Remote actuating apparatus with long and short operating codes

• US 5,635,913 A
• Filed: 01/19/1996
• Issued: 06/03/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Heitschel, Carl T., Willmott, Colin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/588,907
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.22, 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/825.52, 340/825.53, 340/825.47, 340/310.01, 340/825.69, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 340/5.23
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/04 Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 25/00 Arrangements for preventing or correcting errors; Monitoring arrangements

Abstract

A garage door opening system comprises a receiver which is responsive both to security codes in a first format from existing transmitters and to security codes in a new and more secure format from new transmitters. The old format comprises a synchronization character and ten code words and the new code format advantageously comprises twenty code words with a new synchronization character between the tenth and eleventh code words. The receiver determines from the received synchronization codes the type of format being received and compares the received code words with stored permitted code words of the same type. When a match occurs, an activation signal is generated.

Claims

1. In a remote actuating system comprising a first transmitter for repetitively transmitting a first code word sequence comprising a first frame of code words, a second transmitter for repetitively transmitting a second code word sequence comprising a first frame of code words and a second frame of code words, wherein each of said first frames comprises a first identity character identifying the first frame and a first predetermined number of code words and each of said second frames comprises a second identity character distinct from the first identity character, identifying the second frame and a second, predetermined number of code words, and a remotely operated receiver for generating actuation signals to control the position of a barrier, a method of operating said receiver comprising:

storing at least one first code word sequence comprising the first predetermined number of code words in said receiver;

storing separately from said first code word sequence at least one second code word sequence comprising a number of code words larger than the first predetermined number of code words in said receiver;

receiving a first frame of code words;

receiving another frame of code words after the receipt of said first frame, said another frame of code words being either a repeat of the first frame or a second frame of code words;

determining from said identity character of said another frame of code words whether said another received frame of code words is one of said first frames or one of said second frames;

comparing said received first frame of code words with a stored first code word sequence only when said another received frame of code words is determined in said determining step to comprise a first frame of code words;

comparing a combination of the code words of said received first frame and said another received frame with a stored second code word sequence only when said another received frame of code words is determined in said determining step to comprise a second frame of code words; and

generating, responsive to said comparing steps, an actuation signal when the compared code words comprise a code word sequence identical to a code word sequence compared thereto.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising a step of actuating a garage door responsive to said generating step.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein both said first and said second identity characters convey synchronizing information and said method comprises synchronizing the receiver to the first and second identity characters when received.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first code word sequence comprises m code words and the second code word sequence comprises 2 m code words.

5. In a remote actuating system comprising a first transmitter for repetitively transmitting a first code word sequence comprising a first frame of code words, a second transmitter for repetitively transmitting a second code word sequence comprising a first frame of code words and a second frame of code words, wherein each of said first frames comprises a first identity character identifying the first frame and a first predetermined number of code words and each of said second frames comprises a second identity character distinct from the first identity character, identifying the second frame and a second predetermined number of code words, and a remotely operated receiver for generating actuation signals to control the position of a barrier, said system comprising:

means for storing at least one first code word sequence comprising the first predetermined number of code words in said receiver;

means for storing separately from said first code word sequence at least one second code word sequence comprising a number of code words larger than the first predetermined number of code words in said receiver;

means for receiving a first frame of code words;

means for receiving another frame of code words after the receipt of said first frame;

means for determining from said identity character of said another frame of code words whether said another received frame of code words is a first frame or a second frame;

means for comparing said received first frame of code words with a stored first code word sequence only when said another received frame of code words is determined in said determining step to comprise a first frame of code words;

means for comparing a combination of the code words of said received first frame and said another received frame with a stored second code word sequence only when said another received frame of code words is determined in said determining step to comprise a second frame of code words; and

means for generating, responsive to said comparing steps, an actuation signal when the compared code words comprise a code word sequence identical to a code word sequence compared thereto.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said identity characters comprise synchronization characters which synchronize the reception of the frames based upon the identity of said first and second identity characters.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the barrier comprises a garage door.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the first code word sequence comprises m code words and the second code word sequence comprises 2 m code words.