VERSATILE REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE AND SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An infrared light emitting device for controlling at least one infrared receiving device, the infrared light emitting device comprising:
- a base plane and a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the base plane;
a radio frequency receiver to receive and demodulate a radio frequency control signal to provide a demodulated control signal;
a processor functionally coupled to the radio frequency receiver to receive the demodulated control signal and to generate a corresponding drive signal;
a plurality of infrared light sources functionally coupled to the processor and responsive to the drive signal to generate a plurality of modulated infrared light emissions to control the at least one infrared receiving device, each of the plurality of infrared light sources having an optical axis, a first group of the plurality of infrared light sources being disposed on the infrared light emitting device such that the optical axis of each of the plurality of infrared light sources in the first group is at a different angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the modulated infrared light emissions controlling the at least one infrared receiving device; and
a power supply to provide operating power to at least one of the radio frequency receiver, the processor, or the plurality of infrared light sources.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radio-frequency (RF) remote control (10) has a user interface and transmits an RF signal (11) which designates a device (14) to be controlled and a command for that device. The RF signal is received by an intermediary device (12). The intermediary device, in turn, generates and broadcasts a plurality of high-power IR signals (13A-13F). These signals may be received directly by a controlled device (14A) or may be received indirectly by a controlled device (14B, 14C) after one or more reflections from objects (16A, 16B) and/or room surfaces (18). Thus, reliable control of the devices (14) is obtained even in situations where merely transmitting a typical IR signal may not provide reliable control of the device (14).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An infrared light emitting device for controlling at least one infrared receiving device, the infrared light emitting device comprising:
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a base plane and a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the base plane; a radio frequency receiver to receive and demodulate a radio frequency control signal to provide a demodulated control signal; a processor functionally coupled to the radio frequency receiver to receive the demodulated control signal and to generate a corresponding drive signal; a plurality of infrared light sources functionally coupled to the processor and responsive to the drive signal to generate a plurality of modulated infrared light emissions to control the at least one infrared receiving device, each of the plurality of infrared light sources having an optical axis, a first group of the plurality of infrared light sources being disposed on the infrared light emitting device such that the optical axis of each of the plurality of infrared light sources in the first group is at a different angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the modulated infrared light emissions controlling the at least one infrared receiving device; and a power supply to provide operating power to at least one of the radio frequency receiver, the processor, or the plurality of infrared light sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for controlling at least one infrared receiving device, the system comprising:
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an infrared light emitting device having a base plane and a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the base plane, and comprising; a radio frequency receiver to receive and demodulate a radio frequency control signal to provide a demodulated control signal; a processor functionally coupled to the radio frequency receiver to receive the demodulated control signal and to generate a corresponding drive signal; a plurality of infrared light sources functionally coupled to the processor and responsive to the drive signal to generate a plurality of modulated infrared light emissions to control the at least one infrared receiving device, each of the plurality of infrared light sources having an optical axis, a first group of the plurality of infrared light sources being disposed on the infrared light emitting device such that the optical axis of each of the plurality of infrared light sources in the first group is at a different angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the modulated infrared light emissions controlling the at least one infrared receiving device; and a power supply to provide operating power to at least one of the radio frequency receiver, the processor, or the plurality of infrared light sources; and a controlling device having a user interface to receive commands for controlling the at least one infrared receiving device, and a transmitter to transmit the commands to the infrared light emitting device.
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20. A method for controlling at least one infrared receiving device, the method comprising:
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receiving operating power from an electrical power receptacle; receiving and demodulating a radio frequency control signal to provide a demodulated control signal; generating a drive signal corresponding to the demodulated control signal; and generating a plurality of modulated infrared light emissions to control the infrared receiving device by functionally coupling the drive signal to a plurality of infrared emitting diodes oriented in a plurality of directions, the modulated infrared light emissions having sufficient power that the modulated infrared light emissions controlling the at least one infrared receiving device.
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Specification