Universal remote control system

• US 5,255,313 A
• Filed: 04/08/1993
• Issued: 10/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Darbee, Paul V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US08/046,105
• Time in Patent Office: 194 Days
• Field of Search: 379/102, 379/104, 379/105, 379/443, 379/444, 379/93, 379/97-99, 358/194.1, 358/142, 358/146, 358/147
• US Class Current: 379/102.01
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/189 with a tactile symbol or indication, e.g. for blind people
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/056 Modular conception
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/24 Remote control device with display showing program content
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems

Abstract

The universal remote control system includes a computer having a memory and code data for creating appropriate IR lamp driver instructions for causing an infrared signal generator to emit infrared signals which will cause specific functions to occur in a specific controlled device, for operating a variety of devices to be controlled, stored in the memory of the computer. The system further includes a universal remote control comprising: input circuitry including a set of keys or pushbuttons for inputting commands into the remote control, infrared signal output circuitry including IR lamp driver circuitry for supplying an infrared signal to a controlled device, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the input circuitry and to the signal output circuitry, a memory coupled to the CPU, and data coupling circuitry and structure for periodically coupling the computer to the remote control for inputting from the computer memory appropriate IR lamp driver instructions for causing the infrared signal output circuitry to emit infrared signals which will cause specific functions to occur in a specific controlled device, for operating a variety of devices to be controlled into the memory of the remote control to enable the remote control to control various devices to be controlled upon the inputting of commands to the keys of the input circuitry.

Claims

1. A universal remote control system including a computer having a memory, code data for creating appropriate infrared (IR) lamp driver instructions for causing an infrared signal generator to emit infrared signals which will cause specific functions to occur in a specific controlled device, for operating a variety of devices to be controlled, stored in said memory of said computer, a universal remote control comprising input means including a set of keys or pushbuttons for inputting commands into the remote control, infrared signal output means including IR lamp driver circuitry for supplying an infrared signal to a controlled device, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, memory means coupled to said CPU, and data coupling means for periodically coupling said computer to said remote control for receiving from said computer memory said code data for creating appropriate IR lamp driver instructions for causing said infrared signals which will cause specific functions to occur in a specific controlled device, for operating a variety of devices to be controlled into said memory means of said remote control to enable said remote control to control various devices to be controlled upon the inputting of commands to the keys of the input means and a data transmission system including said data coupling means for coupling said remote control to said computer, directly, through a telephone line, through a modem and a telephone line, or through decoding means and a television set to receive a television signal picked up by the television set.

2. A universal remote control system including a universal remote control comprising input means including a set of keys or pushbuttons for inputting commands into the remote control, infrared signal output means including infrared (IR) lamp driver circuitry for supplying an infrared signal to a controlled device, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, memory means coupled to said CPU and data coupling means including terminal means comprising a receiving port coupled to said CPU for enabling code data for creating appropriate IR lamp driver instructions for causing said infrared signal output means to emit infrared signals which will cause specific functions to occur in a specific controlled device, for operating a variety of devices to be controlled, to be supplied from outside said remote control through said receiving port of said terminal means directly to said CPU for direct entry to said memory means to enable said remote control to control various devices to be controlled upon the inputting of commands to the keys of the input means and a data transmission system including coupling means for coupling said terminal means to a computer, directly, through a telephone line, through a modem and a telephone line, or through decoding means and a television set to receive a television signal picked up by the television set.

3. The universal remote control system of claim 2 wherein said data-transmission system includes a serial port connector for connecting to said remote control, a cable connected to said serial port connector and means for coupling said connector to the telephone line or to the television set.

4. The universal remote control system of claim 3 wherein said coupling means include a vertical blanking interval decoder, defining a decoding means, connected to the television set.

5. The universal remote control system of claim 3 wherein said remote control includes a direct access arrangement and said coupling means includes a telephone jack connected to the other end of said cable for ISDN data line transmission.

6. The universal remote control system of claim 3 wherein said data transmission system includes an RS232 serial port connector, a modem to which the RS232 serial port connector is connected to, and telephone line coupling means for coupling said modem to the telephone line.

7. The universal remote control system of claim 6 wherein said telephone line coupling means includes pick-up coil that couples to a handset of a telephone and is coupled by the telephone line to said modem.

