Patent Publication Number: US-2016247343-A1

Title: Method for pairing an actuator with at least one wireless transmitter, method for controlling such an actuator and closing installation comprising such an actuator

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method for pairing an actuator with at least one wireless transmitter within a closing installation, for example comprising a garage door, a gate or a business gate. A closing installation generally comprises a receiver for receiving signals transmitted by one or more transmitters. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the home automation field, it is known to use a closing installation to selectively close an entrance, path or garage. Some closing installations can be controlled remotely using a wireless transmitter, in particular a remote control. In order to avoid personal accidents, it is known to block the control of the actuator by the transmitter when the transmitter is beyond a predetermined distance, for example approximately ten meters. This function makes it possible to guarantee control within sight of the closing installation. It is sometimes described as a “dead man control mechanism”. However, dispersions exist in the control chain of the actuator. These dispersions come from allowances regarding the transmission power of the transmitter and the sensitivity of the receiver. These dispersions also come from the presence of obstacles to the transmission of the signals, such as trees or a wall. Control within sight of the closing installation is therefore not securely guaranteed. 
     One solution to limit the range of the transmitters is to adjust the sensitivity of the transmitter with a potentiometer. However, given that this solution applies to all of the transmitters, it is not possible to select a different range for each transmitter. Another solution consists of using a reduced range transmitter, without any possible adjustment. In this case, the range of the transmitter is predetermined and is not adjustable relative to the configuration of the closing installation. For example, a maximum selected range of ten meters is not appropriate for a garage door clearly visible from fifteen or twenty meters away. Conversely, this nominal range of ten meters is not appropriate for a configuration where the closing installation is only visible from five meters away, for example due to a turn. 
     Document DE-U-20 2014 102 241 discloses a control system for a garage door. The control system comprises a receiver suitable for receiving the signals transmitted by a transmitter. When a signal is sent from the transmitter to the receiver, the power of the control signal received by the receiver is compared with a threshold value saved in memory. If the power of the control signal received by the receiver is below this threshold value, the control of the actuator by the transmitter is blocked. It is not identified how this threshold value is determined. Thus, it is likely that this threshold value is the same for all garage doors. The threshold value is therefore not adjusted based on the visibility of the garage door, and there is a risk of the control of the garage door not being done within sight. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention more particularly aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a method for pairing an actuator with at least one wireless transmitter, which makes it possible to guarantee control of the closing installation from within sight, under all circumstances. 
     To that end, the invention relates to a method for pairing an actuator with at least one wireless transmitter within a closing installation, this closing installation comprising a receiver receiving signals transmitted by the transmitter. The method comprises at least the following steps:
         a) placing the transmitter at a determined distance from the receiver and sending an initial configuration signal from the transmitter and to the receiver,   b) using the receiver, collecting an identifier of the transmitter contained in the initial configuration signal and determining the power of that signal,   c) comparing the power of the signal determined in step b) with a pre-established threshold value,   d) if the power of the signal determined in step b) is above the pre-established threshold value, storing the identifier of the transmitter and the value of this power in a memory associated with the actuator, and   e) if the power of the signal determined in step b) is below the pre-established threshold value, rejecting the transmitter as being incompatible with the desired operation for the closing installation.       

     Owing to the invention, only transmitters capable of transmitting a control signal powerful enough to be received by the receiver at the determined distance are selected to be paired with the actuator of the closing installation. A maximum distance to activate the actuator using the transmitter can be set during the pairing, within a perimeter set by the pre-established threshold power value of the initial configuration signal. This maximum distance is chosen by the installer during pairing of the transmitter with the actuator, based on the visibility of the closing installation and/or other parameters, such as the frequency of use, the usage wish (for example, from a vehicle or by pedestrian), and the weather that day. These various parameters affect the available power at the transmitter during subsequent uses. The correspondence between the distance between the transmitter and the receiver and the power level of the initial configuration signal is also influenced by these various parameters. Thus, the maximum activation distance of an actuator of a concealed closing installation is chosen to be shorter than for a clear closing installation. Likewise, the maximum activation distance will be chosen to be larger if the user arrives in front of the door in a vehicle rather than on foot. The user equipped with the transmitter paired with the actuator cannot activate the actuator past the predetermined distance during pairing, which makes it possible to guarantee control of the closing installation from within sight. Furthermore, several transmitters can be paired separately and with a different maximum activation distance. 
