Method and apparatus for transmitter for universal garage door opener
AssigneeUniversal Devices
InventorsEric Eisfeld, James Long, Gordon Force
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A universal remote control transmitter for use with garage door openers including a number of switches whereby a user can program a transmitted modulation format and carrier frequency, and a controller for scanning the switches to determine the user programmed selections. The controller, in response to the programmed selections, outputs the required modulation to a selected transmitter, as well as direction to fine tune the transmitter to the particular carrier frequency. Also included is a power sensor circuit that responds to a change in power supply voltage by adjusting the modulation to maintain a constant peak transmitter output power.
Claims12
A universal remote control radio frequency (RF) transmitter for selective actuation of one of a plurality of receiver units, each receiver unit receiving a particular carrier frequency modulated according to a particular modulation code, said universal remote control transmitter comprising in operative combination:
- a) a first switching unit including a plurality of switches, each switch having at least three user selectable settings, said switches of said first switching unit set by said user to a selected one of a plurality of combinations of settings, each combination corresponding to one of a plurality of modulation codes;
- b) a second switching unit including a plurality of switches, each switch having a plurality of user selectable settings, said switches of said second switching unit set by said user to a selected one of a plurality of combinations of said settings, each combination corresponding to one of a plurality of possible carrier frequencies;
- c) a plurality of transmitter circuits, each of said transmitter circuits for transmitting a particular one of said plurality of possible carrier frequencies;
- and
- d) controller means responsive to said first and second switching units for selective actuation and modulation of said plurality of transmitter circuits, said controller means comprising:
- i) means responsive to selected switch settings of said second switching unit for selecting a particular one of said transmitter circuits for transmission of a particular one of said carrier frequencies;
- and
- ii) means responsive to selected switch settings of said first switching unit for outputting a modulation signal corresponding to said modulation code for modulating said carrier frequency selected by said second switching unit.
A universal remote control radio frequency (RF) transmitter for selective actuation of one of a plurality of receiver units, each receiver unit receiving a particular carrier frequency modulated according to a particular modulation code, said universal remote control transmitter comprising in operative combination:
- a) a first switching unit including a plurality of switches, each switch having at least three user selected settings, said switches of said first switching unit set by said user to a selected one of a plurality of combinations of said settings, each combination corresponding to one of a plurality of modulation codes;
- b) a second switching unit including a plurality of switches, each switch having a plurality of user selectable settings, said switches of said second switching unit set by said user to a selected one of a plurality of combinations of said settings, each combination corresponding to one of a plurality of possible carrier frequencies;
- c) one or more transmitter circuits, each having a tuning means responsive to a tuning signal for transmitting a particular carrier frequency selected from within a bandwidth of carrier frequencies;
- d) controller means responsive to said first and second switching units for selective actuation and modulation of a selected one of said transmitter circuits, said controller means comprising:
- i) means responsive to selected switch settings of said second switching unit for selecting a particular one of said transmitter circuits and for generating said tuning signal;
- and
- ii) means responsive to selected switch settings of said first switching unit for outputting a modulation signal corresponding to said modulation code for modulating said carrier frequency selected by said second switching unit.
A universal remote control radio frequency (RF) transmitter for selective actuation of one of a plurality of receiver units, each receiver unit receiving a particular carrier frequency modulated according to a particular modulation code, said universal remote control transmitter comprising in operative combination:
- a) a first switching unit including a plurality of switches, each switch having a plurality of user selected settings, said switches set by said user to a selected one of a plurality of combinations of said settings, each combination corresponding to one of a plurality of modulation codes;
- b) a second switching unit including a plurality of switches, each switch having a plurality of user selectable settings, said switches of said second switching unit set by said user to a selected one of a plurality of combinations of said settings, each combination corresponding to one of a plurality of possible carrier frequencies;
- c) one or more transmitter circuits, each having a tuning means responsive to a tuning signal for transmitting a particular carrier frequency selected from within a bandwidth of carrier frequencies;
- d) a battery having a battery voltage for supplying energy to said remote control transmitter;
- e) controller means responsive to said first and second switching units for selective actuation and modulation of a selected one of said transmitter circuits, said controller means including.
- i) means responsive to selected switch settings of said second switching unit for selecting a particular one of said transmitter circuits and for generating said tuning signal,
- ii) means responsive to selected switch settings of said first switching unit for outputting a modulation signal corresponding to said modulation code for modulating said carrier frequency selected by said second switching unit,
- iii) means for sensing said battery voltage, and
- iv) means responsive to said means for sensing for providing an adjusted modulation signal to said particular one of said transmitter circuits to maintain a constant output power, independent of supply variations in said battery voltage;
- and
- wherein said means responsive to said sensing means further includes a selection of lines, to carry said modulation signal, each of said lines having a distinct voltage divider means for modifying said modulation signal to drive a selected one of said transmitter circuits at said constant output power.
A universal remote control radio frequency (RF) transmitter for selective actuation of one of a plurality of receiver units, each receiver unit receiving a particular carrier frequency modulated according to a particular modulation code, said universal remote control transmitter comprising in operative combination:
- a) switching means including a plurality of switches, and at least two of said switches being multiple position switches having at least three user selectable settings, said plurality of switches set by said user to a selected one of a plurality of combinations of settings, each combination corresponding to one of a plurality of modulation codes and one of a plurality of carrier frequencies;
- b) a plurality of transmitter circuits, each of said transmitter circuits for transmitting a particular one of said plurality of carrier frequencies;
- and
- c) controller means responsive to said switching means for selective actuation and modulation of said plurality of transmitter circuits, said controller means, including:
- means responsive to selected switch settings of said switching means for selecting a particular one of said transmitter circuits for transmission of a particular one of said carrier frequencies, and for outputting a modulation signal corresponding to said modulation code for modulating said carrier frequency selected by said switching means.
A universal remote control radio frequency (RF) transmitter for selective actuation of one of a plurality of receiver units, each receiver unit receiving a particular carrier frequency modulated according to a particular modulation code, said universal remote control transmitter comprising in operative combination:
- a) switching means including a plurality of switches, at least two of said switches being multiple position switches having at least three user selectable settings, said plurality of switches set by said user to a selected one of a plurality of combinations of said settings, each combination corresponding to one of a plurality of modulation codes and one of a plurality of carrier frequencies;
- b) one or more transmitter circuits, each having a tuning means responsive to a tuning signal for transmitting a particular carrier frequency selected from within a bandwidth of carrier frequencies;
- c) controller means responsive to said switching means for selective actuation and modulation of a selected one of said transmitter circuits, said controller means, including:
- means responsive to selected switch settings of said switching means for selecting a particular one of said transmitter circuits and for generating said tuning signal, and for outputting a modulation signal corresponding to said modulation code for modulating said carrier frequency selected by said switching means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.