Patents by Inventor Tim Ikeler

Tim Ikeler 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).

  • Publication number: 20230340831
    Abstract: Remote garage door monitoring and control apparatus consisting of a jackshaft type garage door opener in combination with an integrated door control module for monitoring and wireless transmission of garage door positional status as well as processing received remotely generated change-of-positional door status commands. Incorporated is an absolute position encoder for generating signals corresponding to the extent and direction of rotation of the jackshaft, and therefore corresponding to the extent and direction of movement of the garage door. A Bluetooth short range wireless communication assembly incorporated with the apparatus enables the nature of the actuation of work light in a manner dependent upon whether the incoming door commands are remotely or proximately generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Tim Ikeler, LeRoy G. Krupke, Brent Buescher, Brent Alan Rauscher, Michael Dragomier
  • Patent number: 11795753
    Abstract: A garage door status monitoring and control system includes a control module for receiving door position information and receiving change of door position commands from a remote Internet access device. The control module includes a programmable platform configured to: route door position information to a wireless interface for transmission to the Internet access device; and cause said change of door position commands to generate a light and sound command and a door position command. A Bluetooth microprocessor generates a wireless signal to actuate a light fixture in response to the light and sound command. The light fixture includes a microprocessor for wirelessly returning an acknowledge signal. The acknowledge signal is conductively transmitted to the programmable platform from the Bluetooth microprocessor. Receipt of the acknowledge signal allows the door position command to be generated only after a defined period of time following the generation of the light and sound command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GMI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Ikeler, LeRoy G. Krupke, Brent Buescher, Brent Alan Rauscher, Michael Dragomier
  • Publication number: 20230279719
    Abstract: A garage door status monitoring and control system for a jackshaft operator may include a control module comprising a programmable platform configured to: receive a change-door-status command to change a position of a door; in response to the change-door-status command, generate and communicate a light or sound command to a wireless controller; delay a period of time after communicating the light or sound command to the wireless controller; and only after the delay, generate a door command corresponding to said change-door-status command to change the position of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Tim Ikeler, LeRoy G. Krupke, Brent Buescher, Brent A. Rauscher, Gregory D. Matias, Michael Dragomier, Robert E. Thomas, JR., Daniel Punchak, Robert Merwin, Jerry B. Chrane
  • Patent number: 11746584
    Abstract: A garage door status monitoring and control system for a jackshaft operator may include a control module comprising a programmable platform configured to: receive a change-door-status command to change a position of a door; in response to the change-door-status command, generate and communicate a light or sound command to a wireless controller; delay a period of time after communicating the light or sound command to the wireless controller; and only after the delay, generate a door command corresponding to said change-door-status command to change the position of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: GMI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Ikeler, LeRoy G. Krupke, Brent Buescher, Brent A. Rauscher, Gregory D. Matias, Michael Dragomier, Robert E. Thomas, Jr., Daniel Punchak, Robert Merwin, Jerry B. Chrane
  • Publication number: 20220351611
    Abstract: A system for moving a barrier includes a motor with an integrated encoder operative to generate pulses as a function of rotation of the rotatable shaft of the motor. A preferred form of encoder is a rotary optical encoder to generate optical pulses as a function of rotational movement of the rotatable shaft. Both a microcontroller to determine door status and a controller to control door movement receive the pulses and separately execute methods in response thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Tim Ikeler, Leroy G. Krupke, Brent Buescher, Brent Alan Rauscher, Gregory D. Matias, Michael Dragomier
  • Patent number: 11393331
    Abstract: A system for moving a barrier includes a motor with an integrated encoder operative to generate pulses as a function of rotation of the rotatable shaft of the motor. A preferred form of encoder is a rotary optical encoder to generate optical pulses as a function of rotational movement of the rotatable shaft. Both a microcontroller to determine door status and a controller to control door movement receive the pulses and separately execute methods in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: GMI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Ikeler, Leroy G. Krupke, Brent Buescher, Brent Alan Rauscher, Gregory D. Matias, Michael Dragomier
  • Publication number: 20200340288
    Abstract: A garage door status monitoring and control system for a jackshaft operator may include a control module comprising a programmable platform configured to: receive a change-door-status command to change a position of a door; in response to the change-door-status command, generate and communicate a light or sound command to a wireless controller; delay a period of time after communicating the light or sound command to the wireless controller; and only after the delay, generate a door command corresponding to said change-door-status command to change the position of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Tim Ikeler, LeRoy G. Krupke, Brent Buescher, Brent A. Rauscher, Gregory D. Matias, Michael Dragomier, Robert E. Thomas, JR., Daniel Punchak, Robert Merwin, Jerry B. Chrane
  • Patent number: 10540889