     The rejection of the transmitter as being incompatible with a desired operation for the closing installation can simply mean that the installer must redo the pairing between this transmitter and the receiver at a distance closer to the receiver. 
     According to advantageous, but optional aspects of the invention, such a pairing may include one or more of the following features, considered in any technically allowable combination:
         The distance used in step a) is defined as a function of the maximum desired distance, between transmitter and receiver, for the activation of the actuator by the transmitter.   The distance used in step a) is equal to the maximum desired distance between the transmitter and the receiver for activation of the actuator by the transmitter.   For a closing installation with several transmitters, the pairing method is implemented for each transmitter, with a determined distance selected in step a) for each transmitter.   In step a), all of the transmitters are placed at the same distance.   In step a), the transmitters are placed at different distances.       

     The invention also relates to a method for controlling an actuator of a closing installation paired with at least one transmitter according to a method as described above. This method comprises iterative steps consisting, during a control sequence of the closing installation, of:
         f) collecting the identifier of the transmitter and the power of a control signal transmitted by the latter and received by the receiver,   g) verifying the authenticity of the identifier collected from the transmitter, and   h) comparing the power of the control signal received by the receiver with the power of the initial configuration signal saved in memory,   i) if the power of the control signal received by the receiver is lower than the power of the initial configuration signal, blocking the control of the actuator by the transmitter, and   j) if the power of the control signal received by the receiver is higher than the power of the initial configuration signal, allowing the control of the actuator by the transmitter.       

     According to one advantageous, but optional aspect of the control method, the identifier of the transmitter comprises a static code and a rolling code, while the static code is stored in the memory associated with the actuator and the rolling code is changed upon each step d) of the pairing method. 
     The invention also relates to a closing installation configured to carry out a method as previously described. The closing installation comprises an actuator, at least one transmitter, a receiver for receiving signals transmitted by each transmitter, means for collecting an identifier of each transmitter. The closing installation further comprises means for determining the power of an initial configuration signal, which is received by the receiver and which is transmitted by the transmitter at a determined distance from the receiver, and a memory for storing the identifier of the transmitter and the power of the received initial configuration signal, based on the result of the comparison of step c) of the pairing method. 
     According to one advantageous, but optional aspect of the closing installation, the latter further comprises means for verifying the authenticity of the collected identifier of the transmitter, and means for comparing the power of a control signal received by the receiver from the transmitter with the power of the initial configuration signal saved in memory for this transmitter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in light of the following description of one embodiment of a pairing method according to its principle, provided solely as an example and done in reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a closing installation comprising an actuator, a transmitter and a receiver for receiving signals transmitted by the transmitter, 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing the different steps for carrying out a pairing method for pairing the actuator with the transmitter of  FIG. 1 , and 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing the different steps for carrying out a method for controlling the closing installation of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a closing installation  1 , which, in the example, is a garage door. This garage door comprises an apron  2 , which is vertically movable and is guided in translation using two lateral slides  6 . The closing installation  1  comprises a box  9  positioned in the upper part of the apron  2 . The box  9  contains a tube  4  for winding the apron  2 . The tube  4  is rotated around a horizontal axis X using an electric actuator  12 . The apron  2  is attached to the tube  4  using hooks  10 . The electric actuator  12  is controlled by a wireless transmitter  32 , in the case at hand a remote control. The transmitter  32  is configured by the pairing method described below to be capable of transmitting a control signal S 32  to a receiver  16  belonging to an electronic control unit  14 , positioned inside the box  9  and configured to drive the actuator  12 . The transmitter  32  communicates with the receiver  16  by radio channel, i.e., the receiver  16  includes an antenna  16   a,  diagrammatically shown in  FIG. 1 . The transmitter  32  can be a one-way radio transmitter, only capable of transmitting control orders, or a two-way radio transmitter, also capable of receiving signals. 
