Programmable interoperable appliance remote control

• US 20050026604A1
• Filed: 07/30/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Harwood, Jody K., Christenson, Keith A., Trivedi, Saurabh S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,120,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00253 dynamically, e.g. variable code - rolling code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00888 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/62 Rolling code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control

Abstract

A universal remote control establishes a new transmitter identifier when programmed to a particular rolling code scheme by an existing transmitter. During programming, the universal remote control receives at least one activation signal transmitted from the existing transmitter. The activation signal includes an existing transmitter identifier. The activation signal is examined to determine which of a plurality of rolling code schemes was used by the existing transmitter to generate the received activation signal. The new transmitter identifier, different from the existing transmitter identifier, is determined based on the rolling code scheme. Subsequently, when an activation input is received, the universal remote control generates and transmits a new activation signal including the new transmitter identifier.

Claims

1. A method of activating an appliance remotely controllable by an existing transmitter, the appliance responding to a radio frequency activation signal based on one of a plurality of rolling code schemes, the method comprising:

receiving at least one activation signal transmitted from the existing transmitter, the activation signal including an existing transmitter identifier;

examining the at least one received activation signal to determine which of the plurality of rolling code schemes was used by the existing transmitter to generate the received activation signal;

determining a new transmitter identifier different from the existing transmitter identifier based on the determined rolling code scheme; and

transmitting a new activation signal based on the determined rolling code scheme, the new activation signal including the new transmitter identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the new activation signal is transmitted based on receiving an activation input.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the determination of which rolling code scheme was used by the existing transmitter is based on receiving a programming mode input.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the appliance responds to a radio frequency activation signal based on one of a plurality of fixed code schemes or one of the plurality of rolling code schemes, the method further comprising:

determining whether the received activation signal is based on one of the plurality of fixed code schemes or on one of the plurality of rolling code schemes; and

if the received activation signal is based on one of the fixed code schemes, storing a fixed code received in the activation signal and using the stored fixed code to transmit an activation signal.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein determining whether the received activation signal is based on one of the fixed code schemes comprises:

receiving at least two activation signals from the existing transmitter; and

comparing at least a portion of the at least two received activation signals to determine any differences.

6. A system for operating an appliance, the appliance responding to an activation signal transmitted from an existing radio frequency transmitter, the system comprising:

a receiver operable to receive any of a plurality of radio frequency activation signals;

a transmitter operable to transmit any of the plurality of radio frequency activation signals; and

control logic in communication with the receiver and the transmitter, the control logic operating in a learn mode and an operate mode, the control logic in learn mode determining and storing a new transmitter identifier different from any existing transmitter identifier received in at least one rolling code activation signal transmitted by the existing transmitter, the control logic in operate mode generating a new activation signal different from any activation signal transmitted by the existing transmitter, the new activation signal including the new transmitter identifier.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the control logic supports a plurality of channels, each channel programmable to a different existing transmitter.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising a user interface placing the control logic in learn mode based on a first user input and causing transmission of the new activation signal based on a second user input.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the control logic is operable in learn mode to determine whether the at least one activation signal transmitted by the existing transmitter is based on a rolling code scheme or a fixed code scheme.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein, if the at least one activation signal transmitted by the existing transmitter is a fixed code scheme, the control logic extracting and storing a fixed code from the at least one activation signal transmitted by the existing transmitter.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the control logic in operate mode generates an activation signal including the stored fixed code.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the control logic is operable to determine fixed code scheme or rolling code scheme based on at least two activation signals transmitted by the existing transmitter.

13. The system of claim 6 wherein the control logic determines which of a plurality of rolling code schemes was used by the existing transmitter based on receiving a programming mode input.

14. A method of programming a programmable radio frequency appliance remote control comprising:

receiving a signal from an existing radio frequency remote control, the signal based on one of a plurality of activation schemes;

determining if the received signal was generated using one of a plurality of rolling code activation schemes;

if so, storing an indication as to which rolling code scheme was used to generate the received signal; and

determining and storing a new transmitter identifier different from an existing transmitter identifier associated with the existing transmitter.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving an activation input signal; and

transmitting a new activation signal based on the stored rolling code scheme indication and on the new transmitter identifier.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

determining if the received signal was generated using one of a plurality of fixed code activation schemes;

if so, storing an indication as to which fixed code scheme was used to generate the received signal; and

extracting and storing a fixed code from the received signal.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

receiving an activation input signal; and

transmitting a new activation signal based on the stored fixed code scheme indication and on the stored fixed code.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving a signal from the existing radio frequency remote control comprises receiving a plurality of signals from the existing radio frequency remote control and wherein determining if the received signal was generated using one of the plurality of rolling code activation schemes is based on an examination of at least two of the plurality of received signals.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the determination of which rolling code scheme was used to generate the received signal is based on receiving a programming mode input.