Trainable transceiver including a dynamically tunable antenna
First Claim
1. A trainable transceiver for receiving an activation signal that includes a radio frequency carrier modulated with a code and learning characteristics of the activation signal for subsequently transmitting a signal having the same characteristics for remotely actuating a device, said trainable transceiver comprising:
- a dynamically tunable antenna for transmitting a modulated radio frequency carrier signal having a carrier frequency selected from a range of frequencies covering at least the range of 200 to 400 MHz, said dynamically tunable antenna having a control input and a tunable element such that the resonant frequency of said antenna can be varied in response to antenna control data applied to said control input to vary the filtering characteristics of said dynamically tunable antenna to provide a pass band substantially centered about the carrier frequency of said modulated radio frequency carrier signal;
a controller coupled to said dynamically tunable antenna and operable in a learning and an operating mode, said controller receiving an activation signal in said learning mode for storing data corresponding to the radio frequency and code of the activation signal, and in said operating mode, providing output data, which identifies the radio frequency and code of the received activation signal, wherein said controller further provides antenna control data to said control input of said dynamically tunable antenna in order to selectively control the resonant frequency of said dynamically tunable antenna; and
a signal generator coupled to said controller and said dynamically tunable antenna, for receiving said output data from said controller and for transmitting a modulated radio frequency carrier signal, which corresponds to the received activation signal, from said dynamically tunable antenna,wherein, during said operating mode, said controller selects and outputs antenna control data corresponding to the radio frequency identified in the output data supplied to said signal generator such that said dynamically tunable antenna filters harmonic frequency components from said modulated radio frequency carrier signal generated by said signal generator.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A trainable transceiver for learning and transmitting an activation signal that includes an RF carrier frequency modulated with a code for remotely actuating a device, such as a garage door opener. The trainable transceiver preferably includes a controller, a signal generator, and a dynamically tunable antenna having a variable impedance that may be selectively controlled in accordance with a carrier frequency of a received or transmitted activation signal.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A trainable transceiver for receiving an activation signal that includes a radio frequency carrier modulated with a code and learning characteristics of the activation signal for subsequently transmitting a signal having the same characteristics for remotely actuating a device, said trainable transceiver comprising:
-
a dynamically tunable antenna for transmitting a modulated radio frequency carrier signal having a carrier frequency selected from a range of frequencies covering at least the range of 200 to 400 MHz, said dynamically tunable antenna having a control input and a tunable element such that the resonant frequency of said antenna can be varied in response to antenna control data applied to said control input to vary the filtering characteristics of said dynamically tunable antenna to provide a pass band substantially centered about the carrier frequency of said modulated radio frequency carrier signal; a controller coupled to said dynamically tunable antenna and operable in a learning and an operating mode, said controller receiving an activation signal in said learning mode for storing data corresponding to the radio frequency and code of the activation signal, and in said operating mode, providing output data, which identifies the radio frequency and code of the received activation signal, wherein said controller further provides antenna control data to said control input of said dynamically tunable antenna in order to selectively control the resonant frequency of said dynamically tunable antenna; and a signal generator coupled to said controller and said dynamically tunable antenna, for receiving said output data from said controller and for transmitting a modulated radio frequency carrier signal, which corresponds to the received activation signal, from said dynamically tunable antenna, wherein, during said operating mode, said controller selects and outputs antenna control data corresponding to the radio frequency identified in the output data supplied to said signal generator such that said dynamically tunable antenna filters harmonic frequency components from said modulated radio frequency carrier signal generated by said signal generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A trainable transceiver for receiving an activation signal that includes a radio frequency carrier modulated with a code and learning characteristics of the activation signal for subsequently transmitting a signal having the same characteristics for remotely actuating a device, said trainable transceiver comprising:
-
a dynamically tunable antenna for receiving an activation signal and transmitting a modulated radio frequency carrier signal, said dynamically tunable antenna having a control input and a tunable element such that the resonant frequency of said antenna can be varied in response to antenna control data applied to said control input; a controller coupled to said dynamically tunable antenna and operable in a learning and an operating mode, said controller receiving the activation signal in said learning mode for storing data corresponding to the radio frequency and code of the activation signal, and in said operating mode, providing output data, which identifies the radio frequency and code of the received activation signal, wherein said controller further provides antenna control data to said control input of said dynamically tunable antenna in order to selectively control the resonant frequency of said dynamically tunable antenna; a signal generator coupled to said controller and said dynamically tunable antenna, for receiving said output data from said controller and for transmitting a modulated radio frequency carrier signal, which corresponds to the received activation signal, from said dynamically tunable antenna; and a mixer coupled to said dynamically tunable antenna and said signal generator, wherein, in a learning mode, said controller controls said signal generator to generate a reference signal having a reference frequency and to apply said reference signal to said mixer, said controller further selects and outputs antenna control data to control the resonant frequency of the dynamically tunable antenna by controlling the impedance of said dynamically tunable antenna to correspond to a predefined impedance for receiving an activation signal having a carrier frequency related to the reference frequency of said reference signal output by said signal generator, said mixer mixes an activation signal received by said dynamically tunable antenna with said reference signal, and said controller varies the reference frequency of said reference signal output from said signal generator and the impedance of said dynamically tunable antenna until the radio frequency of the received activation signal is identified. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
-
-
8. A trainable transceiver for receiving an activation signal that includes a radio frequency carrier modulated with a code and learning characteristics of the activation signal for subsequently transmitting a signal having the same characteristics for remotely actuating a device, said trainable transceiver comprising:
