Methods and Systems to Indicate the Status of Door Operations

Abstract

Example methods and systems to indicate the status of door operations are disclosed. An example door system includes a door panel having a leading edge to be moved in a travel direction between an open position and a closed position relative to the doorframe. The door panel to block the passageway when the leading edge is at the closed position. The door panel to unblock the passageway when the leading edge is at the open position. The example door system also includes a series of lights distributed along the travel direction proximate the doorframe. The example door system further includes a controller to switch the lights between a first state and a second state to provide a visual effect of movement corresponding to the operating status of the door system.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A door system for a passageway between a work area and a personnel area, the work area containing a work-in-process, the work-in-process having a processing period extending between a start time and a completion time, the door system comprising:
 a door panel having a leading edge to be moved between an open position and a closed position, the door panel to block the passageway when the leading edge is at the closed position, the door panel to unblock the passageway when the leading edge is at the open position; and   a signal generator to emit a first signal during the processing period prior to the completion time, the first signal occurring proximate in time to the completion time to indicate the completion time of the processing period is impending.   
     
     
         19 . The door system of  claim 18 , further comprising a doorframe along which the door panel is to move between the open position and the closed position, and the signal generator comprising a light proximate the doorframe. 
     
     
         20 . The door system of  claim 18 , wherein the signal generator is a projector and the first signal is a light projected onto the door panel. 
     
     
         21 . The door system of  claim 18 , wherein the first signal comprises a displayed countdown timer indicating when the door panel will move to the open position. 
     
     
         22 . The door system of  claim 18 , wherein the signal generator is to emit a second signal indicating the door panel is moving to the open position, the second signal being distinguishable from the first signal. 
     
     
         23 . The door system of  claim 18 , wherein the signal generator is to emit a second signal indicating the door panel is moving to the open position, the second signal being distinguishable from the first signal by virtue of a color characteristic of at least one of the first signal or the second signal. 
     
     
         24 . The door system of  claim 18 , wherein the signal generator is to emit a second signal indicating the door panel is moving to the open position, the second signal being distinguishable from the first signal by virtue of a flashing characteristic of at least one of the first signal or the second signal. 
     
     
         25 . The door system of  claim 18 , wherein the signal generator is to emit a second signal indicating the door panel is moving to the open position, the second signal being distinguishable from the first signal, and at least one of the first signal or the second signal is audible. 
     
     
         26 . A door system for a passageway, the door system comprising:
 a door panel having a leading edge to be moved between an open position and a closed position, the door panel to block the passageway when the leading edge is at the closed position, the door panel to unblock the passageway when the leading edge is at the open position;   a light distributed along the leading edge of the door panel; and   a power storage unit carried by the door panel and to provide electrical power to the light.   
     
     
         27 . The door system of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a door movement sensor carried by the door panel, the door movement sensor to receive the electrical power from the power storage unit, the door movement sensor to provide a trigger signal in response to sensing movement of the door panel; and   a light activation circuit carried by the door panel, the light activation circuit having an active mode and a sleep mode, the light activation circuit to consume more electrical power in the active mode than in the sleep mode, the light activation circuit to receive the trigger signal and the electrical power, the light activation circuit in the active mode to transmit the electrical power to the light, the light activation circuit in the sleep mode to isolate the electrical power from the light, the light activation circuit to switch from the sleep mode to the active mode in response to receiving the trigger signal from the door movement sensor.   
     
     
         28 . The door system of  claim 27 , wherein the door movement sensor comprises an accelerometer. 
     
     
         29 . The door system of  claim 27 , wherein the door movement sensor comprises a micro-electromechanical machine pressure transducer. 
     
     
         30 . The door system of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a wireless receiver associated with the light activation circuit;   a controller to provide an output signal;   a drive unit to drive the door panel to move the leading edge between the open position and the closed position in response to the output signal from the controller; and   a wireless transmitter associated with at least one of the controller or the drive unit, the wireless transmitter emitting a wireless signal to the wireless receiver indicative of movement of the door panel, the wireless signal to maintain the light activation circuit in the active mode after the trigger signal causes the light activation circuit to switch from the sleep mode to the active mode, and the light activation circuit to disregard the wireless signal when the light activation circuit is in the sleep mode.   
     
     
         31 . The door system of  claim 27 , further comprising a door operation sensor carried by the door panel, the door operation sensor to provide a door operation signal to the light activation circuit in response to movement of the door panel, the door operation signal to maintain the light activation circuit in the active mode after the trigger signal causes the light activation circuit to switch from the sleep mode to the active mode. 
     
     
         32 . The door system of  claim 31 , wherein the door operation sensor comprises a passive infrared motion sensor. 
     
     
         33 . The door system of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a doorframe to guide movement of the door panel; and   a reflector mounted at a substantially fixed location proximate the doorframe and being detectable by the door operation sensor when the leading edge is at one of the open position or the closed position.   
     
     
         34 . The door system of  claim 27 , further comprising an ambient light sensor carried by the door panel, the light activation circuit to adjust the electrical power to the light in response to input from the ambient light sensor. 
     
     
         35 . A door system for a passageway and being connectable to an external power source, the door system comprising:
 a door panel having a leading edge movable to a charging position and a range of self-powered positions, a light distributed along the leading edge of the door panel;   a power storage unit carried by the door panel and being moveable therewith, the power storage unit to provide electrical power to the light; and   a charging system to convey charging power from the external power source to the power storage unit when the leading edge is at the charging position, the charging system to inhibit the charging power from reaching the power storage unit when the leading edge is within the range of self-powered positions.   
     
     
         36 . The door system of  claim 35 , wherein the leading edge of the door panel is movable selectively to an open position and a closed position, the door panel to block the passageway when the leading edge is at the closed position, the door panel to unblock the passageway when the leading edge is at the open position. 
     
     
         37 . The door system of  claim 36 , wherein the charging position coincides with the closed position. 
     
     
         38 . The door system of  claim 36 , wherein the charging position coincides with the open position. 
     
     
         39 . The door system of  claim 35 , wherein the charging system is to provide an inductive coupling between the external power source and the power storage unit when the leading edge is at the charging position. 
     
     
         40 . The door system of  claim 35 , wherein the power storage unit comprises a capacitor. 
     
     
         41 . The door system of  claim 35 , wherein the power storage unit comprises a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         42 . The door system of  claim 35 , further comprising an ambient light sensor carried by the door panel, the power storage unit to adjust the electrical power provided to the light in response to an input from the ambient light sensor. 
     
     
         43 .- 52 . (canceled)