Universal remote control device

• US 20040041712A1
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Teleco Automation SRL (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Teleco Automation SRL (Somfy SA)
• Inventors: Collovini, Roberto, Borsoi, Luigi
• Application Number:
  US10/450,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20040041712A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.69
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• 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

A multi-user remote control device characterised by comprising:

an IR transmitter (2) with a multiple number n of channels,

an IR receiver (12) with n channels tuned to the n channels of the IR transmitter (2),

an RF transmitter (18) associated with the IR receiver (12) and provided with n channels which can be activated via the n connection channels between said IR transmitter (2) and said IR receiver (12),

n RF receivers (6_i), each directly associated with a user device (8_i) and tuned to one of the n channels of said RF transmitter (18).

Claims

1. A multi-user remote control device characterised by comprising:

an IR transmitter (2) with a multiple number n of channels,

an IR receiver (12) with n channels tuned to the n channels of the IR transmitter (2),

an RF transmitter (18) associated with the IR receiver (12) and provided with n channels which can be activated via the n connection channels between said IR transmitter (2) and said IR receiver (12),

n RF receivers (6_i), each directly associated with a user device (8_i) and tuned to one of the n channels of said RF transmitter (18).

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by also comprising at least one RF transmitter for the direct control of an RF receiver (6_i), associated with at least one user device (8_i).

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that with the IR transmitter (2) there is physically associated at least one RF transmitter for the direct control of a RF receiver (6_i) directly associated with a user device (8_i).

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said IR transmitter (2) is a normal remote control device for a television receiver (10).

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said IR receiver (12) and said RF transmitter (18) associated therewith are housed within said television receiver (10).

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising an additional RF transmitter (20_i), associated with at least one user device (8_i), and e single RF receiver (22) operationally coordinated with said additional RF transmitter (20_i) and provided with means (10, 30) for indicating the state of said user device (8_i).

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, characterised by comprising at least one used device (20_i) able to change its state independently of any command by the operator.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising an additional RF transmitter (20_i) associated with the RF received (6_i) controlling at least one user device (8_i) and a single RF receiver (22) operationally coordinated with said additional RF transmitter (20_i) and provided with means (30) for indicating the state of said user device (8_i), said additional RF transmitter (20i) being provided to transmit to the RF receiver (22) response information concerning the effected control by the RF transmitter (18) and/or concerning the state of operation of said user devices (8_i).

9. A device as claimed in claims 6 and 8, characterised in that said single RF receiver (22) is housed inside said television receiver (10).

10. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that at least one RF receiver (6_i) is integrated into the relative user device (8_i).

11. A device as claimed in claim 9, characterised by comprising software for displaying on the screen of the television receiver (10) the situation regarding the user devices (8_i) under control.

12. A device as claimed in claims 6 and 8, characterised in that a modem for remote transmission of the state of said user device (8_i) is associated with said single RF receiver (22).

13. A device as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the software for displaying the situation regarding the user devices (8_i) under control forms part of the television receiver (10).

14. A device as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said remote controller for the television receiver (10) is provided, for controlling said user devices (8_i), with n channels different from the control channels of the television receiver and selectable by dedicated keys.

15. A device as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said remote controller for the television receiver (10) is provided, for controlling said user devices (8_i), with n channels different from the control channels of the television receiver but selectable by the same keys, after there have been switched by a suitable additional key.

16. A device as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said IR receiver (12) and said RF transmitter (18) associated therewith are installed in a position distant from said television receiver (10), the remote controller of which uses for controlling said user devices (8_i) the same channels used for controlling said television receiver.

17. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising, for each user device (8_i), an RF receiver (6_i) operationally connected to an RF transmitter (18_i), which is coordinated with its own IR receiver (12_i) and is separate from the other RF transmitters (18_i), all the IR receivers (12_i) being individually able to dialogue with a single IR transmitter (2) using the same channels.