Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02234891 1998-0~-11
.
TRAINABLE TRANSMITTER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING A
TRAINABLE TRANS~l'l"l'~;~ FOR TRANSMITTING AN RF SIGNAL
INCLUDING A PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to new systems and methods of using a
trainable RF (radio frequency) tr~ncmitter for Ll,~ g RF signals including a code
representing a personal identific~tion number. More specifically, the present invention
relates to security systems and systems for paying fees, such as parking fares, toll
fares, and gas and food expenses.
Trainable RF tr~ncmitters presently exist that are capable of learning the
characteristics (i.e., the RF carrier frequency, code, and modulation scheme) of an RF
control signal tr~ncmittç~l from a remote control tl~llclllillel, such as a remote control
trancmitter that is typically used for garage door openers. Examples of such trainable
RF trancmitters are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,442,340, 5,479,155, 5,583,485,
5,614,885, and 5,614,891. These trainable L~ clllillers, which are typically installed
in the interior of a vehicle, store data representing the learned signal characteristics
such that they may subsequently transmit a mocl~ te~l RF signal having the learned
characteristics to a receiver that responds to the tr~ncmitted signal by performing a
control operation such as opening a garage door or security gate.
By integrating a trainable lliln~llliLlel of this type in a vehicle, the original
remote control garage door tran~mitter may be replaced by such a trainable tr~n~mitter
after it is used to train the vehicle's trainable tr~n~mitter. In this manner, the
somewhat lln~ightly original remote tran~lllillels need no longer be clipped to the
vehicle's visor where they may pose a safety hazard. Rec~n~e such trainable
tr~n~mitters are typically sold as an OEM product and installed in the vehicle by the
vehicle m~mlf~r,turer, the trainable tr~n~lllillel~ may be unobtrusively integrated within
a vehicle accessory such as a sun visor, rear view mirror, or overhead console.
An additional use for a trainable RF tr~n~mitt~r provides a system in which a
trainable RF tr~n~imitter is used to transmit an RF signal to an RF receiver in a control
module that responds by tr~n~mitting a control signal through household AC powerlines to a remote module associated with a household appliance such as a light. The
remote module responds to the control signal by controlling the operation of the
appllance.
CA 02234891 1998-0~-11
,
Further, by including the structure of the trainable tr~ncmitter in a vehicle and
providing access by the transmitter's microcontroller to the vehicle control bus, the
receiver circuitry included in the trainable tr~ncmitter for receiving a signal in the
training mode, may be used in a remote keyless entry (RKE) system to receive an RF
control signal from an associated key fob tr~n.cmitter. The microcontroller may be
programmed to respond to the RKE control signal by genelalil1g and supplying a
lock/unlock comm~ntl to the vehicle's door locks. Additionally, the vehicle's security
system may also be enabled/disabled with the locking/unlocking of the doors. With
such an implementation, a second receiver dedicated to receiving RKE control signals
is no longer required thereby resulting in a significant reduction in vehicle
m~mlf~l~.tnring costs. Examples of trainable tr~ncmitters used in this manner are
disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,614,885; 5,619,190; 5,627,529; and 5,646,701.
Another use for a vehicle-installed trainable tran.cmilt~r is disclosed in U.S.
Patent No. 5,661,651, issued on August 26, 1997, and entitled WIRELESS VEHICLE
PARAMETER MONITORING SYSTEM. In that application, the receiver portion of
a vehicle-installed trainable tr~ncmitter is used to receive RF signals including vehicle
parameter information, such as the pressure in each of the vehicle's tires. If the
sensed vehicle parameter reaches a dangerous level, an alarm or displayed message
may be generated to warn the driver of the dangerous condition.
In all the above-noted uses of trainable RF tr~ncmitters, the trainable
tr~ncmilters are trained to learn a code that represents an access number or control
code shared by each tr~ncmitter associated with the system. In other words, the
trancmiltP,~l codes are used by any of the individuals having a tr~n.cmitter associated
with the responding system. Such systems do not, however, require the tr~ncmiccion
of an RF signal specifically identifying any of the occupants of the vehicle or any
particular person authorized to use the system.
Having generally described the background of the invention relative to known
uses for trainable RF t~ lel~, a general description of the background relative to
some of the systems and environments are described below in which new applications
for trainable RF tr~ncmilters are now provided in accordance with the present
invention.
Conventional security systems typically have used either a key, a pass card witha m~gn~tic strip, or a keypad for entry of a shared access code into the security
CA 02234891 1998-0~-11
system, which responds by allowing access or ingress into a secured area. Such
secured areas may include a building, a home, a fenced outside area, a car, a garage,
or a particular room or rooms within a building as a few examples.
Security systems also exist which utilize a portable RF transponder circuit thattransmits an RF signal including a shared access code or a personal identifir,~tion code
when interrogated by a system tr~n~mitter. The tr~ncmilte~l access/identifiration code
is received and analyzed by a system receiver that is associated with a particular point
of access to the secured area, such as a doorway or gate. Some of these RF
identifc~tion systems solely use shared access codes whereby the portable transponders
carried by individuals transmit an access code representing the security level of those
individuals. Such systems typically permit entry by an individual to those areas that
accept the particular access code L~ lliL~rd from the individual's transponder.
