Passive garage door operator system

• US 6,002,332 A
• Filed: 06/17/1998
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Incorporated (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: King, Joseph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US09/098,441
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340/933, 340/941, 340/935, 340/938, 340/988, 340/991, 340/567, 340/545.1, 340/551
• US Class Current: 340/545.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/76 responsive to devices carried by persons or objects, e.g. magnets or reflectors E05F15/77 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00365 in combination with a wake-up circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A passive remote garage door operator system including a magnetic field sensor which detects a magnet having a flux density and a transmitter that sends a coded security signal to activate a garage door. A controller determines whether the magnet field sensor detects the magnet from a first direction or a second direction and activates the position of the garage door. The magnetic field sensor is preferably affixed to the underside of a vehicle and the magnets are embedded in a driveway leading to the garage. The system thereby automatically opens a garage door based upon the approach of a vehicle and closes automatically based upon the exit of the vehicle without any intervention by the human vehicle operator.

Claims

1. A wireless transmitter system for activating from a vehicle a device associated with the security of a dwelling while the vehicle is remote from the dwelling, the system comprising:

a magnetic field sensor for detecting a magnet having a flux density in the path of the vehicle when it is proximate to the dwelling; and

a transmitter responsive to the detection of said flux density for sending a coded security signal that activates the device without intervention by an occupant of the vehicle.

2. The wireless transmitter system of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field sensor detects a magnet embedded in a driveway associated with the dwelling.

3. The wireless transmitter system of claim 2, wherein said magnetic field sensor is affixed to the underside of the vehicle.

4. The wireless transmitter system of claim 1, further comprising a controller for determining a direction of the vehicle travel relative to said magnet based upon detection thereof by said magnetic field sensor.

5. The wireless transmitter system of claim 4, wherein said controller determines whether said magnet field sensor detects said magnet from a first direction or a second direction, said transmitter sending a first coded security signal based upon said controller determining said first direction and said transmitter sending a second position signal based upon said controller determining said second direction.

6. The wireless transmitter system of claim 5, wherein said magnet further comprises a first magnet having a first flux density and a second magnet having a second flux density.

7. The wireless transmitter system of claim 6, wherein said magnetic field sensor further comprises a first magnetic field sensor and a second magnetic field sensor.

8. The wireless transmitter system of claim 7, further comprising a sensor suite for communicating with said controller.

9. The wireless transmitter system of claim 8, wherein said sensor suite communicates with an on-board vehicle computer.

21. The wireless transmitter system of claim 1, wherein said coded security signal activates a garage door.

22. The wireless transmitter system of claim 1, wherein said coded security signal activates a home security system.

10. A garage door operator system for operating a garage door of a dwelling from a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first magnet for mounting remote from the dwelling and having a first flux density;

a first magnetic field sensor for mounting on the vehicle to detect said first flux density; and

a transmitter for mounting on the vehicle to send a garage door activation signal in response to detection of said first flux density by said first magnetic field sensor without active intervention by an occupant of the vehicle.

11. The garage door operator system of claim 10, further comprising a receiver and a motor, said receiver communicating with said transmitter to receive said coded security signal and said motor operating the garage door based upon said position signal.

12. The garage door operator system of claim 10, further comprising a second magnet having a second flux density.

13. The garage door operator system of claim 12, wherein said first magnet and said second magnet are embedded in a driveway.

14. The garage door operator system of claim 13, further comprising a controller for determining the order in which said first flux density and said second flux density are detected, said controller communicating with said transmitter to send a first coded security signal to the garage door based upon detection of said first flux density is detected prior to detection of said second flux density and a second coded security signal to the garage door based upon said second flux density is detected prior to said first flux density.

15. The garage door operator system of claim 14, further comprising a second magnetic field sensor.

16. The garage door operator system of claim 15, wherein said first magnetic field sensor and said second magnetic field sensor are affixed to the underside of a vehicle, said first magnetic field sensor being affixed generally toward the front of the vehicle and said second magnetic field sensor being affixed generally toward the rear of the vehicle.

17. The garage door operator system of claim 16, further comprising a controller for determining the order in which said first magnetic field sensor and said second magnetic field sensor detect said flux density, said controller communicating with said transmitter to send a first coded security signal to the garage door based upon said first magnetic field sensor detecting said flux density prior to said second magnetic field sensor detecting said flux density and a second coded security signal based upon said second magnetic field sensor detecting said flux density prior to said first magnetic field sensor detecting said flux density to the garage door.

18. A method of transmitting a signal from a vehicle to a device associated with the security of a dwelling while the vehicle is remote from the dwelling, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a vehicle having a magnetic field sensor mounted thereon;

(b) passing the vehicle proximate to a magnet having a flux density to detect said flux density by said magnetic field sensor; and

(c) transmitting a coded security signal in response to the detection of said flux density to activate the device without intervention by an occupant of the vehicle.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said magnetic field sensor is affixed to the vehicle and detects said flux density based upon the vehicle passing proximate to said magnet.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprises determining the direction of the vehicle and transmitting a first signal based upon the vehicle passing said magnet in a first direction and transmitting a second signal based upon the vehicle passing said magnet in a second direction.

23. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising,

(d) receiving said coded security signal;

and

(e) operating a garage door in response to said signal.

24. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising,

(d) receiving said coded security signal;

and

(e) operating a home security system in response to said signal.