METHOD AND CONTROLLER FOR CONTROLLING OPENING OR CLOSING OF AN AUTOMATED GATE

Abstract

 Disclosed is a method performed by a controller (12; 50) for controlling opening and/or closing of an automatic gate (10). The method comprises receiving, from a communication device (30) of an authorized user (40), an activation instruction for opening or closing of the automatic gate (10) in response to input from the authorized user (40), whereby the controller activates a manual triggering means (16) at the automatic gate (10). In response to manual operation of the now activated manual triggering means (16), the controller receives a signal indicating that the manual triggering means (16) is operated, and as a result, the controller triggers opening of the automatic gate when the activation instruction was to open the gate and triggers closing when the activation instruction was to close the gate. Hereby, a method for forced opening or closing of an automatic gate is provided that is safe and easy to handle.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a method and a controller for controlling opening or closing of an automated gate.

Background art

[0002] In order to protect a property, the property may be surrounded by a fence. In order to facilitate and control access to the fenced property, a gate can be situated in the fence. Such a gate can be an automatic gate, which means the gate is controlled by a control unit for controlling opening and closing of the gate via motor-driven drive means. In other words, a motor is used for opening and closing the automatic gate and the automatic gate has a control unit that controls the motor to open and close the gate. The control unit controls the gate based on instructions received from e.g., a person that wants to open or close the gate. Different kinds of automatic gates are for example sliding gates, swing gates, bi-folding gates and vertical gates.

[0003] In order to determine whether anyone is allowed to pass the gate, the automatic gate may be operated by a manual operator that checks ID of users entering or exiting the fenced property. The manual operator can then press a button communicatively connected with the control unit for opening and closing of the gate to let people in and out of the fenced property. Alternatively, the automatic gate may be provided with a code unit in which a person that wants to enter the fenced property needs to enter a password for the automatic gate to start opening. It is also possible to provide the automatic gate with identifying means that identifies persons by e.g., permits, tags or similar, and only triggers opening of the automatic gate for people with registered permits or tags.

[0004] Automatic gates also have sensors arranged at the gate and connected to safety systems to prevent persons or goods to be hurt by the movement of the gate when the gate is being opened or closed. When such a sensor signals that anything is in the way of the movement of the gate, the safety system triggers the movement of the gate to stop. Some sensors are active only when the gate is being closed. An example of such a sensor is a sensor of a photocell at an end of the gate. Some sensors are active only when the gate is being opened. An example of such a sensor is a clamping protection sensor arranged at a post where the gate is being driven.

[0005] However, it happens sometimes that the safety system for some reason has been triggered so that the gate cannot be opened or closed the usual way and there is no authorized person on site that can handle the situation. The following is an example scenario for a fenced working property with an automated gate: At the end of a workday, the last person leaving the working property cannot close the gate after leaving because the safety system has triggered. In this example it depends on that a clamping protection sensor situated at a moving part of the gate has gone out of battery, which means the clamping protection sensor cannot detect whether any person risks being clamped when the gate is closed. As the safety system does not get any contact with the sensor it realizes that it cannot detect whether anything or anyone is in the way of closing of the gate and therefore the safety system is triggered and prevents normal closing of the gate. The last person cannot just leave the fenced working property open, so he/she has to handle the situation. To keep safety and security on a high level but still be able to handle the gate in such a situation, there are certain authorized persons that are allowed to handle the gate manually using e.g., a key to override the safety system. The last person leaving the building in the example above can call such an authorized person that can drive to the gate and by overriding the system using the key can close the gate manually. However, such a handling is cumbersome both for the person at the gate as well as for the authorized person that has to drive there.

[0006] Consequently, there is a need of an improved way of handling an automatic gate when normal operation is not possible, such as when the safety system of the gate has been triggered, and there are no authorized personnel onsite that are allowed to handle the gate when normal operation is not possible, such when the safety system has been triggered.

Summary of invention

[0007] An object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide an improved way of handling an automatic gate when normal operation is prevented. A reason for normal operation being prevented can be that the safety system has been triggered. Another object of embodiments is to provide a handling of an automatic gate when normal operation is prevented that is safe for the surroundings, i.e., that pose a low risk to for example people in the immediate vicinity of the gate. Another object of embodiments is to provide a handling of an automatic gate when normal operation is prevented, which handling poses a high level of security. Another object of embodiments is to provide a smooth and easy handling of an automatic gate for the persons involved.