Other systems use i-lPntifcation codes that are uniquely associated with
individuals having clearance to enter a secured area in the security system. In these
systems, each secured area may include a memory device for storing a separate list of
identifir~tion codes corresponding to those individuals that are allowed to enter that
secured area.
Regardless of whether the system utilizes a pass code or an identifr~tion code,
however, such RF security systems suffer from the same problem that other security
systems of this type suffer, namely, the potential that an RF transponder, key, or pass
card may be stolen and used by an unauthorized person to gain entry to a secured area.
To prevent such unauthorized entry, security guards are often required to be positioned
at the main entry points of the secured area to check the identifr~tion of the
individuals seeking entry to ensure that the person bearing an identifc~tion card is, in
fact, identified in the identification card. When security guards are required for
checking identification in this manner, the above-mentioned RF security systems do not
provide any ~ignifir,~nt advantage or added security. -
RF security systems of the type noted above are also employed in vehicle RKE
systems. Vehicle RKE systems have become quite common, often res~llting in the
need for individuals with more than one vehicle to carry two or more of these bulky
key fob tr~n~mitters on a single key chain. If the individual carrying such key fobs
works for a company having a security system that utilizes RF identific~tion
transponders and lives in an apartment complex l~tili7ing a security system that also
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uses RF identif1c~tion transponders, the individual may have to carry four or more
tr~n~mitters at any one time thereby making such tr~n~mitters a burden to carry.Another environment affected by the present invention is that of paying tolls.
Current methods of paying tolls for use of a road or bridge include the establishment
of toll booths at various locations along the road and/or at entrances and/or exits of the
road or bridge. Such toll booths may simply provide a shelter for personnel
responsible for m~ml~lly collecting money or h~ntling out fare cards to the drivers of
the vehicles passing therethrough, or the toll booths may include some form of
automated equipment for collecting money and/or supplying/receiving fare cards.
With such toll booths, however, vehicles are required to significantly slow down or
stop to transact with the person or machine in the toll booth. Such transactions may
involve receiving a fare card, paying the fare by h~n-ling money to a toll boothoperator and receiving any change, or throwing money in a basket of an automatedfare collecting device. Such stopping of each vehicle, frequently causes undesirable
traffic back-ups.
In an effort to reduce such traffic back-ups, an RF system has been developed
whereby a number of radio receivers suspended over the roadway co~ lnicate with
RF transponder units placed on the instrument panels of the vehicles. When
interrogated, the transponders transmit a unique code assigne~d to that unit to the
system receivers, which respond by debiting a pre-paid account of the person leasing
the transponder unit. With this system, drivers do not need to slow down or stop to
pay tolls, and therefore, no additional traffic back-ups result. By requiring drivers to
place a loose transponder in the vehicle, however, a safety hazard is created, not to
mention the nllis~n~e of having an lln~ightly piece of equipment sliding around.Moreover, it is conceivable that such transponder units may be stolen from the vehicles
and subsequently used to consume the balance of the pre-paid account associated with
that transponder. Further, the above-described system could not be used in the type of
toll collection systems in which a fare card is handed to the driver at the entrance of a
toll road and subsequently handed to a toll operator at the desired exit for the purpose
of determining a variable fare rate. Additionally, the unique code tr~n~mitte~l from the
transponder unit is, in reality, associated with the transponder itself rather than with
the user insofar as the unique code would not be useful in other types of systems for
iden~iryillg either the user or a universally-recognized account for the user. Therefore,
CA 02234891 1998-0~-11
the transponder unit could not be universally used in other types of systems that could
respond to the receipt of a code uniquely associated with an individual.
Another environment for a trainable tr~ncmitter of the system of the present
invention involves the payment of fees, and more particularly, the payment of fees for
services associated with the vehicle or for services not associated with the vehicle, but
provided to individuals within, or in proximity to, their vehicle. Such services include
car washes, the supply of fuel, and the supply of food and beverages at a drive-through
re~L~ulall~. Another example is the payment of parking fees to either a parking meter
or to an individual or apparatus at a collection booth. In such environments, the driver
or other vehicle occupant has in the past had to search within the close confines of the
vehicle for their wallet, credit card, sufficient change, etc., to make the appr~liate
payment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aspect of the present invention is to provide a system and method whereby a
single trainable tr~ncmitter may be universally used to properly interact with all the
above types of systems and in all the above environments.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of using a
trainable Ll~ ",ill~r to transmit an RF signal including a code uniquely identifying an
individual or an individual's universally-recognized account, such as a credit card
number such that various dirrelellL systems equipped with an RF receiver may accept
payment by the tran.cmiccion of such a signal from such a trainable tr~ncmitter. Still
another aspect of the present invention is to provide a vehicle-installed trainable RF
tr~ncmitter for tr~ncmitting an individual's credit account number in an RF signal for
remote billing of various expenses such as parking fees, toll fares, fuel expenses, and
the cost of food purchased from a drive-through lesLaulallt.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a portable trancmitterthat is trainable to the characteristics of a plurality of identification/access codes to
allow the use of a single portable trancmitter to transmit RF signals to a plurality of
receivers of different security systems. A further aspect is to provide a trainable RF
trancmitter in a key fob that is trainable to a plurality of access codes for a plurality of
vehicles.
