Moveable barrier operator translation system and method

• US 9,177,430 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James J., Mack, David Thomas, Strait, Larry, Keller, Robert Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alizada, Omeed
• Application Number:
  US11/948,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20090140836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,895 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.7, 340/5.71, 340/5.72, 340/5.26, 340/5.22, 340/825.39, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/7.25, 340/902, 340/426.16, 455/41.2, 455/420
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/10 Comprising means for protocol conversion, i.e. format conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 5/02 Conversion to or from representation by pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 5/14 Code representation, e.g. transition, for a given bit cell depending on the information in one or more adjacent bit cells, e.g. delay modulation code, double density code

Abstract

A system includes a translator device that is configured to receive, using a pre-programmed native mode of operation, a first barrier actuation code transmitted by a transmitter according to a first code format. The translator device then analyzes the first barrier actuation code and verifies that it is a valid code. When a valid code, the translator device saves the information contained in the code, and creates a second barrier actuation code at least in part from information contained in the first actuation code and transmits the second barrier actuation code according to the second code format, which is different from the first code format. A barrier operator is coupled to the translator device and a barrier. The barrier operator has a receiver apparatus and the receiver apparatus receives the second barrier actuation code. The barrier operator determines whether the second barrier actuation code is valid, and when the barrier actuation code is determined to be valid, actuates the barrier.

Claims

1. A system for translating codes from a first format to operate a barrier operator system, the system comprising:

a translator device configured to receive, using a pre-programmed native mode of operation comprising programming steps and/or utilized data and operational parameters that are present and available to the translator device without need for an end user to enter such content or for the translator device to acquire such content via a learning mode of operation, a first barrier actuation code transmitted by a transmitter according to a first code format, analyze the first barrier actuation code according to the first code format, verify that the first barrier actuation code is a valid code, and when the first barrier actuation code is verified to be a valid code saving the information contained in the code, creating a second barrier actuation code at least in part from information contained in the first actuation code, and transmit the second barrier actuation code according to the second code format, the second code format being different from the first code format; and

a barrier operator coupled to the translator device and a barrier, the barrier operator having a receiver, the receiver receiving the second barrier actuation code transmitted according to the second code format from the translator device, the barrier operator determining whether the second barrier actuation code transmitted according to the second code format is valid, and when the barrier actuation code is determined to be valid, actuating the barrier.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the translator device is coupled to and powered by a power source of a vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first code format is selected from a group comprising a trinary format;

a rolling code format; and

a Manchester format.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the second code format is selected from a group comprising a trinary format;

a rolling code format; and

a Manchester format.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first barrier actuation code is transmitted at a first frequency and the second barrier actuation code is transmitted at a second frequency.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first barrier actuation code includes a fixed portion and wherein the second barrier actuation code includes at least a portion derived from the fixed portion.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first barrier actuation code includes a rolling portion and wherein the second barrier actuation code includes at least a portion derived from the rolling portion.

8. A method of operating a moveable barrier operator, the method comprising:

receiving, at a receiver operating in an operation mode, a first barrier actuation code transmitted from a transmitter, the first barrier actuation code transmitted according to a first code format;

verifying that the first barrier actuation code is a valid code;

in response to the first barrier actuation code being verified to be a valid code and while operating in the operation mode, saving the information contained in the valid code using a second code format and, in response to saving the information, forming a second barrier actuation code according to the second code format using at least a portion of the information contained in the first barrier actuation code; and

subsequently transmitting the second barrier actuation code in the second code format to a barrier operator to actuate the barrier operator.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the second code format is selected by a selector from a group of more than one code formats.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein first format is selected from a group comprising a trinary format;

a rolling code format; and

a Manchester format.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein second format is selected from a group comprising a trinary format;

a rolling code format; and

a Manchester format.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the a first barrier actuation code is transmitted at a first frequency and comprising transmitting the second barrier actuation code at a second frequency.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the first barrier actuation code includes a fixed portion and wherein the second barrier actuation code includes at least a portion derived from the fixed portion.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the first barrier actuation code includes a rolling portion and wherein the second barrier actuation code includes at least a portion derived from the rolling portion.

15. The method of claim 8 comprising analyzing the second barrier actuation code at the barrier operator and operating the barrier operator according to the second barrier actuation code.

16. A device for transmitting codes to a barrier operator, the device comprising:

a receiver apparatus configured to operate in an operation mode and, when operating in the operation mode, to receive a first barrier actuation code being transmitted from a remote transmitter, the first barrier actuation code transmitted according to a first code format;

a transmitter apparatus; and

a controller coupled to the receiver apparatus and the transmitter apparatus, the controller being programmed to, during operation in the operation mode, verify that the received first barrier actuation code is a valid code, and, in response to the first barrier actuation code being verified to be a valid code, based on the first barrier actuation code, to determine a second code format, save code information of the first barrier actuation code in the second code format, and to form a second barrier actuation code having at least a portion of the saved code information of the first barrier actuation code and to transmit the second barrier actuation code in the second code format to a barrier operator using the transmitter apparatus while operating in the operation mode.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the controller is configured and arranged to determine the second code format that is selectable from one or more possible code formats.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein first format is selected from a group comprising a trinary format;

a rolling code format; and

a Manchester format.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein second format is selected from a group comprising a trinary format;

a rolling code format; and

a Manchester format.

20. The device of claim 16 wherein the first barrier actuation code is transmitted at a first frequency and wherein the controller is programmed to transmit the second barrier actuation code at a second frequency.

21. The device of claim 16 wherein the first barrier actuation code includes a fixed portion and wherein the second barrier actuation code includes at least a portion derived from the fixed portion.

22. The device of claim 16 wherein the first barrier actuation code includes a rolling portion and wherein the second barrier actuation code includes at least a portion derived from the rolling portion.

23. The device of claim 16 wherein the device is positioned with a vehicle.

24. The device of claim 16 wherein the device is positioned in a building in proximity to the barrier operator.