Universal remote control with function synthesis

• US 5,515,052 A
• Filed: 08/16/1994
• Issued: 05/07/1996
• 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): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/291,350
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.57, 340/825.72, 341/176, 455/151.4, 455/352, 348/734, 359/142-148, 380/52
• US Class Current: 341/176
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

The universal remote control comprises: light emitting circuitry; driver circuitry coupled to the light emitting circuitry; a microprocessor including a CPU coupled to the driver circuitry, structure, such as a keyboard, coupled to the CPU for communicating "code signal generation sequences" including a "code generate command" signal followed by a "code setting" signal to the CPU, a memory for storing information therein coupled to the CPU, program instructions stored in the memory, and, signal determining and function code creating program and circuitry associated with the memory and the CPU for determining when a "code signal generation sequence" has been received and for using the "code setting" signal of the sequence received to create a function code, comprising, a specific IR blink code, defined by a series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses, defining a code signal for causing a controlled apparatus to execute a specific function, e.g., "volume up", and for energizing the driver circuitry to cause the light emitting circuitry to emit the specific series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses defining the specific code signal to the controlled apparatus.

Claims

1. A universal remote control comprising:

light emitting means;

driver circuitry coupled to said light emitting means; and

,

a microprocessor including;

a CPU coupled to said driver circuitry, communication means, coupled to said CPU, for communicating a "code signal generation sequence" including a "code generating" or "code generate command" signal followed by a "code setting" signal to said CPU;

memory means for storing information therein coupled to said CPU;

program instructions stored in said memory means; and

,

signal determining and function code creating means associated with said memory means and said CPU (a) for determining when said "code signal generation sequence" has been received by said CPU, (b) for using the "code setting" signal of the sequence received to create a function code signal comprising a specific IR blink code that includes a specific series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses which define bits of a byte that defines the function code signal for causing a controlled apparatus to execute a specific function, and (c) for energizing said driver circuitry to cause said light emitting means to emit the specific series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses which define the specific function code signal to be sent to the controlled apparatus.

2. The remote control of claim 1 wherein said "code setting" signal is a three number code sequence.

3. The remote control of claim 2 further including a keyboard and being combined with a list of "code setting" numbers for creating bits of bytes defining different function codes each including a 3-digit "code setting" sequence for being input through said keyboard into said memory means for enabling said program instructions to create bits of a byte for one of said different function codes for a specific function to be performed by a specific controlled apparatus.

4. The remote control of claim 1 wherein said CPU of said microprocessor uses said program instructions in said memory means of said microprocessor to decrypt, decipher or decode the "code setting" signal received by said CPU.

5. The remote control of claim 1 wherein said signal determining and function code creating means include an algorithm and a pattern generator for creating and generating the series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses defining the bits of a byte for a specific function code signal.

6. The universal remote control of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing;

a set of keys forming a keyboard mounted to said housing and including a "code generate command" key and at least one "code setting" key;

said light emitting means being mounted to said housing;

said microprocessor being mounted in said housing;

electrical conductor means for coupling said keys to said CPU; and

said signal determining and function code creating means including means for determining when a "code signal generation sequence" has been received by determining when said "code generate command" key has been struck or depressed, and which "code setting" key(s), if any, are struck or depressed after the striking of said "code generate command" key.

7. The remote control of claim 6 wherein said at least one "code setting" key includes three number keys.

8. A method for operating a remotely controlled apparatus using a remote control comprising:

signal input means, light signal emitting means, and a microprocessor including a CPU, memory means for storing information therein coupled to the CPU and program instructions stored in the memory means and including an algorithm for creating different function code signals, each for causing the light signal emitting means to emit an IR blink code comprising a series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses, defining bits of a byte which will cause the controlled apparatus to perform a specific function, said method comprising the steps of;

causing generation of a "code generate command" signal to initiate code signal generation;

supplying said "code generate command" signal to the CPU;

causing generation of a "code setting" signal for creating a specific function code;

supplying said "code setting" signal to the CPU;

generating with the program instructions the bits of a byte of said specific function code for generating a specific function code signal comprising an IR blink code defined by a specific series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses; and

,

transmitting the specific series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses to the controlled apparatus to cause the controlled apparatus to perform a specific function associated with the specific function code signal created.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said "code setting" signal is a three number code.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said "code setting" signal is an encrypted code signal and said method includes the additional step of decrypting, deciphering or decoding the "code setting" signal to enable the program instructions to create the bits of a byte defining said specific function code signal.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of causing a "code generate command" signal to be generated is accomplished by depressing a "code generate command" key on a keyboard of the remote control and said step of causing a "code setting" signal to be generated is accomplished by depressing one or more selected "code setting" keys on the keyboard to initiate code generation.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of generating said specific function code signal is accomplished by the depressing of said one or more selected "code setting" keys.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said "code setting" keys are number keys.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said "code setting" keys are three number keys.