To achieve these and other aspects and advantages, the present invention uses a
trainable tr~n.cmitter that is operable in a training mode to learn the RF carrier
CA 02234891 1998-0~-11
frequency and code of a received signal and operable in a tr~ncmitting mode to
transmit a signal having the learned RF carrier frequency and code of a receivedsignal. A method according to one aspect of the invention comprises the steps oftraining the trainable tr~ncmitter to learn the RF carrier frequency and code of a
training signal tr~ncmitte~l from a separate tr~ncmitter, the code included in the training
signal being a unique personal identification code associated with an individual, and
tr~n.cmittin~ an RF signal from the trainable tr~ncmitter including the learned RF
carrier frequency and identification code, to a receiver that analyzes the received
identification code and responds thereto by performing a specific task relative to the
individual identified in the personal identification code.
The receiver to which the trainable L~ lel Ll~nsllliL~ the learned RF signal
may be a receiver in a security system, wherein the specific task performed by the
receiver in response to the received identification code is to disable the security
system. Alternatively or additionally, the receiver to which the trainable tr~n.cmitter
tr~ncmitc the learned RF signal may be installed in a parking meter, and the task
performed by the receiver in response to the received identification code is to debit an
account of the individual identified in the identifir~tinn code. Further, the receiver to
which the trainable Ll~ lel Lld~llliL~ the learned RF signal may be installed along
side a toll road or bridge, and the task performed by the receiver in response to the
received identification code is to debit an account of the individual identified in the
identification code. Moreover, the receiver to which the trainable tr~ncmitter tr~ncmitc
the learned RF signal may be installed at a drive-through station of a service center,
such as a restaurant or gas station, and the task performed by the receiver in response
to the received identification code is to debit an account of the individual identified in
the identification code. The trainable tr~ncmitter may be installed in a vehicle or
provided in a key fob or identification card.
An additional aspect of the present invention is to provide a security system that
displays an image of an individual in response to the receipt of an RF signal
tr~ncmitte(l from a tr~ncmitter associated with that individual. To achieve this and
other aspects and advantages, the security system of the present invention comprises a
tr~ncmitter, which may be a trainable RF tr~ncmitter, for tr~ncmitting an RF signal
including information uniquely associated with an individual, a receiver installed at a
security installation for receiving RF signals, a display device provided in the security
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installation for displaying images to security personnel, and a controller coupled to the
receiver and the display device for controlling the display device to display an image
of an individual associated with the information included in an RF signal received by
the receiver.
These and other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will
be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by lefelellce to the
following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a pictorial view of a vehicle including a tran~mitter according to thepresent invention;
Pig. 2 is a front perspective view of a tran~mitter housing according to the
invention;
Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view of a tran~mitter housing according to Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle interior having an
overhead console for housing the trainable tran~mitter of the present invention;Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a visor incorporating the trainable tran~mitter of
the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a rearview mirror assembly incorporating the
trainable tran~mitter of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram in block form of the tran~mitter according to the
present invention;
Fig. 8 is a flow diagram of the program for controlling the operation of the
tran~mitter shown in Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a circuit diagram in block form of the system receiver shown in Fig.
7;
Fig. 10 is a pictorial and block diagram view of an electrical system employing
an identification card including a trainable tran~mitt~r according to the present
inventlon;
Fig. 11 is a pictorial view of a key fob and block diagram of an electrical
system including a trainable tran~mitter according to the present invention; andFig. 12 is an electrical circuit in block diagram form illustrating the
applications of a trainable tran~mitter according to the present invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring initially to Fig. 1, a vehicle 8 is shown incorporating a trainable
tran~mitter 55 in accordance with the present invention. As will be described in more
detail below, the trainable tran~mitter 55 selectively transmits a coded RF signal, as
indicated by arrow "T" to a device controlled by an RF control signal, such as garage
door opening m~ch~ni.cm 14 shown in block form in Fig. 1. The conventional garage
door opening mechanism 14 includes a receiver and a control circuit (not shown)
which responds to the control signal "T" for opening and closing a garage door. The
trainable tran~mitt~-r 55 typically includes a receiver portion which may be controlled
to receive a coded RF signal "K" from a key fob tran~mitter 22 to which the receiver
responds by performing a predesignated function such as locking or unlocking thedoors of the vehicle.
