[:9]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`4,750,118
`
`United States Patent
`Heitschel et al.
`[[45] Date of Patent: Jun. 7, 1988
`
`
`
`[54]
`
`[75]
`
`[73]
`
`[21]
`[22]
`
`[51]
`
`[52]
`
`[53]
`
`[56]
`
`CODING SYSTEM FOR MULTIPLE
`TRANSMITTERS AND A SINGLE RECEIVER
`FOR A GARAGE DOOR OPENER
`
`Inventors: Carl Heitsclrel, Oak Brook; Colin
`Willmott, Buffalo Grove; Wayne
`Schindler, Lisle, all of [11.
`
`Assignee: Chamberlain Manufacturing
`Corporation, Elmhurst, Ill.
`
`Appl. No.: 792,661
`Filed:
`Oct. 29, 1985
`
`Int. 01.4 ...................... G06F 15/20; EOSF 15/20;
`G08C 19/00
`US. Cl. ........................................ 364/400; 49/25;
`340/825.69; 340/825.73
`Field of Search ................................ 364/167-171,
`364/400; 340/825.04, 825.44, 825.69, 825.72,
`825.73, 825.74, 825.75, 825.76, 539, 696; 49/25,
`28, 31, 70, 324; 318/16, 262-266, 282, 466—468
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`Re. 29,525
`1/1978 Willmott ........................ 340/825.69
`340/825.69 X
`4,305,060 12/1981 Apple et a1.
`
`.................. 364/167
`4,323,540 5/1982 Matsuoka et al.
`
`................. 340/325.72
`4,385,296 5/1983 Tsubaki et al.
`. 340/82569 X
`4,464,651
`3/1984 Duhame
`
`4,491,774
`1/1985 Schmitz
`318/282
`
`4.529.980 7/1985 Liotine et a1.
`. 340/32552
`4,581,606 4/1986 Mallory .
`...... 340/539
`
`4,602,357 7/1986 Yang .......................... 40/825.74 X
`Primmy Examiner—Joseph Ruggiero
`Attorney, Agent, orFirm—-Hill, Van Santen, Steadman &
`Simpson
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention comprises a system for remote
`control of garage doors and other devices wherein an
`extremely large number of codes are available for re-
`mote transmitters for operating the garage operator and
`wherein each transmitter has its own unique and penna-
`nent nonuser changeable code. The receiver at the ga-
`rage door operator is capable of storing and remember-
`ing a number of different codes corresponding to differ-
`ent
`transmitters such that the receiver can be pro-
`grammed so as to actuated by more than one transmit-
`ted code thus allowing two or more transmitters to
`actuate the same garage door operator and wherein the
`receiver stores the valid codes for the different transmit-
`ters.
`
`4 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`27
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`26
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`ITRANS 1
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`42
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`41
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`43
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`DECODER
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`MEMORY
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`ADDRESS
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`STORAGE
`
`
`
`Pet’r Exhibit 1009
`Continental v. Wasica
`IPR2014-00295
`
`Page 000001
`
`

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`US. Patent
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`Jun. 7,1988
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`Sheet 1 of3
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`4,750,118
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`27
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`mm
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`ITRANsi
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`HTRAst
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`MEMORY
`ADDRESS
`STORAGE
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`FIG.2
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`DECODER
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`M PU
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`Page 000002
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`US. Patent
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`Jun. 7, 1988
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`Sheet 2 of3
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`4,750,118
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`DETECT A BLANK
`TIME
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`
`
`
`
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`IN
`PROGRAM
`MODE .7
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`CLEAR
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`VAL ID
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`COUNTER
`INCREMENT THE
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`VALID COUNTER
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`COUNTER EQUA
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`IS THIS
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`CODE ALREAD
`STORED IN
`MEMORY ?
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`STORE CODE AT LOCATION
`POINTED TO BY THE CODE
`LOCATION POINTER.
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`INCREMENT CODE LOCATION
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`POINTER.
`IF POINTER
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`INCREMENTS OVER FIVE
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`THEN LOAD CODE LOCATION
`POINTER WITH ONE.
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`IN?
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`START TIM ER
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`D DETECT BIT
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`#1
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`YE 5
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`GET TIMER AND SAVE
`SYNC. TIME
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`CLEAR AND RESTART
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`TIMER
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`NEXT
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`BIT COME
`IN P
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`DETERMINE THE INTEGRAL
`MULTIPLE WITH RESPECT
`TO THE SYNC. TIME.
`STORE IN CODE REGISTER
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`STOP BIT? 0
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 7, 1988
`
`Sheet 3 of3
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`4,750,118
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`NO
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`INCREMENT THE
`ERROR COUNTER
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`CODE MATCH
`YES
`ANY CODE IN THE
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`FIVE CODE
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`LOCATION
`?
