Vehicle accessory trainable transmitter

• US 5,479,155 A
• Filed: 06/21/1994
• Issued: 12/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zeinstra, Mark L., Dykema, Kurt A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/263,263
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.22, 340/825.71, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.31, 359/148, 341/176, 455/161.1, 455/161.2, 455/71
• US Class Current: 340/5.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/123 with thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• 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 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

A vehicle accessory includes a trainable transmitter for duplicating the signal of an existing remote control. In one embodiment, the system includes a variable frequency generator having a frequency control input and an output. In one embodiment, also, the transmitter includes a switch for selectively disabling the variable frequency generator. According to another embodiment, the transmitter is trained by adjusting the frequency of the signal output by the variable frequency generator until it matches a signal transmitted by an existing remote control for a garage door opening mechanism. According to another embodiment, a variable attenuator is controlled to adjust the magnitude of the output signal of the variable frequency generator in inverse relationship to the duty cycle of output signals therefrom.

Claims

1. A vehicle accessory including a trainable transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency control signal for remotely actuating a remotely controlled device, comprising:

a housing;

a connector connecting said housing to the interior of a vehicle in an area accessible to the vehicle operator;

a transceiver mounted in said housing for receiving signals from an existing remote control transmitter for the device, said transceiver including;

a detector inputting the signals received from the existing remote control transmitter,

a memory for storing frequency and code format information,

a variable frequency generator having a frequency control input and an output, said variable frequency generator generating a signal at said output having a frequency selected by a frequency control signal at said frequency control input,

a switch having a switch control input and an output, said output coupled to said variable frequency generator,

a controller for generating said frequency control signal and a switch control signal, said controller coupled to said memory, said controller including an input coupled to said detector, said controller including an output coupled to an input of said variable frequency generator, said controller having a switch control output coupled to said switch control input of said switch, said switch control signal including a data sequence which selectively disables said variable frequency generator; and

an output circuit connected to said output of said variable frequency generator;

wherein said output circuit responds to signals from said variable frequency generator to selectively transmit signals output from said variable frequency generator for remotely actuating a garage door opening mechanism at a carrier frequency stored in said memory and modulating data according to a code format stored in said memory, wherein said controller learns frequency and data information for at least two signalling formats of remote control signals from remote control transmitters for controlling operation of at least two different types of remote control garage door opening mechanism receivers, said controller identifying a first signalling format when a predetermined number of data transitions are detected in a first preset time interval, said controller identifying a second signalling format when a second predetermined number of data transitions are detected in a second preset time interval.

2. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 1, wherein said output circuit includes an amplitude control circuit for controlling the amplitude of said signal transmitted by said output circuit.

3. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 2, wherein said amplitude control circuit includes a variable impedance.

4. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 3, wherein said controller varies said frequency control signal in a training mode of operation to vary the output of said variable frequency generator until data is detected at said input of said controller.

5. A trainable transceiver for remotely actuating a device having an RF receiver, comprising:

a detector inputting an RF signal from an existing remote control transmitter for the device the RF signal having a carrier frequency and a data format;

a signal generator having a frequency control input and an output, said signal generator generating a signal at said output having a frequency controlled by a frequency control signal applied to said frequency control input;

an output circuit coupled to said output of said generator, said output circuit including a data controller having a data input for receiving a data control signal and selectively outputting signals according to the data control signal for remotely actuating a device, said output circuit including an amplitude control circuit having a control input for controlling the magnitude of said signal output by said output circuit; and

a control circuit having an input coupled to said detector and including output terminals coupled to said frequency control input, said data input, and to an input of said amplitude control circuit, said control circuit controlling said amplitude such that the magnitude of said signal output by said output circuit is inversely related to duty cycle of said data control signal.