Trainable tran~mitter 55 may take several forms for in~tallation in a vehicle.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the trainable transmitter 55 may be mounted in a
rectangular housing 40 which preferably is installed permanently or removably in an
accessory of the vehicle. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, trainable tran~mitt~r 55
may be provided in an overhead console 50, which may further include map lamps 52
and map lamp switches 54, or other components such as a compass, trip computer,
and/or display. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, trainable tran~mil~r 55 may be included
in a visor 51 or a rear view mirror 53. As shown in Figs. 2-6, and described in more
detail below, trainable trancmitter 55 preferably includes three or more push-button
switches 44, 46, and 47, and an in-lic~tcr 48, which may be an LED or an
alph~mlm.oric or graphic display. The three or more push-buttons are provided toenable a user to train the tran~mitter to a plurality of signals associated with each of
the push-button switches so that the user may subsequently cause trainable tra~.~"~ r
55 to transmit a learned signal in response to the actuation of the associated push-
button switch. As shown in Fig. 3 and further described with respect to Fig. 7,
trainable tran~mitt~r 55 may be provided with either a serial or parallel port 42 for
connecting to a vehicle control bus 43, which enables trainable tran~mitter 55 to
perform operations in response to signals received by its receiver portion, such as
locking or unlocking the vehicle doors.
Fig. 7 shows the general components forming trainable tran~mitt~r 55 of the
present invention. Trainable tran~mitt~r 55 preferably includes a microcontroller 57
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coupled to receive input signals from a user interface 49 to which microcontroller 57
responds by performing predetermined tasks. User interface 49 generally consists of a
plurality of push-button switches, such as switches 44, 46, and 47, shown in Figs. 2-6.
Alternatively, user interface 49 may be constructed in accordance with the user
interface disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,555,172 issued September 10, 1996, and
entitled USER INTERFACE FOR CONTROLLING ACCESSORIES AND
ENTERING DATA IN A VEHICLE, whereby a display device, such as an alpha-
numeric display device 48 shown in Fig. 7, is used to display selectable operations that
may be changed or selected by manipulation of one or more switches associated with
the user interface. In using such a user interface, trainable tr~n~mitter 55 may be
trained to any number of RF signal characteristics provided there is sufficient memory
for storing the characteristics of each signal. The user interface would then enable a
user to select from these numerous learned RF signals through a menu structure that is
displayed on the display device or by pressing an associated push-button switch
provided in addition to such a user interface.
Trainable tr~n~mitter 55 further includes an RF transceiver circuit 58 that is
coupled to, and operated under control of, microcontroller 57. RF transceiver circuit
58 is coupled to an antenna 59 which is used to transmit control signals "T" to
receivers of other systems 66 and to receive control signals "K" from a key fob 22
(Fig. 1) and RF control signals "B" from remote Ll~ illliLI~l~ 65 during a training
sequence.
As described in more detail below, microcontroller 57 and RF receiver circuit
58 cooperate to receive a control signal "B" and identify its RF carrier frequency,
code, and modulation scheme during a training mode. The learned RF carrier
frequency, code, and modulation scheme for each received signal are stored in a
memory device 62, which may be included within microcontroller 57 or coupled
externally thereto. During a tr~n~mit~ing mode, which is entered into in response to an
actuation of a switch in interface 49, microcontroller 57 reads the associated RF carrier
frequency, code, and modulation scheme data from memory 62 and supplies the data to
RF transceiver circuit 58, which transmits an RF signal having the learned
characteristics through antenna 59.
As mentioned above, trainable tr~n~mitter 55 may include a vehicle bus port 42
coupled to microcontroller 57 through a vehicle bus interface 41 for connecting
g
- CA 02234891 1998-0~-11
trainable transmitter 55 to a vehicle bus 43. Vehicle bus interface 41 is provided to
enable microcontroller 57 to send and receive control signals to and from vehicle bus
43 in response to command signals from user interface 49 or comman(l signals
received through antenna S9 and RF receiver circuit 58.
Trainable tran.~mitt~r 55 further includes a power supply circuit 56 which
supplies power to the various components of trainable tran.cmitter 55. Power supply
56 may include an internal battery and/or may include a connector 61 for coupling
power supply 56 to an external battery 60, which may be the battery of a vehicle in
which trainable tr~n~mitter 55 is installed. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art, that if trainable tran~mitter 55 is provided as a portable device, power supply 56
would include a replaceable battery and would not require a connector 61. Further,
vehicle bus interface 41 and port 42 would also not be required if trainable tran.~mi~ter
55 were implemented in a portable hand-carried device, such as an identification card
or a key fob.
Having described the general components forming the trainable tra~ er of
the present invention, the general operation thereof is described below with reference
to Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 8, the process 200 performed by microcontroller 57
begins in step 202 when microcontroller 57 is either initially powered-up or reset.
Microcontroller 57 begins the process by checking whether any switches are pressed or
if any comman~ls are otherwise received from user interface 49. If no input is
received from user interface 49, microcontroller 57 enters a receiving mode in step
206 in which it determines in step 208 whether any incoming signal is being received
through antenna 59. If no incoming signal is ~u~ lly being received, microcontroller
57 sets up a sleep timer in step 210 and enters a sleeping mode in step 212 to prevent
undue drainage of the battery. A sleep timing circuit external to microcontroller 57
periodically generates a wake-up signal to interrupt the sleep mode of microcontroller
57. When an external timer i~ llupt is received from the sleep timer (step 214),microcontroller 57 returns to step 204 to determine whether any input has been
received from user interface 49. The process as described above is repeated until
microcontroller 57 detects that an input from user interface 49 has been received in
step 204 or if microcontroller 57 determines that an incoming signal is being received
in step 208.
