Chameleon button universal remote control with tactile feel

• US 20060092038A1
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Allan Unger
• Original Assignee: Robert Allan Unger
• Inventors: Unger, Robert Allan
• Application Number:
  US11/214,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20060092038A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/4.41
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

A remote control device has A/V component select buttons corresponding to respective A/V components, and one or more depressible multifunction buttons each serving multiple functions. The particular function depends on which component select button was last depressed and/or on an operational state of the selected component. The multifunction button includes a matrix of illuminable elements that can be energized as appropriate to display a word, a phrase, or a symbol.

Claims

1. A remote control device comprising:

plural component select buttons corresponding to respective A/V components controllable by the remote control device; and

at least one multifunction button to serve multiple functions, with the particular function depending on which component select button was last depressed and/or on an operational state of the selected component, the multifunction button including a matrix of illuminable elements with a predetermined subset only of the elements of the multifunction button being illuminated based on the selected component and/or its operational state to indicate a word, a phrase, or a symbol, the multifunction button being depressible by a user to move the button down, the button moving back up when released.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the component select buttons include a TV select button and at least one of:

A DVD select button, a PVR select button, or a VCR select button.

3. The device of claim 2, comprising a CPU in the remote control device and controlling the matrix.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the illuminable elements include LEDs.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the illuminable elements include LCDs.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the CPU causes a first symbol to be displayed on the multifunction button corresponding to a first command when a selected component is in a first operational state and a second symbol to be displayed on the multifunction button corresponding to a second command when a selected component is in a second operational state.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein when a selected component is a first component, the CPU causes a first word to be displayed on the multifunction button, the first word corresponding to a first command, and wherein when the selected component is a second component, the CPU causes a second word to be displayed on the multifunction button, the second word corresponding to a second command.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the multifunction button is established at least in part by a circuit board and a flexible substrate materially biased so that a portion of the substrate is distanced from the circuit board when a user is not pushing down on the button and so that a user can tactilely depress the multifunction button until the portion contacts the circuit board to thereby generate an input signal.

9. The device of claim 7, comprising a molding positioned around the matrix of illuminable elements to establish shape for the button.

10. The device of claim 1, comprising at least one A/V component in wireless communication with the remote control device.

11. A system, comprising:

plural A/V components;

a remote control device in wireless communication with at least one of the components;

means on the remote control device for selecting one of the A/V components; and

at least one multifunction button on the remote control device reciprocating up and down when a user presses and releases it, the button having a first display and a corresponding first function when a first A/V component is selected, the button having a second display and a corresponding second function when a second A/V component is selected by a user, and/or the button having a first display and a first function when a selected A/V component is in a first operational state and a second display and second function when the selected A/V component is in a second operational state, the button being separated from other buttons on the remote control device by respective immobile, substantially rigid facia elements.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for selecting includes plural component select buttons including a TV select button and at least one of:

A DVD select button, a PVR select button, or a VCR select button.

13. The system of claim 11, comprising a CPU in the remote control device and controlling a matrix of illuminable elements for establishing the first and second displays.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the illuminable elements include LEDs.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the illuminable elements include LCDs.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the CPU causes a first symbol to be displayed on the multifunction button corresponding to a first command when a selected component is in a first operational state and a second symbol to be displayed on the multifunction button corresponding to a second command when a selected component is in a second operational state.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein when a selected component is a first component, the CPU causes a first word to be displayed on the multifunction button, the first word corresponding to a first command, and wherein when the selected component is a second component, the CPU causes a second word to be displayed on the multifunction button, the second word corresponding to a second command.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the multifunction button is established at least in part by a circuit board and a flexible substrate materially biased so that a portion of the substrate is distanced from the circuit board when a user is not pushing down on the button and so that a user can tactilely depress the multifunction button.

19. A system for controlling plural A/V components, comprising:

wireless communication means for sending commands to the components;

means for generating a component select command using one of plural discrete component select buttons; and

means for generating a display on a discrete multifunction button based at least in part on the generation of the component select command.