8. The universal remote control system of claim 5 wherein said modem is an acoustic coupler modem which is adapted to receive therein a handset of a telephone and acoustically pick up the sound transmission from the handset

9. The universal remote control system of claim 6 wherein said modem is a listen only modem.

10. The universal remote control system of claim 9 wherein said memory means include a non-volatile, read-write memory.

11. The universal remote control system of claim 9 wherein said universal remote control further includes a visual display coupled to the CPU whereby various data including information about the data being input into said memory means can be displayed on said visual display to a user.

12. The universal remote control system of claim 9 wherein said terminal means comprise three serial ports coupled to said CPU, one port being coupled to the ground for the CPU, one port, forming said receiving port, being coupled to an input of said CPU and one port, forming a sending port, being coupled to an output of said CPU.

13. The universal remote control system of claim 9 wherein said coupling means includes a cable, first connector means at one end of said cable for connection to said terminal means, and interface connector means at the other end of said cable for connecting to a computer, directly, through a telephone line, through a modem and a telephone line, or through decoding means and the television set to receive the television signal which has data from the computer.

14. The universal remote control system of claim 13 wherein said interface connector means includes a sending circuit comprising an input terminal connected to said sending port of said terminal means and three output ports including a first, minus voltage, output port, a second, plus or minus, voltage output port, and a third, plus voltage, output port, a ground terminal, a first transistor having a first emitter, a first collector and a first base, said first output port being coupled through a resistor to said second output port, said first collector being connected to said second output port, said emitter being connected to said first output port, a second transistor having a second emitter, a second collector and a second base, said second emitter being connected to said first input terminal connected to said cable, said ground terminal being coupled through a Zener diode to said second base, a resistor coupled between said second base and a junction between said first collector and said first output port, and said first base being coupled through a resistor to said second collector.

15. The universal remote control system of claim 13 wherein said interface connector means includes a receiving circuit connected, on one side, to a ground input terminal and a signal input terminal, and , on the other side, to an output terminal connected by said cable to said receiving port and to a ground output terminal which is connected to the ground input terminal and through said cable to said CPU ground, said input terminal being connected through a resistor to a first junction, a Zener diode connected between said ground terminals and said first junction, a diode coupled between said first junction and said signal output terminal, a transistor having a collector base and an emitter, said emitter being connected to said first junction, said collector being connected to said signal output terminal, and said base being coupled through a resistor to a junction between said diode and said output terminal.

16. The universal remote control system of claim 15 wherein said interface connector means includes a sending circuit comprising an input terminal connected to said sending port of said terminal means and three output ports including a first, minus voltage, output port, a second, plus or minus, voltage output port, and a third, plus voltage, output port, a ground terminal, a first transistor having a first emitter, a first collector and a first base, said first output port being coupled through a resistor to said second output port, said first collector being connected to said second output port, said emitter being connected to said first output port, a second transistor having a second emitter, a second collector and a second base, said second emitter being connected to said first input terminal connected to said cable, said ground terminal being coupled through a Zener diode to said second base, a resistor coupled between said second base and a junction between said first collector and said first output port, and said first base being coupled through a resistor to said second collector.

17. The universal remote control system of claim 16 wherein said cable is a three wire cable including a wire for connecting said input terminal of said sending circuit to said sending port of said terminal means, a wire for connecting said ground terminal of said receiving circuitry to said port of said terminal means coupled to ground for the CPU, and wire for connecting said input terminal of said receiving circuit to said receiving port of said terminal means.

18. The universal remote control system of claim 17 wherein a DB-9 connector is connected to the terminals and ports of aid receiving and sending circuits of said interface connector means

19. The universal remote control system of claim 17 wherein a DB-25 connector is connected to said terminals and port of said sending circuit and said receiving circuit of said interface connector means.

20. A universal remote control system including a computer having a memory, code data for creating appropriate infrared (IR) lamp driver instructions for causing an infrared signal generator to emit infrared signals which will cause specific functions to occur in a specific controlled device, for operating a variety of devices to be controlled, stored in said memory of said computer, a universal remote control comprising input means including a set of keys or pushbuttons for inputting commands into the remote control, infrared signal output means including IR lamp driver circuitry for supplying an infrared signal to a controlled device, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, memory means coupled to said CPU, and data coupling means for periodically coupling said computer to said remote control for receiving from said computer memory and inputting into said memory means of said remote control said code data for creating IR lamp driver instructions, said code data causing said infrared signal output means to emit infrared signals which will cause specific functions to occur in a specific controlled device when said input means are operated, and said code data operating a variety of devices to be controlled and enabling said remote control to control various devices to be controlled upon the inputting of commands to said keys of said input means.