Remote control unit with hierarchical selection

• US 4,843,386 A
• Filed: 05/08/1987
• Issued: 06/27/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Wolf, Johann
• Primary Examiner(s): YUSKO, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US07/047,890
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 340/712, 340/825.31, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.22, 340/825.56, 340/825.06, 340/825.17, 315/316, 315/323, 358/194.1
• US Class Current: 340/12.24
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/032 Feedback about selected symbol, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/032 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

In a remote control unit for modifying the operating states of physically spaced operating units such as the volume control of a stereo system, the color control of a television set and the brightness control of a lighting fixture, a first key is actuated to call up in a predetermined sequence the different floors of a building in which the operating devices are disposed. The floors are identified on a display as they are called up. Upon, actuation of a second key, further actuation of the first key calls up the different rooms on the last-displayed floor of the building, the rooms being identified on the display. Upon another actuation of the second key, yet further actuation of the first key calls up the operating devices or units disposed within the last room called up by actuating the first key. A reset key is provided for returning to the first member of the uppermost hierarchical grouping (i.e., the first-displayed floor). Other keys are provided on the remote control unit for modifying the operating state of a device selected by actuation of the first two keys.

Claims

1. A remote control unit for a system having a plurality of remote operating units organized into groups, said control unit comprising:

wireless transmitter means for sending signals to the operating units;

a keyboard including a plurality of manually actuatable control keys;

selection means for selecting which of said operating units is to be subject to a control operation, said selection means comprising hierarchical selection means wherein each activation of a manually actuatable stop key operatively coupled to said hierarchical selection means calls up related and progressively smaller groups of said operating units and wherein each activation of a manually actuatable sequencing key operatively coupled to said hierarchical selection means calls up a predetermined sequence of operating units within each group of operating units; and

control means responsive to said control keys for generating, in response to signals from said control keys, control signals for modifying the operating state of one of said operating units selected in accordance with signals from said selection means, said control means being operatively connected to said transmitter means for transmitting said control signals to said one of said operating units via said transmitter means.

2. The remote control unit set forth in claim 1 wherein said selection means further comprises resetting means including a reset key operatively coupled to said control means for shifting the effect of actuating said sequencing key back to an uppermost hierarchical grouping.

3. The remote control unit set forth in claim 2 wherein said uppermost hierarchical grouping consists of the collection of said groups.

4. The remote control unit set forth in claim 1 wherein said control keys include an ON key and an OFF key.

5. The remote control unit set forth in claim 4 wherein said control keys further include a key for modifying an operational parameter of the operating units.

6. The remote control unit set forth in claim 1, further comprising display means operatively coupled to said control means for displaying the operating state of an operating unit identified by said selection means.

7. The remote control unit set forth in claim 6, further comprising wireless receiver means for receiving signals from said operating units indicating the operating states thereof.

8. The remote control unit set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for processing specific signals for the identification of ordered spaces.

9. The remote control unit set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for processing utilizes said specific signals for simplifying commands for selecting devices in said ordered spaces as to the number of commands associated with the respective ordered spaces.

10. A remote control unit for a system having a multiplicity of physically spaced operating units organizable into respective groups themselves organizable into respective supergroupings, said remote control unit comprising:

wireless transmitter means for sending signals to the operating units;

a keyboard including a plurality of manually actuatable control keys;

selection means for selecting which of said operating units is to be subject to a control operation; and

control means responsive to said control keys and to said selection means for generating, in response to signals from said control keys, control signals for modifying the operating state of one of said operating units selected in accordance with signals from said selection means, said control means being operatively connected to said transmitter means for transmitting said control signals to said one of said operating units via said transmitter means,

said selection means comprising sequencing means including a manually actuatable sequencing key operatively coupled to said control means for calling up in a predetermined first sequence the different supergroupings of groups of said operating units and, alternately, in a predetermined second sequence, the different groups in a selected supergrouping and, also alternately, in a predetermined third sequence the different operating units in a selected group of said operating units,

said selection means further comprising hierarchy shift means including a manually actuatable stop key operatively coupled to said control means for shifting the effect of actuating said sequencing key from said first sequence to said second sequence and from said second sequence to said third sequence.

11. The remote control unit set forth in claim 10 wherein said selection means further comprises resetting means including a reset key operatively coupled to said control means for shifting the effect of acutating said sequencing key back to an uppermost hierarchical grouping.

12. The remote control unit set forth in claim 11 wherein said uppermost hierarchical grouping consists of the collection of said supergroupings.

13. The remote control unit set forth in claim 10 wherein said control keys include an ON key and an OFF key.

14. The remote control unit set forth in claim 13 wherein said control keys further include a key for modifying an operational parameter of the operating units.

15. The remote control unit set forth in claim 10, further comprising display means operatively coupled to said control means for displaying the operating state of an operating unit identified by said selection means.

16. The remote control unit set forth in claim 15, further comprising wireless receiver means for receiving signals from said operating units indicating the operating states thereof.

17. A remote control unit for a system having a multiplicity of physically spaced operating units organizable into respective groups, said control unit comprising:

first selection means for selecting one of said groups;

second selection means for selecting one of the operating units included in said one of said groups;

a plurality of manually actuatable control keys; and

control means operatively connected to said first and said second selection means and to said control keys for wirelessly transmitting to said one of said operating units, in response to signals from said selection means and in response to signals from said control keys, a control signal for modifying the operating state of said one of said operating units,

said first selection means including a manually actuatable sequencing key operatively coupled to said control means for calling up in a predetermined first sequence the different groups of said operating units,

said second selection means including a manually actuatable stop key operatively coupled to said control means for shifting the effect of actuating said sequencing key from said first sequence to said second sequence, said second selection means further including said sequencing key for calling up in a predetermined second sequence the different operating units in a selected group of said operating units.