Patents by Inventor Thomas Brookbank
Thomas Brookbank 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: 7365634Abstract: A barrier actuating device is placed in close proximity to an authorization device. Electromagnetic enabling information that has been automatically sent from the authorization device is detected. Responsive to the detecting of the electromagnetic enabling information, an operation of the barrier actuating device is enabled so that the actuating device is operable to transmit a signal. The operation of the actuating device is disabled in the absence of the enabling information.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventor: Thomas A. Brookbank
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Patent number: 7260917Abstract: A balance control system comprises a motor, a transmission system providing connection between the motor and the door and adapted to move the door between a closed position and an open position located above the closed position, a counterbalance system to reduce power required to lift the door, an apparatus to generate first signal representing a force used to move the door from the closed position to the open position, and to generate a second signal representing a force used to move the door from the open position to the closed position, and a controller responsive to the first signal and to the second signal to indicate an imbalance of the door when a difference between the first signal and the second signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2004Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Brookbank, James J. Fitzgibbon
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Publication number: 20060290489Abstract: A barrier actuating device is placed in close proximity to an authorization device. Electromagnetic enabling information that has been automatically sent from the authorization device is detected. Responsive to the detecting of the electromagnetic enabling information, an operation of the barrier actuating device is enabled so that the actuating device is operable to transmit a signal. The operation of the actuating device is disabled in the absence of the enabling information.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2005Publication date: December 28, 2006Inventor: Thomas Brookbank
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Patent number: 7110723Abstract: A control unit 11 responds in ordinary course to external stimuli. In addition, the control unit 11 further processes the external stimuli to characterize and otherwise seek to identify certain aspects and attributes. Unique audible signals that correspond to varying results of such analysis are then provided. These audible signals can readily facilitate ease and accuracy when diagnosing the cause of a particular operational issue. In one embodiment the diagnostic audible signals are selectively mutable without concurrently muting other audible signals as correspond to ordinary operation of the control unit 11.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2004Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: Robert Study, Eric Robb, Thomas A. Brookbank
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Patent number: 7017302Abstract: A balance control system comprises a motor, a transmission system providing connection between the motor and the door and adapted to move the door between a closed position and an open position located above the closed position, a counterbalance system to reduce power required to lift the door, an apparatus to generate first signal representing a force used to move the door from the closed position to the open position, and to generate a second signal representing a force used to move the door from the open position to the closed position, and a controller responsive to the first signal and to the second signal to indicate an imbalance of the door when a difference between the first signal and the second signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2002Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Brookbank, James J. Fitzgibbon
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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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Publication number: 20050081452Abstract: A balance control system comprises a motor, a transmission system providing connection between the motor and the door and adapted to move the door between a closed position and an open position located above the closed position, a counterbalance system to reduce power required to lift the door, an apparatus to generate first signal representing a force used to move the door from the closed position to the open position, and to generate a second signal representing a force used to move the door from the open position to the closed position, and a controller responsive to the first signal and to the second signal to indicate an imbalance of the door when a difference between the first signal and the second signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2004Publication date: April 21, 2005Inventors: Thomas Brookbank, James Fitzgibbon
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Patent number: 6832076Abstract: A control unit 11 responds in ordinary course to external stimuli. In addition, the control unit 11 further processes the external stimuli to characterize and otherwise seek to identify certain aspects and attributes. Unique audible signals that correspond to varying results of such analysis are then provided. These audible signals can readily facilitate ease and accuracy when diagnosing the cause of a particular operational issue. In one embodiment the diagnostic audible signals are selectively mutable without concurrently muting other audible signals as correspond to ordinary operation of the control unit 11.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2002Date of Patent: December 14, 2004Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: Robert Study, Eric Robb, Thomas A. Brookbank
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Publication number: 20040217860Abstract: A wall control unit for a movable barrier operator sends baseband signals over a wire connection to a head unit of a movable barrier operator to command the movable barrier to perform barrier operator functions. The wall control unit has a wall control unit port for connection to the wire connection. A first switch sends a barrier command signal to the head unit commanding the head unit to open or close a movable barrier. A second switch commands the head unit to provide energization to a light source. An infrared detector causes a command signal to be sent to the head unit to control the illumination state of the light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2003Publication date: November 4, 2004Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Ergun, Thomas Brookbank, Sandor Goldner, David Daly
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Publication number: 20040185784Abstract: A control unit 11 responds in ordinary course to external stimuli. In addition, the control unit 11 further processes the external stimuli to characterize and otherwise seek to identify certain aspects and attributes. Unique audible signals that correspond to varying results of such analysis are then provided. These audible signals can readily facilitate ease and accuracy when diagnosing the cause of a particular operational issue. In one embodiment the diagnostic audible signals are selectively mutable without concurrently muting other audible signals as correspond to ordinary operation of the control unit 11.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2004Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: Robert Study, Eric Robb, Thomas A. Brookbank
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Patent number: 6737968Abstract: A wall control unit for a movable barrier operator sends baseband signals over a wire connection to a head unit of a movable barrier operator to command the movable barrier to perform barrier operator functions. The wall control unit has a wall control unit port for connection to the wire connection. A first switch sends a barrier command signal to the head unit commanding the head unit to open or close a movable barrier. A second switch commands the head unit to provide energization to a light source. An infrared detector causes a command signal to be sent to the head unit to control the illumination state of the light source.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2000Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: Joseph J. Ergun, Thomas Brookbank, Sandor Goldner, David Daly
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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: 20030192254Abstract: A balance control system comprises a motor, a transmission system providing connection between the motor and the door and adapted to move the door between a closed position and an open position located above the closed position, a counterbalance system to reduce power required to lift the door, an apparatus to generate first signal representing a force used to move the door from the closed position to the open position, and to generate a second signal representing a force used to move the door from the open position to the closed position, and a controller responsive to the first signal and to the second signal to indicate an imbalance of the door when a difference between the first signal and the second signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2002Publication date: October 16, 2003Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Brookbank, James J. Fitzgibbon
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Publication number: 20030153307Abstract: A control unit 11 responds in ordinary course to external stimuli. In addition, the control unit 11 further processes the external stimuli to characterize and otherwise seek to identify certain aspects and attributes. Unique audible signals that correspond to varying results of such analysis are then provided. These audible signals can readily facilitate ease and accuracy when diagnosing the cause of a particular operational issue. In one embodiment the diagnostic audible signals are selectively mutable without concurrently muting other audible signals as correspond to ordinary operation of the control unit 11.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2002Publication date: August 14, 2003Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventors: Robert Study, Eric Robb, Thomas A. Brookbank