[0008] It is possible to achieve at least of one of these objects by using methods and controllers as defined in the attached independent claims.

[0009] According to one aspect, a method is provided that is performed by a controller for controlling opening and/or closing of an automatic gate via drive means of the automatic gate. The method comprises receiving, from a communication device of an authorized user that is authorized for initiating opening and/or closing of the automatic gate, an activation instruction for opening or closing of the automatic gate received from the communication device in response to the communication device receiving input from the authorized user. The method further comprises, in response to the receiving of the activation instruction, triggering activation of a manual triggering means at the automatic gate, arranged for manually triggering opening or closing of the automatic gate. The method further comprises, in response to manual operation of the manual triggering means after the manual triggering means has been activated, receiving a signal from the manual triggering means indicating that the manual triggering means is operated. The method further comprises, in response to the received signal from the manual triggering means, triggering opening of the automatic gate when the activation instruction indicated to open the automatic gate and triggering closing of the automatic gate when the activation instruction indicated to close the automatic gate.

[0010] By such a method, when normal opening/closing of an automatic gate is for some reason not achievable, the automatic gate can be forcedly opened/closed. Further, such forced opening/closing can be performed in a safe and secure manner as it is authorized and partly performed by an authorized person that may be remotely situated, together with a person that need to be situated by the gate to manually operate the manual triggering means after it has been activated. Also, the controlled opening/closing method provided is convenient to use compared to prior art methods.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the controller only triggers opening or closing of the automatic gate when the manual triggering means is being manually operated. Hereby, an additional safety measure is taken as in case something happens during the closing/opening operation, the opening or closing movement can be quickly stopped by the person at the gate just by stopping manually operating the manual triggering means.

[0012] According to another embodiment, it is when a safety circuit preventing closing of the automatic gate has been released or is malfunctioning that the controller only triggers closing of the automatic gate when the manual triggering means is being manually operated. Alternatively, or together with the above embodiment, it is when a safety circuit preventing opening of the automatic gate has been released or is malfunctioning that the controller only triggers opening of the automatic gate when the manual triggering means is being manually operated. Hereby, it is assured that the opening is quickly stopped when it is the safety system that is to provide safe opening that there is an issue with, and vice versa.

[0013] According to another embodiment, the manual triggering means is only triggered to be activated when the received activation instruction is accompanied by additional input from the authorized user, the additional input indicating a valid reason for activation. Hereby it is assured that the manual triggering means is not activated by mistake, or by a false reason.

[0014] According to another aspect, a controller is provided arranged for controlling opening and/or closing of an automatic gate via drive means of the automatic gate. The controller comprises a processing circuitry and a memory. Said memory contains instructions executable by said processing circuitry, whereby the controller is operative for receiving, from a communication device of an authorized user that is authorized for initiating opening and/or closing of the automatic gate, an activation instruction for opening or closing of the automatic gate received from the communication device in response to the communication device receiving input from the authorized user. The controller is further operative for, in response to the receiving of the activation instruction, triggering activation of a manual triggering means at the automatic gate, arranged for manually triggering opening or closing of the automatic gate. The controller is further operative for, in response to manual operation of the manual triggering means after the manual triggering means has been activated, receiving a signal from the manual triggering means indicating that the manual triggering means is operated. The controller is further operative for, in response to the received signal from the manual triggering means, triggering opening of the automatic gate when the activation instruction indicated to open the automatic gate and triggering closing of the automatic gate when the activation instruction indicated to close the automatic gate.

[0015] Further possible features and benefits of this solution will become apparent from the detailed description below.

Brief description of drawings

[0016] The solution will now be described in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automatic gate as well as entities that can communicate with a control unit of the automatic gate.

Fig. 2 is a flow chart of a method according to embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a controller for controlling an automatic gate, according to embodiments.

Description of embodiments

[0017] Fig. 1 shows an example of an automatic gate 10 for which the present invention is applicable. The automatic gate 10 has drive means (not shown) for opening and closing of the gate. The drive means may comprise a motor and a transmission that transfers force provided by the motor into a closing or opening movement of the automatic gate 10. The automatic gate 10 further has a control unit 12 for controlling the opening and/or closing of the automatic gate 10 via the drive means. In normal operation, the control unit 12 may trigger opening or closing of the automatic gate 10 based on instructions from an operator or based on a detection that a vehicle is approaching the gate, for example.

