Barrier movement operator including time to close feature

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for controlling a barrier movement operator having a timer-to-close feature are disclosed. The methods and apparatus include arrangements for conveniently inhibiting and re-activating the timer-to-close feature and for providing a mid-stop position during movement toward the closed position. Additionally, the embodiments include methods and apparatus for reversing barrier operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A barrier movement operator comprising:
 a motor for connection to a barrier to move the barrier between open and closed positions; 
 a controller for controlling the energization of the motor, the controller comprising a routine to energize the motor to move the barrier toward the closed position when the barrier has been at the open position for a predetermined period of time; 
 a timer for identifying the passage of the predetermined period of time; and 
 inhibiting apparatus for controlling the timer to inhibit the controller from energizing the motor in response to the passage of the predetermined period of time; and  
 apparatus configured to reset the timer in response to user actuation of the apparatus. 
 
     
     
       2. The barrier movement operator of  claim 1  comprising apparatus for resetting the timer. 
     
     
       3. The barrier movement operator of  claim 1  wherein the inhibiting apparatus becomes operative in response to human interaction. 
     
     
       4. The barrier movement operator of  claim 3  wherein the inhibiting apparatus is responsive to human interaction for becoming inoperative after becoming operative. 
     
     
       5. The barrier movement operator of  claim 1  wherein the timer comprises a timer routine of the controller. 
     
     
       6. The barrier movement operator of  claim 5  wherein the controller responds to the inhibiting apparatus by ending execution of the timer routine. 
     
     
       7. The barrier movement operator of  claim 5  wherein the controller responds to the inhibiting apparatus by resetting the timer. 
     
     
       8. The barrier movement operator of  claim 3  comprising re-activation apparatus for stopping the inhibiting action by the inhibiting apparatus. 
     
     
       9. The barrier movement operator of  claim 8  wherein the re-activation apparatus is responsive to human interaction. 
     
     
       10. A barrier movement operator comprising:
 a motor for moving a barrier between open and closed positions when energized; 
 a controller for selectively energizing the motor to move the barrier from the open position toward the closed position when the barrier has been in the open position for a predetermined period of time and for stopping movement of the barrier at a predetermined mid-travel position between the open and closed positions when the barrier is moving because the barrier was at the open position for the pre-determined period of time. 
 
     
     
       11. The barrier movement operator of  claim 10  comprising apparatus responsive to user interaction for energizing the motor to move the barrier from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
       12. The barrier movement operator of  claim 11  wherein the controller energizes the motor without stopping at the mid-travel position when operating in response to user interaction. 
     
     
       13. The barrier movement operator of  claim 10  comprising mid-stop apparatus for identifying the predetermined mid-travel position. 
     
     
       14. The barrier movement operator of  claim 13  comprising an indicator of the predetermined mid-travel position. 
     
     
       15. The barrier movement operator of  claim 14  wherein the indicator comprises a physical switch disposed to change state on passage of the barrier thereby. 
     
     
       16. The barrier movement operator of  claim 15  wherein the physical switch comprises electrical contact. 
     
     
       17. The barrier movement operator of  claim 15  wherein the physical switch comprises a transmitter and receiver of optical signals. 
     
     
       18. The barrier movement operator of  claim 14  wherein the indicator of mid-travel position comprises a software representation of barrier position. 
     
     
       19. The barrier movement operator of claim  15  18 comprising apparatus for updating the software representation of barrier position as the barrier moves. 
     
     
       20. The barrier movement operator of  claim 10  comprising a timer to initiate barrier movement from the mid-travel position toward the closed position. 
     
     
       21. A barrier movement operator comprising:
 a motor for connection to a barrier to move the barrier between open and closed positions;   a controller for controlling the energization of the motor, the controller comprising a routine to energize the motor to move the barrier toward the closed position when the barrier has been at the open position for a predetermined period of time;   a timer for identifying the passage of the predetermined period of time; and   inhibiting apparatus for controlling the timer to inhibit the controller from energizing the motor in response to the passage of the predetermined period of time, wherein the inhibiting apparatus becomes operative in response to a human interaction via only a switch and without any other required human interaction and becomes inoperative after becoming operative in response to a second human interaction via the switch and wherein human interaction with the switch effects resetting of the timer.   
     
     
       22. The barrier movement operator of claim 21 wherein the switch comprises a contact push button. 
     
     
       23. The barrier movement operator of claim 22 wherein the contact push button comprises a momentary contact push button. 
     
     
       24. The barrier movement operator of claim 21 wherein the switch comprises a two position switch. 
     
     
       25. The barrier movement operator of claim 21 wherein the switch is configured to affect only whether the inhibiting apparatus is operative or inoperative. 
     
     
       26. The barrier movement operator of claim 21 wherein the inhibiting apparatus includes an indicator representative of the operational status of the inhibiting apparatus. 
     
     
       27. The barrier movement operator of claim 26 wherein the indicator comprises a light emitting diode, LED. 
     
     
       28. The barrier movement operator of claim 26 wherein the indicator is active when the inhibiting apparatus is operative and is inactive when the inhibiting apparatus is inoperative.