EP0099762B1 - Coded remote control devices - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to devices intended to provide remote controls, such as in particular the opening of a garage door, using coded signals transmitted in space without material support.

It relates more particularly, among these devices, to those which comprise a portable box arranged so as to transmit the coded signals and a receiver mounted on the member to be controlled and arranged so as to receive these signals, to compare them with a previously recorded reference and providing the desired command when this comparison reveals an identity between a coded signal received and the reference, this command being in particular the unlocking of a door followed by the automatic opening of this door.

We know the advantages of remote control devices of this kind, which allow in particular motorists to maneuver the door of their garage without leaving their car.

However, known devices of the kind in question have certain drawbacks, and in particular the following: the remote control can be easily provided with the aid of the housing by any wearer of this housing and even by those who have not received it. authorization of the owner of said box, as is the case during thefts of this box.

To remedy this drawback, it has already been proposed to make the box in question understand a keyboard comprising at least two control keys and making it possible to compose on this box even the coded remote control signal from an actuation sequence of the keyboard keys conforming to a predetermined code (see US-A-4,167,833).

Only then the people who know this code are able to carry out using the box considered the remote controls for which it is intended.

This formula thus protects the owner of the box from unauthorized use of this box.

Such an advantage is precious.

But it is compensated by the following disadvantage: the composition of the code at the very moment when the remote control must be carried out is often tedious and relatively long, requiring in particular for the manipulation of the keyboard sufficient lighting and the complete release of both hands of the user, which in certain circumstances proves to be particularly annoying, even at the prohibitive limit.

To eliminate this drawback, it has been proposed by patent GB -A-1,531,951 to make a remote control unit of the above type understand (but comprising a fixed coding key, modifiable only outside of periods of use true), means for recording each coded remote control signal and means for ensuring the instantaneous emission of the coded signal thus recorded in response to the actuation of a single control member such as a push button.

This formula allows rapid control of said actuation, but it is not immune to the frauds reported above, namely of correct operation of the housing by unauthorized carriers.

To remedy all of these drawbacks in accordance with the invention, the unit is made to understand on the one hand all of the means explained above (keyboard with keys, recording means and means for instantaneous emission control) and on the other hand, means for keeping in memory for a time to, which can be for example of the order of 5 minutes, each coded remote control signal formed by correct sequential actuation of the keys of the keyboard and means for automatically erasing said signal at the end of this time to.

More specifically, the invention relates to a device intended to ensure remote control using coded signals, comprising a portable box arranged so as to transmit the coded signals and a receiver mounted on the member to be controlled and arranged to receive the signals, to compare them with a previously recorded reference and to provide the desired command when this comparison reveals an identity between a coded signal received and the reference, the housing comprising a keyboard with at least two control keys, means for transforming the coded sequences of actuation of said keys into coded remote control signals, means for recording each of said coded remote control signals and means for ensuring the instantaneous emission of the coded signal thus recorded in response to the actuation of a single control member such as a push button, characterized in that the housing further comprises means for keeping each sign in memory al of the remote control for a time to as of its recording and to automatically erase said signal at the end of this time to.

• - le boîtier comporte des moyens pour effacer de la mémoire le signal codé dès son émission ou au bout d'un temps ti postérieur à sa première et éventuellement unique émission,
• - le boîtier comporte des moyens pour renouveler automatiquement l'émission du signal codé tant que l'organe de commande demeure actionné,
• - le boîtier comporte des moyens pour signaler les périodes où un signal codé y est enregistré,
• - les moyens de signalisation selon l'alinéa précédent sont agencés de façon à afficher en clair le code lui-même au moment de son enregistrement et tant que le signal codé demeure en mémoire,
• - le boîtier comporte en outre des moyens d'identification de ce boîtier, moyens agencés de façon à marquer spécialement chaque signal codé lors de son émission, le récepteur étant de son côté équipé de moyens propres à identifier les signaux codés ainsi marqués,
• - dans un dispositif de télécommande selon l'alinéa précédent, le récepteur comprend des moyens pour neutraliser sélectivement les commandes dues à certains des signaux codés marqués et identifiés.