[0018] The automatic gate 10 may further have a safety system that comprises sensors or similar connected to the control unit 12. The sensors may be arranged to detect whether there is an obstacle, i.e., anything or anyone, in the way for performing opening or closing the automatic gate 10. In case such a sensor detects such an obstacle, the sensor signals to the control unit 12, and the control unit 12 instructs the drive means to stop the movement of the automatic gate 10.

[0019] In a case where the safety system has triggered stopping of the movement of the gate, it may still be needed to move the gate to e.g., one of its end positions, i.e., fully opened or fully closed. In other words, it may be necessary to override the safety system. Such overriding needs to be done in a controlled way to keep the safety of the automatic gate on a high level.

[0020] In order to be able to close or open the automatic gate even in situations when for example the safety system has released or triggered and still keep the safety on a high level, the applicant has provided the automatic gate 10 with a manual triggering means 16 for manually triggering opening or closing of the automatic gate. The manual triggering means 16 may be a push button or any other means that can be manually operated. However, this manual triggering means 16 is normally not activated. In other words, when the manual triggering means 16 is not activated and someone manually operates the manual triggering means, e.g., someone pushes the push button, the automatic gate 10 will not move. Such a measure makes unauthorized opening or closing of the automatic gate 10 by mistake not possible.

[0021] Instead, and according to embodiments, one or more authorized users 40 have a computer program 36 arranged on his/her respective communication device 30. According to an embodiment, the computer program 36 is an application, shortly an app 36. With this app 36, the authorized user 40 can initiate activation of the manual triggering means 16.

[0022] When the manual triggering means 16 is activated, a manual operation of the manual triggering means 16 forces opening or closing of the automatic gate 10 even in case normal operation is prevented, such as due to a safety system being released/triggered.

[0023] In the following, a possible scenario is shown which illustrates embodiments of a method for opening or closing of the automatic gate, with reference to fig. 1. In this scenario, the manual triggering means 16 is a push button. A gate user 20 comes to the automatic gate 10 and realizes that she cannot close or open the gate. The gate user 20 contacts the authorized user 40 and says that the gate is open and that she cannot close the gate with her usual means for doing that. The authorized user 40 then activates the automatic gate control app 36 on his communication device 30, in this case a mobile phone, and selects a function called for example "forced control" for the automatic gate. On a display 32 of his communication device 30, the authorized user is then provided two choices: "Forced opening/Opening" or "Forced closing/Closing". In this case, as the gate is to be closed, the authorized user 40 selects "Forced closing/Closing". The authorized user can do the selection for example by pushing a touch screen 32 on the mobile phone 30. As a result, the mobile phone 30 sends an activation instruction to the control unit 12 to activate "Forced closing/Closing". When the control unit 12 receives the activation instruction from the mobile phone 30, the control unit 12, which is communicatively connected to the push button 16, activates the push button 16, via e.g. an electrical signal. When the gate user 20 pushes the push button 16 after the push button has been activated, the control unit 12 receives a signal from the push button 16. As the control unit 12 received an instruction of "Forced closing" from the communication device 30, the control unit 12 controls the drive means to close the automatic gate 10, when receiving the signal from the push button 16.

[0024] The gate user 20 and the authorized user 40 can be the same person. Then, of course, no communication is needed between the gate user 20 and the authorized user 40. Rather, the authorized user 40, being at the gate 10, recognizes that he cannot close the automatic gate 10 as in normal operation. He then activates the app 36, selects "Forced closing/Closing" or "Forced opening/Opening", depending on need, whereby the control unit receives an activation instruction from the mobile phone 30 of the authorized user 40 and the control unit 12 activates the push button 16. The authorized user thereafter pushes the push button 16 and as a result the control unit 12 triggers closing of the automatic gate 10.

[0025] The above method is now going to be described from the view of the control unit 12, which is the unit that controls the operation of the automatic gate 10. The method will be described with reference to a flow chart of fig. 2. In this embodiment, the gate is to be closed. In case the gate is to be opened, the word "closing" is to be changed to "opening".

[0026] The method starts by the control unit 12 receiving 102, from the communication device 30 of the authorized user 40, an activation instruction for closing of the automatic gate 10. The control unit 12 receives 102 the activation instruction in response to input of the authorized user 40 on the communication device 30. In response to the received activation instruction, the control unit 12 activates 104 the manual triggering means 16 at the automatic gate 10. When the manual triggering means 16 is manually operated, after the manual triggering means 16 has been activated, the control unit 12 receives 106 a signal from the manual triggering means 16 indicating that it has been manually operated. In response to the receiving 106 of the signal from the manual triggering means 16, the control unit 12 triggers closing 108 of the automatic gate 10, as the activation instruction received from the communication device 30 indicated that the automatic gate 10 is to be closed.

