Remote control transmitter and method of operation

• US 5,699,065 A
• Filed: 01/16/1996
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Stanley Home Automation, Inc. (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Murray, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US08/585,513
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 341/23, 341/176, 380/23, 380/43, 340/825.31, 340/825.54
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00238 the transmittted data signal containing a code which is changed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• 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

Abstract

A remote control transmitter capable of transmitting a coded signal for actuating a device connected to a remote receiver. The remote control transmitter includes an electronic control device which controls the operation of the transmitter. A transmitter activation switch is connected to the electronic control device and acts to energize the transmitter. A first code generating device is capable of creating a first code and a second code generating device is capable of creating a second code. The two code generating devices are connected to the electronic control device. The electronic control device contains means for automatically selecting between the first and second codes for transmitting within the coded signal. A transmitting device is connected to the electronic control device for transmitting the coded signal to the remote receiver.

Claims

1. A remote control transmitter capable of transmitting a coded signal comprising a coded pulse train impressed upon a carrier signal for actuating a device connected to a remote receiver, said transmitter comprising:

an electronic control device for controlling the operation of said transmitter;

a transmitter activation switch electrically coupled to said electronic control device for energizing said transmitter;

a first code generating device electrically coupled to said electronic control device for creating a first code usable in the production of said coded pulse train;

a second code generating device electrically coupled to said electronic control device for creating a second code usable in the production of said coded pulse train;

means for comparing said first code to a predetermined pattern and determining whether said first code matches said predetermined pattern, automatically selecting between said first and second codes based on the results of said comparison, producing said coded pulse train from the selected code and impressing said coded pulse train upon said carrier signal to produce said coded signal, said means contained within said electronic control device; and

a transmitting device electrically coupled to said electronic control device for transmitting said coded signal to said remote receiver.

2. The remote control transmitter of claim 1 wherein said second code generating device is a silicon serial identification device capable of generating a serial stream of data and electrically coupled to said electronic control device.

3. The remote control transmitter of claim 1 wherein said electronic control device is a microcontroller having a plurality of input connections, a single microcontroller input connection electrically coupled to both said first code generating device and said second code generating device, and a plurality of said microcontroller input connections electrically coupled to said first code generating device.

4. A remote control transmitter capable of transmitting a coded radio frequency signal comprising a coded pulse train impressed upon a carrier signal for actuating a device connected to a remote receiver, said transmitter comprising:

a microcontroller for controlling the operation of said transmitter, said microcontroller having a plurality of input connections and at least one output connection;

a transmitter activation switch electrically coupled to said microcontroller for energizing said transmitter;

a plurality of multiple-position switches electrically coupled to said microcontroller input connections for generating a first code for use in creating said coded pulse train;

a silicon serial identification device electrically coupled to one of said microcontroller input connections and capable of generating a serial stream of data representing a second code for use in creating said coded pulse train;

means for automatically selecting between said first code and said second code depending upon the position of at least one of said multiple-position switches, producing said coded pulse train utilizing said automatically selected code and impressing said coded pulse train upon said carrier signal to create said coded radio frequency signal, said means contained within said microcontroller; and

a radio frequency transmitter electrically coupled to said microcontroller output connection, said radio frequency transmitter capable of transmitting said coded radio frequency signal.

5. The remote control transmitter of claim 4 wherein said means for automatically selecting between said first and second codes is an algorithm contained in said microcontroller and capable of determining the position of said plurality of multiple-position switches contained in said first code generating device, said code to be selected based on the position of said multiple-position switches.

6. A method of automatically selecting between a first code and a second code to be used in creation of a coded pulse train transmitted in a coded carrier signal from a remote control transmitter, said coded signal capable of actuating a device connected to a remote receiver, said method comprising the steps of:

a) reading said first code provided by a first code generating device;

b) comparing said first code to a predetermined pattern and determining whether said first code matches said predetermined pattern;

c) selecting said first code to be used in creation of said coded pulse train if said code fails to match said predetermined pattern;

d) selecting said second code to be used in creation of said coded pulse train if said first code matches said predetermined pattern; and

e) transmitting said coded carrier signal containing the selected code from said remote control transmitter.

7. A remote control transmitter capable of transmitting a coded signal comprising a coded pulse train impressed upon a carrier signal for actuating a device connected to a remote receiver, said transmitter comprising:

an electronic control device for controlling the operation of said transmitter;

a transmitter activation switch electrically coupled to said electronic control device for energizing said transmitter;

a first code generating device comprising a plurality of multiple position switches electrically coupled to said electronic control device for creating a first code usable in the production of said coded pulse train;

a second code generating device electrically coupled to said electronic control device for creating a second code usable in the production of said coded pulse train;

means contained within said electronic control device for automatically selecting between said first and second codes, said means comprising an algorithm capable of determining a position of at least one of said plurality of multiple-position switches and making said selection based on said position of said multiple-position switch;

means for producing said coded pulse train from the selected code and impressing said coded pulse train upon said carrier signal to produce said coded signal; and

a transmitting device electrically coupled to said electronic control device for transmitting said coded signal to said remote receiver.

8. The remote control transmitter of claim 7 wherein said second code is selected for said coded signal if said plurality of multiple-position switches contained in said first code generating device match a predetermined pattern, and said first code is selected for said coded signal if said plurality of multiple-position switches fail to match said predetermined pattern.

9. The remote control transmitter of claim 7 wherein said second code generating device is a silicon serial identification device capable of generating a serial stream of data and electrically coupled to said electronic control device.

10. The remote control transmitter of claim 7 wherein said electronic control device is a microcontroller having a plurality of input connections, a single microcontroller input connection electrically coupled to both said first code generating device and said second code generating device, and a plurality of said microcontroller input connections electrically coupled to said first code generating device.