereof. A sensing apparatus generates motor signals representing an operational variable of the motor. The movement of the barrier is controlled by a controller, which responds to the motor signals by selectively stopping rotation of the rotor or reversing the rotation of the rotor. A power control arrangement provides energizing power to the motor by receiving AC power input substantially in the form of a sine wave and conducts portions of successive cycles of the sine wave of the received AC power to the motor to enhance the sensed operational variable to torque characteristic of the motor.

Abstract: A movable barrier operator having a motor controller (10) and motor (11) that control selective movement of a movable barrier (12) also has an obstacle detector (14) that utilizes an automatically determined excess force threshold value to permit reliable detection of an obstacle under a wide variety of operational circumstances, including changing physical circumstances, aging components, temperature variations, and motor runtime. In a preferred embodiment, a characteristic force value for the system is frequently updated as a function of actual measured force requirements (and further compensated, pursuant to various embodiments, with respect to other conditions such as temperature and motor runtime). This characteristic force value is then utilized to determine the excess force threshold value.

Abstract: A barrier movement operator includes an A.C. motor having a rotatable rotor connected to a barrier for movement thereof. A sensing apparatus generates motor signals representing an operational variable of the motor. The movement of the barrier is controlled by a controller, which responds to the motor signals by selectively stopping rotation of the rotor or reversing the rotation of the rotor. A power control arrangement provides energizing power to the motor by receiving AC power input substantially in the form of a sine wave and conducts portions of successive cycles of the sine wave of the received AC power to the motor to enhance the sensed operational variable to torque characteristic of the motor.

Abstract: A barrier movement operator which uses an A.C. motor to move a barrier is disclosed herein. The operator senses a characteristic of barrier movement, such as motor rotation speed, to detect when the barrier contacts an obstruction. The motor and/or the circuitry for applying electrical power to the motor have been enhanced to improve the detectibility of contact with an obstruction.

Abstract: A force reversal value for an installed barrier is identified. The force reversal value is compared to a predetermined threshold. When the comparing indicates that the force reversal value exceeds the predetermined threshold, the operation of the moveable barrier operator is halted. A secondary safety device can then be installed and, responsive to the installing, the operator can be reenabled.

Abstract: A movable barrier operator having an electrical motor responsive to control signals for moving the barrier, a controller to control the barrier movements, and two command apparatuses for generating command inputs, which command apparatuses are located remotely from each other. The first command apparatus is mounted in a location remote from the controller and easily accessible by the users, and the second command apparatus is located close proximity to the controller to be easily accessible by an installer at the time of service.

Abstract: A movable barrier operator having a motor controller (10) and motor (11) that control selective movement of a movable barrier (12) also has an obstacle detector (14) that utilizes an automatically determined excess force threshold value to permit reliable detection of an obstacle under a wide variety of operational circumstances, including changing physical circumstances, aging components, temperature variations, and motor runtime. In a preferred embodiment, a characteristic force value for the system is frequently updated as a function of actual measured force requirements (and further compensated, pursuant to various embodiments, with respect to other conditions such as temperature and motor runtime). This characteristic force value is then utilized to determine the excess force threshold value.

Abstract: A barrier movement operator moves a barrier between open and closed positions. The operator receives a first request to move the barrier. The actual force required to move the barrier is measured. An obstruction to barrier movement is determined by comparing the measured actual force to a first predetermined force threshold. Responsive to the detection of an obstruction, the direction of travel of the barrier is reversed. The operation of the barrier movement operator is modified, by permitting the use of a higher force threshold in future measurements. A second request to move the barrier is received. The actual force required to move the barrier is measured a second time. An obstruction to barrier movement is detected by comparing the measured actual force with the new, higher force threshold.

Abstract: Multiple zones (21, 22, 23) are established with respect to the travel of a movable barrier over a course of permitted movement (typically between a fully open and a fully closed position). By detecting and knowing the juxtaposition of the movable barrier with a given one of these zones, a particular direction of movement for that movable barrier can be automatically selected notwithstanding possible ignorance regarding the exact position of the movable barrier due to, for example, one or more triggering conditions (such as momentary disconnection of the movable barrier with respect to its motive mechanism). Such zones are particularly efficacious when employed in conjunction with passpoint-based position determination movable barrier operator systems.

Abstract: A barrier movement operator which uses an A.C. motor to move a barrier is disclosed herein. The operator senses a characteristic of barrier movement, such as motor rotation speed, to detect when the barrier contacts an obstruction. The motor and/or the circuitry for applying electrical power to the motor have been enhanced to improve the detectibility of contact with an obstruction.

Abstract: A movable barrier operator having improved safety and energy efficiency features automatically detects line voltage frequency and uses that information to set a worklight shut-off time. The operator automatically detects the type of door (single panel or segmented) and uses that information to set a maximum speed of door travel. The operator moves the door with a linearly variable speed from start of travel to stop for smooth and quiet performance. The operator provides for full door closure by driving the door into the floor when the DOWN limit is reached and no auto-reverse condition has been detected. The operator provides for user selection of a minimum stop speed for easy starting and stopping of sticky or binding doors.

Abstract: An asymmetrical drive motor and apparatus with the asymmetric drive motor driving a barrier. The asymmetric drive motor drives the barrier at different drive powers according to direction, time of travel, safety requirements or speed. The drive power is controlled by electrically changing the capacitance value for a permanent split capacitor motor.

Abstract: An asymmetrical drive motor and apparatus with the asymmetric drive motor driving a barrier. The asymmetric drive motor drives the barrier at different drive powers according to direction, time of travel, safety requirements or speed. The drive power is controlled by electrically changing the capacitance value for a permanent split capacitor motor.

Abstract: An asymmetrical drive motor and apparatus with the asymmetric drive motor driving a barrier. The asymmetric drive motor drives the barrier at different drive powers according to direction, time of travel, safety requirements or speed. The drive power is controlled by electrically changing the capacitance value for a permanent split capacitor motor.

Abstract: An asymmetrical drive motor and apparatus with the asymmetric drive motor driving a barrier. The asymmetric drive motor drives the barrier at different drive powers according to direction, time of travel, safety requirements or speed. The drive power is controlled by electrically changing the capacitance value for a permanent split capacitor motor.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system for remote control of garage doors and other devices wherein an extremely large number of codes are available for remote transmitters for operating the garage operator and wherein each transmitter has its own unique and permanent nonuser changeable code. The receiver at the garage door operator is capable of storing and remembering a number of different codes corresponding to different transmitters such that the receiver can be programmed so as to actuated by more than one transmitted code thus allowing two or more transmitters to actuate the same garage door operator and wherein the receiver stores the valid codes for the different transmitters.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system for remote control of garage doors and other devices wherein an extremely large number of codes are available for remote transmitters for operating the garage operator and wherein each transmitter has its own unique and permanent nonuser changeable code. The receiver at the garage door operator is capable of storing and remembering a number of different codes corresponding to different transmitters such that the receiver can be programmed so as to actuated by more than one transmitted code thus allowing two or more transmitters to actuate the same garage door operator and wherein the receiver stores the valid codes for the different transmitters.