Infrared remote control system for activating and deactivating one or more devices in a single enclosed space
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operations of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, comprising:
- a console having at least two simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters whose axes are separated by an angle of at least 90 degrees, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said at least two infrared transmitters to transmit a respective selected code, said controlling means causing said at least two infrared transmitters to repetitively transmit the same selected code; and
a plurality of remote devices all having means for detecting and decoding a received code, at least one of the remote devices including means for recognizing a code and implementing the respective desired function and infrared means for retransmitting the received code, and the remote devices which include retransmitting means further including means for validating the received code and enabling the operation of said retransmitting means only subsequent to prior receipt of a validated code.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operation of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, for example, a hotel room. The console includes several simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters, the transmitters being aimed in different directions. Remote devices respond to respective codes, but some also retransmit received radiation so that the console can gain access even to remote devices which are not along a line of sight.
85 Citations
69 Claims
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1. An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operations of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, comprising:
- a console having at least two simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters whose axes are separated by an angle of at least 90 degrees, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said at least two infrared transmitters to transmit a respective selected code, said controlling means causing said at least two infrared transmitters to repetitively transmit the same selected code; and
a plurality of remote devices all having means for detecting and decoding a received code, at least one of the remote devices including means for recognizing a code and implementing the respective desired function and infrared means for retransmitting the received code, and the remote devices which include retransmitting means further including means for validating the received code and enabling the operation of said retransmitting means only subsequent to prior receipt of a validated code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a console having at least two simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters whose axes are separated by an angle of at least 90 degrees, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said at least two infrared transmitters to transmit a respective selected code, said controlling means causing said at least two infrared transmitters to repetitively transmit the same selected code; and
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14. An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operations of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, comprising:
- a console having at least two simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters whose axes are separated by an angle of at least 90 degrees, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said at least two infrared transmitters to transmit a respective selected code; and
a plurality of remote devices all having means for detecting and decoding a received code, at least one of the remote devices including means for recognizing a code and implementing the respective desired function and at least one of the remote devices including infrared means for retransmitting the received code, and said retransmitting means including semiconductor means for receiving the code and at least one semiconductor means for transmitting the same code, the receiving and at least one transmitting semiconductor means having axes which are separated by an angle less than 90 degrees. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
- a console having at least two simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters whose axes are separated by an angle of at least 90 degrees, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said at least two infrared transmitters to transmit a respective selected code; and
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18. An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operations of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, comprising:
- a console having at least two simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters whose axes are separated by an angle of at least 90 degrees and two additional infrared transmitters both aimed, relative to the console, forwardly and upwardly, but to opposite sides of the console, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said at least two and said two additional infrared transmitters to transmit a respective selected code; and
a plurality of remote devices all having means for detecting and decoding a received code, at least one of the remote devices including means for recognizing a code and implementing the respective desired function and at least one of the remote devices including infrared means for retransmitting the received code.
- a console having at least two simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters whose axes are separated by an angle of at least 90 degrees and two additional infrared transmitters both aimed, relative to the console, forwardly and upwardly, but to opposite sides of the console, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said at least two and said two additional infrared transmitters to transmit a respective selected code; and
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19. An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operations of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, comprising:
- a console having at least two simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters whose axes are separated by an angle of at least 90 degrees, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said at least two infrared transmitters to transmit a respective selected code; and
a plurality of remote devices all having means for detecting and decoding a received code, at least one of the remote devices including means for recognizing a code and implementing the respective desired function and at least one of the remote devices including infrared means for retransmitting the received code;
said console and at least a first one of the remote devices for recognizing a code and implementing the respective function being not in direct line of sight, and at least a second one of the remote devices for retransmitting the received code serving to retransmit the code to said first remote device.
- a console having at least two simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters whose axes are separated by an angle of at least 90 degrees, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said at least two infrared transmitters to transmit a respective selected code; and
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20. An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operations of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, comprising:
- a console having at least two simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters whose axes are separated by an angle of at least 90 degrees, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said at least two infrared transmitters to transmit a respective selected code; and
a plurality of remote devices all having means for detecting and decoding a received code, at least one of the remote devices including means for recognizing a code and implementing the respective desired function and at least one of the remote devices including infrared means for retransmitting the received code;
each code including a group of pulses, and, in order to prevent feedback oscillations, each remote device which retransmits the received code including means for gating on its retransmitting means for only a predetermined time interval responsive to receipt of each pulse in the code.
- a console having at least two simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters whose axes are separated by an angle of at least 90 degrees, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said at least two infrared transmitters to transmit a respective selected code; and
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21. An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operations of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, comprising:
- a console having at least two simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters whose axes are separated by an angle of at least 90 degrees, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said at least two infrared transmitters to transmit a respective selected code; and
a plurality of remote devices all having means for detecting and decoding a received code, at least one of the remote devices including means for recognizing a code and implementing the respective desired function and at least one of the remote devices including infrared means for retransmitting the received code, and one of said remote devices further including means responsive to receipt of a respective code for toggling an electrical closure, and means connectable to a manual electrical switch responsive to the contact bounce therein for toggling said electrical closure. - View Dependent Claims (22)
- a console having at least two simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters whose axes are separated by an angle of at least 90 degrees, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said at least two infrared transmitters to transmit a respective selected code; and
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23. An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operations of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, comprising:
- a console having infrared transmitting means, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said infrared transmitting means to transmit a respective selected code, said controlling means causing said infrared transmitting means to repetitively transmit the same selected code; and
a plurality of remote devices all having means for detecting and decoding a received code, at least one of the remote devices including means for recognizing a code and implementing the respective desired function, at least one of the remote devices including infrared means for retransmitting the received code, and at least one of the remote devices including both recognizing and implementing means, and retransmitting means, and the remote devices which include retransmitting means further including means for validating the received code and enabling the operation of said retransmitting means only subsequent to prior receipt of a validated code.