    Abstract: A system for enabling both the remote monitoring and receipt of remote change-of-door status commands, via the Internet, of the open or closed status of the garage door. The system includes an encoder generating signal pulses as a function of the motor and garage door movement. A microprocessor processes the signal pulses to generate digital pulses indicative of the open or closed status of the garage door, which status is wirelessly transmitted, via the Internet, for remote monitoring. Change-of-door status commands remotely transmitted, via the Internet, are received by the system to activate a warning and delayed change of door status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: GMI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Ikeler, Leroy G. Krupke, Brent Buescher, Brent Alan Rauscher, Gregory D. Matias, Michael Dragomier
  • Publication number: 20190139400
    Abstract: A system for moving a barrier includes a motor with an integrated encoder operative to generate pulses as a function of rotation of the rotatable shaft of the motor. A preferred form of encoder is a rotary optical encoder to generate optical pulses as a function of rotational movement of the rotatable shaft. Both a microcontroller to determine door status and a controller to control door movement receive the pulses and separately execute methods in response thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: GMI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Ikeler, Leroy G. Krupke, Brent Buescher, Brent Alan Rauscher, Gregory D. Matias, Michael Dragomier
  • Publication number: 20180330605
    Abstract: A system for moving a barrier includes a motor with an integrated encoder operative to generate pulses as a function of rotation of the rotatable shaft of the motor. A preferred form of encoder is a rotary optical encoder to generate optical pulses as a function of rotational movement of the rotatable shaft. Control circuitry is configured to receive the optical pulses from the motor, convert the optical pulses to electrical pulses, and thereafter to digital pulses indicative of the status of the barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: GMI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Ikeler, Leroy G. Krupke, Brent Buescher, Brent Alan Rauscher, Gregory D. Matias, Michael Dragomier
  • Patent number: 9869120
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method including manufacturing a barrier opening system comprising a barrier operator, and at least one wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting commands to the barrier operator. Prior to delivery of the barrier opening system to an end user, an authorization code is programmed into the at least one wireless transmitter. Also prior to delivery of the barrier opening system to the end user, the barrier operator is placed into a learn mode. The authorization code is then transmitted to the barrier operator while the barrier operator is in the learn mode, using a transmitter external to the barrier opening system. The barrier operator then exits the learn mode. The barrier operator is thereafter packaged together the at least one wireless transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Wilder, Tom Deneen, Tim Ikeler
  • Publication number: 20160230442
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method including manufacturing a barrier opening system comprising a barrier operator, and at least one wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting commands to the barrier operator. Prior to delivery of the barrier opening system to an end user, an authorization code is programmed into the at least one wireless transmitter. Also prior to delivery of the barrier opening system to the end user, the barrier operator is placed into a learn mode. The authorization code is then transmitted to the barrier operator while the barrier operator is in the learn mode, using a transmitter external to the barrier opening system. The barrier operator then exits the learn mode. The barrier operator is thereafter packaged together the at least one wireless transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Steven E. Wilder, Tom Deneen, Tim Ikeler
  • Patent number: 9316038
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for pairing one or more wireless transmitters with a power head unit of a barrier opening system prior to delivering the system to the end user. In one facility, an authorization code of a wireless transmitter is received and passed to a printer that prints an encoded label with indicia corresponding to the authorization code. The so-encoded label is affixed to the wireless transmitter or its packaging or pallet. In another facility, the encoded label is thereafter scanned, and the authorization code is deciphered and stored in a database. The power head is programmed with the identical code by placing the power head into a learn mode, retrieving the deciphered authorization code from the database, and transmitting the retrieved code to the power head using a test transmitter while the power head is in the learn mode, with the power head thereafter moved out of the learn mode, thereby pairing the transmitter with the power head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Wilder, Tom Deneen, Tim Ikeler
  • Publication number: 20140266589
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for pairing one or more wireless transmitters with a power head unit of a barrier opening system prior to delivering the system to the end user. In one facility, an authorization code of a wireless transmitter is received and passed to a printer that prints an encoded label with indicia corresponding to the authorization code. The so-encoded label is affixed to the wireless transmitter or its packaging or pallet. In another facility, the encoded label is thereafter scanned, and the authorization code is deciphered and stored in a database. The power head is programmed with the identical code by placing the power head into a learn mode, retrieving the deciphered authorization code from the database, and transmitting the retrieved code to the power head using a test transmitter while the power head is in the learn mode, with the power head thereafter moved out of the learn mode, thereby pairing the transmitter with the power head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: OVERHEAD DOOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven E. Wilder, Tom Deneen, Tim Ikeler