Factory programming of paired authorization codes in wireless transmitter and door operator

• US 9,316,038 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Wilder, Steven E., Deneen, Tom, Ikeler, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US13/944,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.22, 340/5.23, 340/5.25, 340/5.26, 340/5.61, 340/5.62, 340/5.64, 340/5.7, 340/12.5, 340/12.11, 340/12.22, 340/12.23, 340/12.24, 340/12.28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a process for pairing one or more wireless transmitters with a power head unit of a barrier opening system prior to delivering the system to the end user. In one facility, an authorization code of a wireless transmitter is received and passed to a printer that prints an encoded label with indicia corresponding to the authorization code. The so-encoded label is affixed to the wireless transmitter or its packaging or pallet. In another facility, the encoded label is thereafter scanned, and the authorization code is deciphered and stored in a database. The power head is programmed with the identical code by placing the power head into a learn mode, retrieving the deciphered authorization code from the database, and transmitting the retrieved code to the power head using a test transmitter while the power head is in the learn mode, with the power head thereafter moved out of the learn mode, thereby pairing the transmitter with the power head. The so-programmed power head and wireless transmitter are then packaged for sale and distribution to the end user of the barrier opening system.

Claims

1. A method for producing at a factory installation a garage door opening system of the type having a wireless transmitter for transmitting instructions and a garage door operator for receiving and responding to said instructions, the garage door operating including a power head unit, said method comprising:

programming an authorization code into said wireless transmitter;

retrieving the authorization code from a database;

selectively placing the power head unit into its learn mode via one or more mechanical arms pressing one or more buttons on the power head unit;

programming a code into said garage door operator at said factory installation that is identical to said authorization code, thereby pairing said wireless transmitter with said garage door operator, by directing a transmitter in the factory installation to transmit the retrieved authorization code for storage in memory in the power head unit; and

thereafter moving the power head unit out of the learn mode, and packaging said wireless transmitter with said so-programmed garage door operator after said pairing and prior to delivery of the garage door opening system for use by an end user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a wireless transmission of the authorization code from the wireless transmitter;

printing coded indicia corresponding to the authorization code on the transmitter;

scanning the coded indicia to produce a replication of the authorization code; and

storing the replication of the authorization code in a database.

3. A system in a manufacturing environment for manufacturing and programming barrier moving power head units to be controlled by signals of wireless transmitters, the system comprising:

a server having a database that stores an authorization code of a wireless transmitter;

at least one mechanical arm configured to physically press one or more buttons on a power head unit to place a power head unit into a learn mode; and

a programming device configured to retrieve the authorization code from the database of the server, via communication with the server over a network, and direct a test transmitter to transmit the authorization code while the power head unit is in the learn mode.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the programming device directs the test transmitter to stop transmitting the authorization code when the at least one of the one or more buttons are physically pressed to switch the power head unit from the learn mode to an operating mode.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the authorization code of the wireless transmitter;

a printer configured to generate a label with an indication of the authorization code, wherein the label is affixed to the wireless transmitter;

a scanner configured to scan the label affixed to the wireless transmitter; and

a computing device configured to ascertain the authorization code from a scan of the label affixed to the wireless transmitter.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the database stores a plurality of unique identification codes for a plurality of wireless transmitters, each of the unique identification codes comprising a serial number and one or more secret keys for a pair of wireless transmitters.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the test transmitter comprises a low-powered personal area network wireless transmitter capable of wirelessly transmitting the unique identification code to the power head unit.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising one or more pallets carrying the wireless transmitters to a transmitter learning station where respective authorization codes are received and transmitted to the database and corresponding labels are affixed to the wireless transmitters.

9. A method of a providing barrier moving power head unit having multiple wireless transmitters paired thereto comprising:

in a factory, prior to sale and delivery of the barrier moving power head unit to a customer;

programming a single authorization code into memories of multiple wireless transmitters;

applying a machine readable representation of the single authorization code to exteriors of the multiple wireless transmitters;

reading the single authorization code from the exteriors of the multiple wireless transmitters and storing the single authorization code in a database of a server;

retrieving the single authorization code from the database and storing the single authorization code into memory of the barrier moving power head unit; and

packaging the multiple wireless transmitters and the barrier moving power head unit in a single package, thereby enabling installation and use of the barrier moving power head unit by the customer without the customer pairing the multiple wireless transmitters to the barrier moving power head unit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein applying the machine readable representation of the single authorization code to exteriors of the multiple wireless transmitters comprises applying labels having marking indicia representing the single authorization code to the exteriors of the multiple wireless transmitters.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the marking indicia comprises alphanumeric characters and/or a barcode and/or infrared marking indicia.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein applying the machine readable representation of the single authorization code to exteriors of the multiple wireless transmitters comprises applying RFID devices having the single authorization code stored therein to the exteriors of the multiple wireless transmitters.

13. A method for producing at a factory installation a garage door opening system of the type having a wireless transmitter for transmitting instructions and a garage door operator for receiving and responding to said instructions, the garage door operating including a power head unit, said method comprising:

programming an authorization code into said wireless transmitter;

receiving a wireless transmission of the authorization code from the wireless transmitter;

printing coded indicia corresponding to the authorization code on the transmitter;

scanning the coded indicia to produce a replication of the authorization code;

storing the replication of the authorization code in a database;

retrieving the authorization code from the database;

placing the power head unit into its learn mode;

programming a code into said garage door operator at said factory installation that is identical to said authorization code, thereby pairing said wireless transmitter with said garage door operator, by directing a transmitter in the factory installation to transmit the retrieved authorization code for storage in memory in the power head unit; and

thereafter moving the power head unit out of the learn mode, and packaging said wireless transmitter with said so-programmed garage door operator after said pairing and prior to delivery of the garage door opening system for use by an end user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said power head unit is placed into said learn mode by a remotely generated wireless signal.