Passive garage door opener

Details Passive garage door opener Passive garage door opener

1998-06-02

2001-08-07

Zimmerman, Brian (Department: 2735)

Communications: electrical

Continuously variable indicating

With meter reading

C340S870030, C340S436000, C340S010100, C340S903000, C342S042000, C342S044000, C701S118000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06271765

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present inventions relates generally to a wireless transmitter for a vehicle and more particularly to a passive garage door opener for use in a vehicle.
The majority of new homes built are constructed with garage door openers with remote controllers using RF wireless technology. Further, many existing homes have been upgraded with garage door openers also using RF wireless technology for accomplishing the remote function. A current trend in the automotive market is to provide new vehicles with factory-installed universal garage door opener transmitters. Several garage door opener transmitters have been designed to produce a passive garage door opener system that does not require the user to manually actuate the transmitter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a passive garage door opener system in which the transmitter sends a signal to the garage door opener receiver based upon the position of the transmitter. Preferably, the garage door is in a position known relative to earth and the position of the transmitter (vehicle) is determined relative to earth by a sensor. From this, the relative distance and position of the vehicle relative to the garage door can be determined. The transmitter then sends a signal to the receiver based upon the distance and/or position of the vehicle relative to the garage door.
Preferably, the sensor comprises a navigation system or its components, such as a GPS receiver, dead reckoning system, etc. Preferably, other factors, such as vehicle speed and heading, are also monitored to determine whether and when to send the signal from the transmitter. With vehicle heading and speed information, the garage door opener system can also determine whether the door should be opened (when the vehicle is heading toward the door) or closed (when the vehicle is heading away from the door).


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patent: WO 92/16907 (1992-10-01), None

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