CONTROLLING DEVICE HAVING MULTIPLE USER INTERFACES

• US 20110074556A1
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hayes, Patrick H., Klein, Sandro David
• Granted Patent: US 10,116,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

A controlling device having a plurality of user selectable operating modes, a user interface providing a plurality of function keys each operable to cause a transmission of at least one command to at least one of a plurality of appliances for commanding at least one operating function of the at least one of the plurality of appliances, and a light source for illuminating the user interface in multiple distinct colors. The light source is caused to illuminate the user interface in at least one of the multiple distinct colors as a function of a one of the plurality of operating modes in which the controlling device is currently placed.

Claims

1. A controlling device having a plurality of user selectable operating modes, comprising:

a user interface providing a plurality of function keys each operable to cause a transmission of at least one command to at least one of a plurality of appliances for commanding at least one operating function of the at least one of the plurality of appliances; and

a light source for illuminating the user interface in multiple distinct colors;

wherein the light source is caused to illuminate the user interface in at least one of the multiple distinct colors as a function of a one of the plurality of operating modes in which the controlling device is currently placed.

2. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a multi-colored LED.

3. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the controlling device comprises a touch-sensitive surface in which is displayed the user interface.

4. The controlling device as recited in claim 3, wherein the light source is arranged to illuminate the touch-sensitive surface.

5. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises operating modes for plural different users.

6. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises operating modes for commanding operations of one or more appliances in plural different rooms.

7. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises operating modes for commanding operations of a respective one of plural different appliances.

8. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises operating modes for commanding operations of one or more appliances to facilitate plural different activities.

9. A method for using color to indicate a relationship between a controlling device and a an operating mode of the controlling device, comprising:

in response to the controlling device being placed into a first operating mode via a user interface of the controlling device, causing a processor of the controlling device to select from a plurality of colors a first color representative of the first operating mode and to illuminate at least a portion of the user interface of the controlling device the first color; and

in response to the controlling device being placed into a second operating mode via the user interface of the controlling device, causing the processor of the controlling device to select from the plurality of colors a second color representative of the second operating mode and to illuminate at least a portion of the user interface of the controlling device the second color;

wherein at least the first operating mode of the controlling device places the controlling device into a mode whereupon activation of one or more user interface elements of the user interface will cause a transmission from the controlling device of one or more commands to control functional operations of one or more appliances.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the user interface elements in the at least first operating mode comprise user interface elements for commanding at least one of volume related functional operations of an appliance, channel related functional operations of an appliance, and transport related functional operations of an appliance.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the user interface is illuminated in the first color and the second color via at least one LED.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the first color and the second color are user selectable via interaction with the controlling device after manufacture of the controlling device.

13. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the first color and the second color are predefined during manufacture of the controlling device.

14. The method as recited in claim 9, comprising presenting in association with a user interface element used to select operational modes of the controlling device at least the first color when the controlling device is placed into the first operating mode.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the user interface element used to select operational modes comprises a mechanical device.

16. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein a touch-sensitive display is used to display the user interface elements activatable to cause a transmission from the controlling device of one or more commands to control functional operations of one or more appliances.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the touch-sensitive display is caused to be illuminated in the first color and the second color.

18. The method as recited in claim 9, comprising a plurality of mode keys activatable to place the controlling device into a respective one of a plurality of operating modes.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein a first of the plurality of mode keys of the controlling device is caused to be illuminated in the first color when activated.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein a second of the plurality of mode key of the controlling device is caused to be illuminated in the second color when activated.

21. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein at least the first operating mode comprises an operating mode for a user.

22. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein at least the first operating mode comprises an operating mode for commanding operations of one or more appliances in a room.

23. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein at least the first operating mode comprises an operating modes for commanding operations of one of plural different appliances.

24. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein at least the first operating mode comprises an operating mode for commanding operations of one or more appliances to facilitate an activity.