Remote control system

• US 5,414,761 A
• Filed: 10/08/1993
• Issued: 05/09/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1987
• 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:
  US08/134,086
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 379/102, 379/104, 379/105, 379/443, 379/444, 379/93, 379/97-99, 348/734, 348/478
• 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 remote control system includes a remote control and a computer having a memory and at least one of instruction codes or 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 remote control comprises: 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 at least one of instruction codes or 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 remote control system with data coupling including:

a 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 means for supplying an infrared signal to a controlled device, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the input means and to the signal output means, memory means coupled to the CPU and data coupling means including receiving means coupled to the CPU for enabling at least one of (a) instruction codes or (b) code data for creating appropriate IR lamp driver instructions for causing the 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 the remote control through the receiving means directly to the CPU for direct entry to the memory to enable the 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 the receiving means to a computer, directly, through a telephone line, through a modem and a telephone line, or through decoding means and a television set which receives a television signal containing at least one of the instruction codes or the code data.

2. The universal remote control system of claim 1 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 a telephone line or to a television set.

3. The universal remote control system of claim 2 wherein said coupling means include a vertical blanking interval decoder, defining a decoding means, connected to a television set.

4. The universal remote control system of claim 2 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.

5. The universal remote control system of claim 2 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 a telephone line.

6. The universal remote control system of claim 5 wherein said modem is a listen only modem.

7. The universal remote control system of claim 5 wherein said telephone line coupling means includes pick-up coil that couples to a handset of a telephone and is coupled by a line to said modem.

8. The universal remote control system of claim 5 wherein said modem is all 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 1 wherein said coupling means includes a cable, first connector means at one end of said cable for connection to said receiving 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, a television set, and a television signal which is picked up by the television set and which has data from a computer.

10. The universal remote control system of claim 1 wherein said memory means include a non-volatile, read-write memory.

11. The universal remote control system of claim 1 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 1 wherein said receiving means include terminal means comprising three serial ports coupled to said CPU, one port being coupled to the ground for the CPU, one port, forming a 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. A method for communicating at least one of (a) instruction codes or (b) function code data for operating a controlled consumer electronic device, such as a television set, with the remote control, from a computer, through a modem system comprising a modem or a pickup coil associated with a remote control, to a memory of the remote control, said method comprising the steps of:

providing function 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, in a digital format of data bytes each comprising a predetermined number of bits for transmission over a telephone line;

providing instruction codes for transmission over a telephone line;

transmitting the information of the at least one of the instruction codes or the function code data over a telephone line;

picking up with the modem or pick up coil the information being transmitted;

retrieving from the information transmitted at least one of the instruction codes or the function code data; and

,

storing the at least one of the instruction codes or the function code data in digital format in the memory of the remote control.

14. A remote control system with data coupling including:

a remote control, a computer having a memory, at least one of instruction codes or 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, said remote control comprising input means including a set of keys or pushbuttons for inputting commands into said remote control, infrared signal output means including IR lamp driver means 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 at least one of (a) said instruction codes or (b) said code data for creating appropriate 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.

15. A remote control system with data coupling including:

a remote control, a computer having a memory, at least one of instruction codes or 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, said remote control comprising input means including a set of keys or pushbuttons for inputting commands into said remote control, infrared signal output means including IR lamp driver means 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 at least one of (a) said instruction codes or (b) said 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 into said memory means of said remote control to enable said remote control to control various devices to be controlled upon said inputting of commands to said keys of said 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 which receives a television signal containing at least one of said instruction codes or said code data.

16. A remote control system with data coupling including:

a remote control, a computer having a memory, instruction codes stored in said memory of said computer, said remote control comprising input means including a set of keys or pushbuttons for inputting commands into said remote control, infrared signal output means including IR lamp driver means 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 for storing instruction codes and code data for creating appropriate 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, 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 instruction codes.

17. A remote control system with data coupling including:

a remote control, a computer having a memory, instruction codes stored in said memory of said computer, said remote control comprising input means including a set of keys or pushbuttons for inputting commands into said remote control, infrared signal output means including IR lamp driver means 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 for storing instruction codes and code data for creating appropriate 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, 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 instruction codes, 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 which receives a television signal containing at least one of said instruction codes or said code data.

18. A remote control system with data coupling including:

a remote control, a computer having a memory, at least one of instruction codes or 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, said remote control comprising input means including a set of keys or pushbuttons for inputting commands into said remote control, infrared signal output means including IR lamp driver means 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 a modem associated with said remote control for periodically coupling said computer to said remote control through a telephone line for receiving from said computer memory and inputting into said memory means of said remote control at least one of (a) said instruction codes or (b) said code data for creating appropriate 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.

19. A remote control system with data coupling including:

a remote control, a computer having a memory, at least one of instruction codes or 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, said remote control comprising input means including a set of keys or pushbuttons for inputting commands into said remote control, infrared signal output means including IR lamp driver means 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 a pick up coil associated with said remote control and being positionable adjacent a telephone handset for periodically coupling said computer to said remote control through the telephone handset and a telephone line for receiving from said computer memory and inputting into said memory means of said remote control at least one of (a) said instruction codes or (b) said code data for creating appropriate 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.