Operator for a movable barrier and method of use

• US 6,963,267 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corporation (HRH Door Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corporation (HRH Door Corp.)
• Inventors: Murray, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): AU, SCOTT D
• Application Number:
  US10/098,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20030174044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.7, 340/5.23, 340/5.25, 340/5.26, 340/5.71, 340/5.28, 340/825.69
• US Class Current: 340/5.7
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/24 consisting of parts connected at their edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A modifiable transmitter is used with an operator to control a position of a barrier. The operator includes a controller for comparing radio frequency transmissions received with stored serial numbers so that the controller can move the barrier when a radio frequency transmission matches any one of the stored serial numbers. The transmitter includes a housing that carries an encoder. A function button is carried by the housing, wherein actuation of the button generates in a non-standard way a new serial number that can be learned by the controller to allow the modifiable transmitter to move the barrier by emitting the radio frequency transmission. A restricted access may also be activated to generate a new serial number.

Claims

1. An operator for controlling a position of a barrier, comprising:

at least one radio frequency transmitter having a predetermined serial number for radio frequency transmitting a radio frequency transmission corresponding to the transmitter, wherein said predetermined serial number remains the same in said radio frequency transmissions;

a radio frequency receiver adapted to receive a first radio frequency transmission from a first radio frequency transmitter and adapted to receive a second radio frequency transmission from a second radio frequency transmitter having a second serial number, said radio frequency receiver receiving said serial numbers that remain the same when in an operate mode;

a memory comprising a plurality of storage locations; and

a controller having a controller controlled serial number location pointer and responsive to the reception by said radio frequency receiver of said first-mentioned radio frequency transmission for storing a first serial number corresponding to said first radio frequency transmitter in one of said plurality of storage locations derived from the controller serial number location pointer, the controller responsive to the reception by said radio frequency receiver of said second radio frequency transmission for storing a second serial number corresponding to said second radio frequency transmitter in another of said plurality of storage locations derived from the controller serial number location pointer, and said controller responsive to said operate mode and the reception of said first-mentioned radio frequency transmission after the storage of said first stored serial number for moving the barrier and said controller responsive to said operate mode and the reception of said second radio frequency transmission after the storage of said second stored serial number for moving baffler, and said controller responsive to a learn mode wherein said radio frequency receiver is adapted to receive new radio frequency transmissions from said radio frequency transmitter which has a new user-changeable serial number changed by the user from said predetermined serial number, said new user-changeable serial number remaining the same when subsequently transmitting said radio frequency transmissions in said operate mode.

2. The operator according to claim 1, wherein said controller serial number location pointer comprises a software controlled code location pointer.

3. The operator according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a microprocessor.

4. An operator for controlling a position of a barrier comprising:

at least one radio frequency transmitter having a predetermined serial number for radio frequency transmitting a radio frequency transmission corresponding to the transmitter, wherein said predetermined serial number always remain the same in said radio frequency transmissions while other portions of said radio frequency transmissions may change;

a radio frequency receiver adapted to receive a first radio frequency transmission from a first radio frequency transmitter and adapted to receive a second radio frequency transmission from a second radio frequency transmitter having a second serial number, said radio frequency receiver receiving said serial number that always remain the same when in an operate mode;

a memory comprising a plurality of storage locations; and

a controller connected to said radio frequency receiver, wherein said controller in said operate mode compares any radio frequency transmissions received with learned serial numbers stored in said plurality of storage locations, wherein said controller in said operate mode enables movement of the barrier when any one of said radio frequency transmissions matches any one of said learned serial numbers stored in said plurality of storage locations, and said controller responsive to a learn mode wherein said radio frequency receiver is adapted to receive new radio frequency transmissions which have a new user-changeable serial number changed from said predetermined serial number by the user from one of said first and second radio frequency transmitters, said new user-changeable serial number always remaining the same when said radio frequency transmitters transmit in said operate mode.

5. The operator according to claim 4, wherein said at least one radio frequency transmitter comprises:

a function button that when actuated in a first way performs a predetermined function and generates said radio frequency transmission which always includes said predetermined serial number that remains the same and wherein said function button when actuated in a second way changes said predetermined serial number to said new user-changeable serial number which is included in said radio frequency transmission when said function button is subsequently actuated in said first way.

6. The operator according to claim 5, wherein said radio frequency transmitter includes an encoder which is initially programmed with a manufacturer'"'"'s key and said predetermined serial number, wherein actuation of said function button in said second way causes said encoder to encrypt said predetermined serial number with said manufacturer'"'"'s key to generate said new user-changeable serial number.

7. The operator according to claim 6, wherein said encoder encrypts said new user-changeable serial number with said manufacturer'"'"'s key to generate a new encryption key.

8. The operator according to claim 5, wherein said processor is placed in a learn mode prior to storing said new user-changeable serial number.