System for processing multiple signal frequencies and data formats for a barrier operator

• US 20080224885A1
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HRH Newco Corporation
• Original Assignee: HRH Newco Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Yan, Garcia, Ben L., Murray, James S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,111,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.72
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00253 dynamically, e.g. variable code - rolling code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A barrier operator is configured to learn and receive disparate wireless transmission signals to control movement of a barrier. The operator includes a receiver core circuit adapted to receive wireless transmission signals containing known and unknown formatted data words. A microcontroller is adapted to determine a fixed code portion of the unknown formatted data words. The microcontroller is also associated with a memory unit and connected to the receiver core circuit for storing in the memory unit the known formatted data words and the unknown formatted data words if the fixed code portion can be determined when the microcontroller is in a learn mode. The receiver core circuit may also scan only frequencies associated with learn codes, pre-selected frequencies, and incremental frequencies within a predetermined range of frequencies.

Claims

1. A method for learning a wireless transmitter to a barrier operator, the method comprising:

receiving a command signal that includes at least two redundant function code data words from a wireless transmitter by a receiver maintained by the operator;

determining a data format of said function code data words by a microcontroller connected to said receiver;

comparing each of said function code data words if said function code data format cannot be determined at said determining step; and

identifying a fixed code portion maintained by each of said transmitted function code data words based on said comparison step.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tagging said fixed code portion identified at said identifying step.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing said fixed code portion of said function code data word at said microcontroller.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a carrier frequency of said command signal at said microcontroller

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rejecting each said function code data words if after said comparing step, said fixed code portion of said function code data words cannot be identified.

6. A method for learning a wireless transmitter to a barrier operator having a microcontroller controlled multiple-frequency receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a command signal containing a function code data word from a wireless transmitter;

receiving said function code data word at a microcontroller maintained by the barrier operator;

determining a data format of said function code data word received by said microcontroller; and

determining whether said data format contains a fixed code portion or a rolling code portion if said function code data format is identified at said first determining step.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

storing said fixed code portion in said microcontroller so as to learn the wireless transmitter to the barrier operator if said function code data word contains a fixed code portion.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

storing the carrier frequency of said command signal in said microcontroller.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

decrypting and validating said function code data word if said function code data word contains a rolling code portion.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

storing said rolling code portion in said microcontroller so as to learn the wireless transmitter to the barrier operator.

11. A method of processing received command signals transmitted from a wireless transmitter to a barrier operator so as to actuate an access barrier, the method comprising:

placing a receiver into a command signal frequency scanning mode;

receiving at said receiver a command signal which includes a function code data word associated with a function to be performed by the barrier operator;

determining whether a data format of said function code data word is stored in said barrier operator;

determining whether any portion of said function code data word matches one or more fixed code tags if said data format of said function code data word is not stored at said barrier operator; and

carrying out the function associated with said function code data word at the barrier operator if a match is made at said second determining step.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said scanning mode is selected from the group consisting of an initial use mode, a scan all mode and a scan stored mode.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining whether said function code contains a rolling code portion or a fixed code portion if the data format of said function code data word cannot be ascertained at said first determining step.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether said fixed code portion of said function code data word is stored in said barrier operator.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

carrying out the function associated with said function code data word at said barrier operator if said fixed code portion of said function code data word is stored in said barrier operator.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether said rolling code portion of said function code is stored in said barrier operator.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

carrying out the function associated with said function code data word at said barrier operator if said rolling code portion of said function code data word is stored said barrier operator.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

scanning by said receiver only frequencies of said command signals associated with said function code data words stored in said barrier operator.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

scanning by said receiver only predetermined frequencies within a set range of frequencies.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

scanning by said receiver in predetermined frequency increments a set frequency bandwidth.

21. A barrier operator configured to learn and receive disparate wireless transmission signals to control movement of a barrier, the operator comprising:

a receiver core circuit adapted to receive wireless transmission signals containing known and unknown formatted data words; and

a microcontroller associated with a memory unit, said microcontroller adapted to determine a fixed code portion of said unknown formatted data words, said microcontroller connected to said receiver core circuit and storing in said memory unit known formatted data words and unknown formatted data words if said fixed code portion can be determined when said microcontroller is in a learn mode.

22. The operator according to claim 21, wherein in an operate mode said microcontroller compares received wireless transmission signals containing known formatted data words and unknown formatted data words having said fixed code portions that can be compared to those stored in said memory unit and generating a barrier command when a match is found.

23. The operator according to claim 22, wherein in said learn mode said microcontroller stores a frequency value of each known and unknown formatted data word in said memory unit, and wherein in said operate mode said receiver core circuit scans only those frequency values stored in said memory unit.

24. The operator according to claim 22, wherein in said operate mode said receiver core circuit receives said wireless transmission signals at any number of frequencies.

25. The operator according to claim 24, wherein in said operate mode said receiver core circuit scans selected discrete frequency valves within a predetermined range of frequencies.

26. The operator according to claim 24, wherein in said operate mode, said receiver core circuit incrementally scans at discrete intervals within a predetermined range of frequencies.

27. The operator according to claim 21, wherein said memory unit is provided with predesignated known formatted data words for comparison to wireless transmission signals received in said learn mode.

28. The operator according to claim 21, further comprising:

a voltage controlled oscillator connected to said receiver core circuit and to said microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller provides input to said oscillator which in turn tunes said receiver core circuit to receive said signals at a selected frequency.