     A method is described below for pairing a new transmitter  32  with the actuator  12 . 
     First, in one configuration mode, during step  50 , the installer places the transmitter  32  at a determined distance from the receiver  16 , and during step  52 , sends an initial configuration signal S 32 ′ from the transmitter  32  to the receiver  16 . The position of the transmitter  32  for sending the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ is chosen by the installer, in particular based on the visibility of the closing installation  1 . Thus, the distance at which the initial configuration signal is sent must be smaller for a concealed closing installation  1  than for a clear closing installation  1 . A concealed closing installation  1  for example corresponds to a garage door located at the end of a turn or behind trees, whereas a clear closing installation  1  for example corresponds to a garage door situated at the end of a straight alley. The position of the transmitter  32  during the pairing therefore depends on the visibility of the closing installation  1 . It may also depend on other parameters, such as the usage frequency, the usage wish (for example, from a vehicle or by a pedestrian), the weather that day. These different parameters indeed affect the power available at the transmitter  32  during subsequent uses. The correspondence between the distance between the transmitter  32  and the receiver  16  and the power level P 32 ′ of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ is also influenced by these different parameters. 
     The initial configuration signal S 32 ′ is received by the receiver  16  in a step  54  and contains an identifier of the transmitter  32 . The electronic control unit  14  collects this identifier and determines the power P 32 ′ of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′. This power is a radio power, sometimes described as RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) level or power. 
     The electronic control unit  14  next, during a step  56 , compares the power of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ with a pre-established threshold value P 0 . This pre-established threshold value P 0  depends on the sensitivity of the receiver  16 , i.e., of the reception threshold of the receiver  16 . This reception threshold corresponds to the minimum power that a signal must have to be able to be received by the receiver  16 . The reception threshold defines the radio range between the transmitter  32  and the receiver  16  beyond which the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ from the transmitter  32  is not received, or poorly received, by the receiver  16 . The pre-established value P 0  establishes a received power threshold at the receiver  16  equivalent to a reduced radio range relative to the radio range of the receiver  16 . The pre-established value P 0  is defined in the factory and corresponds to an activation distance for a standard installation and making it possible to meet the standards relative to the dead man control mechanism from a radio transmitter. In practice, this pre-established threshold value P 0  is therefore increased relative to the reception power threshold of the receiver  16 . 
     If the power P 32 ′ of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ is above this pre-established threshold value P 0 , the identifier of the transmitter  32  and the power value P 32 ′ of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ are stored, during a step  58 , in the memory (not shown) associated with the electronic control unit  14 , preferably integrated therein. 
     However, if the power P 32 ′ of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ is below the pre-established threshold value P 0 , the transmitter  32  is rejected, in a step  60 , because it is incompatible with a desired operation for the closing installation  1 . The installer must therefore select a new, more powerful transmitter  32  to pair with the actuator  12 , as shown by the return toward step  50 . 
     The distance from the receiver  16  at which the transmitter  32  is placed to send the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ in practice corresponds to the maximum desired distance, between the transmitter  32  and the receiver  16 , for the activation of the actuator  12  by the transmitter  32 . 
     According to one alternative that is not shown, the above pairing method can be repeated later to change the power value P 32 ′ associated with a transmitter  32  whose identifier is already stored in memory. If the conditions of step d) are met, the new power value P 32 ′ associated with the transmitter  32  is stored in place of the old value P 32 ′. 
