Integrated remote control system for a plurality of digital devices

• US 20080036570A1
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Lee, Kyung Hee, Kim, Ji Yong, Kwak, Ji Young
• Granted Patent: US 7,777,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/71 Directional beams
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

An integrated remote control system includes a remote control device for selecting and controlling a plurality of digital devices, each including a bit pattern tag having location information and device information. The remote control device includes a display, a light emitting module for emitting light toward the digital devices, a sensor for recognizing the tags of the digital devices, and a controller for analyzing the tags recognized by the sensor to provide the display information of the digital devices on the display and then controlling a digital device selected from the displayed digital devices.

Claims

1. An integrated remote control system employing a remote control device for selecting and controlling a plurality of digital devices, each including a bit pattern tag having location information and device information, the remote control device comprising:

a display;

a light emitting module for emitting light toward the digital devices;

a sensor for recognizing the tags of the digital devices; and

a controller for analyzing the tags recognized by the sensor to provide the display information of the digital devices on the display and then controlling a digital device selected from the displayed digital devices.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tag is made of a retro-reflector and represents a bit pattern value depending on whether or not an existence/nonexistence of the retro-reflector.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes an infrared camera.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the light emitting module includes an infrared-ray emitting module.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein when the digital devices are greater/smaller than or equal to a predetermined size, the remote control system outputs information of the digital devices to a virtual space of the display.

6. An integrated remote control system for selecting and controlling a plurality of digital devices, each including a bit pattern tag having location information and device information, the system comprising:

a sensor for recognizing the tags of the digital devices;

a light emitting module for emitting light toward the digital devices;

a controller for analyzing the tags recognized by the sensor to provide the display information of the digital devices on the display and then controlling a digital device selected from the displayed digital devices; and

a transparent window for projecting images of the digital devices between the digital devices and the remote control system.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the tag is made of a retro-reflector and represents a bit pattern value depending on whether or not an existence/nonexistence of the retro-reflector.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor includes an infrared camera.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the light emitting module includes an infrared-ray emitting module.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein when the digital devices are greater/smaller than or equal to a predetermined size, the remote control system outputs information of the digital devices to a virtual space of the display.