Hand-held remote-control device with high-capacitance power supply
First Claim
1. A device for wirelessly controlling an appliance, comprising:
- a hand-held enclosure having a plurality of operator controls supported thereon;
a wireless control signal generator;
electronic circuitry interconnecting the operator controls to wireless control signal generator, the circuitry causing the generator to transmit a wireless signal in response to the operator controls so as to affect the operation of the appliance;
a source of electrical energy to power the circuitry, the source of electrical energy including a supercapacitor or ultracapacitor; and
an input to receive externally applied energy to recharge the supercapacitor or ultracapacitor.
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Abstract
Supercapacitor/ultracapacitor technology is applied to hand-held remote-control devices, thereby providing a unit that does not require batteries. In terms of hardware, a device according to the invention includes a hand-held enclosure having a plurality of operator controls supported thereon, a wireless control signal generator, and electronic circuitry interconnecting the operator controls to wireless control signal generator. The circuitry causes the generator to transmit a wireless signal in response to the operator controls so as to affect the operation of the appliance. The device further includes a source of electrical energy to power the circuitry, the source of electrical energy including a supercapacitor or ultracapacitor, and an input to receive externally applied energy to recharge the supercapacitor or ultracapacitor. The input to receive externally applied energy converts mechanical or electrical energy into direct current (DC). Depending upon the embodiment, the energy generator system may be integral to, or separate from, the housing of the unit. A mechanical input includes a miniature generator in electrical communication with the supercapacitor or ultracapacitor for recharging purposes. The input itself may comprise a crank supported on the housing, with a gear train mechanically coupling the crank to the generator, a turnable dial supported on the housing and a spring mechanism coupling the dial to the generator, or a lever arm supported on the housing and a ratchet mechanism coupling the lever arm to the generator.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A device for wirelessly controlling an appliance, comprising:
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a hand-held enclosure having a plurality of operator controls supported thereon;
a wireless control signal generator;
electronic circuitry interconnecting the operator controls to wireless control signal generator, the circuitry causing the generator to transmit a wireless signal in response to the operator controls so as to affect the operation of the appliance;
a source of electrical energy to power the circuitry, the source of electrical energy including a supercapacitor or ultracapacitor; and
an input to receive externally applied energy to recharge the supercapacitor or ultracapacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification