Remote control with local, screen-guided setup

• US 20060007306A1
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Gates, Stephen Brian, Louie, Alex, Masters, Michael D., Tsong-Chou Knowles, Lily
• Granted Patent: US 7,471,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/114
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

A system and method for setting up a user interface of a remote control. The remote control displays a logical group of function keys the activation of which will cause the remote control to transmit a command to a target device and a plurality of indicators representative of devices. A user input functions to select one of the plurality of indicators and the device represented by the selected indicator is assigned as the target device for the logical group of function keys.

Claims

1. A remote control device, comprising:

a display comprised of a plurality of individually illuminateable electroluminescent strips, the display having a first area from which a user may select an intended target device for commands transmitted by the remote control and a second area from which a user may select a command to be transmitted; and

a transmission circuit linked to the display for use in transmitting commands to the target appliance;

wherein the plurality of individually electroluminescent strips are selectively illuminated so as to display function keys in the second area which correspond to functions applicable to a selected intended target device.

2. The remote control as recited in claim 1, wherein the individually illuminateable electroluminescent strips are selectively illuminated so as to display function keys in the second area which correspond to a state of the intended target device.

3. A remote control device, comprising:

a display comprised of a plurality of individually illuminable electroluminescent strips, the display having a first area from which a user may select an intended target device for commands transmitted by the remote control and a second area from which a user may select a command to be transmitted; and

a transmission circuit linked to the display for use in transmitting commands to the target appliance;

wherein the individually illuminateable electromagnetic strips are selectively illuminated so as to display a logical group of functions keys in the second area and a plurality of icons representative of devices in the first area from which a user may select one of the icons to assign a device as the intended target device for commands transmittable in response to activation of the logical group of function keys.