Remote control circuit

• US 4,764,981 A
• Filed: 05/29/1986
• Issued: 08/16/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Kazuo, Miyahara, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Van Beek, L.
• Application Number:
  US06/868,792
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 455/603, 455/607, 455/151, 371/34
• US Class Current: 398/33
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 25/02 by signalling back receiving station to transmitting station

Abstract

A remote control device comprises a control input unit, a transmission unit, a receiving unit, a reply unit and a command control circuit. The control input unit outputs a control signal. The transmission unit stores the control signal in a first memory circuit and transmits a light signal based on the control signal. A main device controlled by the remote control unit receives in a first receiver circuit and stores in a second memory circuit the signal from the transmission unit. The main device has a reply signal unit for transmitting a return signal based on the signal from the receiving unit to a second receiver circuit of the remote control device. The command control circuit compares the signal received by the second receiver circuit and the signal stored in the first memory circuit. When these compared signals are in agreement, the command control circuit outputs to the transmission unit a signal based on the signal stored in the second memory circuit thereby to cause the operating device to operate. When they are not in agreement, then the circuit outputs a signal to a display unit for an error display.

Claims

1. A remote control system comprising:

a remote control device including;

(a) a control input unit for providing a control signal;

(b) a first memory circuit for storing said control signal;

(c) a first transmitter circuit for combining a custom code with a data code corresponding to said control signal to form a first command signal, and transmitting the first command signal to a main device controlled by said remote control device, and for transmitting a second command signal, including said custom code, to said main device in response to a feedback signal provided by a command control circuit in said remote control device;

(d) a second receiver circuit for receiving a return signal transmitted from the main device and providing said return signal to a comparator circuit;

(e) said comparator circuit in said command control circuit for comparing said return signal with said control signal stored in said first memory circuit, and for providing said feedback signal to said first transmitter circuit if said return and stored control signals correspond to each other; and

said main device including;

(f) a first receiver circuit for receiving said first and second command signals from said remote control device, for decoding the custom code from said command signals and comparing the decoded custom code with a predetermined value, and if said decoded custom code matches said predetermined value, for providing the return signal in response to said first command signal, and for providing an operating command signal in response to said second command signal;

(g) a second transmitter circuit for transmitting said return signal to said remote control device if said return signal is provided by said first receiver circuit; and

(h) an operated device for performing a desired operation of said main device if said operating command signal is provided by said first receiver circuit.

2. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said first receiver circuit of said main device includes a second memory circuit for storing an operating command signal based upon said first command signal from said remote control device, said first receiver circuit thereupon outputting said stored operating command signal in response to receipt of said second command signal from said remote control device.

3. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control device further comprises a display unit, and wherein said comparator circuit provides an error signal to said display unit for displaying an error message if said return and stored control signals do not correspond with each other.

4. A remote control system according to claim 3, wherein said comparator circuit compares said return and stored control signals and, if they do not correspond, provides a resend signal to said first transmitter circuit to resend said first command signal for a predetermined time before providing said error signal.

5. A remote control system according to claim 3, wherein said operated device of said main device provides a state signal to said second transmitter circuit in response to receipt of said operating command signal, said second transmitter circuit transmits said state signal to said remote control device, and said second receiver circuit provides a signal to said display unit for displaying an operating state of said operated device.

6. A remote control system comprising:

a remote control device including;

(a) a control input unit for providing a control signal;

(b) a first memory circuit for storing said control signal;

(c) a first transmitter circuit for transmitting a first command signal based on said control signal to a main device controlled by said remote control device, and for transmitting a second command signal to said main device in response to a feedback signal provided by a command control circuit in said remote control device;

(d) a second receiver circuit for receiving a return signal transmitted from the main device and providing said return signal to a comparator circuit;

(e) said comparator circuit in said command control circuit for comparing said return signal with said control signal stored in said first memory circuit, and for providing said feedback signal to said first transmitter circuit if said return and stored control signals correspond to each other; and

said main device including;

(f) a first receiver circuit for receiving said first and second command signals from said remote control device, for providing a return signal in response to said first command signal, and for providing an operating command signal in response to said second command signal;

(g) a second transmitter circuit for transmitting said return signal to said remote control device if said return signal is provided by said first receiver circuit; and

(h) an operated device for performing a desired operation of said main device if said operating command signal is provided by said first receiver circuit;

wherein said remote control device further comprises a display unit, and wherein said comparator circuit provides an error signal to said display unit for displaying an error message, and provides a control message corresponding to said control signal to said display unit for display with said error message, if said return and stored control signals do not correspond with each other.