Universal Transmitter

• US 20110032116A1
• Filed: 08/06/2009
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gallen Ka Leung Tsui, Philip Y.W. Tsui
• Original Assignee: Gallen Ka Leung Tsui, Philip Y.W. Tsui
• Inventors: TSUI, Gallen Ka Leung, TSUI, Philip Y.W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,957,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.69
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided for a universal transmitter. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting activation of at least one button of the universal transmitter, by a controller, for a predetermined time, outputting at least one set of signals to a first set of terminals of a switch of the universal transmitter, detecting output on a second set of terminals of the switch and determining position of a switch, by the controller, based, at least in part, on the output detected on the second set of terminals, wherein position of the switch relates to a transmission type. The method can further include detecting activation of a first button to be programmed and programming the first button based on the transmission type.

Claims

1. A method for operation of a universal transmitter, the method comprising the acts of:

detecting activation of at least one button of the universal transmitter, by a controller, for a predetermined time;

outputting at least one set of signals to a first set of terminals of a switch of the universal transmitter;

detecting output on a second set of terminals of the switch;

determining position of said switch, by the controller, based, at least in part, on the output detected on the second set of terminals, wherein position of the switch relates to a transmission type;

detecting activation of a first button to be programmed; and

programming said first button based on the transmission type.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting activation of said first button; and

generating an activation signal by the universal transmitter based on the transmission type.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising enabling a frequency selection switch, by the controller, based on activation of said first button.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second position of the switch; and

programming said first button based, in part, on the second position of the switch, wherein the second position relates to a transmission frequency.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

detecting activation of said first button; and

generating an activation signal by the universal transmitter based on the transmission type.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second position of the switch;

detecting a second button to be programmed; and

programming said second button based on the second position of the switch.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a DIP switch setting based on the position of the switch and programming said first position based on the DIP switch setting.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission type relates to a transmission characteristic associated with at least one of a brand of barrier operator manufacturer and transmission frequency.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating an LED of the universal transmitter, by the controller, to signal a programmer to activate a button to be programmed.

10. A universal transmitter comprising:

at least one activation button configured to receive a user input;

a switch, configured to receive a user selection;

a transmission circuit configured to wirelessly transmit one or more activation signals; and

a controller coupled to the at least one activation button, switch and transmission circuit, the controller configured to;

detect activation of the at least one activation button for a predetermined time;

output at least one set of signals to a first set of terminals of the switch;

detect output on a second set of terminals of the switch;

determine position of a switch based, at least in part, on the output detected on the second set of terminals, wherein position of the switch relates to a transmission type;

detect activation of a first button to be programmed; and

program said first button based on the transmission type.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect activation of said first button; and

generate an activation signal by the universal transmitter based on the transmission type.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to enable a frequency selection switch based on activation of said first button.

13. The system of claim 10, controller is further configured to:

detect a second position of the switch; and

program said first button based, in part, on the second position of the switch, wherein the second position relates to a transmission frequency.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect activation of said first button; and

generate an activation signal based on the transmission type and transmission frequency.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect a second position of the switch;

detect a second button to be programmed; and

program said second button based on the second position of the switch.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising a DIP switch, wherein the controller is further configured to detect a DIP switch setting based on the position of the switch and program said first position based on the DIP switch setting.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the transmission type relates to a transmission characteristic associated with at least one of a barrier operator manufacturer and transmission frequency.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising an LED, wherein the controller is configured to activate the LED to signal a user to activate a button to be programmed.

19. A method for operation of a universal transmitter, the method comprising the acts of:

detecting activation of at least one button of the universal transmitter, by a controller, for a predetermined time;

determining a first position of a switch of the universal transmitter, by the controller, wherein the first position of the switch relates to a first transmission frequency;

detecting activation of a first button to be programmed;

programming said first button based on the first transmission frequency;

determining a second position of the switch of the universal transmitter, by the controller, wherein the second position of the switch relates to a second transmission frequency;

detecting activation of a second button to be programmed; and

programming said second button based on the second transmission frequency.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

outputting at least one set of signals to a first set of terminals of said switch; and

detecting output on a second set of terminals of the switch, wherein determining position of said switch is based on the output detected on the second set of terminals.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

detecting activation of said first button; and

generating an activation signal by the universal transmitter based on the first transmission frequency.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising enabling a frequency selection switch, by the controller, based on activation of one or more of the first and second activation buttons.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the first and second transmission frequencies relate to transmission frequencies associated with a barrier operator manufacturer.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising activating an LED of the universal transmitter, by the controller, to signal a programmer to activate a button to be programmed.