Smart infrared controller

• US 5,287,210 A
• Filed: 01/13/1992
• Issued: 02/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siavash Sefidvash
• Original Assignee: Siavash Sefidvash
• Inventors: Sefidvash, Siavash
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCAL, LESLIE C
• Application Number:
  US07/820,752
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 359/142, 359/146, 359/147, 359/148, 359/189, 359/147, 358/194.1
• US Class Current: 398/111
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems

Abstract

An infrared controller device includes an infrared detector for detecting infrared signals from a remote control infrared transmitter and microprocessor circuitry responsive to the infrared detector for producing an output and switching the output from an OFF state to an ON state if a detected infrared signal has a predetermined waveform. The microprocessor circuitry is configured to operate in a LEARNING MODE in which the microprocessor circuitry produces and stores a set of LEARNED DATA indicative of the waveform of a detected infrared signal. The microprocessor circuitry is also configured to operate in a WORKING MODE in which the microprocessor circuitry (a) produces a set of WORKING DATA for each detected infrared signal that is indicative of the waveform of the detected infrared signal, (b) compares the set of WORKING DATA for each detected infrared signal with the first set of LEARNED data, and (c) switches the output from an OFF state to an ON state if the WORKING DATA matches the LEARNED DATA. The microprocessor circuitry may be configured to learn more than one infrared signal and the controller may be combined with a rotatable TV stand to provide remote clockwise and counterclockwise control of the stand with virtually any infrared remote control transmitter.

Claims

1. A motorized television stand, comprising:

a rotatable television stand having means in the form of an electric motor for driving the stand in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction and means in the form of an infrared controller device for controlling the motor according to infrared signals emitted by an infrared transmitter;

the infrared controller device including means in the form of an infrared detector for detecting infrared signals from the infrared transmitter;

the infrared controller device including means in the form of microprocessor circuitry responsive to the infrared detector for producing first and second outputs, for switching the first output from an OFF state to an ON state if a detected infrared signal has a first predetermined waveform, and for switching the second output from an OFF state to an ON state if a detected infrared signal has a second predetermined waveform;

the infrared controller device being connected to the motor so that the first output causes the motor to drive the rotatable stand in one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions and the second output causes the motor to drive the rotatable stand in the other one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions;

the microprocessor circuitry being configured to operate in a first LEARNING MODE in which the microprocessor circuitry produces and stores a first set of LEARNED DATA indicative of the waveform of any infrared signal detected while the microprocessor circuitry is in the first LEARNING MODE;

the microprocessor circuitry being configured to operate in a second LEARNING MODE in which the microprocessor circuitry produces and stores a second set of LEARNED DATA indicative of the waveform of any infrared signal detected while the microprocessor circuitry is in the second LEARNING MODE; and

the microprocessor circuitry also being configured to operate in a WORKING MODE in which the microprocessor circuitry (a) produces a set of WORKING DATA for any detected infrared signal detected while the microprocessor circuitry is in the WORKING MODE such that the WORKING DATA is indicative of the waveform of any such detected infrared signal, (b) switches the first output from an OFF state to an ON state if the set of WORKING DATA matches the first set of LEARNED DATA, and (c) switches the second output from an OFF state to an ON state if the set of WORKING DATA matches the second set of LEARNED DATA.