If an incoming signal is being received, microcontroller 57 detects this in step
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208 and subsequently determines whether the incoming signal represents a signal to
which microcontroller 57 is required to respond (step 216) by comparing the received
code with the codes prestored in memory 62. If no response is required,
microcontroller 57 re-enters the sleep state until an external timer interrupt is received.
If, on the other hand, the received signal includes a code that microcontroller 57
recognizes as requiring a response, microcontroller 57 performs the appropliate
response in step 218 and then re-enters the sleep mode. An example of such an
appropliate response may be to lock or unlock the vehicle's doors when a signal is
received from a key fob 22. As will be described below, the code of the signal from
the key fob as well as the carrier frequency and modulation scheme, may be prestored
in memory 62 for microcontroller 57 to compare to the code in a received signal, or a
code, RF frequency, and modulation scheme may be learned during a training
sequence. By training trainable tran.cmitter 55 to the characteristics of a signal from a
key fob, microcontroller 57 may be trained to respond to perform a function such as
locking or unlocking the vehicle's doors in response to signals from different key fobs.
Thus, an individual having two vehicles with RKE systems, may use a single key fob
to remotely actuate the vehicle locks (or initiate some other vehicle function) of both
vehicles thereby elimin~ting the need for the individual to carry two separate key fobs
for each vehicle.
In the event that microcontroller 57 detects that a switch within user interface49 has been pressed (step 204), microcontroller 57 enters a tran.cmitting mode (step
220) in which it l-dl~rels the RF frequency, code, and modulation scheme data stored
in a location of memory 62 associated with the pressed switch, to RF transceivercircuit 58. RF transceiver circuit 58 responds by tr~n.cmitting an RF signal having the
carrier frequency, code, and modulation scheme to a remote receiver (step 222). Such
a receiver may take many forms and be provided as a component in one of many
dirrelellL types of systems in accordance with the present invention. For example, the
receiver may be provided in a garage door opening mech~ni~m, a control module
conn~ct~d to the AC wiring in a house for controlling household appliances, a security
system, a roadside toll booth, a gas pump, an automatic teller machine, a drive-through l~Lduldllt, or a parking meter, as will be described in more detail below.
In step 224, microcontroller 57 determines whether the switch in user interface
49 is still pressed. If the switch is no longer pressed, microcontroller 57 returns to the
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receiving mode and checks whether any incoming RF signal is being received (step208). If the switch is still depressed, microcontroller 57 determines in step 226
whether the switch has been pressed for a predetermined time period. If the switch is
released prior to this time period, microcontroller 57 checks whether any incoming
S signal is being received in step 208 as described above. If the switch has been pressed
for the predetermined period of time, microcontroller 57 performs the training
sequence in step 228. The specifics of the training sequence are known and described
in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,479,155; 5,583,485; 5,442,340; 5,614,885; 5,614,891; and
5,619,190, as are the detailed constructions of various embodiments of trainabletran~mittçr circuits. When the training sequence is complete (step 230),
microcontroller 57 performs step 208 by determining whether any incoming signals are
being received. The process as described above is then repeatedly performed so long
as power is supplied to trainable tr~n~mittçr 55.
As will be apparent from the following description of the preferred methods of
use for the trainable tr~n~mitter described above, various steps in the process described
above with respect to Fig. 8 may be elimin~ted In particular, the steps associated
with the receiving mode (steps 206, 208, 210, 216, and 218) may be elimin~tecl such
that microcontroller 57 remains in a sleep mode until one of the switches has been
activated. Further, in the various embodiments described below, the receiver portion
of RF transceiver circuit 58 could be elimin~tçd and user interface 49 could be
configured with a serial or parallel port through which the RF carrier frequency, code,
and modulation scheme for one or more signals may be downloaded through
microcontroller 57 into memory 62 for subsequent tr~ncmitt~l upon the actuation of an
associated switch or receipt of an interrogation signal. Such a configuration may be
desirable when trainable tr~n.cmitter 55 is implemented in a key fob or identification
card in the marmer described below.
As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, trainable tr~nsmitter 55 may be implemented in
an identification tag/card 100 or a key fob 110 so as to transmit a modulated RF signal
"T" to an antenna 70 of a system receiver 66. The characteristics of tr~n~mittç~l signal
"T" may be learned from a signal "B" tr~n~mitt~d from a separate remote tr~n~mitter
65, which may include DIP switches for selecting the unique code. Alternatively, the
characteristics could otherwise be downloaded into the memory of trainable tr~n~mitter
55.
