Control circuit for entertainment system demonstration

• US 5,606,443 A
• Filed: 02/06/1996
• Issued: 02/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sgambati, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): BACARES, RAFAEL D
• Application Number:
  US08/597,327
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 359/142, 359/143, 359/146, 359/148, 359/145, 359/147, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.76, 340/825.24, 340/825.25
• US Class Current: 398/111
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling a demonstration of home entertainment audio and/or video equipment. Upon receipt of a start signal from a switch, control signals are transmitted via infrared transmitter to the equipment being demonstrated. The infrared signals are identical to those which would be sent from a remote control unit (or may be signals sent through hard-wired connections). The infrared signals turn on power to the equipment, properly configure the equipment, adjust volume level and other parameters, and program the equipment to present the demonstration.

Claims

1. An electronic system, comprising in combination:

a first electronic device outputting an electrical signal;

a second electronic device coupled to said first electronic device for selectively receiving and outputting said electrical signal;

a remote control device operated by a user for generating remote control signals;

a remote control receiver for receiving said remote control signals;

a relay transmitter for retransmitting said received remote control signals to said electronic devices;

a device demonstration controller comprising;

input means for receiving a start signal indicative of starting a demonstration of said electronic system;

first control signal transmission means for sending a first control signal to said first electronic device, wherein said first electronic device outputs said electrical signal in response to said first control signal;

second control signal transmission means for sending a second control signal to said second electronic device, wherein said second electronic device selects said electrical signal and outputs a signal derived from said electrical signal; and

retransmission inhibiting means coupled between said remote control receiver and said relay transmitter for inhibiting said retransmission of said remote control signals for a period of time after said first and second control signals have been sent to said first and second electronic devices.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input means includes means for detecting actuation of a switch.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a microcontroller and wherein said control means includes a programmed microcontroller.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input means includes a momentary contact switch coupled to an input bus line of said microcontroller.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transmission means includes a hard wired connection to said electronic device.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said transmission means includes:

modulating means for modulating a signal from said microcontroller; and

an infrared transmitter receiving said modulated signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said modulating means further includes a 40 Khz oscillator.

8. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein said remote control receiver includes an infrared receiver;

and

wherein said relay transmitter includes an infrared transmitter coupled to said infrared receiver, wherein said infrared receiver receives external infrared signals from said remote control device and sends said external infrared signals to said relay inhibiting means for retransmission to said electronic device.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said microcontroller includes a plurality of inputs, and further comprising a plurality of input switches each coupled to one of said inputs.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control means sends a power-on signal to said transmission means for turning on power to said electronic device prior to sending said configure signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said configure signal selects a source of input program.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said configure signal selects an audio volume level.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for detecting a demonstration end point.

14. An electronic device demonstration controller for controlling an electronic system, wherein said electronic system includes a first electronic device outputting an electrical signal and second electronic device coupled to said first electronic device for selecting and outputting said electrical signal, the electronic device demonstration controller comprising in combination:

a momentary contact switch;

input means for receiving a star signal generated by actuation of said switch indicative of starting a demonstration of said electronic device;

control means, including a programmed microcontroller;

transmission means for sending control signals to said electronic system, said transmission means including;

oscillating means for producing a 40 KHz oscillator signal;

modulating means for modulating a signal from said microcontroller with said oscillator signal; and

an infrared transmitter receiving said modulated signal for generating infrared signals derived from said modulated signal;

said control means futher comprising;

a power-on signal coupled to said transmission means for turning on power to said first and second electronic devices;

means for sending a configure signal to said transmission means for placing said first electronic device in a predetermined demonstration configuration for said demonstration, including means for causing said first electronic device to output said electrical signal;

means for sending a configure signal to said transmission means for placing said second electronic device in a predetermined configuration for said demonstration, including means for causing said second electronic device to select said electrical signal and to output a signal derived from said electrical signal;

means for sending a signal to said transmission means which initiates said demonstration of operation of said electronic system;

an infrared receiver, coupled to said infrared transmitter, for receiving external infrared signals to be retransmitted by said infrared transmitter to said first and second electronic devices in a repeater mode of operation; and

retransmission inhibiting means coupled between said infrared receiver and said infrared transmitter for inhibiting said retransmission of said remote control signals for a period of time after said configure signals have been sent to said first and second electronic devices.

15. A method for demonstrating an electronic system, wherein said electronic system includes a first electronic device outputting an electrical signal and a second electronic device coupled to said first electronic device for selecting and outputting said electrical signal, wherein said system further includes a controller for controlling said electronic devices in said system, wherein said system further includes a remote control device operated by a human user for generating signals to control said electronic system, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at the controller a start signal indicative of starting a demonstration of said electronic system;

sending from the controller a configure signal to said electronic system causing said first electronic device to output said electrical signal and causing said second electronic device to select and output said electrical signal; and

sending a signal to said electronic system which initiates said demonstration of operation of said electronic system

subsequent to said receiving step, inhibiting said signals from said remote control device from controlling said electronic devices for a period of time.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of sending a power-on signal to said electronic device for turning on power to said electronic device in response to said start signal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said sending steps include sending infrared signals.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said sending steps include sending signal signals via a hard wired connection.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of sending a signal for controlling an audio volume level.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of sending a command to said electronic devices to select a predetermined audio program to be played by said first electronic device, wherein said electrical signal is derived from said predetermined audio program.

25. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of sending a command to said electronic devices to select a predetermined audio/video program to be played by said first electronic device, wherein said electrical signal is derived from said predetermined audio/video program.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said controller has a repeater mode for relaying remote control signals generated by an outside signal source for remotely controlling one or more devices in said electronic system, the method further comprising the steps of:

placing the controller in the repeater mode prior to the step of receiving at the controller a start signal;

disabling the repeater mode subsequent to the step of receiving at the controller a start signal; and

placing the controller in the repeater mode at the completion of the demonstration.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein said signals from said remote control device are inhibited for the duration of a demonstration program.

28. The method of claim 15, wherein said signals from said remote control device are inhibited for a predetermined length of time.

29. The method of claim 15, wherein said period of time for inhibiting said signals from said remote control device is determined by a user of the demonstration system.

20. A demonstration controller for controlling a demonstration of an audio/video system, said system including a plurality of interconnected audio/video components, each audio/video component providing a distinct function to the audio/video system, wherein a first audio/video component outputs an electrical signal to a second audio/video component, wherein a second audio/video component selects and outputs said electrical signal from among a plurality of signal inputs, wherein said demonstration controller is responsive to remote control signals from a remote control device to control the plurality of said interconnected audio/video components, said demonstration controller comprising in combination:

input means for receiving a start signal from said remote control unit indicative of starting said demonstration of audio/video system;

transmission means for sending control signals to said plurality of audio/video components;

control means responsive to said start signal for;

sending a configure signal to said transmission means for placing each of said audio/video components in a predetermined demonstration configuration for said demonstration, including causing said first audio/video component to output said electrical signal and causing said second audio/video component to select and output said electrical signal; and

sending a signal to said transmission means which initiates said demonstration of operation of said audio/video system

retransmission inhibiting means for inhibiting said remote control signals from said remote control device for a period of time after said configure signals have been sent.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said transmission means includes a hard wired connection to said plurality of audio/video components.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said transmission means includes an infrared connection to said plurality of audio/video components.

23. A demonstration controller for controlling a demonstration of an audio/video system, said system including a plurality of interconnected audio/video components, each audio/video component providing a distinct function to the audio/video system, wherein a first audio/video component generates an electrical signal, wherein a second audio/video component selects said electrical signal from among a plurality of signals and outputs the selected signal, the demonstration controller comprising in combination:

a switch;

input means for receiving a start signal generated by actuation of said switch, said signal being indicative of starting a demonstration of said audio/video system;

control means, including a programmed microcontroller;

transmission means for sending control signals to each component of said audio/video system, said transmission means including;

an oscillator producing a 40 KHz oscillator signal;

a modulator for modulating a signal from said microcontroller with said oscillator signal; and

an infrared transmitter receiving said modulated signal;

said control means being responsive to said start signal for;

sending a power-on signal to said transmission means for turning on power to each said audio/video component;

sending a configure signal to said transmission means for placing each said audio/video component in a predetermined demonstration configuration for said demonstration, said configure signal selecting an audio volume level and a source of program material, said configure signal further causing said first audio/video component to output said electrical signal and causing said second audio/video signal to select and output said electrical signal;

sending a signal to said transmission means which initiates said demonstration of operation of said audio/video system; and

an infrared receiver coupled to said infrared transmitter for receiving external infrared signals to be retransmitted by said infrared transmitter to each component of said audio/video system in a repeater mode of operation

retransmission inhibiting means coupled between said infrared receiver and said infrared transmitter for inhibiting said retransmission of said remote control signals for a period of time after said one or more configure signals have been sent to said first and second electronic devices.