Automatic Door Operator Manual Movement Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic door operators in public areas face challenges in providing a clean and aesthetically appealing installation while allowing user interaction, as they often require visible components and separate controls, which can be costly and prone to wear and tear, and lack efficient methods for human intervention.

Innovation Solution

An automatic door operator system that detects intentional manual movements of the door leaf and uses them as commands to control functions, such as opening, closing, or initiating fire alarms, through a configured controller and linkage mechanism, allowing for user interaction without external buttons or actuators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If separate buttons, actuators, and wiring are used for user interaction, then user control capability is improved, but installation cleanliness and aesthetic appeal deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser control capabilityVSAvoidinstallation cleanliness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the external control components (buttons, actuators) and replaces them with direct door leaf interaction. The door leaf itself becomes the control interface through detection of manual movements, eliminating the need for separate external control devices while maintaining user control capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the controller as an intermediary that detects manual movements of the door leaf and translates them into control commands. This mediator enables communication between the user's physical interaction with the door and the automatic door operator's control system without requiring external buttons or actuators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If separate buttons and actuators are installed, then user interaction is enabled, but cost and wear and tear increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interactionVSAvoidcomponent wear and tear
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes external buttons and actuators from the system, eliminating components that are exposed to wear and tear. The door leaf, which is already part of the system and subject to regular use, becomes the control interface, thereby eliminating additional wear-prone components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The door leaf serves dual purposes: it is both the operational element that moves to open/close the door and the control interface for user interaction. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate control components that would otherwise be subject to wear and tear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If the door operator is completely automatic, then installation simplicity is improved, but user control flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoiduser control flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic control capabilities to the automatic door operator by enabling detection of manual door leaf movements. The system can adapt its behavior based on detected user actions, such as aborting hold-open periods or initiating fire alarms, thereby providing control flexibility while maintaining installation simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The controller detects manual movements of the door leaf and uses this feedback to determine appropriate control functions to execute. This feedback mechanism enables the automatic system to respond to user intentions, providing control flexibility without requiring separate control devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3551823B1Automatic door operator for a swing door assembly
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 ASSA ABLOY ENTRANCE SYST AB
  • EP3551823B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3551823B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3551823B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An automatic door operator (30) for a swing door assembly (10) having a door leaf (14) rotationally supported by a door frame (12) is disclosed. The automatic door operator has a motor (34) for causing opening of the door leaf (14) with respect to the door frame (12), and a controller (31) being configured for performing different functions (60) of the automatic door operator. The controller (31) is configured to detect (42) a movement of the door leaf (14), not caused by the motor (34), identify (44) a predefined movement matching the detected movement, determine (46), among the different functions, a function (61-A, 61-B) being associated with the predefined movement, and perform (48) the determined function.