CA 02234891 1998-0~-11
As shown in Fig. 10, trainable tr~n~mitter 55 may be mounted to the back of an
identification card 100 with one or more user-actuatable switches 44 and 46 passing
through two apertures in the card so as to be accessible on the front of the card for
actuation by the person carrying the identification card. Alternatively, if the system
with which the identification card 100 is being used includes an interrogating
tr~n~mitter, user-act~lat~ble switches 44 and 46 may be elimin~tç-l and the
microcontroller of trainable tl~ "~iLI~r 55 may be programmed to respond to an
interrogation signal by tr~n~mitting the signal "T." By providing a trainable
tr~n~mittPr 55 on identification card 100 in this manner, the identification card may be
used for a plurality of other purposes, such as providing an identification to a home
security system in addition to the security system at work, and/or tr~n~mitting a RKE
control signal to the person's vehicle thereby elimin~ting the need to carry multiple
identification card and key fobs. Further, one of the channels in trainable tr~n~mitter
55 on the identification card 100 could be trained to learn the signal characteristics to
which an automatic teller machine (ATM) would respond by allowing transactions to
that person's bank account.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that identification card 100could have various configurations as may the mounting of trainable tr~n~mitter 55 on
such an identification card. Further, it will be appreciated that user-act~l~t~hle
switches 44 and 46 may be configured in a manner dirrel~nt from that shown in Fig.
10, that additional user-actuated switches may be provided, and that the user-açt~lat~hle
switches may be elimin~te~l in their entirety provided trainable tr~n~mitter 55 may
otherwise be caused to transmit a signal including the appro~,.iate code.
Fig. 11 shows the implementation of a trainable RF tr~n~mitter within a key fob
110 that may be attached to a key ring 115. Trainable key fob 110 may be used in the
same manner as fli~cllcsed above with respect to the identification card 100 in that it
may be trained to transmit a number of dirrelelll control or identification signals to a
number of different systems. For example, trainable key fob 110 may be trained to
transmit different RKE control signals to dirrelel~t vehicles such that only a single key
fob needs to be carried by a person owning and/or operating more than one vehicle
having an RKE system. Further, the trainable tr~ ",illPl within key fob 110 may
likewise be trained to transmit many other signals such as an identification signal that
may be tran~mittPcl to a security system or a signal including the individual's credit
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CA 02234891 1998-0~-11
card account number or ATM machine PIN (personal identification number) number
for financial transaction purposes. Again, although key fob 110 is shown in Fig. 11 as
including three user-actuatable switches 44, 46, and 47, additional switches may be
provided or other forms of user input switches could be used without departing from
S the spirit and scope of the present invention. Also, the microcontroller associated with
the trainable tr~n~mitt~r in the fob can be programmed to transmit different signals
upon multiple actuations of a single switch.
To understand how some of the various systems in which the trainable
tr~n~mitt~r may be used and would respond to the receipt of an RF personal
identification signal, reference is now made to Figs. 9 and 12. As shown in Pig. 12,
trainable tr~n~mitter 55, which may be implemented in any of the various structures
~li.ccll~secl above, may be used to transmit signals to, or receive signals from, system
receivers and transceivers implemented in an ATM 121, a parking meter 122, a drive-
through service center 123, a toll booth 124, a gas pump 125, a security system 126,
and/or a telephone 127.
To explain how a receiver 66 may be implemented in these various systems,
reference is made to Fig. 9 in which a block diagram of an exemplary receiver isillustrated. As shown, system receiver 66 includes an antenna 70 coupled to a receiver
circuit 71, which in turn is coupled to a microcontroller 72. In a typical receiver
system, receiver circuit 71 filters out the signals falling within predeterminedfrequency bands and demodulates these signals to supply the code within the signal to
microcontroller 72. Microcontroller 72 would typically then access a database within
memory 74 to determine if the code corresponds to a valid prestored code. If thereceived code is valid, microcontroller 72 would perform a pre~lçtçrminPcl task, such
as debiting an account identified within the received code by an amount corresponding
to a particular fee that is charged or enable another device to perform a function, such
as to pump gas or enable a bank transaction. Receiver system 66 may further include
a display 73 for displaying plolllp~ g messages and the like to the user or to a party
remotely located from the user, and an input device 75, which may be located where
the user may optionally or additionally input information or located remotely for access
by a third party. Further, the system will typically include some form of systeminterface 76 which links the receiver system 66 to other centralized systems that
~ccl-m~ te information and perform other tasks such as sending out invoices and/or
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CA 02234891 1998-0~-11
collecting fees.
When the method of the present invention is implemented in a gas pump 125, it
will be appreciated that, to the extent existing gas pumps are already equipped with
systems that receive a credit card number through a magnetic card reader, these pumps
S only need to be modified so as to include a receiver as an alternative or additional
means for receiving a person's credit card number. With this exception, no othermodifications would otherwise be required to the gas pumps to allow for
implementation of the present invention. By implementing the methodology of the
present invention as a gas pump, a driver need not carry or search for their credit card
prior to using the gas pump.
With respect to ATMs, such mA~hin~s, like the gas pumps, are configured to
receive a code idellliryillg the bank account and a PIN number via a card reader and an
input keypad, and therefore, the only modification that would be required to implement
the present invention in an ATM is to provide a receiver as an alternate means for
inputting this information. By implementing the present invention in an ATM,
individuals do not need to carry and search for their ATM card to use the ATM. This
is particularly advantageous in a drive-up ATM.
