Means for locating a remote control device

• US 5,455,560 A
• Filed: 02/25/1994
• Issued: 10/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Owen C. Randal
• Original Assignee: Owen C. Randal
• Inventors: Owen, C. Randal
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/201,685
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/531, 340/825.49, 340/825.35, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/572, 340/692, 348/734
• US Class Current: 340/539.32
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A locating device for locating a remote control device which is capable of controlling an electronic device, the electronic device being stationary and the remote control device being capable of controlling the electronic device from a remote location, is disclosed. The locating device comprises a transmitter portion incorporated with the electronic device and a receiver portion which is located within the remote control device. The transmitter portion comprises circuitry for transmitting a signal. The receiver portion comprises a first oscillator circuit which is adapted to oscillate when the transmitted signal is at the design center frequency of the first oscillator circuit. The receiver portion further comprises a second oscillator circuit which is adapted to begin oscillation after the first oscillator circuit begins to oscillate. The signal from the second oscillator circuit is amplified and provided to an audio oscillator circuit. A method of coding the signals is also disclosed.

Claims

1. Means for locating a remote control device which is capable of controlling an electronic device, the electronic device being stationary and the remote control device being capable of controlling the electronic device from a remote location, the locating means comprising:

a transmitter portion incorporated with the electronic device, the transmitter portion comprising means for generating a signal for a predetermined period of time, means for transmitting the signal, visual indicating means responsive to the generating means for visually indicating transmission of the signal, and means for stopping the transmission of the signal prior to the expiration of the predetermined period of time and the visual indicating means; and

a receiver portion located within the remote control device, the receiver portion comprising means for receiving the transmitted signal, a first oscillator means for receiving the signal from the receiving means and the first oscillator means having a design center frequency, the first oscillator means adapted to oscillate when the transmitted signal is at the design center frequency of the first oscillator means, a second oscillator means responsive to the first oscillator means oscillating, the second oscillator means adapted to oscillate after the first oscillator means begins to oscillate, means for amplifying the signal from the second oscillator means, and means for providing the amplified signal to an audio oscillator means, the audio oscillator means for generating audio signals indicating that the signal has been received.

2. The locating means of claim 1 wherein the first oscillator means comprises an oscillator circuit having a transistor.

3. The locating means of claim 1 wherein the second oscillator means comprises an oscillator circuit having a transistor.

4. The locating means of claim 1 wherein the indicating means is a visual indicating means.

5. The locating means of claim 4 wherein the visual indicating means is an LED.

6. Means for locating a remote control device which is capable of controlling an electronic device, the electronic device being stationary and the remote control device being capable of controlling the electronic device from a remote location, the locatin means comprising:

a transmitter portion incorporated with the electronic device, the transmitter portion comprising means for generating a signal for a predetermined period of time, means for transmitting the signal, and means for stopping the transmission of the signal prior to the expiration of the predetermined period of time; and

a receiver portion located within the remote control device, the receiver portion comprising means for receiving the transmitted signal, a first oscillator means for receiving the signal from the receiving means and the first oscillator means having a design center frequency, the first oscillator means adapted to oscillate when the transmitted signal is at the design center frequency of the first oscillator means, a second oscillator means responsive to the first oscillator means oscillating, the second oscillator means adapted to oscillate after the first oscillator means begins to oscillate, means for amplifying the signal from the second oscillator means, and means for providing the amplified signal to an audio oscillator means, the audio oscillator means for generating audio signals indicating that the signal has been received.

7. The locating means of claim 6 wherein the first oscillator means comprises an oscillator circuit having a transistor.

8. The locating means of claim 6 wherein the second oscillator means comprises an oscillator circuit having a transistor.

9. The locating means of claim 6 wherein the transmitting portion further comprises means for indicating that the generating means has been activated.

10. The locating means of claim 9 wherein the indicating means is a visual indicating means.

11. The locating means of claim 10 wherein the visual indicating means is an LED.

12. The locating means of claim 6 wherein the means for stopping transmission comprises a switch for resetting the generating means.

13. The locating means of claim 6 wherein the transmitting means comprises a switch for starting the generating means.

14. Means for locating a remote control device which is capable of controlling an electronic device, the electronic device being stationary and the remote control device being capable of controlling the electronic device from a remote location, the locating means comprising:

a transmitter portion incorporated with the electronic device, the transmitter portion comprising means for generating a signal for a predetermined period of time, means for coding the signal, the coding means comprising a set of fusible links for selecting a code, the code being selected by inserting or removing any or all of the fusible links, means for transmitting the coded signal, and means for stopping the transmission of the coded signal prior to the expiration of the predetermined period of time; and

a receiver portion located within the remote control device, the receiver portion comprising means for receiving the transmitted coded signal, a first oscillator means for receiving the coded signal from the receiving means and the first oscillator means having a design center frequency, the first oscillator means adapted to oscillate when the transmitted coded signal is at the design center frequency of the first oscillator means, a second oscillator means responsive to the first oscillator means oscillating, the second oscillator means adapted to oscillate after the first oscillator means begins to oscillate, means for amplifying the coded signal from the second oscillator means, means for determining that the coded signal has been received, the determining means comprising means for comparing the coded signal to a code, means for verifying that the coded signal corresponds to the code, and means for providing a signal to an audio oscillator means once the coded signal has been verified, the audio oscillator means for generating audio signals indicating that the coded signal has been received and verified.

15. The locating means of claim 14 wherein the transmitter portion further comprises means for indicating that the generating means has been activated.

16. The locating means of claim 14 wherein the comparing means comprises a set of fusible links for selecting the code, the code being selected by inserting or removing any or all of the fusible links.

17. The locating means of claim 16 wherein the code selected by the comparing means is the same as the code selected by the coding means of the transmitter portion.

18. The locating means of claim 14 wherein the means for stopping transmission comprises a switch for resetting the generating means.

19. The locating means of claim 14 wherein the transmitting means comprises a switch for starting the generating means.