Remote control unit integrator console
First Claim
1. An infrared remote control unit integrator console for housing a plurality of hand held infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size, shape, and coding scheme which are operable to selectively emit infrared signals toward infrared controlled appliances having respectively compatible infrared receivers associated therewith, said console comprising:
- (a) console housing means sized to receive a plurality of infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size and shape therein; and
(b) infrared transfer means at least a portion of which is mounted within said housing means to receive an infrared signal from any infrared control transmitter unit positioned in said housing means and operatively transfer said infrared signal toward a respective infrared controlled appliance to be controlled by said infrared control transmitter unit.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A remote control unit integrator console includes a console tray to hold a plurality of infrared remote control transmitter units of various sizes and shapes. The tray includes a front hood which houses a mechanism for transferring infrared signals from the control units toward the appliances to be controlled. In one embodiment the infrared transfer mechanism includes a set of reflectors capable of efficiently reflecting infrared energy. In another embodiment, the infrared transfer mechanism includes infrared photo detectors connected to amplifiers which drive either a set of infrared emitters positioned in a diverging array or a single infrared emitter mounted in such a manner as to be pivotable. In still another embodiment, the coded infrared signals from the infrared remote control units are converted to radio signals which are received and reconverted to coded infrared signals by receiver units close to the controlled appliances for control of the respective appliances.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An infrared remote control unit integrator console for housing a plurality of hand held infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size, shape, and coding scheme which are operable to selectively emit infrared signals toward infrared controlled appliances having respectively compatible infrared receivers associated therewith, said console comprising:
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(a) console housing means sized to receive a plurality of infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size and shape therein; and (b) infrared transfer means at least a portion of which is mounted within said housing means to receive an infrared signal from any infrared control transmitter unit positioned in said housing means and operatively transfer said infrared signal toward a respective infrared controlled appliance to be controlled by said infrared control transmitter unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An infrared remote control unit integrator console to house a plurality of hand held infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size, shape, and coding scheme which are operable to selectively emit infrared signals toward infrared controlled appliances having respectively compatible infrared receivers associated therewith, said console comprising:
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(a) console housing means sized to receive a plurality of infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size and shape therein; (b) transmitter unit attachment means within said housing means to removably attach a plurality of infrared control transmitter units within said housing means; (c) an infrared photo detector positioned within said housing means to receive an infrared signal from an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means and generate an electrical signal analogous to said infrared signal; (d) amplifier means connected to said infrared photo detector and cooperating therewith to amplify said electrical signal; (e) an infrared emitter device connected to said amplifier means and emitting an amplified infrared signal toward a respective infrared controlled appliance in response to said electrical signal; and (f) detector reflector means having such a shape and being so positioned on said housing means with respect to said infrared photo detector as to create a wide acceptance pattern of said infrared photo detector to infrared signals from an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An infrared remote control unit integrator console to house a plurality of hand held infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size, shape, and coding scheme which are operable to selectively emit infrared signals toward infrared controlled appliances having respectively compatible infrared receivers associated therewith, said console comprising:
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(a) console housing means sized to receive a plurality of infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size and shape therein; (b) transmitter unit attachment means within said housing means to removably attach a plurality of infrared control transmitter units within said housing means; (c) more than one infrared photo detectors positioned within said housing means to receive an infrared signal from an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means and generate an electrical signal analogous to said infrared signal; (d) amplifier means connected to said infrared photo detectors and cooperating therewith to amplify said electrical signal; (e) a plurality of infrared emitter devices connected to said amplifier means, driven in unison by said amplifier means, positioned within said housing means in diverging relation, and emitting an amplified infrared signal toward a respective infrared controlled appliance in response to said electrical signal; and (f) detector reflector means having such a shape and being so positioned on said housing means with respect to said infrared photo detectors as to create a wide acceptance pattern of said infrared photo detectors to infrared signals from an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. An infrared remote control unit integrator console system to house a plurality of handheld infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size, shape, and coding scheme which are operable to selectively emit infrared signals toward infrared controlled appliances having respectively compatible infrared receivers associated therewith, said console system comprising:
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(a) console housing means sized ot receive a plurality of infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size and shaped therein; (b) transmitter unit attachment means within said housing means to removably attach said pluraltiy of infrared control transmitter units within said housing means; (c) an infrared photo detector positioned within said housing means to receive an infrared control signal from an infrated control transmitter unit within said housing means and generate a console electrical signal analogous to said infrared control signal; (d) detector reflector means having such a shape and being so positioned on said housing means with respect to said infrared photo detector as to create a wide acceptance pattern of said infrared photo detector to an infrared control signal from an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means; (e) console amplifier means connected to said infrared photo detector and cooperating therewith to amplify said console electrical signal; (f) radio transmitter means connected to said console amplifier means, modulating a radio signal with said console electrical signal, and transmitting the modulated radio signal; (g) radio receiver means separated from said housing means, receiving said modulated radio signal, and demodulating same to recover a receiver electrical signal analogous to said console electrical signal; (h) receiver amplifier means connected to said radio receiver means and amplifying said receiver electrical signal; and (i) an infrared emitter device connected to said receiver amplifier means, converting said receiver electrical signal to an appliance control infrared signal analogous to said infrared control signal, and emitting said appliance control infrared signal toward an appliance associated with said infrared control transmitter within said housing means.
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Specification