Wireless remote controller for outputting in seriatim an operation mode signal for each of a plurality of receiving devices

• US 5,128,667 A
• Filed: 05/16/1991
• Issued: 07/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nakanishi, Takeshi, Ito, Takao, Enomoto, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Magistre, Dervis
• Application Number:
  US07/701,237
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 358/194.1, 359/142, 359/145, 359/146
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 9/06 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. light

Abstract

An improved wireless remote controller for controlling each of several devices under control in each mode of operation without requiring any switching among devices under control and thus having no device switching key mounted thereon. The wireless remote controller has a plurality of operation selection keys and is designed to operate in such manner that when the controller is directed toward one of the devices under control and any one of the operation mode selection keys is depressed, a corresponding operation mode signal is generated and transmitted to a device under control. The operation mode signal includes a series of consecutive signal components for operating all the devices under control. The device under control responds only to the associated one of the signal components of the operation mode signal.

Claims

1. A wireless remote controller for controlling any one of a plurality of receiving devices each with a plurality of operation modes, comprising:

a plurality of operation mode selection keys for selecting a common operation mode for each receiving device;

a memory means responsive to a depressed operation mode selection key for storing the common operation mode signal for each receiving device for the depressed operation mode selection key;

a drive circuit for transmitting a signal to said receiving devices; and

a control means coupled to said memory means and said drive circuit for obtaining the operation mode signal corresponding to the common operation mode of each receiving device from said memory means and for always outputting said operation mode signal for each of the plurality of receiving devices to said drive circuit in seriatim in response to the depressed operation mode selection key.

2. The wireless remote controller of claim 1 wherein the memory means includes a latch means coupled to said operation mode selection keys.

3. The wireless remote controller of claim 1 wherein the control means outputs the operation mode signal for each device to said drive circuit three times.

4. A wireless remote controller in accordance with claim 1, wherein each operation mode signal component for each said device corresponding to said depressed operation mode selection key includes a 12 bit code of binary high and low states.

5. A wireless remote controller in accordance with claim 4, wherein said high and low states are defined by longer and shorter time intervals, respectively.

6. A wireless remote controller in accordance with claim 5, wherein the operation mode signal includes identifying bits inserted between each said operation mode signal.

7. A wireless remote controller for controlling any one of a plurality of devices each with a plurality of operation modes, the remote controller having a plurality of operation mode selection keys for selecting the operation modes of the devices, a means for providing an operation mode signal in response to said selection keys being pressed, and a means for transmitting the operation mode signal to the device under control, the improvement comprising:

said operation mode signal includes one command signal for each of the devices, each said command signal corresponding to the selection key pressed;

said transmitting means transmits said one command signal for each device in seriatim in response to the selection key depressed only.