System for establishing a code and controlling operation of equipment

• US 4,988,992 A
• Filed: 07/27/1989
• Issued: 01/29/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Heitschel, Carl T., Reich, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Magistre, Dervis
• Application Number:
  US07/386,367
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.22, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.69, 340/825.63, 340/825.72, 358/194.1, 375/22, 455/352, 455/603, 341/176
• US Class Current: 340/12.23
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0046 randomly
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00888 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code

Abstract

A system for establishing a code and controlling operation of equipment. This system includes a first transmitter including a random code generator and a memory for storing the randomly generated code, as well as a transmitter for providing a radio frequency signal carrying that code. The system furthermore includes a transceiver including a receiver for the siganl generated by the first transmitter and a memory for storing the code carried by that signal. The transceiver includes a second transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency signal carrying the code. This system also includes a remote receiver unit for connection to the equipment to be controlled. This remote receiver unit has a receiver for the radio frequency signal transmitted by either the first transmitter or the transceiver and a memory for storing that random code carried by the signal. The remote receiver also includes a comparator for comparing a code carried by a radio frequency signal with the code stored in the memory of the remote reciever unit. The remote receiver unit also includes an actuator for causing operation of the equipment if the receiver code matches the stored code. A method of using the system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for establishing codes and controlling operation of at least two pieces of equipment, such as a garage door operating mechanism and a security device, by transmitting radio frequency signals carrying said codes, said system comprising:

a first transceiver;

a second transceiver substantially identical to said first transceiver, each said transceiver comprising;

means for randomly generating codes,

means for receiving a radio frequency signal carrying a code,

memory means having a first location for storage of a first code and a second location for storage of a second code,

means for selecting one of said locations for storage of a code,

means for selecting whether the code is to be stored in the selected location is a code from said means for randomly generating codes or is a code from said means for receiving, the last-mentioned means for selecting including means for disabling said means for randomly generating codes in response to reception of a radio frequency signal carrying a code, and

means for transmitting a radio frequency signal carrying the first code and for transmitting a radio frequency signal carrying the second code, said system further comprising;

a first receiver for positioning remote from said transceivers and for connection to one of said pieces of equipment which is a garage door operating mechanism; and

a second receiver for positioning remote from said transceivers and for connection to the other of said pieces of equipment, each said receiver comprising;

means for receiving radio frequency signals transmitted by said transceivers,

memory means storing the code of only one memory location of said first transceiver, the memory means of the other receiver storing the code of the other memory location of said first transceiver,

means for comparing a code carried by a radio frequency signal with the code stored in the last-mentioned memory means, and

means responsive to the means for comparing to cause actuation of the corresponding piece of equipment whereby the codes of the memory locations of the transceivers can be identical with either transceiver establishing the codes, either transceiver can actuate either piece of equipment, and in the event of loss of the first transceiver, the second transceiver can be used to program into the memory locations of a third transceiver the codes randomly generated by the first transceiver so that there is no need to change the codes stored in the memories of the receivers.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for transmitting of each transceiver comprises a radiating antenna, a signal encoder/modulator having an output and an input connected to its memory means, a radio frequency oscillator having an input and an output connected to said antenna, and a transmit switch for selectively causing the output of said modulator to be supplied to the input of said oscillator.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for receiving of each transceiver comprises a receiving antenna, a signal amplifier and a radio frequency detector interconnected with said antenna and said amplifier.