Remote control with two-way data coupling

• US 5,689,353 A
• Filed: 09/03/1996
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Darbee, Paul V., Grossman, Avram S., Ellis, Richard E., Jansky, Louis Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCAL, LESLIE C
• Application Number:
  US08/706,794
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 359/148, 359/142, 340/825.72, 340/734, 340/825.57
• US Class Current: 398/112
• 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

Abstract

A remote control for use in connection with a consumer electronics device and a computer. The remote control comprises a central processing unit, a set of buttons linked to the central processing unit, a circuit linked to the central processing unit for use in transmitting an infrared signal to the consumer electronic device in response to activation of at least one of the set of buttons, and a two-way circuit linked to the central processing unit for enabling two-way communication between the remote control and the computer.

Claims

1. A remote control for use in connection with a consumer electronics device and a computer, the remote control comprising:

a central processing unit;

a set of buttons linked to the central processing unit;

a first circuit linked to the central processing unit for facilitating the transmission of signals to the consumer electronic device in response to activation of at least one of the set of buttons; and

a second circuit linked to the central processing unit for facilitating the transmission and reception of signals to and from the computer.