Universal remote control device
First Claim
1. In a universal remote control system having input means for inputting commands, signal output means for supplying an infrared signal to a controlled device and a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, the improvement residing in said system comprising no ROM, a single non-volatile, read-write RAM coupled to said central processing unit and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to the CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and the CPU.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The universal remote control system comprises data processor, input device including a keyboard and a keyboard circuit connected to the data processor, signal output device including circuitry for generating infrared light codes connected to the data processor means, a memory including a battery backed, non-volatile RAM only and no ROM for storing (a) a set of instructions and (b) a library of code data for enabling the infrared light generating circuitry to generate specific infrared codes, the RAM being coupled to the data processor, and a data coupling device including terminals coupled to the CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, the RAM through the terminals and the CPU.
The RAM in the ROM-less data processing means is loaded by carrying out the following steps: (a) disabling the central processing unit; (b) connecting a separate microprocessor system to said RAM; (c) transferring instructions and/or data to said RAM; and (d) re-enabling the central processing unit to enable the central processing unit to execute the instructions so transferred.
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Citations
38 Claims
- 1. In a universal remote control system having input means for inputting commands, signal output means for supplying an infrared signal to a controlled device and a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, the improvement residing in said system comprising no ROM, a single non-volatile, read-write RAM coupled to said central processing unit and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to the CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and the CPU.
- 6. A microprocessor system for use in a universal remote control device having command inputs and infrared code outputs, said system comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a single non-volatile, read-write random access memory (RAM) coupled to said CPU, no read only memory (ROM), first and second coupling means for coupling said system to the command inputs and to the code outputs, respectively, and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to said CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.
- 23. A universal remote control system comprising data processing means, input means including a keyboard and keyboard circuit means coupled to said data processing means, signal output means including means for generating infrared light codes coupled to said data processing means, memory means including a battery backed, non-volatile, read-write RAM coupled to said data processing means for storing (a) a set of instructions and (b) a library of code data for enabling said infrared light generating means to generate specific infrared codes, said RAM being coupled to said data processing means, and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to said CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.
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36. In a universal remote control system having input means for inputting commands, infrared signal output means for supplying an infrared signal to a control device and a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, the improvement residing in said system comprising a single, non-volatile, read-write RAM coupled to said central processing unit and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to the CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.
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37. A microprocessor system for use in a universal remote control device having command inputs and infrared code outputs and comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a single non-volatile, read-write random access memory (RAM) coupled to said CPU, first and second coupling means for connecting said system to the command inputs and to the code outputs, respectively, and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to said CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.
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38. A universal remote control system comprising data processing means, input means including a keyboard and keyboard circuit means coupled to said data processing means, signal output means including means for generating infrared light codes coupled to said data processing means, and memory means including a battery backed, non-volatile, read-write RAM only and no ROM for storing (a) a set of instructions and (b) a library of code data for enabling said infrared light generating means to generate specific infrared codes, said RAM being coupled to said data processing means, and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to said CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.
Specification