Adjustable power remote control drive

• US 5,650,831 A
• Filed: 07/17/1995
• Issued: 07/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway 2000, Inc. (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Farwell, Randall
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Application Number:
  US08/503,143
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/729, 348/552, 345/158, 345/156, 345/161, 345/168, 345/169, 341/176, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.24, 340/825.44, 455/38.1, 455/38.2, 455/38.3, 455/226.1, 455/226.2, 455/226.3
• US Class Current: 348/734
• 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 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17345 Control of the passage of the selected programme

Abstract

An entertainment system has a personal computer as the heart of the system with a large screen VGA quality monitor as the display of choice. The system has digital satellite broadcast reception, decompression and display capability with multiple radio frequency remote control devices which transmit self identifying signals and have power adjustment capabilities. These capabilities are used to provide context sensitive groups of keys which may be defined to affect only selected applications running in a windowing environment. In addition, the remote control devices combine television and VCR controls with standard personal computer keyboard controls. A keyboard remote also integrates a touchpad which is food contamination resistant and may also be used for user verification. Included in the system is the ability to recognize verbal communications in video signals and maintain a database of such text which is searchable to help identify desired programming in real time.

Claims

1. A remote control device for a personal computer based entertainment system comprising:

a plurality of input devices associated with functions to be executed by said personal computer;

a radio frequency transmission circuit for transmitting radio frequency signals representative of the input devices selected by a user of the entertainment system; and

a power adjustment circuit coupled to the transmission circuit for adjusting the power output of the radio frequency transmission circuit to a level that is adequate for reception by the personal computer.

2. The remote control device of claim 1 and further comprising a receiver for receiving signals from the personal computer based on receipt of the signals transmitted by the transmission circuit of the remote control input device.

3. The remote control device of claim 2 wherein the power adjustment circuit adjusts power output of the radio frequency transmission circuit based on signals received from the personal computer.

4. The remote control device of claim 1 wherein the power adjustment circuit comprises a power amplifier and a potentiometer coupled to said amplifier to control the gain thereof.

5. The remote control device of claim 4 wherein the potentiometer is coupled to a thumbwheel accessible to a user for adjustment of the gain of the amplifier.

6. The remote control device of claim 4 wherein the potentiometer is digitally controllable.

7. The remote control device of claim 6 and further comprising:

a receiver for receiving signals representative of the power level of the signals received from the personal computer based on receipt of the signals transmitted by the transmission circuit of the remote control input device; and

a power controller coupled to the receiver and to the potentiometer for providing digital control of the potentiometer based on the signals from the personal computer.

8. A home entertainment system having a remote control device, comprising:

a personal computer having a processor, a main memory, a secondary storage device, and a bus for connecting the processor, the main memory and the secondary storage device and for receiving multiple circuits;

a tuner for receiving a compressed digital video broadcast signal and tuning the signal into discrete channels of digital video;

a decompressor coupled to the tuner and to the bus for receiving at least one channel of compressed digital video signal and decompressing the signal into a decompressed digital video signal;

a monitor driver coupled to the bus for receiving the decompressed digital video signal and converting the decompressed video signal into monitor compatible signals;

a monitor coupled to the monitor driver for displaying video images;

a receiver for receiving remote control signals for controlling the personal computer; and

a remote control device comprising;

a plurality of input devices associated with functions to be executed by said personal computer;

a radio frequency transmission circuit for transmitting radio frequency signals representative of the input devices selected by a user of the entertainment system; and

a power adjustment circuit coupled to the transmission circuit for adjusting the power output of the radio frequency transmission circuit to a level that is adequate for reception by the personal computer.

9. The entertainment system of claim 8, wherein the receiver further comprises:

detection circuitry for detecting the power level of the received remote control RF signal level; and

RF transmission circuitry for sending a signal back to the remote control device representative of the detected power level.

10. The entertainment system of claim 9, wherein the power adjustment circuit further comprises a receiver for receiving signals from the RF transmission circuitry of the personal computer based on receipt of the signals transmitted by the transmission circuit of the remote control input device.

11. The entertainment system of claim 10 wherein the power adjustment circuit adjusts the power output of the radio frequency transmission circuit based on signals received from the personal computer.

12. The entertainment system of claim 11 wherein the power adjustment circuit comprises a power amplifier and a potentiometer coupled to said amplifier to control the gain thereof.

13. The entertainment system of claim 12 wherein the potentiometer is coupled to a thumbwheel accessible to a user for adjustment of the gain of the amplifier.

14. The entertainment system of claim 13 wherein the potentiometer is digitally controllable.

15. The entertainment system of claim 9 and further comprising:

a receiver for receiving signals representative of the power level of the signals received from the personal computer based on receipt of the signals transmitted by the transmission circuit of the remote control input device; and

a power controller coupled to the receiver and to the potentiometer for providing digital control of the potentiometer based on the signals from the personal computer.