In preferred embodiments, use is also made of one and / or the other of the following arrangements:

• the box includes means for erasing the coded signal from the memory as soon as it is transmitted or after a time ti after its first and possibly only transmission,
• the housing includes means for automatically renewing the transmission of the coded signal as long as the control member remains actuated,
• the box includes means for signaling the periods when a coded signal is recorded there,
• the signaling means according to the preceding paragraph are arranged so as to clearly display the code itself at the time of its recording and as long as the coded signal remains in memory,
• - The housing further comprises means identification of this box, means arranged so as to specially mark each coded signal during its emission, the receiver being for its part equipped with means suitable for identifying the coded signals thus marked,
• - In a remote control device according to the preceding paragraph, the receiver comprises means for selectively neutralizing the commands due to some of the coded signals marked and identified.

The invention includes, apart from these main provisions, certain other provisions which are preferably used at the same time and which will be more explicitly discussed below.

In what follows, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the attached drawing, of course in a non-limiting manner.

The single figure of this drawing very schematically shows a remote control device with a code established according to the invention.

In general, it is proposed to provide remotely, wirelessly or other hardware link, any command which, by way of example of course not limiting, will be assumed hereinafter to be unlocking the lock 1 d 'a garage door 2, followed by the automatic opening of this door.

• - à un boîtier portatif de poche 3 équipé de moyens por élaborer et émettre un signal codé S,
• - et à un récepteur 4 monté sur la serrure 1 ou à proximité immédiate de celle-ci et propre lui-même à élaborer un signal électrique de commande C susceptible de déverrouiller cette serrure lorsqu'il y a identité entre le signal S et un code de référence R préalablement enregistré dans le récepteur.

This is done for:

• - a portable pocket box 3 equipped with means for processing and transmitting a coded signal S,
• - And to a receiver 4 mounted on the lock 1 or in the immediate vicinity of the latter and itself capable of producing an electrical control signal C capable of unlocking this lock when there is identity between the signal S and a code of reference R previously recorded in the receiver.

• - un clavier 5 à n touches 6 (le symbole n désignant un entier au moins égal à 2 et par exemple égal à 12 dans le mode de réalisation schématisé sur le dessin),
• - un circuit électronique 7 alimenté par pile et comportant une mémoire propre à enregistrer pendant un temps to tout signal électrique codé élaboré par un actionnement séquentiel des touches 6, la séquence de cet actionnement déterminant le code dudit signal,
• - un organe 8 propre à émettre dans l'espace environnant les signaux électriques codés S qu'il reçoit et qui se présentent généralement sous la forme d'une suite d'impulsions, l'émission en question étant de préférence exécutée par ondes électromagnétiques ou ultrasonores,
• - un verrou électronique 9 interposé entre le circuit 7 et l'émetteur 8,
• - et un bouton-poussoir 10 ou organe analogue à commande facile, agencé de façon telle que son actionnement, schématisé par le flèche P, ouvre le verrou 9 et assure ainsi l'émission, par l'organe 8, du signal S préalablement enregistré dans le circuit 7.

The means for developing and transmitting the signal S include:

• a keyboard 5 with n keys 6 (the symbol n designating an integer at least equal to 2 and for example equal to 12 in the embodiment shown diagrammatically in the drawing),
• an electronic circuit 7 supplied by battery and comprising a memory suitable for recording for a time to any coded electrical signal produced by a sequential actuation of the keys 6, the sequence of this actuation determining the code of said signal,
• a member 8 capable of transmitting in the surrounding space the coded electrical signals S which it receives and which generally take the form of a series of pulses, the emission in question preferably being carried out by electromagnetic waves or ultrasonic,
• an electronic lock 9 interposed between the circuit 7 and the transmitter 8,
• - And a push button 10 or similar organ with easy control, arranged such that its actuation, shown diagrammatically by the arrow P, opens the lock 9 and thus ensures the emission, by the organ 8, of the signal S previously recorded in circuit 7.

