Multiple transmission channel group transmitter

• US 5,712,638 A
• Filed: 05/26/1995
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Directed, LLC (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DEI Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Issa, Darrell
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/451,855
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 341/176, 341/23, 341/20, 341/173, 340/825.72, 340/825.22, 340/425.15, 340/825.03, 348/734
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1013 Alarm systems characterised by the type of warning signal, e.g. visual, audible
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1018 Alarm systems characterised by features related to the general power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00238 the transmittted data signal containing a code which is changed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/003 Address allocation methods and details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 by updating and storing reference thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 13/0074 Code shifting or hopping

Abstract

A remote control transmitter comprising at least one transmission channel for transmitting a code word to a system controller and for operating system operational functions controllable thereby; a plurality of transmission channel groups, each group having at least one transmission channel therein; at least one switch for activation of the transmitter, said switch having an operational mode and a standby mode; means for transmitting the code word to the controller and activated upon transition of the switch from the operational mode to the standby mode; and, using the same switch or switches both for selecting the channel group and for transmitting channel commands.

Claims

1. A miniature, remote control transmitter for control of an antitheft auto security device, comprising:

a) a miniature remote control transmitter having at least one switch and at least one transmission channel for transmission of commands to an antitheft auto security device;

b) a plurality of transmission channel group, programmed in said transmitter, each said channel group having at least one said transmission channel therein;

c) said switch having at least two functions;

p2 (i) first said function comprising transmission of said transmission channel to said antitheft device, only upon transition of said switch from a standby mode to an operational mode and back to said standby mode, and p2 (ii) second said function comprising selection of one of said plurality of transmission channel groups programmed in said transmitter, only upon transition of said switch from said standby mode to said operational mode for a predetermined amount of time.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said transmitter further comprises an RF emitter, an encoder and a memory for storing said transmission channel groups and transmission channels.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein each said transmission channel within each said transmission channel GROUP further comprises a unique security code.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said transmission channel further includes a channel identification code.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said security code is unique for each said transmission channel group.

6. The device of claim 1 further including a security code within each said transmission channel, wherein said security code is unique for each said transmission channel of each said transmission channel group.

7. The device of claim 2 further including a security code assigned to each said transmission channel group.

8. The device of claim 1 further including means for selecting said transmission channel group and said transmission channel therein.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said means for selecting said transmission channel group comprises said first switch for entering into a selection mode when said fist switch is placed in said operational mode for said predetermined amount of time and a second switch for selecting one of said transmission channel groups while the unit is in said selection mode.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said first transmitter switch has at least two functions:

(i) first said function comprising transmission of said transmission channel to said antitheft device, only upon transition of said switch from a standby mode to an operational mode and back to said standby mode, and

(ii) second said function comprising selection of one of said plurality of transmission channel groups within said transmitter, only upon transition of said switch from said standby mode to said operational mode for a predetermined amount of time.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said switch is usable for selecting said transmission channel group and for selecting said transmission channel.

12. A method of controlling at least one antitheft auto security device through a miniaturized remote control transmitter having at least one switch usable both for the selection of channel groups and transmission channels therein, comprising the steps of:

a) placing a miniature remote control transmitter into a selection mode and selecting a transmission channel group, having at least one transmission channel therein, by transitioning at least one switch in said transmitter from a standby mode to an operational mode for a predetermined amount of time;

b) selecting a transmission channel group by transitioning said switch from said standby mode to said operational mode while said transmitter is in said selection mode;

c) exiting said selection mode by not operating said switches for a predetermined period of time;

d) transmitting said transmission channel, within a selected transmission channel group, only by transitioning said switch from said standby mode to said operational mode to said standby mode.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of selecting said transmission channel is completed only upon transitioning said switch, used to select said transmission channel group, from said standby mode to said operational mode to said standby mode.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of selecting said transmission channel group includes the step of transitioning said switch from said standby mode to said operational mode to said standby mode until the desired channel group is selected.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said transmission channel includes a security code therein.

16. The method of claim 15 further including the step of assigning a unique security code for each said transmission channel group.

17. The method of claim 15 further including the step of assigning the same security code for each said transmission channel within each said transmission channel group.

18. A method for controlling at least one auto security device, each having a controller therein and a different security code therefor, with one miniaturized, remote control transmitter, comprising the steps of:

a) programming a remote transmitter with unique security codes for operation of n controllers;

b) programming each said controller with at least one of said n security codes;

c) placing said transmitter, having at least one switch therein, into a selection mode by transitioning a first switch from a standby mode to an operational mode for a predetermined amount of time;

d) selecting one of n transmission channel groups, while said transmitter is in said selection mode, by transitioning said first switch from said standby mode to said operational mode to said standby mode n times;

e) exiting said selection mode by waiting a predetermined amount of time without transitioning any said switches;

f) transmitting a transmission channel, within said selected transmission channel group, to said controller by transitioning said first switch from said standby mode to said operational mode to said standby mode, said transmission channel activating controller operational functions.

19. The method of claim 18 further including the step of selecting said transmission channels by transitioning said transmitter switches from said standby mode to said operating mode to said standby mode.

20. The method of claim 18 further including the step of selecting said transmission channel group by transitioning a second switch from said standby mode to said operational mode to said standby mode.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said transmission channel includes a security code.

22. The method of claim 18 further including the step of assigning a the same security code for each said transmission channel within each said transmission channel group.

23. A method of selecting at least one transmission channel group and at least one transmission channel therein, in a vehicular anti theft device, controllable by a miniaturized remote control transmitter, with a plurality of switches each usable for selecting channel groups and transmission channels therein, comprising the steps of:

a) placing a miniature remote control transmitter into a selection mode and selecting a transmission channel group, having at least one transmission channel therein, by transitioning a first transmitter switch from a standby mode to an operational mode for a predetermined amount of time;

b) selecting one of n transmission channel groups, while said transmitter is in said selection mode, by transitioning said first transmitter switch from said standby mode to said operational mode to said standby mode;

c) exiting said selecting mode by not operating said switches for a predetermined amount of time without transitioning any said transmitter switches; and

d) transmitting said transmission channel within a selected transmission channel group, only by transitioning at least one said transmitter switch from said standby mode to said operational mode to said standby mode, said transmission channel activating operational functions of an antitheft auto security device.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of selecting said transmission channel includes using at least one additional transmitter switch either alone or together with said first transmitter switch, to select said transmission channel group, by transitioning said transmitter switches from said standby mode to said operational mode to said standby mode.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of selecting said transmission channel includes transitioning said switches in combination.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of selecting said transmission channel group includes the step of selecting a desired transmission channel group by transitioning a second transmitter switch times from said standby mode to said operational mode and exiting said selection mode by transitioning said first transmitter switch from said operational mode to said standby mode after said desired channel group is selected.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein said transmission channel includes a security code therein.

28. The method of claim 27 further including the step of assigning a unique security code for each said transmission channel group.

29. The method of claim 27 further including the step of assigning the same security code for each said transmission channel within each said transmission channel group.