6. A frequency and code trainable radio frequency transceiver for receiving training signals from an existing radio frequency remote control and for learning the frequency and code of information transmitted by the existing radio frequency remote control for subsequent transmission for actuating a remotely controlled device, said transceiver comprising:

receiving means for receiving coded radio frequency signals from an existing remote control transmitter for a device;

circuit means including a microcontroller having input means coupled to said receiving means for detecting the radio frequency and coding of received coded radio frequency signals transmitted by the existing remote control transmitter, said circuit means having output means, said circuit means responsive to detected radio frequency signals for providing a modulating output signal representative of the radio frequency and code of said coded radio frequency signals to said output means; and

an output circuit having input means coupled to said output means of said circuit means for receiving said modulating output signal, said output circuit responsive to said modulating output signal for transmitting a control signal which duplicates the frequency and code of signals transmitted by the existing remote control transmitter, said output circuit further includes a variable attenuator coupled to said input means for selectively attenuating said control signal.

7. A trainable transceiver for learning and transmitting an activation signal that includes an RF carrier frequency modulated with a code for remotely actuating a device, said trainable transmitter comprising:

a controller operable in a learning and an operating mode, said controller receiving an activation signal in said learning mode and responsive thereto for storing data corresponding to the radio frequency and code of the activation signal, said controller in said operating mode providing output data which identifies the radio frequency and code of the received activation signal and an amplitude control signal;

a signal generator coupled to said controller, for receiving said output data for outputting a modulated radio frequency carrier signal representing the received activation signal; and

an amplitude controller coupled to said signal generator and to said controller, for receiving said amplitude control signal from said controller for selectively controlling the amplitude of the modulated radio frequency carrier signal received from said signal generator at an amplitude level indicated by the amplitude control signal, and for transmitting an amplitude-controlled output signal to the device.

8. The transceiver as defined in claim 7, wherein said controller determines the amplitude level based upon signal characteristics of the received activation signal.

9. The transceiver as defined in claim 8, wherein said controller determines the amplitude level based upon the detected radio frequency carrier of the received activation signal.

10. The transceiver as defined in claim 8, wherein said controller determines the amplitude level based upon a detected pulse duration of control data provided in the received activation signal.

11. The transceiver as defined in claim 8, wherein said controller determines the amplitude level based upon both the detected radio frequency carrier of the received activation signal and a detected pulse duration of a control signal provided in the received activation signal.

12. The transceiver as defined in claim 7, wherein said amplitude controller comprises means for setting the amplitude level at one of four possible levels in response to the amplitude control data received from said controller.

13. A method using a trainable transceiver for learning and transmitting an activation signal that remotely actuates a device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an activation signal in a learning mode;

generating radio frequency control data, which indicates a detected radio frequency carrier of the received activation signal, and amplitude control data, which indicates an amplitude level;

generating an output signal having a radio frequency carrier corresponding to that of the received activation signal;

selectively controlling the amplitude of the output signal at the amplitude level indicated by the amplitude control data; and

transmitting the amplitude-controlled output signal to the device.

14. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising the step of:

determining the amplitude level based upon characteristics of the received activation signal.

15. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising the step of:

determining the amplitude level based upon the detected radio frequency carrier of the received activation signal.

16. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising the step of:

determining the amplitude level based upon a detected pulse duration of control data provided in the received activation signal.

17. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising the step of:

determining the amplitude level based upon both the detected radio frequency carrier of the received activation signal and a detected pulse duration of a control signal provided in the received activation signal.

18. A frequency and code trainable radio frequency transceiver for receiving training signals from an existing radio frequency remote control and for learning the frequency and code of information transmitted by the existing radio frequency remote control for subsequent transmission for actuating a remotely controlled device, said transceiver comprising:

receiving means for receiving coded radio frequency signals from an existing remote control transmitter for a device;

circuit means having input means coupled to said receiving means for detecting the radio frequency and coding of received coded radio frequency signals transmitted by the existing remote control transmitter, said circuit means having output means, said circuit means responsive to detected radio frequency signals for providing a modulating output signal representative of the radio frequency and code of said coded radio frequency signals to said output means; and

an output circuit having input means coupled to said output means of said circuit means for receiving said modulating output signal, said output circuit responsive to said modulating output signal for transmitting a control signal which duplicates the frequency and code of signals transmitted by the existing remote control transmitter, said output circuit further including an amplitude controller coupled to said input means for selectively varying the amplitude of said control signal.