With respect to the implementation of the present invention in a drive-through
service center 123, such as a drive-through re~lauldnl, the system could be
implemented in a manner quite similar to those systems used in grocery stores that
accept credit cards by reading the number on the magnetic strip when it is passed
through a reader. The only modification to such a system would be to either replace
or add an RF receiver as an additional means for the input of a person's credit card
number regarding the particular transaction being performed. By l~tili7.ing the
inventive method in a drive-through service center, drivers no longer need to search
their vehicles for change to pay for food or other goods or services at such drive-
through service centers. Tn~te~tl, a driver may simply press a button conveniently
located on an interior vehicle accessory, such as an overhead console.
For implementation of the invention in a toll booth, such as those provided
along a roadside or at the entrance or exit to a bridge, the trainable trAn~mitter 55 may
be installed in a vehicle in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. 4-6, and trained to
transmit the signal that is tr~n.~mitted by a conventional transponder unit in response to
a learned interrogation signal for use in the conventional RF toll system described
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CA 02234891 1998-0~-11
above. Alternatively, the RF toll system infrastructure could be modified to accept a
credit card number that may be tr~ncmitte~l from a trainable tr~n.cmitter in response to
either the actuation of a switch or the receipt of an interrogation signal. In the event
that a switch must be ~ct~l~t~l to transmit the a~,opliate code to the receiver in the
RF toll system, roadside signs may be posted to prompt the user to press the
a~ro~,iate button when in the vicinity of a receiver. When implemented in a tollsystem of the type in which a motorist is issued a fare card when entering the toll road
for purposes of determining the approp~iate fare when exiting, the trainable tr~ncmitter
55 may be operated to transmit an appro~liate signal to a receiver at an entrance to the
toll road to register the vehicle with respect to that entrance point, and then to
subsequently transmit an a~p~upliate signal to a receiver at an exit of the toll road at
which point the toll system may access a central database to determine both the
entrance and exit points, calculate the approp~iate fare, and autom~tic~lly debit the
person's credit card account or other prepaid account by an amount equal to the
calculated fare. As with the conventional RF toll system, video cameras may be
placed at the entrance and exit locations to identify drivers who failed to cooperate by
controlling their trainable tr~ncmitters to transmit the approp~iate signals at the
a~,iate locations. Thus, by using a trainable RF tran.cmitter in such a toll
collection system, drivers need not contend with a loose, lmcightly transponder unit in
their vehicle.
In a similar manner to that discussed above with respect to the toll system, thepresent invention may be implemented in a parking lot/ramp facility whereby trainable
tr~ncmitter 55 would be operated to transmit an applopliate signal upon the entry into
the parking facility and to subsequently ~ lil an appl~riate signal upon the exit
from the facility such that the drivers may be charged by an amount corresponding to
the time in which the vehicle has been parked within the lot.
In a similar application, trainable tr~ncmitter 55 could be used to transmit an
account number or other information to a receiver in a parking meter 122. It is
contemplated that a parking meter 122 with which the present invention could be
utilized would include a receiver system similar to system receiver 66 shown in Fig. 9
with display device 73 being a digital display of the type used in conventional parking
meters, and with input device 75 corresponding to a coin-receiving slot and turn knob
as found on conventional parking meters to allow for the receipt of coins in the
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CA 02234891 1998-0~-11
conventional manner. Parking meter 122 would further include a system interface 76,
which may be connected to a central location via a cable or other RF col,.""~ ation
link to transmit account transactions to a central facility for purposes of billing.
All~lnati~ely, system interface 76 could be a co~ .lnic~tion port to which a portable
device may be connected to download information collected and stored in memory 74
for subsequent downloading to a central facility. In this manner, the personnel
responsible for collecting the coins in the meter, may at the same time collect account
transaction information that had been stored in memory during the period from the last
time that the coins and account information were retrieved.
In operation, when a driver pulls up to a parking meter, the driver would
actuate trainable L1AI~CIII;IIt;1 55 to ll~smiL a low-power RF signal including a unique
identification code to a receiver provided in the closest parking meter 122. Upon
receipt of such a signal, microcontroller 72 would determine whether the received code
is in one of a plurality of recognized formats for a credit card number or other account
number. If the received code has a valid format, microcontroller 72 would record the
account number in memory 74 along with the time and date at which the signal wasreceived. Microcontroller 72 would then wait for the subsequent receipt of the
identical signal when the driver is pulling away from the parking meter to record that
time and date in memory 74 in association with that account number. Alternatively, a
trancmittPr in parking meter 122 may periodically interrogate the vehicle's trainable
tr~n.cmitt~r until no response is received, thereby in-lirating that the vehicle is no
longer parked in the associated space. Microcontroller 72 may be programmed to
compute the appropliate parking fare based upon the length of time the vehicle was
parked, or the computer at the central facility may be programmed to calculate these
fares once the times have been downloaded or otherwise supplied thereto from theparking meters. Further, microcontroller 72 may be programmed so as to display on
display 73 a message that a valid signal had been received and that the meter is in use
such that a police officer or other personnel may determine whether or not the
appropliate fee has been or will be paid by the driver/owner of the parked vehicle.
