PDA having a separate infrared generating device connected to its printer port for controlling home appliances

• US 5,778,256 A
• Filed: 09/04/1996
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nisel Investments LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Darbee, Paul Vernon
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Ki S.
• Application Number:
  US08/707,819
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 395/280, 395/281, 395/200.01, 395/887, 395/893, 395/892, 395/882, 395/825, 395/833, 364/709.12, 341/176, 455/151.2
• US Class Current: 710/72
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 9/06 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. light
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems

Abstract

According to the present invention there is provided an infrared code generating and transmitting device adapted to be coupled to or incorporated in a microcomputer system, commonly referred to as a personal digital assistant (PDA). The IR code generating and transmitting device comprises a CPU separate or incorporated into the microcomputer system of the PDA; a memory separate or incorporated into the microcomputer system; an LED output; LED driver circuitry coupled between the CPU and the LED output; an interface connector; an interface buffer circuit coupled between the interface connector and the CPU; and an interface data buffer circuit coupled by data lines between the interface connector and the CPU.

Claims

1. A microcomputer system of a personal digital assistant (PDA) type comprising:

a portable and hand held unit having a standard printer port;

an infrared device comprising a separate unit which can be mechanically and physically attached to said PDA as an integral part of said system, said infrared device having a communication port which can be electrically connected to said printer port;

wherein said infrared device being operable for generating a plurality of infrared control signals suitable for control of video, home entertainment and home automation systems based upon stored program information; and

wherein said infrared device includes signal generating and transmitting circuitry for selectively providing;

a) a one-byte command signal dependant on the particular device to be controlled; and

b) a second type of command signal for providing control function comprising more than said one byte signal.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein:

a) said PDA comprises a flat case;

b) said infrared device comprises a flat case mechanically attached to said PDA case; and

c) light emitting diodes are mounted on an end of said infrared device.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein said infrared device is substantially smaller than said PDA.