- a console having infrared transmitting means, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said infrared transmitting means to transmit a respective selected code, said controlling means causing said infrared transmitting means to repetitively transmit the same selected code; and
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24. An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operations of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, comprising:
- a console having infrared transmitting means, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said infrared transmitting means to transmit a respective selected code; and
a plurality of remote devices all having means for detecting and decoding a received code, at least one of the remote devices including means for recognizing a code and implementing the respective desired function, at least one of the remote devices including infrared means for retransmitting the received code, and at least one of the remote devices including both recongizing and implementing means, and retransmitting means, said retransmitting means including semiconductor means for receiving the code and at least one semiconductor means for transmitting the same code, the receiving and at least one transmitting semiconductor means having axes which are separated by an angle less than 90 degrees.
- a console having infrared transmitting means, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said infrared transmitting means to transmit a respective selected code; and
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25. An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operations of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, comprising:
- a console having infrared transmitting means, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said infrared transmitting means to transmit a respective selected code; and
a plurality of remote devices all having means for detecting and decoding a received code, at least one of the remote devices including means for recognizing a code and implementing the respective desired function, at least one of the remote devices including infrared means for retransmitting the received code, and at least one of the remote devices including both recognizing and implementing means, and retransmitting means;
said console and at least a first one of the remote devices for recognizing a code and implementing the respective function being not in direct line of sight, and at least a second one of the remote devices for retransmitting the received code serving to retransmit the code to said first remote device.
- a console having infrared transmitting means, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said infrared transmitting means to transmit a respective selected code; and
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26. An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operations of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, comprising:
- a console having infrared transmitting means, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said infrared transmitting means to transmit a respective selected code; and
a plurality of remote devices all having means for detecting and decoding a received code, at least one of the remote devices including means for recognizing a code and implementing the respective desired function, at least one of the remote devices including infrared means for retransmitting the received code, and at least one of the remote devices including both recognizing and implementing means, and retransmitting means;
each code including a group of pulses, and, in order to prevent feedback oscillations, each remote device which retransmits the received code includes means for gating on its retransmitting means for only a predetermined time interval responsive to receipt of each pulse in the code.
- a console having infrared transmitting means, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said infrared transmitting means to transmit a respective selected code; and
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27. An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operations of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, comprising:
- a console having infrared transmitting means, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said infrared transmitting means to transmit a respective selected code; and
a plurality of remote devices including means for recognizing a code and implementing the respective desired function, at least one of the remote devices including infrared means for retransmitting the received code, and at least one of the remote devices including both recognizing and implementing means, and retransmitting means, and one of said remote devices further including means responsive to receipt of a respective code for toggling an electrical closure, and means connectable to a manual electrical switch responsive to the contact bounce therein for toggling said electrical closure. - View Dependent Claims (28, 37, 38)
- a console having infrared transmitting means, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said infrared transmitting means to transmit a respective selected code; and
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29. An infrared remote unit controlled by an infrared transmitter which repetitively transmits a code corresponding to a desired function, comprising:
- means for detecting and decoding a received code, means for recognizing the code and implementing the corresponding desired function, infrared means for retransmitting the received code, and means for validating the received code and enabling the operation of said retransmitting means only subsequent to prior receipt of a validated code.
- View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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39. An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operations of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, comprising:
- a console having infrared transmitter means for transmitting infrared radiation in a plurality of directions, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said infrared transmitter means to transmit a respective selected code in each direction; and
a plurality of remote devices all having means for detecting and decoding a received code, at least one of the remote devices including means for recognizing a received code and implementing the respective desired function, and at least one of the remote devices including infrared means for retransmitting a received code, said at least one remote device which includes retransmitting means further including means for preventing feedback oscillations which would otherwise arise due to the associated detecting and decoding means responding to the reception of infrared radiation from a plurality of sources. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
- a console having infrared transmitter means for transmitting infrared radiation in a plurality of directions, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said infrared transmitter means to transmit a respective selected code in each direction; and
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49. An infrared remote control system in accordance with 48 wherein said infrared transmitter means of said console further comprise two additional infrared transmitters both aimed, relative to the console, forwardly and upwardly, but to opposite sides of the console.
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62. An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operations of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, comprising:
- a console having infrared transmitting means, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said infrared transmitting means to transmit a respective selected code; and
a plurality of remote devices all having means for detecting and decoding a received code, at least one of the remote devices including means for recognizing a code and implementing the respective desired function, and at least one of the remote devices including infrared means for retransmitting a received code, said at least one remote device which includes retransmitting means further including means for preventing interference with the reception or the retransmission or both the reception and the retransmission of a selected code. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
- a console having infrared transmitting means, means for representing a desired function, and means responsive to operation of said representing means for controlling said infrared transmitting means to transmit a respective selected code; and
Specification