Transmitter-receiver control system for an actuator and method

1. A control system for an actuator used to actuate a device, the control system comprising:

a plurality of signal transmitters, each transmitter coded to transmit a different, unique transmitter identifier when operated;

a receiver receiving a transmitter identifier transmitted by any of the transmitters;

a memory coupled to the receiver, the memory having a plurality of memory locations referenced by memory addresses, wherein each one of the different, unique transmitter identifiers is used as one of the memory addresses;

a mode selector alternating between a first mode and a second mode; and

a central processor coupled to the receiver, memory, and mode selector, the central processor including logic for:

selecting a memory location having a memory address that uses the received transmitter identifier;

determining whether the mode selector is in the first mode or the second mode; and

storing a valid bit in the selected memory location indicating that the received transmitter identifier is valid if the mode selector is in the first mode.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the first mode is a write mode for writing into the memory.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the second mode is a read mode for reading from the memory.

4. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the central processor further includes logic for:

reading the stored valid bit from the selected memory location for determining if the transmitter identifier is valid if the mode selector is in the second mode; and

transmitting a signal for actuating the device if the transmitter identifier is valid.

5. A method for controlling an actuator used to actuate a device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a transmitter identifier from one of a plurality of signal transmitters, each transmitter coded to transmit a different, unique transmitter identifier when operated;

selecting a memory location in memory having a memory address that uses the received transmitter identifier;

determining whether a mode selector is in a first mode or a second mode; and

storing a valid bit in the selected memory location indicating that the received transmitter identifier is valid if the mode selector is in the first mode.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first mode is a write mode for writing into the memory.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second mode is a read mode for reading from the memory.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

reading the stored valid bit from the selected memory location for determining if the transmitter identifier is valid if the mode selector is in the second mode; and

transmitting a signal for actuating the device if the transmitter identifier is valid.

9. A controller for actuating a device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a transmitter identifier transmitted by a transmitter;

a memory coupled to the receiver and having a memory location identified by a memory address, wherein the transmitter identifier directly maps to the memory address, and wherein data is stored in the memory location that indicates whether the transmitter identifier is valid; and

control logic for reading the data stored in the memory location and transmitting a signal for actuating the device if the data indicates that the transmitter identifier is valid.

10. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the data stored in the memory location comprises a bit that is set to one if the transmitter identifier is valid or zero if the transmitter identifier is not valid.

11. The controller of claim 9 , wherein:

the memory comprises a plurality of memory locations identified by a plurality of memory addresses, each memory address mapping to a unique and different transmitter identifier; and

the control logic, in response to receipt of a transmitter identifier by the receiver, reads the data stored in a single memory location identified by the memory address that maps to the received transmitter identifier, and transmits a signal for actuating the device if the data in the single memory location indicates that the transmitter identifier is valid.

12. A method for actuating a device comprising:

receiving a transmitter identifier from one of a plurality of signal transmitters, each transmitter coded to transmit a different, unique transmitter identifier when operated;

searching a single memory location in a memory having a plurality of memory locations, the search of the single memory location being effective to determine whether the received transmitter identifier is valid; and

transmitting a signal to actuate the device if the data stored in the single memory location indicates that the received transmitter identifier is valid.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the single memory location is identified by a memory address comprising the received transmitter identifier.