     In the event the determined power P 32 ′ of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ in step b) is below the pre-established threshold value P 0 , the rejection of the transmitter  32  as being incompatible with a desired operation for the closing installation  1  can simply mean that the installer must redo the pairing between this transmitter  32  and the receiver  16  at a shorter distance from the receiver  16 . Information specific to the receiver  16 , for example a short actuation of the door, or the transmitter  32  if the latter is a two-way transmitter, can indicate this rejection to the installer. 
     Below, in reference to  FIG. 3 , a method is described for controlling the actuator  12  paired with the transmitter  32  according to the method described above. 
     In  FIG. 3 , step  100  corresponds to starting up the receiver  16 . When the user initiates a control sequence of the closing installation  1 , he acts on the transmitter  32  to send a control signal S 32  to the receiver  16 . This control signal S 32  is received by the receiver  16  during a step  102 . In practice, the user must exert a continuous action on the transmitter  32  throughout the entire control sequence of the actuator  12 , i.e., the user must keep an actuating button of the transmitter  32  pushed in to open or close the door  2  completely. The transmitter  32  then sends control signals S 32  as long as the actuating button of the transmitter  32  is pushed in. If the user releases the button, the control of the actuator  12  by the transmitter  32  is blocked and the movement of the apron  2  is stopped. Thus, the transmitter sends successive control signals S 32  to the receiver  16  throughout the entire control phase. The control method therefore comprises iterative steps  104  to  108  implemented each time a new signal is transmitted by the transmitter  32  and received by the receiver  16 , i.e., the method is repeated each time a new control signal S 32  is received by the receiver  16  in step  102 . 
     In step  102 , the receiver  16  collects the identifier of the transmitter  32 , and the power P 32  of the control signal S 32  transmitted by the latter and received by the receiver  16  is determined. The authenticity of the collected identifier of the transmitter  32  is next verified in steps  104  and  106 . The identifier of the transmitter  32  is a code comprising a static code and a rolling code. The static code is an address saved in the memory associated with the electronic control unit  14 , while the rolling code is generated upon each new use of the transmitter  32 . Step  104  consists of verifying that the address of the transmitter  32  is indeed saved in the memory associated with the actuator  12 . If the address is saved, the control method continues. Step  106  consists of verifying that the rolling code is correct. The rolling code is generated using a code generator integrated into the transmitter  32 . The same code generator is integrated into the electronic control unit  14  of the actuator  12 . Thus, if the rolling codes respectively generated by the electronic control unit  14  and the transmitter  32  match, the rolling code sent by the transmitter  32  is correct and the control method continues. 
     If the address of the transmitter  32  is not saved in memory or if the static or rolling code sent by the transmitter  32  to the receiver  16  is incorrect, this means that the transmitter  32  used is not provided to work with the actuator  12 , since it is not compared with the actuator  12  during the initial configuration. Thus, the control method stops and the control of the movement of the apron  2  by the actuator  12  is blocked. In practice, the control method stops at least until reception of the following control signal S 32 , as shown by the return arrows going from steps  104  and  106  to step  102  for receiving a new control signal S 32 . 
     A following step  108 , implemented by the electronic control unit  14  of the actuator  12 , consists of comparing the power P 32  of the control signal S 32  received by the receiver  16  with the power P 32 ′ of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ saved in memory during the pairing. If, during the control method, the power P 32  of the control signal S 32  received by the receiver  16  is below the power P 32 ′ of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′, this means that the transmitter  32  is at a greater distance from the receiver  16  than the distance chosen by the installer during pairing, for example because the user is far away from the receiver  16 , beyond the maximum saved distance. In this case, the control cannot be done with good visibility on the closing installation  1 . 
     To avoid personal accident and therefore for security reasons, the control of the actuator  12  of the transmitter  32  is blocked, at least until reception of the following control signal S 32 , as shown by the return arrow between the comparison step  108  and the receiving step  102 . The user must therefore remain close to the receiver  16  throughout the entire opening or closing sequence of the closing installation  1 . This guarantees that the closing installation  1  is controlled from within sight. The user can then intervene in case of problem, for example if a person or object is below the apron  2  during closing. This therefore corresponds to a closing installation  1  with a “dead man control mechanism”. 
