r. f. Remote controller for electrical loads having resistive or complex impedances
First Claim
1. A remote controller for controlling one or more electrical loads, the loads having resistive or complex impedances, the controller comprising:
- a. transmitter means for transmitting modulated r.f. signals, the transmitter including;
i. command generator means for generating command signals containing load control data, the command signals including sequences of pulses, wherein each pulse is produced within a fixed time interval, and has a width defined by the leading and trailing edges thereof that is variable within the fixed interval;
ii. oscillator means for generating r.f. oscillator signals;
iii. modulator means responsive to the command signals for generating modulation signals to vary the oscillator signal amplitude at points in time corresponding approximately to the leading and trailing edges of the command signal pulses such that the amplitude of the oscillator signal between the points in time corresponding approximately to the leading and trailing edges of the command signal pulses is reduced relative to the amplitude of the oscillator signals at points in time corresponding approximately to the leading and trailing edges of the command signal pulses;
iv. transmitter antenna means responsive to the oscillator signals for radiating the modulated r.f. oscillator signals; and
b. receiver means responsive to the r.f. signals radiated by the transmitter, the receiver means including;
i. receiver antenna means for receiving the signals radiated by the transmitter and supplying signals that correspond to the modulated oscillator r.f. signals;
ii. detector means responsive to the receiver antenna means signals for demodulating the receiver antenna means signals and generating detector signal corresponding to the transmitter modulation signals which contain load control data;
iii. decoder means, responsive to the detector signals for generation load control signals corresponding to the control data contained in the detector signals; and
iv. driver means responsive to the decoder signals for driving the loads in accordance with the load data.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for remotely controlling electrical loads having resistive or complex impedances. The apparatus features a controller having a transmitter and a companion receiver. The transmitter is preferably hand-held and includes a command generator at which commands are selected; a modulator responsive to the command signals for generating modulation signals containing the load control information; an oscillator responsive to the modulation signals for generation short-duration bursts of r.f. carrier whose positions in time convey the load control information; and an antenna for radiating the modulated, r.f. carrier. The receiver includes an antenna responsive to the transmitter; a detector responsive to the receiver antenna for generating signals corresponding to the transmitter modulation signals; a converter responsive to the detector signals for changing the detector signals to a form convenient for processing; a decoder responsive to the converter for generating load control signals; and a driver connected to the loads and responsive to the control signals for implementing the commands selected at the transmitter. The method includes steps for generating command signals including control data; generating short-duration modulation signals in response to the command signals; varying the amplitude of an r.f. carrier with the modulation signal to generate bursts of r.f. carrier having positions in time that convey the load control information and, thereafter, radiating the r.f. carrier. Additionally the method includes steps for receiving the modulated carrier; demodulating the carrier; converting the detector signal for processing; decoding the load control information; and generating load control signals for driving the loads.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A remote controller for controlling one or more electrical loads, the loads having resistive or complex impedances, the controller comprising:
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a. transmitter means for transmitting modulated r.f. signals, the transmitter including; i. command generator means for generating command signals containing load control data, the command signals including sequences of pulses, wherein each pulse is produced within a fixed time interval, and has a width defined by the leading and trailing edges thereof that is variable within the fixed interval; ii. oscillator means for generating r.f. oscillator signals; iii. modulator means responsive to the command signals for generating modulation signals to vary the oscillator signal amplitude at points in time corresponding approximately to the leading and trailing edges of the command signal pulses such that the amplitude of the oscillator signal between the points in time corresponding approximately to the leading and trailing edges of the command signal pulses is reduced relative to the amplitude of the oscillator signals at points in time corresponding approximately to the leading and trailing edges of the command signal pulses; iv. transmitter antenna means responsive to the oscillator signals for radiating the modulated r.f. oscillator signals; and b. receiver means responsive to the r.f. signals radiated by the transmitter, the receiver means including; i. receiver antenna means for receiving the signals radiated by the transmitter and supplying signals that correspond to the modulated oscillator r.f. signals; ii. detector means responsive to the receiver antenna means signals for demodulating the receiver antenna means signals and generating detector signal corresponding to the transmitter modulation signals which contain load control data; iii. decoder means, responsive to the detector signals for generation load control signals corresponding to the control data contained in the detector signals; and iv. driver means responsive to the decoder signals for driving the loads in accordance with the load data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A transmitter means for use in a remote controller the remote controller being adapted to control one or more electrical loads having resistive or complex impedances, the transmitter comprising:
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a. command generator means for generating coded command signals containing load control data, the command signals including sequences of pulses wherein each pulse is produced within a fixed time interval and has a variable pulse width within the interval; b. oscillator means for generating r.f. oscillator signals; c. modulator means responsive to the command signals for generating modulation signals to vary the oscillator signal amplitude at points in time corresponding approximately to the leading and trailing edges of the command signal pulses such that the amplitude of the oscillator signal between the points in time corresponding approximately to the leading and trailing edges of the command signal pulses is reduced relative to the amplitude of the oscillator signals at points in time corresponding approximately to the leading and trailing edges of the command signal pulses; and d. antenna means coupled to the oscillator means for radiating the modulated r.f. oscillator signals. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. Receiver means for use in a remote controller, the remote controller being adapted to control one or more electrical loads having resistive or complex impedances by producing coded command signals containing the load control data, the command signals including sequences of pulses wherein each pulse is produced within a fixed time interval and has a variable pulse width within the interval, the receiver means comprising:
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a. antenna means for receiving modulated r.f. signals containing coded command signals including load control data, and, thereafter, generating signals among which are included signals corresponding to the received modulated r.f. signals; b. detector means responsive to the antenna signals for demodulating the antenna signals and generating detector signals having pulses whose positions in time correspond approximately to the leading and trailing edges of the command signal pulses; c. decoder means responsive to the detector signals for generating decoder signals containing load control data contained in the detector signals; and d. driver means responsive to the decoder signals for driving the loads in accordance with the received load control data. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for remotely controlling one or more electrical loads having resistive or complex impedances using r.f. control signals, the method comprising:
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a. generating coded command signals including load control data, the coded command signals being in the form of sequences of pulse-width modulated pulses provided within fixed time intervals; b. generating modulation signals having pulses whose position in time corresponds approximately to the leading and trailing edges of the pulse-width modulated command signals; c. generating r.f. signals whose amplitude is modulated at points in time corresponding to the pulses of the modulation signals so that the amplitude of the oscillator signal between the modulation pulses is reduced relative to the amplitude of the oscillator signal during the modulation pulses; d. radiating the modulated r.f. signals; e. receiving the modulated r.f. signals proximate the loads to be controlled; f. demodulating the r.f. signals received and generating detection signals having pulses whose position in time correspond to the pulses of the modulated signals; h. driving the loads in accordance with the control data of the load command signals. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification