REMOTE CONTROL AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING THE VOLUME OUTPUT OF AN AUDIO DEVICE
First Claim
1. A remote control configured to automatically adjust the volume output of an audio device, the remote control comprising:
- a wireless transmitter configured to transmit command signals to the audio device;
a microphone configured to monitor sound levels external to the remote control;
a memory storing a first threshold; and
a controller configured to;
(i) determine a signal-to-noise ratio as a function of the sound levels detected by the microphone, and (ii) transmit via the wireless transmitter a first command to adjust the volume output of the audio device if the signal-to-noise ratio passes the first threshold.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of a remote control and a method are provided for automatically adjusting the volume output of an audio device, such as a television. In one embodiment, the remote control includes a wireless transmitter configured to transmit command signals to the audio device, a microphone configured to monitor sound levels external to the remote control, a memory storing a first threshold, and a controller. The controller is configured to: (i) determine a signal-to-noise ratio as a function of the sound levels detected by the microphone, and (ii) transmit via the wireless transmitter a first command to adjust the volume output of the audio device if the signal-to-noise ratio passes the first threshold.
146 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A remote control configured to automatically adjust the volume output of an audio device, the remote control comprising:
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a wireless transmitter configured to transmit command signals to the audio device; a microphone configured to monitor sound levels external to the remote control; a memory storing a first threshold; and a controller configured to;
(i) determine a signal-to-noise ratio as a function of the sound levels detected by the microphone, and (ii) transmit via the wireless transmitter a first command to adjust the volume output of the audio device if the signal-to-noise ratio passes the first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A remote control for automatically adjusting the volume output of an audio device, the remote control comprising:
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a wireless transmitter configured to selectively transmit command signals to the audio device; a microphone configured to monitor sound levels external to the remote control; a memory storing a first threshold and a second threshold; and a controller configured to;
(i) determine the signal level of the audio device as a function of at least two successive peaks in the sound levels monitored by the microphone, (ii) determine the noise level as a function of at least two successive troughs in the sound levels monitored by the microphone, (iii) transmit via the wireless transmitter a first command to decrease the volume output of the audio device if a ratio of the signal level to the noise level (the “
signal-to-noise ratio”
) is greater than the first threshold, and (iv) transmit via the wireless transmitter a second command to increase the volume output of the audio device if the signal-to-noise ratio is less than the second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method executable by a controller in a remote control for automatically adjusting the volume output of an audio device, the method comprising:
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storing a first threshold in a memory; monitoring sound levels external to the remote control utilizing a single microphone; determining in the controller a signal-to-noise ratio as a function of the sound levels detected by the microphone; and transmitting via a wireless transmitter a first command to adjust the volume output of the audio device if the signal-to-noise ratio passes the first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification