Multi-frequency security code transmission and reception

• US 7,589,615 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chamblerlain Group LLC, The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Markwart, Robert C., Johnson, Keith, Keller, Robert R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Vernal U
• Application Number:
  US10/994,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20060109078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,758 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.71, 340/5.64, 340/5.6, 340/5.7, 340/5.61, 340/5.1
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 Password, biometric

Abstract

A system is disclosed including a transmitter and receiver for the communication of security codes which may be validated at the receiver to operate equipment. In one embodiment, the transmitter transmits a security code at two frequencies contemporaneously to the receiver which may receive both frequencies and resolve the security code therefrom. The receiver may lock onto one frequency to the exclusion of the other frequency when parts of a security code are detected. In another embodiment, the transmitter selectively transmits security codes at a default frequency which is selected because of a recorded count of prior apparent successful transmission.

Claims

1. A security code transmission system comprising:

a transmitter comprising;

a source of a security code;

rf transmission apparatus capable of transmitting at at least a first preset rf frequency and at least a second preset rf frequency; and

control apparatus which obtains a security code from the source and controls the rf transmission apparatus to contemporaneously transmit portions of the obtained security code at both the at least the first and the second preset rf frequencies; and

a barrier movement operator comprising;

a receiving apparatus configured to select a signal from at least two signals being transmitted at the at least two different rf frequencies, the receiving apparatus including

an antenna circuit for receiving the transmitted security code from the transmitter;

a receiver configured to receive at the preset frequencies and which receiver receives the transmitted security code at the preset frequencies from the antenna circuit; and

a controller which is operably coupled to the receiver, the controller configured to survey for the presence of the security code at the preset frequencies from the transmission apparatus,

the receiving apparatus connected to the antenna circuit for receiving and validating the security code transmitted at the at least the first preset rf frequency and second preset rf frequency, the receiving apparatus being configured to select one of the first preset rf frequency and the second preset rf frequency based upon the reception of only a portion of the security code at either of the at least the first and second preset rf frequencies, the receiving apparatus being further configured to continue to detect a remaining portion of the security code at the selected one of the at least first and second preset rf frequencies as a default frequency to the exclusion of the other frequency for at least a complete reception of the security code and for a time thereafter.

2. A system, according to claim 1 wherein the security code is repetitively transmitted at both the first rf frequency and the second rf frequency.

3. A system, according to claim 1 wherein the rf transmission apparatus comprises first transmission circuitry for transmitting at the first rf frequency and second transmission circuitry for transmitting at the second rf frequency.

4. A system, according to claim 1 where each security code comprises a plurality of security code portions and the transmission apparatus transmits security code portions in a sequence.

5. A system in accordance with claim 4 wherein the sequence of security code portions are repetitively transmitted at both the first rf frequency and the second rf frequency.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transmission apparatus transmits portions of a security code at both the first and the second rf frequencies by transmitting a sequence of security code portions each separated by a non-transmission interval.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein a time duration of transmitting a code portion is less than a time interval of non-transmission.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transmission apparatus comprises a first transmission circuit tuned to transmit a the first rf frequency and a second transmission circuit tuned to transmit at the second rf frequency.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transmission apparatus comprises a controllable transmission circuit adaptable in response to the control apparatus for selectively transmitting at the first rf frequency and the second rf frequency.

10. A security code receiving apparatus comprising:

an antenna circuit configured to receive contemporaneously rf transmitted signals representing a security code;

a receiver connected to the antenna circuitry, the receiver configured to receive the contemporaneously transmitted signals at at least a first preset rf frequency and at least a second preset rf frequency; and

a controller connected to the receiver, the controller configured to survey for the presence of the signals representing the security code at the preset frequencies and to select one of the first and the second preset ref frequencies based upon the reception of only a portion of the security code at either of the first and the second preset rf frequencies, the receiver configured to continue to detect the security code at the selected preset frequency as a default frequency to the exclusion of the other preset frequency for at least the complete reception of the security code at the selected preset frequency and for a time thereafter to provide access to a secured area.

11. A security code receiver according to claim 10 wherein the controller alternately surveys for reception of security codes on the first and the second frequency.

12. A security code receiver according to claim 11 wherein the controller terminates alternately surveying when the presence of a security code is received at one of the first or second frequencies.

13. A barrier movement operator comprising:

an antenna circuit which receives rf transmitted signals representative of a security code, the signals contemporaneously transmitted at least at a first defined rf frequency and at least a second defined rf frequency, the frequencies defined for transmission and receipt by a receiver prior to the broadcast thereof; and

a receiving apparatus which includes

the receiver which receives the contemporaneously transmitted security code from the antenna circuit; and

a controller which is operably coupled to the receiver,

the receiving apparatus connected to the antenna circuit, the receiving apparatus configured to identify the defined first and second rf frequencies, to receive the defined first and second rf frequencies and to validate the security code transmitted at the at least the first rf frequency and second rf frequencies, the controller configured to select one of the first and the second rf frequencies based upon the reception of only a portion of the security codes at either of the first and the second rf frequencies, the receiver configured to continue to detect security codes at the selected frequency as a default frequency to the exclusion of the other frequency for at least the complete reception of the security code at the selected frequency and for a time thereafter to provide access to a secured area.

14. A barrier movement operator according to claim 13 wherein the controller alternately surveys for reception of security codes on the first and the second frequency.

15. A barrier movement operator according to claim 14 wherein the controller terminates alternately surveying when the presence of a security code is received at one of the first or second frequencies.