[0027] Hereby, the automatic gate 10 can be safely controlled for closing even if normal closing is not possible due to e.g., that a safety system has been triggered. Also, such a method provides a smooth and easy handling of an automatic gate for the persons involved.

[0028] It may also be possible that the method is performed by a server 50 (see fig. 1) that is arranged in a communication network 60. In such a case, the communication device 30 communicates with the server 50, and the control unit 12 of the automatic gate 10 communicates with the server 50, instead of the control unit 12 and the communication device 30 communicating directly with each other. The word "controller" is used in the claims in order to cover the method being performed by any kind of control unit arranged anywhere where it has communication abilities with the other involved entities, such as the communication device 30 and the manual triggering means 16. In other words, "controller" can be for example either the control unit 12 or the server 50. When the controller is the server 50, the server 50 may communicate with the manual triggering means 16 via the control unit 12.

[0029] In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the manual triggering means 16 is situated at a post of the automatic gate 10. However, the manual triggering means 16 may be situated anywhere on or at, i.e., close to the automatic gate 10, as long as it is communicatively connected to the control unit 12. Preferably, the manual triggering means 16 is situated at a position of the automatic gate 10 where it cannot be mistaken for an emergency stop means. Also, the manual triggering means 16 can be given a different color than any emergency stop means in order not to be mistaken for the emergency stop means. According to an embodiment, the manual triggering means 16 is situated so that it can be reached from the outside of the automatic gate 10, wherein the opposite side to the outside of the gate is the inside of the gate, the inside of the gate meaning the side of the gate to which access is achieved by passing through the automatic gate, e.g., within a fenced property.

[0030] According to an embodiment, the control unit only 12 triggers 108 opening or closing of the automatic gate 10 when the manual triggering means 16 is being manually operated. In other words, taking the example of the manual triggering means being a push button, the opening or closing of the automatic gate is only taking place as long as the push button is being pushed. As soon as the gate user stops pushing the push button, the control unit would stop the drive means from opening or closing the automatic gate. According to an embodiment, for the control unit 12 to know whether the manual triggering means 16 is being manually operated, the signal from the manual triggering means 16 to the control unit 12 indicating that the manual triggering means is operated is a signal that changes when the gate user stops using the manual triggering means 16. This embodiment gives an increased safety to the system as the movement will stop immediately. This embodiment is especially useful when a safety circuit preventing closing is released and the instruction is to close the gate, or the opposite, i.e., when a safety circuit preventing opening is released and the instruction is to open the gate. It is normally safer to open a gate when a safety circuit for closing is released, or vice versa, so then this additional safety measure may not be as important.

[0031] According to another embodiment, the manual triggering means 16 is only triggered 104 to be activated when the received 102 activation instruction is accompanied by additional input from the authorized user 40, the additional input indicating a valid reason for activation. An example of a valid reason for activation may be input describing why the automatic gate 10 had to be forcedly closed or opened, for example that it was not possible to close the automatic gate with normal operation and the automatic gate could not just be left open at the end of a workday.

[0032] According to another embodiment, the manual triggering means 16 is only triggered 104 to be activated during a defined time from the reception 102 of the activation instruction. This is to ensure that the manual triggering means 16 is not activated when it does not need to be activated. In an alternative embodiment, the manual triggering means 16 is de-activated after the automatic gate 10 has been forcedly opened or closed. The control unit 12 may de-activate the manual triggering means 16 when it stops the opening or closing movement of the automatic gate10, or when the automatic gate 10 reaches an opening end position or closing end position, for example.

[0033] According to yet another embodiment, shown in the flow chart of fig. 2, the control unit 12 sends 105, in response to the triggering of activation 104 of the manual triggering means 16, information to the communication device 30 that the manual triggering means has been activated. Hereby, when this information is displayed at the communication device 30, the authorized user 40 is informed that the manual triggering means 16 is activated and can instruct the gate user 20 to operate the manual triggering means 16.

