Miniature remote control system

• US 6,661,350 B1
• Filed: 09/24/1999
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Creative Commands Corp.
• Original Assignee: Creative Commands Corp.
• Inventors: Nourrcier, Charles E., Rohrberg, Timothy K., Rohrberg, Roderick G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/419,058
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/539, 340/539.1
• US Class Current: 340/12.28
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/02 in which the signal transmitted is magnitude of current or voltage G08C19/36, G08C19/38 take precedence

Abstract

A Miniature Remote Control System (10) that overcomes the problems encountered by previous remote control devices is disclosed. The present invention uses a remote emitter (12) which integrates a radio transmitter circuit (60) in a small housing (34) that plugs into an existing lighter receptacle (28) in a vehicle (V). When pushed down, the remote emitter (12) transmits a coded serial pulse train (16) to a remote receiver (14) up to 200 feet away. The pulse train (16) has a unique code (20) (one of 19,683) on a 380 MHz carrier frequency. The remote receiver (14) processes the pulse train (16), and extracts the serial transmitter code (20). The transmitter code (20) is then compared to the preset receiver code (22), and, if a match is found, a relay (104) is triggered. When activated, the relay (104) can be used to operate external devices (ED), including garage doors (GD), security gates (SG), burglar alarms (SA), exterior lights (EL) or interior lights (IL).

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

activating an emitter (12);

said emitter being mounted in a cigarette lighter receptacle (28) mounted in a vehicle (V) having an on-board power source (BAT);

generating a carrier signal (16) when said emitter (12) is activated;

said carrier signal having an embedded predetermined transmission code (20); and

sensing said carrier signal (16) generated by said emitter (12) using a receiver (14);

said receiver (14) being coupled to an external device (ED) which is activated when said carrier signal having an embedded predetermined transmission code is sensed;

said emitter includes a micro-controller, said micro-controller being programmable using input voltage and ALOHA protocol software;

said emitter also having a voice recognition circuit for providing voice recognition operation;

said emitter including a molded housing;

said emitter including a switch contact ring which is encapsulated and formed integrally in said molded housing;

said emitter further including an antenna;

said antenna being energized when said switch contact ring is engaged;

said adapter being capable of coupling a secondary accessory to said emitter.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, in which said receiver is programmed with special visitor codes.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which said emitter is coded using an ALOHA random access technique which allows multiple users to operate simultaneously on the same frequency.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, in which said emitter further includes a programming button, and said emitter is programmed with a new code by simultaneously depressing said programming button and said switch.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, in which said emitter is cleared of programming by turning power on while said programming button is pressed.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, in which said emitter further includes a random code generator is used to select an emitter code.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, in which said emitter code is selected when said emitter is turned on.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, in which said emitter and said receiver are not a matched pair and do not require setting of DIP switches.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, in which said emitter is encoded on emitter power supply leads so unique codes can be downloaded without adding additional cost or complexity to said emitter.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, in which said emitter is encoded using a universal programing box that the user can plug into said emitter.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which said external device is a garage door opener.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which said secondary accessory is a cellular phone.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, in which said receiver is used to control traffic in a gated community.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, in which said receiver is a multi-channel receiver which is programmed with authorization codes of members of said gated community.