Patents by Inventor Edward T. Laird
Edward T. Laird has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9148409Abstract: Upon providing (101) message content (such as a remote control instruction) to be transmitted, and in conjunction with provision (102) of a plurality of different transmission characteristics (as correspond, for example, to different types of transmission) and a corresponding plurality of correlated recovery identifiers (103), a particular transmission characteristic is selected (104) and used to transmit (105) a joint message. n particular, in a preferred approach, the selected transmission characteristic (106) is used when transmitting at least a portion of the message content portion of the joint message while another part of the joint message carries the recovery identifier to thereby facilitate selection of an appropriate reception technique by a receiver when receiving the joint message.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2005Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: James J. Fitzgibbon, Edward T. Laird
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Patent number: 8587404Abstract: A movable barrier system with a moving-barrier imminent motion notification includes a movable barrier and a movable barrier operator connected to control movement of the movable barrier between a first position and a second position. To reduce user dissatisfaction with the moving-barrier imminent motion notification, communications to the movable barrier operator include information to assist the operator in determining whether to operate the moving-barrier imminent motion notification in combination with moving the door or to specifically command that the moving-barrier imminent motion notification operate or not. The communication may include a signal or input separate from and in addition to a typical command signal or input to the operator.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2009Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventor: Edward T. Laird
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Publication number: 20130145692Abstract: A barrier control apparatus and method for controlling movement of a barrier are provided to allow a user the ability to move a barrier without physically contacting the barrier. For example, the barrier control apparatus maintains a defined distance between an object such as a hand and a defined location relative to the barrier such that movement of the barrier follows movement of the object. In this way, a user is able to maintain control of the movement of the barrier throughout the opening and closing process. The barrier control apparatus is further able to detect gestures made by the user and can control movement of the barrier accordingly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: THE CHAMBERLAIN GROUP, INC.Inventors: Edward T. LAIRD, Robert John OLMSTED, James J. ROBERTS
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Patent number: 8416055Abstract: At a moveable barrier operator, parameters are adjusted. At a first time, the moveable barrier operator is configured with at least one parameter and adjustment of the at least one parameter is disabled until a predetermined identification signal is received. At a second time, the predetermined identification signal is received and the at least one parameter is responsively adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2007Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: James J. Fitzgibbon, Edward T. Laird
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Publication number: 20110317835Abstract: An encrypted rolling code (11), a plurality of differing data bit order patterns (13), and a plurality of differing data inversion patterns 14) are provided. One then selects (15) a particular one of each of these patterns and uses those selected patterns as transmission characteristics when transmitting (16) at least part of the encrypted rolling code via a wireline connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Inventors: Edward T. Laird, James J. Fitzgibbon, Eric M. Gregori
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Publication number: 20110316668Abstract: Upon providing (101) message content (such as a wireline remote control instruction) to be transmitted via wireline, and in conjunction with provision (102) of a plurality of different wireline transmission characteristics (as correspond, for example, to different types of wireline transmission) and a corresponding plurality of correlated recovery identifiers (103), a particular wireline transmission characteristic is selected (104) and used to transmit via wireline (105) a joint message. In particular, in a preferred approach, the selected wireline transmission characteristic (106) is used when transmitting via wireline at least a portion of the message content portion of the joint message while another part of the joint message carries the recovery identifier to thereby facilitate selection of an appropriate reception technique by a wireline receiver when receiving the joint message.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Inventors: Edward T. Laird, James J. Fitzgibbon
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Publication number: 20100242369Abstract: A movable barrier system with a moving-barrier eminent motion notification includes a movable barrier and a movable barrier operator connected to control movement of the movable barrier between a first position and a second position. To reduce user dissatisfaction with the moving-barrier eminent motion notification, communications to the movable barrier operator include information to assist the operator in determining whether to operate the moving-barrier eminent motion notification in combination with moving the door or to specifically command that the moving-barrier eminent motion notification operate or not. The communication may include a signal or input separate from and in addition to a typical command signal or input to the operator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: THE CHAMBERLAIN GROUP, INC.Inventor: Edward T. Laird
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Publication number: 20090146777Abstract: At a moveable barrier operator, parameters are adjusted. At a first time, the moveable barrier operator is configured with at least one parameter and adjustment of the at least one parameter is disabled until a predetermined identification signal is received. At a second time, the predetermined identification signal is received and the at least one parameter is responsively adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2007Publication date: June 11, 2009Applicant: THE CHAMBERLAIN GROUP, INC.Inventors: James J. Fitzgibbon, Edward T. Laird
