A mechanical memory as used with a movable barrier operator serves to provide characterizing codes and/or executable code to the movable barrier operator. In one embodiment the mechanical memory is integrated with an RPM cup (20). The mechanical memory includes physical aspects that interact in a predetermined way with energy such as for example, light. This interaction can include passage, reflection, and absorption. Regular placement of at least some of the physical aspects can be used to permit real-time monitoring of at least one operating parameter of the movable barrier operator (such as motor speed or movable barrier position). In addition, these and/or additional physical aspects can be modified to correlate to data, such as or symbols, that represent the operator code.