-
a dynamically tunable antenna for receiving an activation signal and transmitting a modulated radio frequency carrier signal having a carrier frequency selected from a range of frequencies covering at least the range of 200 to 400 MHz, said dynamically tunable antenna having a control input and a tunable element such that the resonant frequency of said antenna can be varied in response to antenna control data applied to said control input in order to vary filtering characteristics of said dynamically tunable antenna to have a pass band centered about the particular carrier frequency of said modulated radio frequency carrier signal; a controller coupled to said dynamically tunable antenna and operable in a learning and an operating mode, said controller receiving the activation signal in said learning mode and storing data corresponding to the radio frequency and code of the activation signal, and when in said operating mode, providing antenna control data to said control input of said dynamically tunable antenna in order to selectively control the resonant frequency of said dynamically tunable antenna, and for transmitting a modulated radio frequency carrier signal, which corresponds to the received activation signal, from said dynamically tunable antenna, wherein, during said operating mode, said controller selects and outputs antenna control data corresponding to the radio frequency of said modulated radio frequency carrier signal such that said dynamically tunable antenna filters harmonic frequency components from said modulated radio frequency carrier signal generated by said controller. - View Dependent Claims (9)
-
-
10. A method using a trainable transceiver, for learning and transmitting an activation signal that remotely actuates a device, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving an activation signal having a carrier frequency selected from a range of frequencies covering at least the range of 200 to 400 MHz; generating and storing radio frequency control data, which identifies a detected radio frequency carrier and code of the received activation signal; generating an output signal having a code and radio frequency carrier corresponding to that of the received activation signal; selecting prestored antenna control data corresponding to the radio frequency carrier of said output signal; supplying the selected antenna control data to a dynamically tunable antenna to vary the resonant frequency of said antenna such that said antenna filters frequency components from said output signal; and transmitting the output signal to the device.
-
-
11. A method using a trainable transceiver having an antenna, for learning and transmitting an activation signal that remotely actuates a device, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving an activation signal; generating a reference signal having a reference frequency; selectively controlling the resonant frequency of the antenna to correspond to the reference frequency; mixing the reference signal with the received activation signal received by the antenna and providing a mixed output signal; filtering the mixed output signal to provide a code included in the received activation signal when the reference frequency of the reference signal has a predetermined relation to the radio frequency of the received activation signal; varying the reference frequency of the reference signal and the resonant frequency of the antenna until the predetermined relation between radio frequency of the received activation signal is obtained and the radio frequency of the received activation signal is identified; generating and storing radio frequency control data, which indicates the identified radio frequency and code of the received activation signal; generating an output signal having a code and radio frequency carrier corresponding to that of the received activation signal; and transmitting the output signal to the device.
-
-
12. A radio frequency transmitter for transmitting an activation signal for remotely actuating a device, said transmitter comprising:
-
a dynamically tunable antenna for transmitting an activation signal having a carrier frequency selected from a range of frequencies covering at least the range of 200 to 400 MHz, said dynamically tunable antenna having a control input and a resonant frequency that is variable in response to antenna control data applied to said control input in order to vary filtering characteristics of said dynamically tunable antenna to have a pass band centered about the particular carrier frequency of the activation signal; a controller coupled to said dynamically tunable antenna for providing output data, which identifies a radio frequency carrier and code of the activation signal, wherein said controller further provides antenna control data to said control input of said dynamically tunable antenna in order to selectively control the resonant frequency of said dynamically tunable antenna to match the radio frequency carrier of the activation signal; and a variable frequency signal generator coupled to said controller and said dynamically tunable antenna, for receiving said output data from said controller and for transmitting an activation signal having the radio frequency and code identified in the received output data from said dynamically tunable antenna, wherein said controller selects and outputs antenna control data corresponding to the radio frequency identified in the output data supplied to said signal generator such that said dynamically tunable antenna filters harmonic frequency components from the activation signal generated by said signal generator. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A trainable transceiver for receiving an activation signal that includes a radio frequency carrier modulated with a code and learning characteristics of the activation signal for subsequently transmitting a signal having the same characteristics for remotely actuating a device, said trainable transceiver comprising:
-
a dynamically tunable antenna for receiving an activation signal, said dynamically tunable antenna having a control input and a tunable element such that the resonant frequency of said antenna can be varied in response to antenna control data applied to said control input; a controller coupled to said dynamically tunable antenna and operable in a learning and an operating mode, said controller receiving the activation signal in said learning mode for storing data corresponding to the radio frequency and code of the activation signal, and in said operating mode, providing output data, which identifies the radio frequency and code of the received activation signal, wherein said controller further provides antenna control data to said control input of said dynamically tunable antenna in order to selectively control the resonant frequency of said dynamically tunable antenna; a signal generator coupled to said controller for receiving said output data from said controller and for transmitting a modulated radio frequency carrier signal, which corresponds to the received activation signal; and a mixer coupled to said dynamically tunable antenna and said signal generator, wherein, in a learning mode, said controller controls said signal generator to generate a reference signal having a reference frequency and to apply said reference signal to said mixer, said controller further selects and outputs antenna control data corresponding to the reference frequency of said reference signal, said mixer mixes an activation signal received by said dynamically tunable antenna with said reference signal, and said controller varies the reference frequency of said reference signal output from said signal generator and selectively varies and outputs antenna control data corresponding to the reference frequency until the radio frequency of the received activation signal is identified.
-
Specification