Transmitter for operating multiple devices

• US 7,254,182 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2002
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philip Y.W. Tsui
• Original Assignee: Philip Y.W. Tsui
• Inventors: Tsui, Philip Y. W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae; Temesghen
• Application Number:
  US10/193,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20040008798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,855 Days
• Field of Search: 375/344, 375/219, 375/295, 455/93, 455/102, 455/115.2, 455/115.1, 455/69, 455/88, 455/151.1, 455/151.2, 240/5.26, 240/5.7, 240/5.71, 240/825.69, 240/825.72, 341/173, 341/179, 340/825.69, 340/825.71, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 375/295
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4902 Pulse width modulation; Pulse position modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0008 arrangements for allowing a transmitter or receiver to use more than one type of modulation negotiating modulation type for two-way transmission paths H04L5/1453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/10 Frequency-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using frequency-shift keying H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1453 of modulation type

Abstract

A transmitter that is programmable to transmit one or more identification or device codes, using one or more transmission formats, at one or more transmission frequencies to control one or more respective devices. In one embodiment, the transmitter includes a controller and memory for storing transmission values and corresponding transmission frequencies, where the transmission values may include multiple device codes and transmission formats. A subset of the transmission values and corresponding transmission frequencies stored in the memory are assigned to or associated with one or more actuation switches upon matching the transmission values in a sampled signal to a set of transmission values stored in memory. In one embodiment, the transmission values may correspond to either a fixed-code transmission format or a rolling-code transmission format.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a sample signal using a receiving circuit of a transceiver, said sample signal having sample transmission values;

comparing the sample transmission values of the sample signal to transmission values stored in a memory of the transceiver, said transmission values stored in the memory to correspond to a plurality of receivers;

associating a first switch of the transceiver with a first set of transmission values and corresponding transmission frequency in memory for a first receiver of the plurality of receivers when the first set of transmission values stored in memory for the first receiver match the sample transmission values from the sample signal;

retrieving, upon detecting a user selection of the first switch, the first set of transmission values and corresponding transmission frequency stored in memory for the first receiver, and causing a signal to be transmitted at a predetermined frequency, said signal capable of activating the first receiver;

comparing an actual signal frequency for the signal, as received by the receiving circuit, to a reference frequency; and

adjusting the predetermined frequency of the signal when the actual signal frequency and the reference frequency differ by other than a predetermined difference.

2. The method of claim 1, when said reference frequency is based on a processor clock frequency.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing an actual signal frequency further comprises measuring a frequency at which the signal is received by the receiving circuit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the predetermined frequency comprises adjusting a voltage-controlled oscillator of the transceiver circuit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said signal is transmitted using an output circuit of the transceiver.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first receiver is one of a fixed-code type receiver and a rolling-code type receiver.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory of one of an electrically erasable programmable read only memory, a non-volatile random access memory and a flash memory.

8. A transceiver, comprising:

a first switch;

a receiving circuit for receiving a sample signal having sample transmission values;

a memory including a plurality of transmission values that correspond to a plurality of receivers; and

a controller coupled to the first switch, the receiving circuit and the memory, the controller to (i) compare the sample transmission values in the sample signal the plurality of transmission values stored in the memory, (ii) associate the first switch with a first set of transmission values and corresponding transmission frequency for a first receiver of the plurality of receivers when the first set of transmission values stored in memory for the first receiver match the sample transmission values from the sample signal;

(iii) cause a signal to be transmitted at a predetermined frequency, said signal capable of activating the first receiver, (iv) compare an actual signal frequency for the signal, as received by the receiving circuit, to a reference frequency, (v) and adjust the predetermined frequency of the signal when the actual signal frequency and the reference frequency differ by other than a predetermined difference.

9. The transceiver of claim 8, when said reference frequency is based on a processor clock frequency.

10. The transceiver of claim 8, wherein said controller is further to measure a frequency at which the signal is received by the receiving circuit.

11. The transceiver of claim 8, wherein to adjust the predetermined frequency, said controller is to adjust a voltage-controlled oscillator of the transceiver circuit.

12. The transceiver of claim 8, further comprising an output circuit for transmitting said signal.

13. The transceiver of claim 8, wherein the first receiver is one of a fixed-code type receiver and a rolling-code type receiver.

14. The transceiver of claim 8, wherein the memory of one of an electrically erasable programmable read only memory, a non-volatile random access memory and a flash memory.