Patents Assigned to Multi-Elmac Company
  • Patent number: 4593412
    Abstract: A low-power transmitter for garage door operator systems and the like wherein harmonics of the fundamental frequency are suppressed by class A or AB oscillator operation and fundamental radiation is enhanced by way of a combined inductor/radiator having conductive printed circuit extrusions on the ends thereof to effectively form a center-fed dipole antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Multi-Elmac Company
    Inventor: Keith Jacob
  • Patent number: 4574247
    Abstract: An FM demodulator wherein the input signal excursions advance a counter. At each of a sequence of equal sample times, the count is compared to a value which is the average of the highest and lowest counts during the sequence. The comparison may be numerically direct or by down-counting from a present number. The result of the comparison sets an output data value either "1" or "0".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: Multi-Elmac Company
    Inventor: Keith Jacob
  • Patent number: 4426637
    Abstract: A dual purpose integrated circuit device which can be utilized both as an encoder for providing digital signals according to a preselected code and as a decoder for comparing a received signal with an internally generated digitally coded signal. The device includes a plurality of input/output ports for making an electrical connection between external circuitry and functional portions of the device. The device includes a pulse generator for providing digital signals at its output according to a preselected code. The output of the generator is coupled to an output port for supplying the digital signals to a transmitter when used in the encoding mode, and provides the internally generated comparison code in the decoder mode. Improved circuitry is provided for selectively adjusting the level of security for a system utilizing the device in a transmitter-receiver system for activating a load such as a garage door opener, as well as for accommodating noise levels which may be encountered in authorized use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1984
    Assignee: Multi-Elmac Company
    Inventors: William C. Apple, Keith D. Jacob
  • Patent number: 4315249
    Abstract: A data communication system for selectively activating a plurality of remote loads. The system includes a transmitter having an encoder with first and second sets of inputs. The encoder provides a multi-bit pulse train for transmission to a receiver. Selected bits of the pulse train are associated with the first set of inputs to the encoder and define an address code. Other bits of the transmitted pulse train are associated with the second set of encoder inputs and define data. A receiver incorporates a decoder coupled for receipt of the pulse train from the transmitter. A set of code select inputs for the decoder defines a local address code for the receiver. A pulse generator provides a local pulse train which is a function of the code select inputs. A comparator normally operates to compare all of the bits in the local pulse train with those in the received pulse train from the transmitter, with the comparator output preventing load actuation unless all of the bits match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: Multi-Elmac Company
    Inventors: William C. Apple, Keith D. Jacob
  • Patent number: 4305060
    Abstract: A decoder circuit for selectively activating external loads which finds particular utility in automatic garage door operators. The coincidence of a repeatedly received digital word code with an internally generated local code results in a matched signal, each of the matched signals being stored in an accumulator device. A free running oscillator is used to reset the accumulator if a predetermined number of successive clock pulses are generated without an intervening matched signal. If a given plurality of matched signals are received and stored in the accumulator before it is reset, the accumulator will provide an output signal to a latch which activates the load. Once set, the output latch will not be reset unless a subsequent given number of successive clock pulses are generated without an intervening matched signal. In such manner, the decoder circuitry accommodates a limited number of mismatches possibly due to interference while still maintaining significant security aspects of the decoder circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: Multi-Elmac Company
    Inventors: William C. Apple, Keith D. Jacob
  • Patent number: 4142137
    Abstract: A control system for a power driven operator for garage doors and the like comprising an operator control circuit having a DC voltage source operating as the power supply for an electronic flip-flop device responsive to successively applied input signals to alternatively establish circuits of opposite direction through a reversible electric motor; i.e. one actuation causes the motor to run in one direction and the next actuation causes it to run in the opposite direction. The operator is subject to actuation by both a hard wired push button or an auxiliary device such as a radio receiver which is responsive to signals from a remote transmitter. The operator control circuit includes a feature which electronically prevents the simultaneous energization of the reversible electric motor in both directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Assignee: Multi-Elmac Company
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Umpleby, Maurice R. Brackney
  • Patent number: 4141010
    Abstract: A digital radio control system comprising a transmitter for producing a repeating series of width modulated pulses, and a receiver responsive only to a series of predetermined pulse characters to actuate a load device such as a garage door operator. Both the transmitter and the receiver circuits comprise simple counter circuits and switches to define the pulse codes. The receiver counter is clocked by the transmitted pulse series and actuates the output circuit only if it reaches the final counter stage at least once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1979
    Assignee: Multi-Elmac Company
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Umpleby, William C. Apple
  • Patent number: 4045715
    Abstract: Control system including radio receiver circuit for a power-driven operator for garage doors and the like comprising an operator control circuit having a regulated DC voltage source operating as a power supply for an electronic flip-flop device responsive to successively applied input signals to establish circuits of opposite direction through a reversible electric motor; i.e., one actuation causes the motor to run in one direction and the next actuation causes it to run in the opposite direction. The operator is subject to actuation by both a hard-wired push-button and a radio receiver which is responsive to signals from a remote transmitter. The power supply for the flip-flop is also the power supply for the receiver; however, the receiver is packaged separately from the operator and power supply and is readily disconnected for independent maintenance and repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1977
    Assignee: Multi-Elmac Company
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Umpleby, Maurice R. Brackney