Remote control and signaling system

• US 5,214,422 A
• Filed: 02/20/1992
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NBD Bank (Wheaton, Illinois) (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Vidtronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Cullimore, Jay N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Magistre, Dervis
• Application Number:
  US07/839,464
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 359/145, 359/142, 359/146, 455/90, 455/151.2, 455/151.4, 455/347, 455/352, 358/194.1, 206/328, 206/557, 248/146, 248/172, 211/13
• US Class Current: 340/13.32
• 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 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

Several remote control and signaling systems 10, 80 allow for the remote operational control of an apparatus 20, by a transmitter 14. These systems 10, 80 obviate the need for a line of sight relationship between transmitter 14 and control apparatus 20 and are further adapted to receive original control signal 15 and to thereafter generate a relatively high frequency signal 22, to facilitate this desired control. Moreover, a transmitter mounting assembly 90 is adapted to removably mount several dissimilar transmitters 98, 100, 102 and which allows for the remote control of a plurality of apparatuses 20 in an efficient manner.

Claims

1. A remote control mounting assembly for use in combination with a plurality of remote transmitters, each of said remote transmitters being adapted to transmit infrared signals to respective first and second receivers, said signals being effective to cause said first and second receivers to generate respective first and second control signals effective to control respective first and second apparatus, said remote control mounting assembly comprising:

an "L" shaped support member having a planar horizontally extending base adapted to removably support said plurality of remote controllers;

a second hollow member movably coupled to one edge of said extending base, wherein said second hollow member is movable from a first position in which said second hollow member is co-planar with said support member to a second position in which said second hollow member is perpendicular with said support member; and

a plurality of transistors contained within said second hollow member, each of said plurality of transistors having a base portion in optical communication with a unique one of said plurality of remote transmitters and an emitter portion coupled to a selectively activated light source, each of said plurality of transistors being adapted to receive an infrared signal from a unique one of said remote transmitters and, upon receipt of said infrared signal to activate said light source effective to cause one of said first and second receivers to generate one of said respective first and second control members.