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).

  • Patent number: 7365634
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Brookbank
  • Patent number: 7260917
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Brookbank, James J. Fitzgibbon
  • Publication number: 20060290489
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas Brookbank
  • Patent number: 7110723
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Study, Eric Robb, Thomas A. Brookbank
  • Patent number: 7017302
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Brookbank, James J. Fitzgibbon
  • Patent number: 6975203
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Brookbank, James J. Fitzgibbon, Edward T. Laird
  • Publication number: 20050081452
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Brookbank, James Fitzgibbon
  • Patent number: 6832076
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Study, Eric Robb, Thomas A. Brookbank
  • Publication number: 20040217860
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ergun, Thomas Brookbank, Sandor Goldner, David Daly
  • Publication number: 20040185784
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Study, Eric Robb, Thomas A. Brookbank
  • Patent number: 6737968
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Ergun, Thomas Brookbank, Sandor Goldner, David Daly
  • Publication number: 20030227370
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Brookbank, James J. Fitzgibbon, Edward T. Laird
  • Publication number: 20030192254
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Brookbank, James J. Fitzgibbon
  • Publication number: 20030153307
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Applicant: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Study, Eric Robb, Thomas A. Brookbank