Infrared remote control apparatus

• US 4,897,883 A
• Filed: 05/23/1988
• Issued: 01/30/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPC Incorporated (Estate of R Randall Rollins)
• Original Assignee: Modcom Incorporated
• Inventors: Harrington, Christopher C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beek, L. Van
• Application Number:
  US07/197,750
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 455/601, 455/602, 455/603, 455/606, 455/607, 455/613, 455/609, 455/615, 455/617-619
• US Class Current: 398/126
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04

Abstract

One or more infrared receiver units communicate by carrier current to an infrared transmitter unit in order to extend the operational range of an infrared remote control device that normally operates an electrical or electromechanical apparatus. The receiver converts the infrared radiation pattern produced by an infrared remote control device into a signal at a suitable frequency that is injected onto the carrier current of a facility. The transmitter, located adjacent the apparatus, converts the signal on the carrier current back into the original infrared signal used to operate the apparatus.

Claims

1. A remote control apparatus for activating a device capable of being controlled by an infrared signal comprising:

an infrated radiation transmitter for transmitting a first infrared radiation signal, said transmitter being an encoder;

means for receiving the first infrared radiation signal, said first infrared radiation signal receiving means including an infrared photodiode having an output corresponding to the first infrared radiation signal received by it;

a driver for receiving the output of the photodiode and producing a corresponding signal that is capable of being carried by carrier-current;

an optical filter disposed between the photodiode and the infrared transmitter such that the first infrared signal transmitted by the infrared transmitter must pass through the opticalfilter in order to be received by the photodiode;

a positive voltage source electrically connected to the photodiode for reverse biasing the photodiode such that the photodiode is rendered conducting upon receipt of the first infrared signal;

a grounded resistor electrically connected to the photodiode for proper photodiode biasing;

a first bandpass filter electrically connected to the driver and capable of producing a signal corresponding to the signal received from the driver; and

a second plug electrically connected to the first bandpass filter and capable of coupling the signal from the bandpass filter to the carrier current; and

means for receiving the signal of the carrier current and producing an infrared signal, said carrier-current receiving means having a carrier-current receiver capable of receiving the signal on the carrier current, and an infrared light emitting diode electrically connected to the carrier current receiver and capable of producing a second infrared signal that corresponds to the signal of the carrier current that is received by it.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the the means for receiving the signal of the carrier current and producing an infrared signal includes a second plug that is capable of coupling the signal of the carrier current signal to the infrared light emitting diode;

a second bandpass filter electrically connected to the second plug and capable of producing a signal corresponding to the signal of the carrier current received by it through the second plug; and

an amplifier electrically connected to the second bandpass filter and to the infrared light emitting diode, said amplifier amplifying the signal received from the second bandpass filter such that the infrared light emitting diode is driven by the amplified signal.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the first bandpass filter includes a first capacitor and a first transformer in electrical connection, said first capacitor electrically connected to the driver and said first transformer electrically connected to the first plug;

and wherein there is a second and third capacitor electrically connected in parallel, and electrically connected between the first transformer and the plug.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein the second bandpass filter is a fourth capacitor and a second transformer in electrical connection, said fourth capacitor electrically connected to the amplifier and said second transformer electrically connected to the second plug;

and wherein there is a first and second coupling capacitor electrically connected in parallel, and electrically connected to the second plug and the second transformer.