Remote controller

• US 5,537,106 A
• Filed: 07/12/1993
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mitsuhashi, Takamichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HILL, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US08/090,487
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/825.24, 340/825.25, 340/825.37, 341/173, 341/175, 341/176, 341/27, 348/734, 360/137, 360/85, 360/95, 360/97.01, 369/75.1, 62/126, 236/51, 187/395
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/006 for operating at a number of different times cigar or cigarette receptacles or boxes with means for limiting the frequency of smoking A24F15/005
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/10 Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

A remote control system comprising a remote commander and an electronic device main unit, in which the remote commander transmits a command signal to the electronic device main unit, the electronic device main unit receives the command signal, and the electronic device main unit transmits a signal that represents a setting state of the electronic device main unit. The remote commander receives the signal from the main unit and the remote commander displays the setting state of the electronic device main unit so that it can be checked by the user.

Claims

1. A remote control system comprising:

a remote commander with a central processing unit and a battery mount detection means connected to said central processing unit;

a non-volatile memory connected to the central processing unit;

an electronic device main unit; and

infra-red, bi-directional data link means;

said infra-red, bi-directional data link means adapted to allow communication between said remote commander and said electronic device main unit and including a user operable transmitter and a receiver in said remote commander and an automatic transmitter and a receiver in said electronic device main unit;

wherein when a user operates said user operable transmitter, said remote commander transmits via said infra-red, bi-directional data link means at least one command signal selected from a group of command signals which is received by said receiver in said electronic device main unit for controlling the operation of the electronic device main unit, and said automatic transmitter in said electronic device main unit transmits a status signal via the infra-red, bi-directional data link means, the status signal received by said receiver in said remote commander to indicate an operating status of said electronic device main unit, said remote commander including a display controlled by said central processing unit for indicating the operating status of said electronic device main unit for permitting the user to determine the operation status of the electronic device main unit,

wherein said remote commander is battery powered, wherein said battery mount detection means signals the central processing unit with a battery present signal regarding the presence of a battery mounted in said remote commander, and wherein said central processing unit stores a previously received battery present signal or a signal indicative of a battery absent condition in the non-volatile memory as a preceding battery mount condition signal; and

whereby the central processing unit determines if the non-volatile memory contains a battery present signal or a signal indicative of a battery absent condition as the preceding battery mount condition signal and the central processing unit prevents the transmission of selected command signals chosen from said group of command signals from the remote commander to the electronic device main unit when the central processing unit determines that the signal indicative of a battery absent condition was stored in the non-volatile memory as the preceding battery mount condition signal and the currently received signal is a battery present signal.

2. A remote control system comprising:

a remote commander with first input means, first sound producing means, a central processing unit, and battery mount detection means connected to said central processing unit;

a non-volatile memory connected to said central processing unit;

an electronic device main unit with second input means and second sound producing means; and

infra-red, bi-directional data link means;

said infra-red, bi-directional data link means providing communication between said remote commander and said electronic device main unit and including a user operable transmitter connected to the first input means and a receiver in said remote commander and an automatic transmitter and a receiver in said electronic device main unit;

wherein when a user operates the first input means to thereby operate said user operable transmitter, said remote commander transmits via said infra-red, bi-directional data link means at least one command signal selected from a group of command signals which is received by said receiver in said electronic device main unit, and said automatic transmitter in said electronic device main unit transmits a status signal via the infra-red, bi-directional data link means, the status signal received by said receiver in said remote commander to indicate an operating status of said electronic device main unit, said remote commander including a display for indicating the operating status of said electronic device main unit for permitting a user to determine the operation status of the electronic device main unit,

wherein said first sound producing means produces a first operational sound audible to the user thereof upon the actuation of said first input means included in said remote commander, and said second sound producing means produces a second operational sound audible to the user thereof upon actuation of the second input means included on the electronic device main unit, to allow the user to differentiate operation of the remote commander from operation of the electronic device main unit;

wherein said remote commander is battery powered, wherein said battery mount detection means signals the central processing unit with a battery present signal regarding the presence of a battery mounted in said remote commander, and wherein the central processing unit stores a previously received battery present signal or a signal indicative of a battery absent condition in the non-volatile memory as a preceding battery mount condition signal; and

whereby the central processing unit determines if the non-volatile memory contains a battery present signal or a signal indicative of a battery absent condition as the preceding battery mount condition signal and the central processing unit prevents the transmission of selected command signals chosen from said group of command signals from the remote commander to the electronic device main unit when the central processing unit determines that the signal indicative of a battery absent condition was stored in the non-volatile memory as the preceding battery mount condition signal and the currently received signal is a battery present signal.

3. A remote control system comprising:

a remote commander with a central processing unit and battery mount detection means connected to the central processing unit;

a non-volatile memory connected to the central processing unit;

an electronic device main unit with a front panel operable between an open and a closed position, the front panel comprising a touch panel having a plurality of touch-actuated switches;

means for releasing said front panel from said closed to said open position; and

infra-red, bi-directional data link means;

said infra-red, bi-directional data link means adapted to allow communication between said remote commander and said electronic device main unit and including a user operable transmitter and a receiver in said remote commander and an automatic transmitter and a receiver in said electronic device main unit;

wherein when a user operates said user operable transmitter, said remote commander transmits via said infra-red, bi-directional data link means at least one command signal selected from a group of command signals which is received by said receiver in said electronic device main unit, and said automatic transmitter in said electronic device main unit transmits a status signal via the infra-red, bi-directional data link means, the status signal received by said receiver in said remote commander to indicate an operating status of said electronic device main unit, said remote commander including a display for indicating the operating status of said electronic device main unit for permitting a user to determine the operation status of the electronic device main unit,

wherein said means for releasing said front panel from said closed position to said opened position is actuated by a command transmitted over said infra-red, bi-directional data link means from said remote commander to said electronic device main unit;

wherein said remote commander is battery powered, wherein said battery mount detection means signals the central processing unit with a battery present signal regarding the presence of a battery mounted in said remote commander, and wherein the central processing unit stores a previously received battery present signal or a signal indicative of a battery absent condition in the non-volatile memory as a preceding battery mount condition signal; and

whereby the central processing unit determines if the non-volatile memory contains a battery present signal or a signal indicative of a battery absent condition as the preceding battery mount condition signal and the central processing unit prevents the transmission of selected command signals chosen from said group of command signals from the remote commander to the electronic device main unit when the central processing unit determines that the signal indicative of a battery absent condition was stored in the non-volatile memory as the preceding battery mount condition signal and the currently received signal is a battery present signal.

4. The remote control system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said front panel is transparent or translucent and said electronic device main unit includes indicators visible through said front panel while in said closed position.

5. The remote control system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said electronic device main unit includes sound producing means for producing an operational sound audible to the user upon actuation of one of said plurality of touch-actuated switches.