Patent ID: 7600550
Filing Date: 2009-10-13
Classification: E05F,E05Y,G07C

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a barrier, such as a gate or garage door, to move between open and closed positions, said barrier being operably connected to an operator system including a controller comprising a base control circuit, said controller being operable to track whether said barrier is automatically or manually moved into position by said controller, a human operator controllable base switch operably connected to said base control circuit, a radio frequency base transmitter, a radio frequency base receiver and first and second remote control units operable to communicate with said base control circuit by way of said base receiver, each of said remote control units including a radio frequency remote transmitter and a radio frequency remote receiver, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting a radio frequency query signal to said remote receivers; receiving an automatic reply signal from a remote transmitter of one of said first and second remote control units at said base receiver in response to said query signal, said reply signal including a signal characteristic identifying said first remote control unit from said second remote control unit; and causing said base control circuit to effect one of opening and closing said barrier dependent on said base receiver receiving said reply signal from said one remote control unit and dependent on whether said barrier was automatically or manually moved to its present position by said controller.