External barrier operator device

• US 7,884,701 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2006
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gallen Ka Leung Tsui, Philip Y.W. Tsui
• Original Assignee: Gallen Ka Leung Tsui, Philip Y.W. Tsui
• Inventors: Tsui, Philip Y. W., Tsui, Gallen Ka Leung
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bee; Andrew
• Application Number:
  US11/523,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20070063815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.71, 340/310.11
• US Class Current: 340/5.71
• 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 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

A receiver is adapted to receive one or more wireless signals, while also being able to provide a barrier actuation signal to a barrier operator over a signaling line. The barrier operator may then be adapted to actuate a barrier in response to receiving the barrier actuation signal. The signaling line is further used to provide power from the barrier operator to the receiver. In one embodiment, the barrier operator is a garage door opener and the signaling line is coupled to the receiver and a garage door wall button. Alternatively, the receiver may replace the garage door wall button of the barrier operator.

Claims

1. A receiver adapted to receive one or more wireless signals, wherein said receiver is further to provide a barrier actuation signal to a barrier operator over a signaling line,

said barrier operator being adapted to actuate a barrier in response to the barrier actuation signal, and wherein said signaling line is further to provide a DC power from said barrier operator to the receiver, the receiver comprising

a relay switch that, when activated, causes the barrier actuation signal to be transmitted over the signaling line;

a capacitor to discharge a voltage for powering said relay switch, and

a regulator coupled between said relay switch and said capacitor, the regulator to regulate the DC power supplied by said barrier operator through the signaling line.

2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the barrier operator is a garage door opener and the signaling line is coupled to said receiver and a garage door wall button.

3. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the barrier operator is a garage door opener and the receiver is to replace a garage door wall button of the barrier operator.

4. The receiver of claim 1, comprising a receiving circuit, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes instruction sequences to cause the processor to provide said barrier actuation signal over the signaling line in response to receiving a valid wireless activation signal using said receiving circuit.

5. The receiver of claim 4, wherein said barrier activation signal is a short circuit detectable by said barrier operator.

6. The receiver of claim 1, comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes instruction sequences to cause the processor to:

determine a type of received wireless signal;

determine a position of the barrier if the type of received wireless signal is from a remote control device; and

provide said barrier actuation signal to the barrier operator to change said position of the barrier.

7. The receiver of claim 6, wherein said type of received wireless signal includes one or more of a remote control signal, a barrier sensor signal and a carbon monoxide detector signal.

8. The receiver of claim 1, wherein said receiver is a transceiver that further includes a transmitter circuit for transmitting one or more wireless signals to a remote receiver.

9. The receiver of claim 8, wherein said barrier operator is further to provide barrier information to said transmitter over said signaling line, and wherein said transmitter circuit is then to transmit said barrier information to the remote receiver.

10. The receiver of claim 1, wherein said receiver is to detect a voltage drop in said signaling line indicating that said barrier operator is actuating said barrier.

11. A transmitter adapted to transmit wireless signals based on barrier operator signals received from a barrier operator over a signaling line that connects the transmitter to the barrier operator and provide a barrier actuation signal to the barrier operator over the signaling line, and wherein said signaling line is further to provide a DC power from said barrier operator to the transmitter,

the transmitter comprising a relay switch that, when activated, causes the barrier actuation signal to be transmitted over the signaling line;

a capacitor to discharge a voltage for powering said relay switch, and

a regulator coupled between said relay switch and said capacitor, the regulator to regulate the DC power supplied by said barrier operator through the signaling line.

12. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein the barrier operator is a garage door opener and the signaling line is coupled to said transmitter and a garage door wall button.

13. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein the barrier operator is a garage door opener and the transmitter is to replace, at least in part, a garage door wall button of the barrier operator.

14. The transmitter of claim 11, where the barrier operator signals include barrier position information.

15. The transmitter of claim 11, further including a wireless receiver circuit for receiving a wireless actuation signal from a remote device.

16. The transmitter of claim 15, wherein, in response to receiving said wireless actuation signal, the transmitter provides a barrier actuation signal to the barrier operator over the signaling line.

17. The transmitter of claim 16, wherein said barrier activation signal is a short circuit detectable by said barrier operator.

18. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein said barrier operator signals comprises a voltage drop in said signaling line indicating that said barrier operator is actuating a barrier.

19. A system comprising:

receiver adapted to receive one or more wireless signals, and

barrier operator adapted to actuate a barrier in response to a barrier actuation signal received from the receiver over the signaling line, and wherein said signaling line is further to provide a DC power from said barrier operator to the receiver, the receiver comprising

a relay switch that, when activated, causes the barrier actuation signal to be transmitted over the signaling line;

a capacitor to discharge a voltage for powering said relay switch, and

a regulator coupled between said relay switch and said capacitor, the regulator to regulate the DC power supplied by said barrier operator through the signaling line.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the barrier operator is a garage door opener and the signaling line is coupled to said receiver and a garage door wall button.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the barrier operator is a garage door opener and the receiver is to replace a garage door wall button of the barrier operator.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the receiver includes a receiving circuit, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes instruction sequences to cause the processor to provide said barrier actuation signal over the signaling line in response to receiving a valid wireless activation signal using said receiving circuit.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said barrier activation signal is a short circuit detectable by said barrier operator.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the receiver comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes instruction sequences to cause the processor to:

determine a type of received wireless signal;

determine a position of the barrier if the type of received wireless signal is from a remote control device; and

provide said barrier actuation signal to the barrier operator to change said position of the barrier.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said type of received wireless signal includes one or more of a remote control signal, a barrier sensor signal and a carbon monoxide detector signal.

26. The system of claim 19, further comprising a transmitter circuit coupled to the barrier operator for transmitting one or more wireless signals to a remote receiver.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein said barrier operator is further to provide barrier information to said transmitter over said signaling line, and wherein said transmitter circuit is then to transmit said barrier information to the remote receiver.

28. A system comprising:

receiver adapted to receive incoming wireless signals;

transmitter adapted to transmit outgoing wireless signals;

barrier operator coupled to said receiver and transmitter by a signaling line, said barrier operator adapted to actuate a barrier in response to a barrier actuation signal received from the receiver over the signaling line, and wherein said signaling line is further to provide a DC power from said barrier operator to said receiver and said transmitter, wherein at least one of the receiver and transmitter comprises

a relay switch that, when activated, causes the barrier actuation signal to be transmitted over the signaling line;

a capacitor to discharge a voltage for powering said relay switch; and

a regulator coupled between said relay switch and said capacitor, the regulator to regulate power supplied by said barrier operator through the signaling line.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the barrier operator is a garage door opener and the receiver and transmitter replace a garage door wall button of the barrier operator.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the receiver includes a receiving circuit, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes instruction sequences to cause the processor to provide said barrier actuation signal over the signaling line in response to receiving a valid wireless activation signal using said receiving circuit.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein said barrier activation signal is a short circuit detectable by said barrier operator.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the receiver comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes instruction sequences to cause the processor to:

determine a type of incoming wireless signal;

determine a position of the barrier if the type of incoming wireless signal is from a remote control device; and

provide said barrier actuation signal to the barrier operator to change said position of the barrier.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said type of incoming wireless signal includes one or more of a remote control signal, a barrier sensor signal and a carbon monoxide detector signal.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein said outgoing wireless signals are based on barrier operator signals received from the barrier operator over the signaling line.

35. The system of claim 34, where the barrier operator signals include one or more of barrier position information and a voltage drop in said signaling line indicating that said barrier operator is actuating the barrier.