[0034] According to yet another embodiment, the control unit sends 109, in response to the automatic gate 10 being triggered 108 to be opened, information to the communication device 30 that the automatic gate is being opened, or sends, in response to the automatic gate 10 being triggered to be closed, information to the communication device 30 that the automatic gate is being closed. Hereby, when this information is displayed at the communication device 30, the authorized user 40 is informed that the being opened/closed and can take any necessary actions on it.

[0035] According to still another embodiment, and in response to the receiving 102 of the activation instruction from the communication device 30, the control unit 12 determines 103 whether the communication device 30 is registered to a person that is authorized for initiating forced opening and/or closing of the automatic gate 10. Further, the control unit 12 only performs the triggering of activation 104 of the manual triggering means 16 when it was determined that the communication device 30 was registered to such an authorized person. Hereby, an increased security is achieved in that it is checked that the person trying to forcedly open or close the gate is authorized. Such a check would normally have been performed when the person logged in using the app 36, but with this embodiment at least a double check is made. In order to do this determination 103, the control unit 12 can have a list of authorized users for the automatic gate 10, in which list the authorized users are connected to their communication devices. The control unit 12 may compare an ID of the communication device that sent the activation instruction with IDs of the authorized communication devices in the list and only perform the triggering of activation 104 when the ID of the communication device is in the list of authorized communication device IDs. As for the other embodiments mentioned in this disclosure, this embodiment can be performed by the server 50 as well as by the control unit 12.

[0036] As mentioned above, a reason for normal opening or closing of the automatic gate 10 not being possible so that forced opening or closing would be needed to close/open the gate may be that any safety system or safety circuit of the automatic gate has been released, activated or trigged. Another reason for the need of forced opening/closing to be able to open/close the gate is that a safety circuit is not working, due to for example a broken circuit or lack of power to the safety circuit.

[0037] In the disclosure, the word "communication device" could mean any kind of device by which electronic communication is possible, wirelessly or by wireline, such as a mobile phone, a computer, a tablet etc.

[0038] Fig.3, in conjunction with fig. 1, shows a controller 12, 50 arranged for controlling opening and/or closing of an automatic gate 10 via drive means of the automatic gate 10. The controller 12; 50 further comprises a processing circuitry 603 and a memory 604. Said memory contains instructions executable by said processing circuitry, whereby the controller 12; 50 is operative for performing any of the embodiments and/or steps described above for the corresponding method performed by a controller 12; 50. The controller may be, or be situated in, the control unit 12 of the automatic gate 10 or the server 50 of the communication network 60.

[0039] According to other embodiments, the controller 12; 50 may further comprise a communication unit 602, which may be considered to comprise conventional means for communication with the communication device 30. In case the controller communicates wirelessly, the conventional means may be a transceiver for wireless transmission and reception of signals in the communication network. In fig. 1, an antenna 14 is shown, symbolizing means of the control unit 12 for wireless transmission. The instructions executable by said processing circuitry 603 may be arranged as a computer program 605 stored e.g., in said memory 604. The processing circuitry 603 and the memory 604 may be arranged in a sub-arrangement 601. The computer program 605 may be arranged such that when its instructions are run in the processing circuitry 603, the instructions cause the controller 12; 50 to perform the steps described in any of the described embodiments of the controller 12; 50 and its method. The computer program 605 may be carried by a computer program product connectable to the processing circuitry 603.

[0040] Although the description above contains a plurality of specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the concept described herein but as merely providing illustrations of some exemplifying embodiments of the described concept. It will be appreciated that the scope of the presently described concept fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the presently described concept is accordingly not to be limited. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one or more." All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed hereby. Moreover, it is not necessary for an apparatus or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the presently described concept, for it to be encompassed hereby. In the exemplary figures, a broken line generally signifies that the feature within the broken line is optional.

Claims

1. A method performed by a controller (12; 50) for controlling opening and/or closing of an automatic gate (10) via drive means of the automatic gate (10), the method comprising:

receiving (102), from a communication device (30) of an authorized user (40) that is authorized for initiating opening and/or closing of the automatic gate (10), an activation instruction for opening or closing of the automatic gate (10) received from the communication device (30) in response to the communication device (30) receiving input from the authorized user (40),

in response to the receiving (102) of the activation instruction, triggering activation (104) of a manual triggering means (16) at the automatic gate (10), arranged for manually triggering opening or closing of the automatic gate (10),

in response to manual operation of the manual triggering means (16) after the manual triggering means (16) has been activated, receiving (106) a signal from the manual triggering means (16) indicating that the manual triggering means is operated,