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`CLEAR ERROR COUNTER
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`AND ALL OTHER VALID
`COUNTERS
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`E RROR
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`COUNTER EQUAL
`THREE?
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`CLEAR ERROR
`INCREMENT THIS
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`COUNT ER AND
`VALID CODE
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`ALL VALID
`COUNTER
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`COUNTERS
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`VALID
`CODE COUNTE'
`EQUAL FOU :'
`
`ES
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`ACTIVATE PROPER
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`OUTPUT
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`START
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`j‘T Brr1
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`l$|1| 2|
`SYNC.
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`I=I<3°55
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`g???
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`3
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`I
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`Page 000004
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`1
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`4,750,118
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`CODING SYSTEM FOR MULTIPLE
`TRANSNIIITERS AND A SINGLE RECEIVER FOR
`A GARAGE DOOR OPENER
`
`CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application comprises an improvement on appli-
`cation Ser. No. 615,339, filed May 30, 1984, US. Pat.
`No. 4,638,433, in which the inventor is Wayne R. Schin-
`dler assigned to the assignee of the present application.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates in general to garage door oper-
`ators and in particular to a novel garage door operator
`wherein the receiver can be energized by two or more
`transmitted codes which are stored in the receiver.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Garage door operators of the prior art used transmit-
`ters in which the code can be changed by various meth-
`ods as, for example, by moving two position switches to
`change the code. Such systems have also used code
`changing switches in the receiver so that the receivers
`can be set to correspond to the selected transmitter
`code.
`It has also been known to use fixed frequency trans-
`mitters and fixed frequency receivers such that if the
`transmitted frequency matches the receiver frequency
`the receiver will respond.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is an object of the present invention to provide a
`plurality of transmitters wherein each transmitter has its
`own unique andpermanent non-user changeable code
`and wherein the receiver can be placed into a program
`mode wherein it will receive and store two or more
`codes corresponding to two different transmitters. The
`number of codes which can be stored in transmitters can
`be extremely high as, for example, greater than one
`million codes. Thus, the invention makes it possible to
`eliminate the requirements for code selection switches
`in the transmitters.
`In the present invention the decoder module in the
`receiver will be capable of learning several different
`transmitted codes which will eliminate code switches in
`the receiver and also provides for multiple transmitters
`for actuating the garage opener.
`The communication link can be various system such
`as radio frequency, light, wires, etc.
`The invention makes it very easy for the user to oper-
`ate the system and more secured code systems are avail-
`able due to the higher number of available codes.
`An encoded signal will be utilized wherein a pulse
`and blank time comprises a sync time base and different
`link pulses such as 1, 2, 3 or 4 milliseconds can be se-
`lected so as to provide different codings. Each datum
`can be 1, 2, 3 or 4 times the length of the sync pulse. The
`timing is from the rising edge to rising edges of the pulse
`and with ten\data bits the number of codes can be in
`excess of one million codes.
`In the invention, each transmitter encoder will con-
`tain a chip which contains a unique code and the re-
`ceiver will be able to memorize two or more as, for
`example, five different transmitter codes. This elimi-
`nates the need to have coding switches in either the
`transmitter or receiver. This eliminates the requirement
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`that the user set the code switches so they match since
`the code switches are eliminated.
`In the invention, during an operate mode, a receiver
`code must match an already programmed code four
`times in order to operate the garage door. This match is
`referred to as a valid code. Each valid code can be
`separated by up to two error codes and still have the
`output indicated as accurate.
`In the program mode a code must be received four
`times in a row in order to be permanently stored in the
`receiver. Any error code will reset the valid code
`counter.
`
`The advantage of the coding scheme are:
`1. Higher peak power without exceeding the FCC
`rules which gives longer transmitter range.
`2. Eliminate code switches in the transmitter and
`receiver making it easier for a customer to install and
`operate his garage door operator.
`3. Customers having more than one transmitter will
`not have to match codes.
`4. More secure codes due to the higher number of
`combinations which are available. Other objects, fea~
`tures and advantages of the invention will be readily
`apparent from the following description of certain pre-
`ferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with
`the accompanying drawings although variations and
`modifications may be effected without departing from
`the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclo-
`sure and in which:
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a prespective View illustrating a garage door
`operator;
`FIG. 2 illustrates in block form the invention;
`FIG. 3 comprises a flow diagram;
`FIG. 4 is a continuation of the flow diagram; and
`FIG. 5 illustrates the coding scheme.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a garage door operator 10 mounted
`to the ceiling of a garage and connected to operate a
`door 17. Garage door operator 10 has a head unit 11
`which is supported from the ceiling which includes a
`motor which drives a suitable chain to which a trolley
`13 is attached so that it moves along a rail 12. The trol-
`ley 13 has a release cord 20 and pivotally carries a lever
`arm 14 which is attached to a bracket 16 mounted to the
`door so as to raise and open it by pulling it along con-
`ventional rails.
