Operator for a movable barrier and method of use

• US 20030174044A1
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corporation (HRH Door Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corporation (HRH Door Corp.)
• Inventors: Murray, James S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,963,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.25
• 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 user-changeable serial number for radio frequency transmitting a radio frequency transmission corresponding to the transmitter;

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 user-changeable serial number;

a memory comprising a plurality of storage locations;

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 stored serial number corresponding to the first-mentioned 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 receiver of said second radio frequency transmission for storing a second stored serial number corresponding to the second radio frequency transmitter in another of said plurality of storage locations derived from the controller serial number location pointer, and the controller responsive to an 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 responsive to said operate serial number and to the reception of said second radio frequency transmission after the storage of said first and said second stored serial number for moving said barrier.

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 user-changeable serial number for radio frequency transmitting a radio frequency transmission corresponding to the transmitter;

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 user-changeable serial number;

a memory comprising a plurality of storage locations; and

a controller connected to said radio frequency receiver, said controller comparing any radio frequency transmissions received with learned serial numbers stored in said plurality of storage locations, wherein said controller 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.

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 when actuated in a second way changes said user-changeable serial number.

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 a current serial number, wherein actuation of said function button in said second way causes said encoder to encrypt said current serial number with said manufacturer'"'"'s key to generate said new serial number.

7. The operator according to claim 6, wherein said encoder encrypts said new 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 user-changeable serial number.

9. A modifiable transmitter used with an operator capable of controlling a position of a barrier, wherein the operator includes a controller for comparing radio frequency transmissions received with stored serial numbers so that the controller enables movement of the barrier when a radio frequency transmission matches any one of the stored serial numbers, the transmitter comprising:

a housing;

an encoder carried by said housing; and

a function button carried by said housing wherein actuation of said function button causes said encoder to generate 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.

10. The modifiable transmitter according to claim 9, wherein said function button is actuable in a way other than typical for said function button'"'"'s normal function to generate said new serial number.

11. The modifiable transmitter according to claim 10, wherein said encoder is initially programmed with a manufacturer'"'"'s key and a current serial number, wherein said current serial number is encrypted with a manufacturer'"'"'s key upon actuation of said function button to generate said new serial number, and wherein said encoder encrypts said new serial number with said manufacturer'"'"'s key to generate a new encryption key.

12. The modifiable transmitter according to claim 9, wherein said function button is carried inside said housing and is only accessible by opening said housing.

13. A method for generating and learning a new transmitter serial number for use with an operator capable of moving a barrier, comprising:

providing in the operator a controller with a receiver capable of receiving radio frequency transmissions;

providing a memory device connected to said controller, said memory device capable of having serial number based codes stored therein;

providing a transmitter housing which carries therein at least an encoder capable of emitting radio frequency transmissions, and at least one function button for actuating said encoder; and

generating a new serial number that can be transmitted by said encoder upon actuation of said at least one function button.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said generating step comprises;

depressing and holding said at least one function button for a first predetermined period of time, and performing a designated function if said button is released prior to expiration of said first predetermined period.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said generating step further comprises;

releasing said at least one function button after said first predetermine time period has expired.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said generating step further comprises:

depressing and holding said at least one function button for a second predetermined period of time, wherein said at least one function button must be depressed within a third predetermined period of time from when said at least one function button was released; and

aborting generation of said new serial number if said at least one function button is not released after said first predetermined time period has expired.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said generating step further comprises:

releasing said at least one function button after expiration of said second period of time; and

aborting generation of said new serial number of said at least one function button is released prior to expiration of said second period of time.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said generating step further comprises:

aborting generation of said new serial number if said at least one function button is not released after expiration of said second period of time.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

activating a stimulus to indicate expiration of said first or second time periods.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein said generating step comprises;

encrypting a current serial number with a manufacturer'"'"'s key to create said new serial number; and

encrypting said new serial number with said manufacturer'"'"'s key to create a new encryption key.

21. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

placing said controller in a learn mode;

actuating said encoder to transmit said new serial number to said controller for learning said new serial number so that the operator moves the barrier upon receipt of said new serial number when said controller is not in said learn mode.

22. The method according to claim 13, wherein said generating step comprises:

actuating said at least one function button in a non-standard way.

23. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

opening said housing to gain access to said at least one function button.