WIRELESS CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140225756A1
• Filed: 04/14/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ezero Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Ezero Technologies LLC
• Inventors: HENTY, David L.
• Application Number:
  US14/252,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20140225756A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A wireless control system and method is disclosed. The system includes a controlled device having a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system including a source of an interrogating field and a reader. The wireless control system also includes a control device having one or more manual inputs and a modulator for modulating the interrogating field with a coded signal. The modulated interrogating field is detected by the reader in the controlled device and the controlled device wireless operation with the control device is enabled based on the coded signal received from the control device if the control device is within a predetermined distance as determined by the received modulated interrogating field.

Claims

1. A method for short range wireless control, comprising:

wirelessly transmitting an interrogating field from a controlled device;

receiving the interrogating field at a control device having one or more manual inputs and modulating the interrogating field with a coded signal;

detecting the modulated interrogating field at the controlled device; and

controlling the controlled device operation based on the coded signal if the control device is within a predetermined distance determined by the modulated interrogating field received from the control device.

2. A method as set out in claim 1, wherein the control device is a switch.

3. A method as set out in claim 1, wherein the control device is a keyboard.

4. A method set out in claim 1, wherein the controlled device is a computer system.

5. A wireless control system, comprising:

a controlled device including a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system including a source of an interrogating field and a reader;

a control device having one or more manual inputs and a modulator for modulating the interrogating field with a coded signal;

wherein the modulated interrogating field is detected by the reader in the controlled device; and

the controlled device wireless operation with the control device is enabled based on the coded signal received from the control device if the control device is within a predetermined distance as determined by the received modulated interrogating field.

6. A wireless control system as set out in claim 5, wherein the control device is a switch.

7. A wireless control system as set out in claim 5, wherein the control device is a keyboard.

8. A wireless control system as set out in claim 5, wherein the controlled device is a computer system.

9. A wireless control system as set out in claim 5, wherein the control device includes one or more passive transponder circuits.

10. A computer system, comprising:

a computer having a processor, display, a source of an interrogating field and associated reader detecting a modulated interrogating field; and

a keyboard coupled to communicate with the computer;

wherein the computer is adapted to wirelessly communicate with an external device through receipt of a modulation of the interrogating field;

wherein the keyboard includes an antenna adapted for coupling the interrogating field to the external device.

11. A computer system as set out in claim 10, wherein said keyboard is wirelessly coupled to the computer.

12. A computer system as set out in claim 11, wherein said keyboard includes a second antenna adapted to wirelessly couple to the computer.