DEVICE IR SETUP USING IR DETECTOR

• US 20100053468A1
• Filed: 08/25/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric US Incorporated (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric US Incorporated (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Harvill, Mike
• Application Number:
  US12/547,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20100053468A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices

Abstract

Systems and methods that allow the user to press one key on the device'"'"'s remote to setup the IR codes for an AV device to be controlled by a universal remote control unit or centrally controlled by a television over IR blaster cables. In a preferred embodiment, the IR signal detection system of a television or a universal remote control unit is used to detect and learn the IR code corresponding to a single key, preferably the power key, on a remote control for the AV device to be controlled. Once the code corresponding to the key of the remote control unit pressed by the user is learned, the control system will search for a matching code in IR code tables stored in memory, which include IR code sets for different AV devices. Once a match is found, the control system will assign the corresponding code set to the AV device for future control.

Claims

1. A process for learning the IR control codes for an audio-video (AV) device comprising the steps of

detecting and learning an IR code corresponding to a key on a remote control unit for an AV device to be controlled,

searching for an IR code listed in a table that matches the code corresponding to the key on the AV device remote control unit, and

assigning a set of IR codes corresponding to a matched code to the AV device within a control system to be used to control the AV device.

2. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of verifying if the matched code corresponds to the AV device to be controlled.

3. The process of claim 2 further comprising the step of prompting a user to press a key on the remote control unit of the AV device.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the step of prompting a user to press a key on the remote control unit of the AV device includes prompting the user to press a predetermined key.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein the predetermined key is a power key.

14. The process of claim 1 wherein the step of learning the IR code include characterizing the wave form of a received IR signal to determine the IR code in the signal.

6. A process for learning the IR control codes for an audio-video (AV) device coupled to a television and controllable by the television with IR codes transmitted to the device over IR blaster cables comprising the steps of

prompting a user to point a remote control unit of an AV device to be controlled at an IR receiver of the television and press a key on the remote control device,

detecting and learning an IR code corresponding to the key on the remote control unit pressed by the user,

searching for an IR code listed in a table that matches the code corresponding to the key pressed on the remote control unit, and

assigning a set of IR codes corresponding to a matched code to the AV device within a control system of the television to be used to control the AV device.

7. The process of claim 6 further comprising the step of verifying if the matched code corresponds to the AV device to be controlled.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the verifying step includes the displaying a verification screen indicating the AV device corresponding to the detected code and prompting the user to confirm whether the indicated device is correct.

9. The process of claim 8 further comprising the step of prompting a user to connect an IR blaster cable to an output port on the television and operably couple the IR blaster cable to the AV device to be controlled.

10. The process of claim 9 further comprising the step of auto detecting an AV device to be controlled when coupled to the television.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein the step of prompting a user to press a key on the remote control unit of the AV device includes prompting the user to press a predetermined key.

12. The process of claim 11 wherein the predetermined key is a power key.

15. The process of claim 6 wherein the step of learning the IR code include characterizing the wave form of a received IR signal to determine the IR code in the signal.

13. A process for learning the IR control codes for an audio-video (AV) device to be controlled by a universal remote control unit comprising the steps of

detecting and learning an IR code corresponding to the key on the remote control unit pressed by the user using an IR detection system of the universal remote control unit,

searching for an IR code listed in a table stored in memory of the universal remote control unit that matches the code corresponding to the key pressed on the AV devices remote control unit, and

assigning a set of IR codes corresponding to a matched code to the AV device within a control system of the universal remote control unit.

16. The process of claim 13 wherein the step of learning the IR code include characterizing the wave form of a received IR signal to determine the IR code in the signal.