     Conversely, if the power P 32  of the control signal S 32  received by the receiver  16  is greater than or equal to the power P 32 ′ of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′, this means that the transmitter  32  is at a distance from the receiver  16  closer than that chosen by the installer during pairing. The control of the actuator  12  by the transmitter  32  is allowed and the movement of the apron  2  is controlled by the actuator  12 , during step  110 , at least until reception of a new control signal S 32 . 
     In an alternative that is not shown, the closing installation  1  is an electric gate, a barrier or a commercial gate. 
     According to another alternative that is not shown, the same pairing method can be used for a closing installation  1  with several transmitters  32 . In this case, a pairing method is carried out separately for each transmitter  32 , with a determined distance that can be equal or different for all of the transmitters  32 . 
     According to another alternative that is not shown, the transmitter  32  automatically sends successive control signals S 32  to the receiver  16  throughout the entire control phase, such that the user is not required to press continuously on a button of the transmitter  32 , in particular of the remote control. The control method therefore comprises iterative steps  104  to  108  implemented each time a new signal is transmitted by the transmitter  32  and received by the receiver  16 , i.e., the method is repeated each time a new control signal S 32  is received by the receiver  16  in step  102 . 
     According to another alternative that is not shown, the electronic control unit  14  is capable of detecting when the batteries of the transmitter  32  are changed, in particular by the modification of a part of the frame of the control signal S 32  transmitted by the transmitter  32 , so as to specify the status of the batteries. Indeed, the power P 32  of the signal transmitted by the transmitter  32  is greater when the batteries are new than when they are used. Thus, if the receiver  16  receives a control signal S 32  in which the part of the frame associated with the state of the batteries is replaced by a higher value, the electronic unit  14  deduces from this that the batteries have been changed and increases the power P 32 ′ of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ saved in memory during pairing. This thus involves automatically adjusting the power value P 32 ′ of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′. For example, the power of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ can be increased by 20% or 50% or mathematically by using the information relative to the state of the batteries contained in the frame. This makes it possible to prevent a user having a transmitter  32  with new batteries from being able to control the actuator  12  using the transmitter  32  beyond the distance provided by the installer. The automatic adjustment also makes it possible to offset a deterioration of the condition of the batteries. However, the power P 32 ′ of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ cannot be decreased below the pre-established threshold value P 0 . 
     According to another alternative that is not shown, the distance from the receiver  16  at which the transmitter  32  is placed to send the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ does not correspond to the desired maximum distance between the transmitter  32  and the receiver  16  for the activation of the actuator  12  by the transmitter  32 , but to a smaller distance. The desired maximum distance can thus, for greater security, be decreased to define the distance at which the initial configuration signal S 32 ′ is sent and the distance at which the control signals will need to be transmitted later. 
     According to another alternative that is not shown, the pairing method comprises a reiteration of step a) for positioning the transmitter  32  at a determined distance from the receiver  16  and sending the initial configuration signal S 32 ′, step b) for collecting a transmitter identifier  32  contained in an initial configuration signal S 32 ′ and determining the power P 32 ′ of the signal S 32 ′, and step c) for comparing the determined power P 32 ′ of the initial configuration system S 32 ′ with the pre-established threshold value P 0 , before making it possible to store the identifier of the transmitter  32  and a mean value of the associated powers P 32 ′ received by the receiver  16 . This reiteration can be implemented through pressing on the transmitter  32  twice, making it possible to send two consecutive initial configuration signals S 32 ′, for example from two different positions with respect to the door to be controlled. This makes it possible to secure the learning of the power value P 32 ′ of the initial configuration signal S 32 ′. 
     The features of the alternatives and embodiments considered above may be combined with one another to create new embodiments of the invention.