Remote commander having a ROM read-out pre-programmed codes therefrom

• US 4,999,622 A
• Filed: 05/22/1989
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shimada, Akiko, Amano, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Magistre, Dervis
• Application Number:
  US07/354,874
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/825.56, 341/176, 358/194.1, 455/151, 455/352, 455/353, 455/603
• US Class Current: 340/12.24
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems

Abstract

A multi-commander includes a first memory for storing a plurality of remote control signals having different signal formats, a circuit for receiving a remote control signal from another remote commander, a rewritable second memory, a remote control signal transmitting circuit for transmitting a remote control signal derived from the first memory, and a mode switch for selectively switching between the setting mode and the remote control mode. When the mode switch is in the setting mode, the signal format of the remote control signal derived from the other remote commander and received by the remote control signal receiving circuit is identified and the signal format of the remote control signal from the other remote commander is read out of the first memory and is then written in the second memory. When the mode switch is in the remote control mode, the signal format written in the second memory is supplied to the remote control signal transmitting circuit in order to control a selected one of a plurality of electronic devices.

Claims

1. A multi-commander comprising:

a read only memory having stored therein in advance of the time of manufacturer of the multi-commander a plurality of remote control signals having different signal formats and including a manufacturer'"'"'s code for each of a plurality of manufacturers;

remote control signal receiving means for receiving a remote control signal from an other remote commander, said remote control signal including a manufacturer'"'"'s code identifying the manufacturer of said other remote commander;

a random access memory;

remote control signal transmitting means for transmitting a remote control signal from said read only memory; and

mode switch means for selectively switching between a setting mode and a remote control mode;

wherein, when said mode switch means is in the setting mode, the manufacturer'"'"'s code included in the remote control signal derived from said other remote commander and received by said remote control signal receiving means is written in said random access memory and compared with said manufacturer'"'"'s codes for each of the plurality of manufacturer'"'"'s stored in said read only memory for identifying the manufacturer, so that the signal format of said remote control signal from the other remote commander is read out of said read only memory and is written in said random access memory; and

wherein, when said mode switch means is in the remote control mode, the signal format written in the random access memory is employed to select appropriate remote control signals from said read only memory for transmission by said signal transmitting means.

2. A multi-commander according to claim 1, further comprising category switch means for selecting a category of apparatus to be remotely controlled.

3. A multi-commander according to claim 1, in which said remote control signal transmitting means is a light emitting diode.

4. A multi-commander comprising:

a first memory arranged for read-out only and having stored therein in advance of the time of manufacture of the multi-commander a plurality of remote control signals having different signal formats and manufacutrer'"'"'s codes respectively proper to different apparatus of different manufacturers;

remote control signal receiving means for receiving a remote control signal from an other remote commander proper to a particular apparatus of a particular manufacturer;

a second writable memory arranged for random access;

remote control signal transmitting means including an output register for transmitting a remote control signal from said first memory through said output register for controlling a given function of said particular apparatus; and

mode switch means for selectively switching between a setting mode and a remote control mode;

wherein, when said mode switch means is in the setting mode, the manufacturer'"'"'s code included in the remote control signal derived from said other remote commander and received by said remote control signal receiving means is written in said second memory and compared with said manufacturer'"'"'s codes for said different manufacturers stored in said first memory for identifying the manufacturer, so that the signal format of said remote control signal from the other remote commander is read out of said first memory and is written in said second memory; and

wherein, when said mode switching means is in the remote control mode, said signal format is read out of said second memory and employed for selecting an appropriate control signal to be read out of said first memory for transmission by said signal transmitting means to said particular apparatus for controlling said given function.