The receiver 4 comprises, for its part, means suitable for receiving the signals S and optionally for transforming them into electric signals which can be used electronically, a memory in which at least one reference code R has been recorded, means for comparing each received signal S with this code R and means for transmitting an electrical control signal C each time there is identity between the received signal S and the code R.

In the drawing, it has been assumed purely by way of illustration that this signal C makes it possible to unlock the lock 1 by removing from its locking position in the keeper 11 of the door 2 a hook or the like 12 forming part of the lock against d 'a restoring force generated by a spring 13, so as to make it possible to open said door 2 by sliding it according to arrow F.

The implementation of the remote control device described above is as follows.

When the holder of the box 3 intends to provide the remote control for which this box is intended at a given instant i, he has before this instant a period of time t 0 to prepare this box for this purpose.

He can therefore choose any moment of this delay to record in the box the coded remote control signal by sequentially actuating the keys of the keyboard of this box according to the code known to him. The moment in question is chosen at a moment when he can release both of his hands at the same time, when he can light the keyboard enough to ensure its actuation, etc.

In the embodiment given by way of example, this moment may be that corresponding to a stop by the motorist at a red light a short distance from the garage to which he is traveling.

At the effective instant when the remote control must be carried out, the holder of the housing suffices to actuate the control member 10 only once, which can be done under conditions of discomfort, for example in the dark and with one hand.

Indeed, this single and easy actuation of the member 10 alone ensures the emission of the complete coded signal previously recorded.

This formula also has the advantage of saving battery energy, since the duration of the transmission of the coded signal can be extremely short and in particular much shorter than that necessary for its composition even by successive actuations of the keys. of the keyboard.

The duration to during which the coded signal remains recorded in the memory of circuit 7 is advantageously of the order of a few minutes, for example between 3 and 10 minutes.

In certain cases, this duration t0 can be adjustable using easy-to-operate means mounted on the housing.

The circuits of the housing serving for the recording and the emission of the coded signals can be arranged in such a way that the emission of each coded signal is immediately accompanied by its erasure from memory.

On the contrary, it may be preferable to keep the recording of each coded signal for a certain time t ₁ after its transmission.

• - une relativement grande proximité entre le boîtier 3 et le récepteur 4,
• - une visée relativement précise du récepteur par l'émetteur 8 du boîtier, l'axe de cet émetteur devant être correctement centré sur le récepteur,
• - et l'absence de tout écran opaque au rayonnement émis sur la trajectoire de celui-ci.

Indeed the remote control may require:

• - a relatively close proximity between the housing 3 and the receiver 4,
• - a relatively precise aiming of the receiver by the transmitter 8 of the box, the axis of this transmitter having to be correctly centered on the receiver,
• - and the absence of any screen opaque to the radiation emitted on its trajectory.

It may therefore happen that the distance, orientation and / or clearance conditions necessary to ensure the desired remote control are not satisfied and that, by site, the first coded signal transmission does not actually provide this remote control.

Keeping this signal in memory after its first transmission then makes it possible to transmit it again at least once, and preferably several times, until the conditions necessary for the effective execution of the remote control are satisfied.

The renewal of this transmission can be ensured automatically, for example once per second as long as the push button 10 remains pressed.

It can also be subject to each new pressing of said push button 10.

At the end of the time ti - which can be of the order of a few minutes, for example between 1 and 5 minutes - the coded signal transmitted at least once is erased from the memory.

Times to and ti can be combined with each other.

Thus the time ti can be very simply constituted by the end of the time to itself, which corresponds, as we recall, to the duration of the storage of each coded signal from its recording in the box : it is sufficient in this case to provide this time to relatively long and not influenced by the actuation of the push button 10.

Or again the time ti can partially replace the time to: this is how this time to can be provided unlimited, its completion being then determined by that of the time ti, which time ti is itself initiated by the first effective triggering of a coded signal emission, that is to say by the first actuation of the push button 10.

According to the invention, a certain number of improvements can be made to the remote control described above and in particular the following.

According to one of these improvements, means are provided for displaying on the box the recorded state of each signal coded in this box.

