Infrared remote control system having repeater type illumination unit

• US 20030020645A1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Akiyama, Hiroshi
• Application Number:
  US10/193,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20030020645A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

In an infrared remote control system including an infrared remote-controlled illumination unit having an illumination, at least one infrared remote-controlled electrical unit, a first infrared remote control transmitter for the illuminator and at least one second infrared remote control transmitter for the infrared remote-controlled electrical unit, the infrared remote-controlled illumination unit is constructed by a receiving unit for receiving an infrared control signal from one of the first and second infrared remote control transmitters, a driver for driving the illuminator; a retransmitting unit for retransmitting the infrared control signal to the infrared remote-controlled electrical unit, and a control unit for determining whether the infrared control signal received by the receiving unit is generated from the first infrared remote control transmitter or from the second infrared remote control transmitter, so that the control unit operates the driver to turn ON or OFF the illuminator when the infrared control signal is generated from the first infrared remote control transmitter, and the control unit operates the retransmitting unit to retransmit the infrared control signal to the second infrared-controlled electrical unit when the infrared control signal is generated from the second infrared remote control transmitter.

Claims

1. An infrared remote control system comprising:

an infrared remote-controlled illumination unit having an illuminator;

at least one infrared remote-controlled electrical unit;

a first infrared remote control transmitter for said illuminator; and

at least one second infrared remote control transmitter for said infrared remote-controlled electrical unit,

said infrared remote-controlled illumination unit comprising;

a receiving unit for receiving an infrared control signal from one of said first and second infrared remote control transmitters;

a driver for driving said illuminator;

a retransmitting unit for retransmitting said infrared control signal to said infrared remote-controlled electrical unit; and

a control unit, connected to said receiving unit, said driver and said retransmitting unit, for determining whether said infrared control signal received by said receiving unit is generated from said first infrared remote control transmitter or from said second infrared remote control transmitter, so that said control unit operates said driver to turn ON or OFF said illuminator when said infrared control signal is senerated from said first infrared remote control transmitter, and said control unit operates said retransmitting unit to retransmit said infrared control signal to said second infrared-controlled electrical unit when said infrared control signal is generated from said second infrared remote control transmitter.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiving unit comprises:

an infrared light receiving element for receiving said infrared control signal;

an amplifier, connected to said infrared light receiving element, for amplifying an output signal of said infrared light receiving element;

a bandpass filter, connected to said amplifier, for passing a desired frequency component of an output signal of said amplifier;

a detector, connected to said bandpass filter, for detecting data codes in an output signal of said bandpass filter; and

an analog/digital converter, connected between said detector and said control unit, for performing an analog/digital conversion upon an output signal of said detector.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control unit comprises a memory for storing said infrared control signal received by said receiving unit.

4. The system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said retransmitting unit comprises:

a retransmitting wave generating unit for generating a retransmitting wave in accordance with said infrared control signal stored in said memory;

a digital/analog converter, connected to said retransmitting wave generating unit, for performing a digital/analog conversion upon an output signal of said retransmitting wave generating unit; and

an infrared light emitting element, connected to said digital/analog converter, for generating an infrared control signal.

5. An infrared remote control system comprising:

a first infrared remote-controlled electrical unit capable of being fixed at a ceiling;

at least one second infrared remote-controlled electrical unit;

a first infrared remote control transmitter for said first electrical unit; and

at least one second infrared remote control transmitter for said second infrared remote-controlled electrical unit,

said first infrared remote-controlled electrical unit comprising;

a receiving unit for receiving an infrared control signal from one of said first and second infrared remote control transmitters;

a retransmitting unit for retransmitting said infrared control signal to said second infrared remote-controlled electrical unit; and

a control unit, connected to said receiving unit and said retransmitting unit, for determining whether said infrared control signal received by said receiving unit is generated from said first infrared remote control transmitter or from said second infrared remote control transmitter, so that said control unit operates said first electrical unit when said infrared control signal is senerated from said first infrared remote control transmitter, and said control unit operates said retransmitting unit to retransmit said infrared control signal to said second infrared-controlled electrical unit when said infrared control signal is generated from said second infrared remote control transmitter.

6. The system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said receiving unit comprises:

an infrared light receiving element for receiving said infrared control signal;

an amplifier, connected to said infrared light receiving element, for amplifying an output signal of said infrared light receiving element;

a bandpass filter, connected to said amplifier, for passing a desired frequency component of an output signal of said amplifier;

a detector, connected to said bandpass filter, for detecting data codes in output signal of said bandpass filter; and

an analog/digital converter, connected between said detector and said control unit, for performing an analog/digital conversion upon an output signal of said detector.

7. The system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said control unit comprises a memory for storing said infrared control signal received by said receiving unit.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said retransmitting unit comprises:

a retransmitting wave generating unit for generating a retransmitting wave in accordance with said infrared control signal stored in said memory;

a digital/analog converter, connected to said retransmitting wave generating unit, for performing a digital/analog conversion upon an output signal of said retransmitting wave generating unit; and

an infrared light emitting element, connected to said digital/analog converter, for generating an infrared control signal.