Patents by Inventor James J. Fitzgibbon
James J. Fitzgibbon 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: 11965375Abstract: A movable barrier operator includes a communication interface configured to receive commands that cause the motor to move the movable barrier. The movable barrier operator further includes a processing circuit configured to cause the motor to automatically move the movable barrier from a first open position toward a closed position and then from the closed position toward a second open position different from the first open position in response to receipt of an intermediate open command by the communication interface. The processing circuit can also cause the motor of the movable barrier operator to move the movable barrier toward the first open position in response to the processing circuit determining that the movable barrier had been obstructed while moving from the first open position toward the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2020Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, LLCInventor: James J. Fitzgibbon
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Publication number: 20240076926Abstract: In one aspect, a movable barrier operator system is provided that includes a motor configured to turn a drum to pay out a cable from the drum and permit a door connected to the cable to move from an open position toward a closed position. The system includes a memory configured to store an expected variable of the door, and a sensor configured to detect movement of the door. The system further includes a processor circuit operatively coupled to the motor, the memory, and the sensor. The processor circuit is configured to: use the sensor to estimate an actual variable of the door; determine whether the actual variable is acceptable based at least in part on the expected variable and the processor circuit causing the motor to turn the drum; and change operation of the movable barrier upon the actual variable of the movable barrier being unacceptable.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Casparus Cate, James Joseph Fitzgibbon, Thomas J. Grinter, Anders K. Melberg, Robert John Olmsted
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Patent number: 11921253Abstract: An obstacle detection system includes a light emitter that emits a light signal and a light detector configured to receive a portion of the light signal reflected back from an object. The system includes a processor operatively coupled to the light emitter and the light detector to determine a presence of an obstacle based on the portion of the light signal received by the light detector. The system includes a heater operatively coupled to a power source and at least one sensor configured to determine an ambient temperature and an ambient relative humidity. The processor is operatively coupled to the power source, the heater, and the at least one sensor. The processor is configured to calculate a dew point of the environment from the ambient relative humidity and the ambient temperature and to activate the heater in response to the ambient temperature being less than the dew point.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: THE CHAMBERLAIN GROUP LLCInventor: James J. Fitzgibbon
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Patent number: 11822302Abstract: In one aspect, a user device is provided that includes a processor configured to execute a user interface application, a controllable device application, and an operating system of the user device. The user device includes communication circuitry configured to facilitate communication between the controllable device application and the controllable device. The user interface application is configured to detect a notification of the controllable device application communicated to the operating system, the notification pertaining to a state of the controllable device associated with the controllable device application. The user interface application is configured to determine the state of the controllable device based at least in part on the notification of the controllable device application communicated to the operating system of the user device.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLCInventor: James J. Fitzgibbon
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Publication number: 20230354025Abstract: Electronic systems are provided for secure actuation of a remote device such as a moveable barrier operator. The systems address the “man in the middle” problem of persons intercepting and duplicating radio frequency signals from a control device by introducing timing parameters into a bidirectional communication sequence between at least two devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventor: James J. Fitzgibbon
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Patent number: 11799648Abstract: An encrypted rolling code, a plurality of differing data bit order patterns, and a plurality of differing data inversion patterns are provided. One then selects a particular one of each of these patterns and uses those selected patterns as transmission characteristics when transmitting at least part of the encrypted rolling code.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLCInventors: James J. Fitzgibbon, Eric Gregori, Edward Thomas Laird
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Publication number: 20230336342Abstract: An encrypted rolling code, a plurality of differing data bit order patterns, and a plurality of differing data inversion patterns are provided. One then selects a particular one of each of these patterns and uses those selected patterns as transmission characteristics when transmitting at least part of the encrypted rolling code.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: James J. Fitzgibbon, Eric Gregori, Edward Thomas Laird
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Publication number: 20230336341Abstract: An encrypted rolling code, a plurality of differing data bit order patterns, and a plurality of differing data inversion patterns are provided. Based on the encrypted rolling code, patterns are selected from one or more of the plurality of differing data bit order patterns and the plurality of differing data inversion patterns. At least a part of the encrypted rolling code is transmitted to a movable barrier operator using the selected patterns as transmission characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: James J. Fitzgibbon, Eric Gregori, Edward Thomas Laird
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Patent number: 11778464Abstract: Electronic systems are provided for secure actuation of a remote device such as a moveable barrier operator. The systems address the “man in the middle” problem of persons intercepting and duplicating radio frequency signals from a control device by introducing timing parameters into a bidirectional communication sequence between at least two devices.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLCInventor: James J. Fitzgibbon
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Publication number: 20230206709Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for managing and controlling movable barrier operator systems are described herein. A method for controlling a movable barrier operator system comprises receiving a credential associated with a first user account from a first user device, storing the credential in a memory of the movable barrier operator system, communicating the credential and an identifier of the movable barrier operator system to a remote computer to register the movable barrier operator system with the remote computer, and configuring the movable barrier operator system to change a state of a movable barrier in response to the movable barrier operator system receiving a state change request from a second user device associated with a second user account, the state change request from the second user device including the credential or a derivative of the credential received from the first user device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Michael Aaron Burroughs, James J. Fitzgibbon, James D. Johnson, David R. Morris, Christopher J. Staub
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Patent number: 11603699Abstract: In one aspect, an in-vehicle computing device is provided for controlling operation of a movable barrier operator. The in-vehicle computing device includes a sensor configured to detect a vehicle characteristic and communication circuitry operable to cause automatic operation of the movable barrier operator by communicating with the movable barrier operator. The in-vehicle device further includes a processor operatively coupled to the communication circuitry, the sensor, and the memory. The processor configured to determine satisfaction of a user account condition and, upon the user account condition not being satisfied, to inhibit the communication circuitry from initiating automatic operation of the movable barrier operator.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLCInventors: James J. Fitzgibbon, James D. Johnson
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Patent number: 11600126Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for managing and controlling movable barrier operator systems are described herein. A method for controlling a movable barrier operator system comprises receiving a credential associated with a first user account from a first user device, storing the credential in a memory of the movable barrier operator system, communicating the credential and an identifier of the movable barrier operator system to a remote computer to register the movable barrier operator system with the remote computer, and configuring the movable barrier operator system to change a state of a movable barrier in response to the movable barrier operator system receiving a state change request from a second user device associated with a second user account, the state change request from the second user device including the credential or a derivative of the credential received from the first user device.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLCInventors: Michael Aaron Burroughs, James J. Fitzgibbon, James D. Johnson, David R. Morris, Christopher J. Staub
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Patent number: 11600124Abstract: In one aspect, a server computer is configured to facilitate operation of a movable barrier operator using voice commands. The server computer includes a processor configured to receive a request for a first rolling voice identifier from a communication apparatus in response to receipt of a voice command of a user requesting a state change of a movable barrier. The processor is configured to send the first rolling voice identifier to the communication apparatus causing the communication apparatus to provide a first physical stimulus to the user based at least in part on the first rolling voice identifier and user account information. The processor is configured to receive a communication indicative of a user voice response to the first physical stimulus and determine whether to instruct the movable barrier operator to change a state of the movable barrier based on the user voice response to the first physical stimulus.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLCInventors: Casparus Cate, James J. Fitzgibbon, Martin B. Heckmann, James J. Johnson, David R. Morris, Cory Jon Sorice
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Publication number: 20230020944Abstract: An obstacle detection system includes a light emitter that emits a light signal and a light detector configured to receive a portion of the light signal reflected back from an object. The system includes a processor operatively coupled to the light emitter and the light detector to determine a presence of an obstacle based on the portion of the light signal received by the light detector. The system includes a heater operatively coupled to a power source and at least one sensor configured to determine an ambient temperature and an ambient relative humidity. The processor is operatively coupled to the power source, the heater, and the at least one sensor. The processor is configured to calculate a dew point of the environment from the ambient relative humidity and the ambient temperature and to activate the heater in response to the ambient temperature being less than the dew point.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventor: James J. Fitzgibbon
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Patent number: 11474278Abstract: An obstacle detection system includes a light emitter that emits a light signal and a light detector configured to receive a portion of the light signal reflected back from an object. The system includes a processor operatively coupled to the light emitter and the light detector to determine a presence of an obstacle based on the portion of the light signal received by the light detector. The system includes a heater operatively coupled to a power source and at least one sensor configured to determine an ambient temperature and an ambient relative humidity. The processor is operatively coupled to the power source, the heater, and the at least one sensor. The processor is configured to calculate a dew point of the environment from the ambient relative humidity and the ambient temperature and to activate the heater in response to the ambient temperature being less than the dew point.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLCInventors: James J. Fitzgibbon, David John Sklodowski, Leung Yu Tang
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Patent number: 11402812Abstract: In one aspect, a user device is provided that includes a processor configured to execute a user interface application, a controllable device application, and an operating system of the user device. The user device includes communication circuitry configured to facilitate communication between the controllable device application and the controllable device. The user interface application is configured to detect a notification of the controllable device application communicated to the operating system, the notification pertaining to a state of the controllable device associated with the controllable device application. The user interface application is configured to determine the state of the controllable device based at least in part on the notification of the controllable device application communicated to the operating system of the user device.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLCInventor: James J. Fitzgibbon
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Publication number: 20220065024Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Casparus Cate, James J. Fitzgibbon, Robert R. Keller, JR., Sapta Gireesh Pudipeddi, Cory Jon Sorice
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Patent number: 11225823Abstract: A movable barrier operator system is provided that includes a moving-barrier imminent motion notification apparatus, a motor, a controller, and communication circuitry configured to communicate with a remote control. In response to the communication circuitry receiving a communication from the remote control, the controller causes the motor to change the state of the movable barrier and additionally operate the moving-barrier imminent motion notification apparatus upon a determination of the remote control being beyond a physical proximity of a location associated with the movable barrier operator system. Upon a determination that the remote control is within the physical proximity, the controller refrains from operation of the moving-barrier imminent motion notification apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLCInventors: Casparus Cate, James J. Fitzgibbon
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Patent number: 11210875Abstract: A movable barrier operator system is provided that includes a moving-barrier imminent motion notification apparatus, a motor, a controller, and communication circuitry configured to communicate with a remote control. In response to the communication circuitry receiving a communication from the remote control, the controller causes the motor to change the state of the movable barrier and additionally operate the moving-barrier imminent motion notification apparatus upon a determination of the remote control being beyond a physical proximity of a location associated with the movable barrier operator system. Upon a determination that the remote control is within the physical proximity, the controller refrains from operation of the moving-barrier imminent motion notification apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLCInventors: Casparus Cate, Jordan Ari Farber, James J. Fitzgibbon, Nathan J. Kopp
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Publication number: 20210385651Abstract: Electronic systems are provided for secure actuation of a remote device such as a moveable barrier operator. The systems address the “man in the middle” problem of persons intercepting and duplicating radio frequency signals from a control device by introducing timing parameters into a bidirectional communication sequence between at least two devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventor: James J. Fitzgibbon