`The header unit 11 includes a receiver and operating
`mechanism and can be actuated from a control unit 38
`which has a operate switch 39.
`The garage door operator can also be operated by the
`transmitters 26 and 28 which have operate transmit
`buttons 27 and 29, respectively.
`As illustrated in FIG. 2 the garage door operator
`includes a receiver 41 which has a suitable antenna 42
`for receiving radio frequency transmissions from the
`transmitters 26 and 28 and supplies an input to a decoder
`43 which provides an output to a microprocessor unit
`44. The microprocessor unit 44 is connected to a garage
`door operator mechanism 46 which includes the motor
`which drives the chain 15 to move the door 17 in a
`conventional manner. The control 38 is connected to
`the microprocessor 44. A pair of switches 22 and 23 are
`mounted on a switch unit 19 connected to the unit 11
`and also to the microprocessor 44. The switch 22 is a
`
`Page 000005
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`

`

`3
`two position switch that can be moved between the
`operate and program positions to establish the “oper-
`ate” and “program" modes. The switch 23 can be
`moved to a number of selected positions indicated by
`the 1 through 5 so as to allow the particular code of a
`number of different transmitters to be stored in the
`receiver so that the receiver will respond to such codes.
`In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving unit can
`respond to up to five different transmitters which have
`five different transmitting codes. FIG. 5 illustrates the
`code utilized in which the bit times are nominally 0.5
`milliseconds for example. The data times are nominally
`l, 2, 3 or 4 milliseconds.
`The sync pulse is a unit measure of time. Each datum
`is measured with respect to the sync pulse and each
`datum can be I, 2, 3 or 4 times the length of the sync
`pulse. The timing is from the rising edge to rising edge
`of adjacent pulses. Using 10 data hits the number of
`codes which is available is in excess of one million
`codes.
`In the invention, each transmitter such as transmitters
`26 and 28 will have a unique code which is determined
`by the encoder chip contained in the transmitter. The
`receiver unit will be able to memorize and store a num-
`ber of different codes as, for example, five different
`transmitter codes which eliminates the need of coding
`switches in either the transmitter or receiver which are
`used in the prior art. This also eliminates the require-
`ment that the user match the transmitter and receiver
`code switches
`When the garage door operator is initially installed,
`the switch 22 is moved to the program mode and the
`energize button 27 of the first transmitter 26 is de-
`pressed so that the unique code of the transmitter 26 is
`transmitted. This is received by the receiver 41 and
`decoded by the decoder 43 and supplied to the micro-
`processor unit 44. The switch 23 is placed in the first
`position and with the switch 22 in the program mode
`the code of the transmitter 26 will be supplied to the
`memory address storage 47 and stored therein. Then if 40
`the switch 22 is moved to the operate mode and the
`transmitter 26 energized by depressing the transmit
`switch 27, the receiver 41, decoder and the micro-
`processor 44 will compare the received code with the
`code of the transmitter 26 stored in the first memory
`location in the memory address storage 47 and since the
`stored memory address for the transmitter 26 coincides
`with the transmitted code of the transmitter 26 the mi-
`croprocessor 44 will energize the garage door operation
`mechanism 46 to open or close the door.
`In order to store the code of the second transmitter 28
`the switch 22 is moved again to the program mode and
`the switch 23 to the second position and the transmitter
`28 is energized by depressing its transmit switch 29.
`This causes the receiver 41 and decoder 43 to decode
`the transmitted signal and supply it to the microproces-
`sor 44 which then supplies the coded signal of the trans-
`mitter 28 to the memory address storage 47 where it is
`stored in a second address storage location. Then the
`switch 22 is moved to the operate position and when
`either of the transmitters 26 and 28 are energized, the
`receiver 41 decoder 43 and microprocessor 44 will ener—
`gize the garage door operation mechanism 46 to cause
`the door to either move up or down depending upon its
`initial position. Thus, the codes of the transmitters 26
`and 28 are transmitted and stored in the memory ad—
`dress storage 47 during the program mode after which
`the garage door operation mechanism will respond to
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`4,750,118
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`4
`either of the transmitters 26 and 28. Any desired number
`of transmitters can be programmed to operate the ga-
`rage door mechanism as, for example, up to five trans-
`mitters can be programmed into the memory address
`storage 47 by using the program switch 22 and the
`selector switch 23.
`This invention eliminates the requirement that binary
`switches be set in the transmitter or receiver as is done
`in systems of the prior art to establish a code to which
`the receiver will respond and the invention also allows
`a garage door operator to respond to a number of differ-
`ent transmitters because the specific codes of a number
`of the transmitters is stored and retained in the memory
`address storage 47 of this unit.
