System for extending infrared remote control
First Claim
1. An infrared remote control extension system for effecting control of an electronic device having an infrared sensor for receiving an infrared control signal from a manually actuated remote control, the assembly comprising:
- an audio speaker assembly including an electro-acoustic transducer, said transducer being operatively coupled to an audio reproduction system;
an infrared sensor at least indirectly attached to said speaker assembly for receiving and converting the infrared control signal from the remote control to an electrical signal;
a signal generator operatively connected to said sensor for generating an RF carrier signal containing or carrying control information encoded in said infrared control signal and said electrical signal;
transmission means for transmitting the RF carrier signal from said signal generator to the electronic device; and
a signal receiver at the electronic device for receiving and converting the RF carrier signal transmitted from said signal generator to a secondary infrared signal essentially identical to said infrared control signal, said signal receiver being disposed adjacent to the infrared sensor of the electronic device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly or system for effecting control of an electronic device having an infrared sensor for receiving an infrared control signal from a manually actuated remote control comprises, in accordance with the present invention, an infrared sensor for receiving and converting the infrared control signal from the remote control to an electrical signal, the sensor being attached to an audio speaker assembly of an audio reproduction system. A signal generator also attached to the speaker assembly is operatively connected to the sensor for generating an RF carrier signal modulated by control information encoded in the infrared control signal and the electrical signal. A transmission link is provided for transmitting the modulated RF carrier signal from the speaker assembly to the electronic device. A signal receiver disposed adjacent to the infrared sensor of the electronic device receives the modulated RF carrier signal and converts the modulated RF carrier signal to a secondary infrared signal essentially identical to the infrared control signal.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An infrared remote control extension system for effecting control of an electronic device having an infrared sensor for receiving an infrared control signal from a manually actuated remote control, the assembly comprising:
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an audio speaker assembly including an electro-acoustic transducer, said transducer being operatively coupled to an audio reproduction system; an infrared sensor at least indirectly attached to said speaker assembly for receiving and converting the infrared control signal from the remote control to an electrical signal; a signal generator operatively connected to said sensor for generating an RF carrier signal containing or carrying control information encoded in said infrared control signal and said electrical signal; transmission means for transmitting the RF carrier signal from said signal generator to the electronic device; and a signal receiver at the electronic device for receiving and converting the RF carrier signal transmitted from said signal generator to a secondary infrared signal essentially identical to said infrared control signal, said signal receiver being disposed adjacent to the infrared sensor of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for effecting control of an electronic device having an infrared sensor for receiving an infrared control signal from a manually actuated remote control, the method comprising:
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operating the remote control to produce the infrared signal; receiving said infrared signal at an audio speaker assembly of an audio reproduction system; at the speaker assembly, generating an RF carrier frequency; also at the speaker assembly, modulating the RF carrier frequency with instructions encoded in the received infrared control signal; transmitting the RF carrier frequency from the speaker assembly to the electronic device; and at the electronic device, receiving the RF carrier frequency; in response to the received RF carrier frequency, generating, at said electronic device, a secondary infrared signal substantially similar to said infrared control signal; and emitting said secondary infrared signal toward the infrared sensor of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An infrared remote control extension system for effecting control of an electronic device having an infrared sensor for receiving an infrared control signal from a manually actuated remote control, the assembly comprising:
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an audio speaker assembly including an electro-acoustic transducer, said transducer being operatively coupled to an audio reproduction system; an infrared sensor at least indirectly attached to said speaker assembly for receiving and converting the infrared control signal from the remote control to an electrical signal; a signal generator operatively connected to said sensor for generating an RF carrier signal carrying control information encoded in said infrared control signal and said electrical signal; transmission means for transmitting the RF carrier signal from said signal generator to the electronic device; a signal receiver at the electronic device for receiving and converting the RF carrier signal transmitted from said signal generator to a secondary infrared signal essentially identical to said infrared control signal, said signal receiver being disposed adjacent to the infrared sensor of the electronic device; and modification means operatively connected to said transducer for modifying a characteristic of an audio signal applied to said audio reproduction system, said sensor being operatively connected to said modification means for changing said characteristic in accordance with instructions encoded in said infrared control signal. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method for effecting control of an electronic device having an infrared sensor for receiving an infrared control signal from a manually actuated remote control, the method comprising:
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operating the remote control to produce the infrared signal; receiving said infrared signal at an audio speaker assembly of an audio reproduction system; at the speaker assembly, generating an RF carrier frequency containing or carrying instructions encoded in the received infrared control signal; transmitting the RF carrier frequency from the speaker assembly to the electronic device; at the electronic device, receiving the RF carrier frequency; in response to the received RF carrier frequency, generating, at said electronic device, a secondary infrared signal substantially similar to said infrared control signal; emitting said secondary infrared signal toward the infrared sensor of the electronic device; receiving an audio signal at said speaker assembly; converting said audio signal to an electrical signal; applying said electrical signal to said speaker to generate an acoustic pressure wave; and modifying, in accordance with instructions encoded in said infrared control signal, a characteristic of said electrical signal applied to said speaker assembly. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. An infrared remote control extension system for effecting control of an electronic device having, an infrared sensor for receiving an infrared control signal from a manually actuated remote control, the assembly comprising:
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an audio speaker assembly including an electro-acoustic transducer, said transducer being operatively coupled to an audio reproduction system; an infrared sensor at least indirectly attached to said speaker assembly for receiving and converting the infrared control signal from the remote control to an electrical signal; a signal generator operatively connected to said sensor for generating an RF carrier signal containing or carrying control information encoded in said infrared control signal and said electrical signal; transmission means for transmitting the RF carrier signal from said signal generator to the electronic device, and a signal receiver at the electronic device for receiving and converting the RF carrier signal transmitted from said signal generator to a secondary infrared signal essentially identical to said infrared control signal, said signal receiver being disposed adjacent to the infrared sensor of the electronic device, said transmission means including an antenna operatively connected to said signal generator for wirelessly transmitting said RF carrier signal from said signal generator to said signal receiver.
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Specification