For this purpose, for example, an indicator light 14 may be provided so as to be lit during each period to after the recording of a coded signal, the extinction of this indicator at the end of each of these periods of duration corresponding to the automatic erasure of the coded signal.

In another embodiment of this improvement, the display in question is that of the code itself in plain text, and is for example in the form of a number entered during coding behind an oblong window, in particular of the one of the ways usually adopted in pocket calculators.

This last variant allows the user to easily check the accuracy of the prior registration of his code.

Another improvement is applicable in the case where the remote control considered can be carried out from a plurality of separate boxes.

This case is for example that of the control of the door of a garage in several locations respectively assigned to several vehicles belonging to different owners, a remote control unit then being assigned to each of these owners.

Depending on the improvement in question, means are provided for identifying the remote control emissions originating from the various boxes, each coded signal S emitted by one of these boxes being specially marked as a function of its origin.

Such an identification mark M can for example correspond to one or two coding numbers added to a code proper of several numbers, only this code itself having to be registered in the box by actuation of the keyboard during each setting. work of the box and the complement allocated to the identification of this box being automatically added to the coded signal at the level of the transmission of the latter.

The receiver 4 is then on its side specially arranged so as to identify the different coded signals S assigned to their mark M.

The improvement in question makes it possible to identify the transmitting boxes of the successive orders, which can be advantageous for many applications.

Thus, for the application envisaged above, such identification, possibly associated with a display and / or local recording, makes it possible to control the entries and exits of the various vehicles in the garage.

The improvement in question can also be used in order to reduce the inconvenience due to theft or loss of one of the boxes.

It is therefore sufficient for this purpose, in such a case, to make the receiver 4 insensitive to the coded signals S assigned to the mark M corresponding to this stolen or lost box.

This avoids the obligation to change the code for the receiver and for all the boxes, a change which not only requires the collection of all these devices and technical intervention on each of them, but also causes obvious inconvenience to level of user habits.

According to yet another improvement, means 3 are provided on the housing 3 for verifying the state of charge of the battery supplying circuits 7 to 9, these means notably comprising an indicator light in series with the battery and with an electric switch that can be actuated by the outside of the case.

Following which, and whatever the embodiment envisaged, a remote control device is finally obtained, the constitution, operation and advantages of which result sufficiently from the above.

Claims (9)

1. A device for providing a remote control by means of coded signals, comprising a portable case (3) adapted so as to transmit the coded signals and a receiver (4) mounted on the member to be controlled (1, 2) and adapted to receive the signals, to compare them with a previously stored reference and to provide the desired control when this comparison reveals identity between a coded signal received and the reference, the case (3) comprising a keyboard (5) with at least two control keys (6), means for transforming into coded remote control signals the coded sequences of actuation of said keys, means (7) for recording each of said coded remote control signals, and means (8, 9) for ensuring the instantaneous transmission of the coded signal thus stored in response to the actuation of a single control member (10) such as a push-button, characterized in that the case (3) further comprises means for keeping each remote control signal stored in memory for a time to from its recording moment and for automatically erasing said signal at the end of this time to.

2. The remote control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the case (3) comprises means for erasing the coded signal from the memory immediately after transmission thereof.

3. The remote control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the case (3) comprises means for erasing the coded signal from the memory after a time ti subsequent to its first and possibly single transmission.

4. The remote control device according to any one of claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the case (3) further comprises means for automatically renewing the transmission of the coded signal as long as the control member (10) remains actuated.

5. The remote control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the case (3) further comprises means (14) for signalling the periods when a coded signal ist stored therein.

6. The remote control device according to claim 5, characterized in that the signalling means are adapted so as to display in clear the code itself at the moment of recording thereof and as long as the coded signal remains stored in memory.

7. The remote control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the case (3) further comprises means for identifying this case, these means being adapted so as to specially mark (at M) each coded signal (S) at the moment of transmission thereof, the receiver (4) being equipped with means adapted to identify the coded signals thus marked.

8. The remote control device according to claim 7, characterized in that the receiver (4) comprises means for selectively neutralizing the controls due to some of the marked and identified coded signals.

9. The remote control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the time to is between 3 and 10 minutes.

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