`FIGS. 3 and 4 comprise the flow chart which de-
`scribe both the operate and program modes of the in-
`vention. Basically, in the operate mode, a received code
`must match a program which has already been pro-
`grammed and for four times so as to operate the garage
`door. This match is referred to as a valid code in the
`flow chart. Each valid code can be separated by up to
`two error codes and still have the output actuate. For
`example, a code of valid-error-error-va1id-valid-valid
`would actuate the door. On the other hand, a code of
`valid-valid-valid-error-error-error-valid would not ac-
`tuate the door.
`In the program mode a code must be received four
`times in a row in order to be permanently stored. Any
`error code will reset the valid code counter.
`With reference to the flow diagrams of FIGS. 3 and
`4 if it be assumed initially that the switch 22 is in the
`operate position an incoming signal will be supplied to
`terminal A in FIG. 3 and an output will be supplied to
`terminal B which indicates that the switch 22 is not in
`the program mode but in the operate mode. Terminal B
`is illustrated in FIG. 4 and the microprocessor com-
`pares the incoming code with any codes in the five code
`locations stored in the memory address storage 47. If
`these codes match then the error counter is cleared and
`all other valid counters. If the valid counter receives the
`code four times than output is supplied to the terminal C
`which operates the garage door operator. If the valid
`counter for the code equals less than 4, then the valid
`code counter is incremented until
`the valid code
`counter does equal 4 which actuates the proper output.
`Relative to FIG. 4 if the input code does not match any
`of the five stored codes, then the error counter is incre-
`mented and when the error counter equals 3 the error
`counter is cleared and all valid counters are cleared.
`If the switch 22 is in the program mode as shown in
`FIG. 3 when the incoming signal from a transmitter is
`received, the flow diagram is followed so as to store the
`new incoming program in the code location pointed to
`by the code location pointer 23. It is to be noted that up
`to five addresses can be stored in the system of the
`invention.
`
`It is seen that the present invention allows a receiving
`system to respond to one of a plurality of transmitters
`which have different unique codes which can be stored
`in the receiver during a program mode. Each time the
`“program mode switc ” 22 is moved to the program
`position, a different storage area as determined by the
`switch 23 can be connected so that the new transmitter
`code would be stored in that address. After all of the
`address storage capacity have been used additional
`codes would erase all old codes in the memory address
`storage before storing a new one.
`
`Page 000006
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`4,750,118
`
`5
`Although the invention has been described with re-
`spect to preferred embodiments, it is not to be so limited
`as changes and modifications may be made which are
`within the full intended scope as defined by the ap-
`pended claims.
`We claim as our invention:
`1. A garage door operator for a garage door compris-
`ing, a garage door operation mechanism with an output
`shaft connected to said garage door to open and close it,
`a radio receiver, a decoder connected to receive the
`output of said radio receiver, a microprocessor con-
`nected to receive the output of said decoder and to said
`garage door operation mechanism to energize it, a
`switch moveable between program and operate posi—
`tions connected to said microprocessor to place said
`microprocessor in the operate or the program mode, a
`memory means for storing a plurality of addresses con-
`nected to said microprocessor when said switch is in the
`program position, a memory selection switch connected
`to said microprocessor, a plurality of radio transmitters
`with different codes, said memory selection switch
`setable in a first position at a time when a first one of
`said radio transmitters is energized so that the code of
`said first transmitter will be stored in said memory
`means and said memory selection switch setable in a
`second position at a time when a second one of said
`radio transmitters is energized so that the code of said
`
`6
`second transmitter will be stored in said memory means,
`and said microprocessor placed in the operate mode
`when said switch is in the operate position so that either
`or both of said first and second radio transmitters when
`energized cause said microprocessor to energize said
`garage door operator mechanism.
`2. A garage door operator for a garage door accord-
`ing to claim 1 wherein said first and second radio trans-
`mitters when energized radiate coded signals and said
`microprocessor receives and compares coded signals
`from said first and second transmitters with coded sig-
`nals stored in said memory means and said microproces-
`sor produces a garage door operate signal if the re-
`ceived transmitted signal and any one of said coded
`signals stored in said memory means match.
`3. A garage door operator according to claim 2
`wherein said memory selection switch has “11” positions
`transmit-
`where “n” is an integer and the codes of “n”
`ters can be stored in said memory means when said
`switch is in the program mode.
`4. A garage door operator according to claim 3
`wherein the code stored in said memory means can be
`changed by placing said switch in the program mode
`and one of said plurality of transmitters is energized
`which has a code which differs from the code previ-
`ously stored in said memory means.
`#1
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