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Patent number: 7154531Abstract: A system for detecting objects includes a digital image device such as CCD camera to control a defined area for unauthorized intrusions. The digital imaging device views a predetermined pattern positioned across the defined area from the device. A processor periodically compares an image stored in the memory with a digital representation of the predetermined pattern, and a signal is sent to a control unit when the correlation is missing as a result of the object entering field of vision of the digital imaging device and obscuring said predetermined pattern.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2002Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventor: Edward T. Laird
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Patent number: 6982652Abstract: A movable barrier operator (10) can control a plurality of light sources (12) via corresponding light drivers (11) to effect various lighting schemes in response to facilitating various operating modes and/or operational states of the operator. Preferably such lighting schemes are both selectively assignable by a user to specific modes/states and themselves uniquely definable by a user.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2002Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: Edward T. Laird, James J. Fitzgibbon, Dana M. Brad
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Patent number: 6975203Abstract: In a multiple barrier movement operator environment, one switch module for controlling all of the barrier movement operators. The switch module may be wall mounted for convenience and communicates with the barrier operator either wirelessly or through a wired interface. The switch module controls and operates movement of any barrier singly while controlling the operation of the overhead lights and response inhibit modes of all the barrier operators. A stop button also maybe provided to enable all the barrier operators to discontinue movement of their respective barriers.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2002Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Brookbank, James J. Fitzgibbon, Edward T. Laird
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Patent number: 6860065Abstract: A system for decoupling a barrier from a barrier movement apparatus for the manual operation of the barrier. Advantageously, the decoupling is performed in response to a wireless signal and may be done only when the barrier is determined to be in a safe position.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2002Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: James C. Griffin, James J. Fitzgibbon, Edward T. Laird, Robert J. Olmsted
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Patent number: 6777902Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2002Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: James J. Fitzgibbon, Edward T. Laird, Colin Willmott
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Patent number: 6774594Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2003Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: James J. Fitzgibbon, Edward T. Laird, Colin Willmott
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Publication number: 20030227370Abstract: In a multiple barrier movement operator environment, one switch module for controlling all of the barrier movement operators. The switch module may be wall mounted for convenience and communicates with the barrier operator either wirelessly or through a wired interface. The switch module controls and operates movement of any barrier singly while controlling the operation of the overhead lights and response inhibit modes of all the barrier operators. A stop button also maybe provided to enable all the barrier operators to discontinue movement of their respective barriers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2002Publication date: December 11, 2003Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Brookbank, James J. Fitzgibbon, Edward T. Laird
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Publication number: 20030214806Abstract: A movable barrier operator (10) can control a plurality of light sources (12) via corresponding light drivers (11) to effect various lighting schemes in response to facilitating various operating modes and/or operational states of the operator. Preferably such lighting schemes are both selectively assignable by a user to specific modes/states and themselves uniquely definable by a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2002Publication date: November 20, 2003Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: Edward T. Laird, James J. Fitzgibbon, Dana M. Brad
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Publication number: 20030208961Abstract: A system and method for decoupling a barrier from a barrier movement apparatus for the manual operation of the barrier. Advantageously, the decoupling is performed in response to a wireless signal and may be done only when the barrier is determined to be in a safe position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2002Publication date: November 13, 2003Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: James C. Griffin, James J. Fitzgibbon, Edward T. Laird, Robert J. Olmsted
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Publication number: 20030178957Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2003Publication date: September 25, 2003Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: James J. Fitzgibbon, Edward T. Laird, Colin Willmott
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Publication number: 20030178962Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2002Publication date: September 25, 2003Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: James J. Fitzgibbon, Edward T. Laird, Colin Willmott
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Patent number: RE48433Abstract: An encrypted rolling code (11), a plurality of differing data bit order patterns (13), and a plurality of differing data inversion patterns 14) are provided. One then selects (15) a particular one of each of these patterns and uses those selected patterns as transmission characteristics when transmitting (16) at least part of the encrypted rolling code.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2017Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: James J. Fitzgibbon, Eric M. Gregori, Edward T. Laird