Universal barrier operator transmitter

• US 6,975,203 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James J., Laird, Edward T., Brookbank, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): YANG, CLARA I
• Application Number:
  US10/164,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20030227370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.26, 340/5.7, 340/5.71, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 49/17, 49/25, 49/26
• US Class Current: 340/5.26
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/80 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00253 dynamically, e.g. variable code - rolling code
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed

Abstract

In a multiple barrier movement operator environment, one switch module for controlling all of the barrier movement operators. The switch module may be wall mounted for convenience and communicates with the barrier operator either wirelessly or through a wired interface. The switch module controls and operates movement of any barrier singly while controlling the operation of the overhead lights and response inhibit modes of all the barrier operators. A stop button also maybe provided to enable all the barrier operators to discontinue movement of their respective barriers.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a plurality of barrier movement operators, comprising:

a plurality of barrier operators, each comprising a source of motor powering voltage, a motor and a controller responsive to barrier control signals for connecting the motor powering voltage to the motor for controlling the position of a respective barrier;

a wall control unit responsive to user interaction for transmitting to the plurality of controllers, a plurality of barrier control signals comprising a first control signal for directing barrier position control by one of said barrier operators and a second control signal for directing barrier control by more than one of the barrier operators and the controllers of the barrier operators respond to the first and second control signals by selectively connecting motor powering voltage to the associated motor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second barrier control signals comprise radio frequency transmissions.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second barrier control signals comprise coded signals.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each barrier operator comprises a controller for learning coded signals.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the coded signals comprise rolling code signals.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each barrier operator comprises a controller for learning rolling code signals.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller includes an operating mode for recognizing previously learned rolling code signals.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wall control unit transmits the barrier control signals over a wired connection between the wall control unit and the barrier operator.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wall control unit includes a signal decoder to determine the identity of the barrier operator intended to receive the barrier control signal and for routing the control signal to the determined barrier operator.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the wall control unit comprises a switch module controller for routing each barrier control signal to the ones of the plurality of barrier operators for which the barrier control signal is intended.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a passive infrared detector for detecting movement within a predetermined area.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the passive detector communicates wirelessly with one or more of the barrier operators.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein an overhead light is illuminated upon the passive infrared detector identifying movement.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the wall control unit at least two buttons that when pressed substantially simultaneously activate additional functions of one or more barrier operators.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein an additional function is illumination of an overhead light.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein an additional function is activation of response inhibit mode.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the additional function is activation of a learn mode by one or more barrier operators.

18. The system of claim 17, more than one barrier controller updates a learned rolling code in response to signal transmitted from the wall control unit.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein in a rolling code system, the wall control responds to the pressing of two buttons that substantially simultaneously transmits two signals indicative of the identities of the buttons without the roll code.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the wall control unit further comprises a universal stop button for directing the controllers of all of the barrier movement operators to cease movement of their respective barriers.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising a handheld transmitter for controlling barrier movement operation.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second barrier control signals comprise wireless signals encoded as rolling code signals and the controllers of all barrier operators respond to all barrier control signals by updating a rolling code comparison value regardless of whether or not they control barrier position in response to the barrier control signal.