Minimal function remote control without digit keys and with a power toggle program and with a channel rotation program

• US 5,481,251 A
• Filed: 11/29/1993
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hayes, Patrick, Buys, Menno, Nguyen, Kimthoa
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/158,601
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.22, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.03, 340/825.56, 455/151.1, 455/151.2, 348/734, 347/176
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• 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 7/18 Automatic scanning over a band of frequencies

Abstract

The remote control comprises: a microprocessor including a CPU and memory; a keypad including several keys coupled to the microprocessor for operating the remote control, some of the keys being a "POWER" key, a "Channel Up" key and a "Channel Down" key; lamp driver circuitry coupled to the microprocessor; structure and program instructions, including said microprocessor, for generating infrared (IR) signals coupled to the IR lamp driver circuitry; and code data for executing command functions for operating a home entertainment device stored in the memory. A power toggle program is stored in the memory for effecting the sending of the IR code for "STANDBY" or the IR code for the number digit "1" each time the power key is pressed. Also a channel rotation program is stored in the memory for effecting the sending of digit number signals in an ascending or descending order number digit each time the "Channel Up" key is pressed or the "Channel Down" key is pressed.

Claims

1. A remote control comprising:

a microprocessor including a CPU and memory means;

a keypad including several keys coupled to said microprocessor for operating said remote control, one of said keys being a "POWER" key;

lamp driver circuitry coupled to said microprocessor;

means, including said microprocessor, for generating infrared (IR) signals coupled to said IR lamp driver circuitry;

code data for executing command functions for operating a home entertainment device stored in said memory means;

a power toggle program stored in said memory means for effecting the sending of one of an IR code for "STANDBY" and an IR code for a number digit each time said power key is pressed; and

,

said power toggle program being operable to check, each time said "POWER" key is pressed, which one of said IR code for "STANDBY" and said IR code for said number digit was last sent by said remote control and then causes said remote control to send the opposite IR code without the need to press a digit key to turn on said home entertainment device.

2. The remote control of claim 1 including means for remembering the last IR code sent, and wherein said power toggle program checks, each time the "POWER" key is pressed, which one of the IR codes for "STANDBY" or number digit "1" was last sent by the remote control and then causes the remote control to send the opposite IR code without the need to press a digit key to turn on the controlled home entertainment device.

3. The remote control of claim 1 wherein said remote control is a minimal function key remote control and wherein said keypad does not include numeric digit keys.

4. A remote control comprising:

a microprocessor including a CPU and memory means;

a keypad including several keys coupled to said microprocessor for operating said remote control, two of said keys being a "Channel Up" key and a "Channel Down" key;

lamp driver circuitry coupled to said microprocessor;

means, including said microprocessor, for generating infrared (IR) signals coupled to said IR lamp driver circuitry;

code data for executing command functions for operating a home entertainment device stored in said memory means;

a channel rotation program stored in said memory means for determining if said home entertainment device has one of a channel up function and channel down function, and, if yes, effecting the sending of a "Channel Up" IR code upon depression of said "Channel Up" key and the sending of a "Channel Down" IR code upon depression of said "Channel Down" key, and, if no, effecting the sending of digit number signals in an ascending order each time said "Channel Up" key is pressed or descending order each time said "Channel Down" key is pressed; and

said remote control being capable of providing said "Channel Up" function and said "Channel Down" function in home entertainment devices that do and do not independently support said "Channel Up" function and said "Channel Down" function.

5. The remote control of claim 4 wherein said microprocessor and said channel rotation program include circuit means and program instructions for:

upon depression of the "Channel Up" key, determining if the device to be controlled has a "Channel Up" function;

if the answer is yes, sending a "Channel Up" IR code and exiting the program;

if the answer is no, obtaining the value of the previous number digit sent;

determine if the previous digit sent equals 9;

if the answer is no, set the digit number equal to the previous digit number plus 1;

if the answer is yes, set the digit number equal to 1;

send the IR code corresponding to the number digit determined; and

save the number digit sent as a new "previous digit".

6. The remote control of claim 4 wherein said microprocessor and said channel rotation program include circuit means and program instructions for:

upon depression of the "Channel Down" key, determining if the device to be controlled has a "Channel Down" function;

if the answer is yes, sending a "Channel Down" IR code and exiting the program;

if the answer is no, obtaining the value of the previous number digit sent;

determine if the previous digit sent equals 1;

if the answer is no, set the number digit equal to the previous digit number minus 1;

if the answer is yes, set the digit number equal to 9;

send the IR code corresponding to the number digit determined; and

save the number digit sent as a new "previous digit".

7. The remote control of claim 4 wherein said remote control is a minimal function key remote control and wherein said keypad does not include numeric digit keys.

8. In a remote control having a "POWER" key, a method of effecting the sending of an IR code for "STANDBY" or the IR code for the digit "1" each time the "POWER" key is pressed, comprising the steps of:

remembering the last IR code sent;

checking, each time the "POWER" key is pressed, which one of the IR codes for "STANDBY" or number digit "1" was last sent by the remote control and then causing the remote control to send the opposite IR code without the need to press a digit key to turn on a controlled home entertainment device.

9. In a remote control having a "Channel Up" key, a method of effecting the sending of digit numbers in ascending order, comprising the steps of:

upon depression of the "Channel Up" key, determining if the device to be controlled has a "Channel Up" function;

if the answer is yes, sending a "Channel Up" IR code and stopping;

if the answer is no, obtaining the value of the previous number digit sent;

determining if the previous digit sent equals 9;

if the answer is no, setting the digit number equal to the previous digit number plus 1;

if the answer is yes, setting the digit number equal to 1;

sending the IR code corresponding to the number digit determined; and

saving the number digit sent as a new "previous digit".

10. In a remote control having a "Channel Down" key, a method of effecting the sending of digit numbers in descending order, comprising the steps of:

upon depression of the "Channel Down" key, determining if the device to be controlled has a "Channel Down" function;

if the answer is yes, sending a "Channel Down" IR code and stopping;

if the answer is no, obtaining the value of the previous number digit sent;

determining if the previous digit sent equals 1;

if the answer is no, setting the number digit equal to the previous digit number minus 1;

if the answer is yes, setting the digit number equal to 9;

sending the IR code corresponding to the number digit determined; and