Further, when the identical signal is subsequently received to signal the depallule of
the parked vehicle, the parking meter may be cleared such that the driver may confirm
that the parking meter has received the signal and is no longer running up the parking
fare. In addition, microcontroller 72 may be programmed to display an "expired"
CA 02234891 1998-0~-11
message when a time limit for parking in the associated parking space has expired or
when the amount of parking time purchased by the deposit of coins in input device 75
has otherwise elapsed.
By providing such receiver systems in parking meters and implementing the
system of the present invention, not only will the likelihood that the parking fare will
be received by the m~n~ging facility be increased, but the users will benefit by not
having to search for enough coins in their vehicles or on their person in order to feed
the parking meter enough coins to provide the desired amount of parking time.
In yet another implementation of the present invention, the above methodology
may be used as a means for inputting an individual's credit card number into a
telephone. Like conventional gas pumps and ATMs, existing telephones include means
for reading a credit card number from the magnetic strip on a credit card. Therefore,
to implement the present invention, the only modification that would need to be made
is to provide a receiver as an alLell~liv~ or additional means for hll~uLLil~g the credit
card number to the telephone.
To implement the present invention in an existing RF security system, all that
would need to be done is to train a trainable tr~n~mitter 55 that is carried by the
individual to the access code or identification code to which the receivers in the
security system respond. Additionally, if the trainable tr~n~mitter is to transmit its
signal in response to an interrogation signal, the controller of the trainable tr~n~mitter
would be reprogrammed so as to learn not only the characteristics of the signal that it
must transmit to the security system, but also the characteristics of the interrogation
signal such that when an interrogation signal is received, trainable tr~n~mitte.r 55 would
recognize it and respond by L1A~ g a signal having the learned characteristics of
the identification/access code to which the security system will respond.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a security
system may be implemented that responds to the access/identification signal tr~n~mitte-l
by an individual from either a portable tr~n~mitter or a Ll~ iLI~l installed in a
vehicle, by callcing an image of the particular individual associated with that signal to
be displayed on a display such as a CRT 73 at a security installation such as a gate
house, or central facility. In such a security system, the images may be previously
stored in a memory device, such as memory 74 (Fig. 9) so that the receiving system
66 may look up the previously-stored image that corresponds to the received
-18-
CA 02234891 1998-0~-11
identification signal and display it on display 73. Alternatively, the image data may be
included in the tr~n~mittrd identification signal.
By providing a security system that displays a previously-stored image of the
individual, security personnel may be able to quickly confirm the identity of the person
S seeking entry by viewing the person directly or indirectly through a video camera
located at the entrance point, and by viewing the displayed image. In this manner, a
security guard need not n~cess~rily be located in a remote gate house and does not
need to waLk out to a vehicle to view an image on a small identifir~tion card held by
the driver of the vehicle. Thus, a number of security gate houses may be monitored in
a central facility by relatively few security guards who would compare images of the
driver obtained through a remote camera with a displayed image and, if the guard can
confirm the identity of the person seeking entry, the guard could then activate a switch
that opens the gate or doorway.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the trainable tr~n.~mitter as
used in these various systems, may be either implemented in a portable form or
installed in a vehicle. Further, although the present invention has been described
separately with respect to various types of systems, it will be appreciated that a single
trainable tran~mitter may be used to transmit a signal to all or any combination of the
various systems disclosed. For example, if trainable tr~n.cmitter 55 (Fig. 12) were
trained to transmit an individual's credit card number and the various systems were
provided with a receiver for processing such a signal, trainable tr~n~mitter 55 could
readily be used to transmit signals to all of these systems as well as to other systems
not disclosed that accept a credit card number through conventional electronic means.
To the extent that an individual typically carries their own set of keys and their
own identifir~tion cards, it would be unlikely that more than one individual would
utilize any one trainable key fob or identific~tion card such that the trainabletr~ncmi1ters need only be trained to a single person's identification number. On the
other hand, for a tlainable tran.~mitt~r that is installed in a vehicle, more than one
individual may operate the vehicle. Therefore, it would be n~cess~ry to train the
trainable tr~n~mitter to transmit more than one identification code. In some
implementations of trainable tr~n~mitters, this may not present a problem. However,
if the number of trainable channels are limited to the number of user-actuatableswitches, for example, one may not wish to de-lir~te more than one channel for the
-19-
CA 02234891 1998-0~-11
.,
tr~n~mi~sion of an identification code. To allow more than one identific~tion code to
be tr~n~mitted from such a trainable tr~n~mitter without using more than one channel,
the trainable tr~n~mitter may be programmed so as to identify which individual is
currently driving the vehicle based upon the actuation of a driver identification switch
S or based upon the receipt of a driver number code included in an RKE unlock signal
so as to retrieve from memory the applopliate identification number for the one
channel used for tr~n~mittin~ that number which corresponds to the current driver.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the ~ n~ r(1
identification code may be, and preferably is, encrypted during tr~n~mi~sion to prevent
an lln~l~thorized person from idelllifying and grabbing the tr~n~mitted code. Moreover,
in some of the above-noted ~y~lellls, it is possible to implement a rolling codealgorithm such that a portion of the code tr~n~mitted with the identification signal
varies with each tr~n~mi~sion.
The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only.
Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who
make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in
the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended
to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims ashllel~leled according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine ofequivalents.
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