in response to the received (106) signal from the manual triggering means (16), triggering (108) opening of the automatic gate when the activation instruction indicated to open the automatic gate and triggering closing of the automatic gate when the activation instruction indicated to close the automatic gate.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the controller (12; 50) only triggers (108) opening or closing of the automatic gate (10) when the manual triggering means (16) is being manually operated.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein it is when a safety circuit preventing closing of the automatic gate (10) has been released or is malfunctioning that the controller (12; 50) only triggers closing of the automatic gate (10) when the manual triggering means (16) is being manually operated, or wherein it is when a safety circuit preventing opening of the automatic gate (10) has been released or is malfunctioning that the controller (12; 50) only triggers opening of the automatic gate (10) when the manual triggering means (16) is being manually operated.

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the manual triggering means (16) is only triggered (104) to be activated when the received (102) activation instruction is accompanied by additional input from the authorized user (40), the additional input indicating a valid reason for activation.

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the manual triggering means (16) is only triggered (104) to be activated during a defined time from the reception (102) of the activation instruction.

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising:
sending (105), in response to the triggering of activation (104) of the manual triggering means (16), information to the communication device (30) that the manual triggering means has been activated.

7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising:
sending (109), in response to the automatic gate being triggered (108) to be opened, information to the communication device (30) that the automatic gate (10) is being opened, or, sending in response to the automatic gate being triggered to be closed, information to the communication device (30) that the automatic gate (10) is being closed.

8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising:
in response to the receiving (102) of the activation instruction from the communication device (30), determining (103) whether the communication device (30) is registered to a person that is authorized for initiating opening and/or closing of the automatic gate (10), and only perform the triggering of activation (104) of the manual triggering means (16) when it was determined that the communication device (30) was registered to such an authorized person.

9. A controller (12; 50) for controlling opening and/or closing of an automatic gate (10) via drive means of the automatic gate (10), the controller (12; 50) further comprising a processing circuitry (603) and a memory (604), said memory containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry, whereby the controller (12; 50) is operative for:

receiving, from a communication device (30) of an authorized user (40) that is authorized for initiating opening and/or closing of the automatic gate (10), an activation instruction for opening or closing of the automatic gate (10) received from the communication device (30) in response to the communication device (30) receiving input from the authorized user (40),

in response to the receiving of the activation instruction, triggering activation of a manual triggering means (16) at the automatic gate (10), arranged for manually triggering opening or closing of the automatic gate (10),

in response to manual operation of the manual triggering means (16) after the manual triggering means (16) has been activated, receiving a signal from the manual triggering means (16) indicating that the manual triggering means is operated,

in response to the received signal from the manual triggering means (16), triggering opening of the automatic gate when the activation instruction indicated to open the automatic gate and triggering closing of the automatic gate when the activation instruction indicated to close the automatic gate.

10. Controller (12; 50) according to claim 9, wherein the controller (12; 50) is operative for only triggering opening or closing of the automatic gate (10) when the manual triggering means (16) is being manually operated.

11. Controller (12; 50) according to claim 10, wherein the controller (12; 50) is operative for only triggering closing of the automatic gate (10) when the manual triggering means (16) is being manually operated, when a safety circuit preventing closing of the automatic gate (10) has been released or is malfunctioning, or wherein the controller (12; 50) is operative for only triggering opening of the automatic gate (10) when the manual triggering means (16) is being manually operated, when a safety circuit preventing opening of the automatic gate (10) has been released or is malfunctioning.

12. Controller (12; 50) according to any of claims 9-11, operative for only triggering the manual triggering means (16) to be activated when the received activation instruction is accompanied by additional input from the authorized user (40), the additional input indicating a valid reason for activation.

13. Controller (12; 50) according to any of claims 9-12, operative for only triggering the manual triggering means (16) to be activated during a defined time from the reception of the activation instruction.

14. Controller (12; 50) according to any of claims 9-13, further being operative for sending, in response to the triggering of activation of the manual triggering means (16), information to the communication device (30) that the manual triggering means has been activated.

15. Controller (12; 50) according to any of claims 9-14, further being operative for sending, in response to the automatic gate (10) being triggered to be opened, information to the communication device (30) that the automatic gate is being opened, or sending in response to the automatic gate (10) being triggered to be closed, information to the communication device (30) that the automatic gate is being closed.

Drawing