Remote control apparatus

• US 4,718,112 A
• Filed: 10/01/1985
• Issued: 01/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shinoda, Hatsuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US06/782,538
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 455/151, 455/171, 455/231, 455/603, 455/89, 358/194.1, 340/825.22, 340/825.24, 340/825.69, 364/145, 371/19
• US Class Current: 455/151.4
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/10 using selector switches
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23039 Remote programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23452 Simulate sequence on display to control program, test functions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23458 Remote controller pluggable, attachable to pc
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25192 Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units

Abstract

Apparatus for remotely controlling the operation of various electronic devices comprises a remote-control unit having a read-only memory for storing a data table, a keyboard for generating a program to be executed at a predetermined future time, a random-access memory for storing the program, a central processing unit jointly interactive with the read-only memory and the random-access memory, and a transmitter controlled by the central processing unit for producing a remote-control signal based on the data table and the program. A receiver is responsive to the remote-control signal for controlling the devices in accordance therewith, and a simulator is provided for producing the remote-control signal before the predetermined future time, so that at least a portion of the program is pre-executed as a test of its validity.

Claims

1. Apparatus for remotely controlling the operation of at least one electronic device;

said apparatus comprising;

a remote-control unit removeably attachable to a personal computer having a keyboard, said unit including a read-only memory for storing a data table, means for generating a program of events to be executed at predetermined future times, a random-access memory for storing said program, a central processing unit jointly interactive with said read-only memory and said random-access memory, and a transmitter controlled by said central processing unit for producing remote-control signals corresponding to said events and being based upon said data table and said program;

a receiver responsive to said remote-control signals for controlling said device in accordance therewith; and

simulation means for producing said remote-control signals and causing the respective events to occur before said predetermined future times in response to operations of said keyboard of the personal computer;

whereby at least a portion of said program is pre-executed as a test of its validity.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1;

wherein said remote-control unit comprises a cartridge and said transmitter is an infrared transmitter attached to said cartridge.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1;

wherein said program includes digital code signals that represent data, timer-ON time, and timer-OFF time, and specify said electronic device.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1;

wherein said simulation means produces said remote-control signals in response to execution orders given by a user of the apparatus and entered through said keyboard.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1;

wherein said transmitter comprises an infrared encoder and a light-emitting diode connected to said encoder.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 for remotely controlling the operation of at least a tuner, a power amplifier and tape recording apparatus;

wherein said receiver is connected to said tuner and adapted to enable said tuner to receive a broadcast signal in response to said program and to supply said broadcast signal to said tape recording apparatus for recording.