Infrared interface and control apparatus for consumer electronics
First Claim
1. An interface module for an electronic appliance of the type that is controlled by radiated signals transmitted through free space, and which has a built-in signal detector for detecting the radiated signals, comprising:
- a housing which comprises a material which substantially blocks radiated signals;
said housing being adapted to be affixed over the signal detector of the electronic appliance to prevent the signal detector from detecting stray radiated signals; and
a transmitter portion carried by said housing for radiating control signals to the signal detector when the housing is affixed over said signal detector.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control unit provides unified control of various consumer electronic appliances such as a television, video cassette recorder, and home stereo system through remote control (e.g., infrared) signals. A receiver portion of an interface module positioned over the built-in remote control signal receiver of the appliance intercepts signals from a hand-held remote control operated by a user. The signals are routed to a control unit (such as a set-top television converter) where control logic determines a desired control action. A corresponding control action signal is routed back to a transmitter portion of the interface module and is received by the built-in remote control signal receiver of the appliance to be controlled, thereby resulting in the desired control action. The apparatus provides additional functions and increases user convenience and access to video, audio, and data signals provided via a cable television, direct satellite broadcast or similar service provider.
153 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An interface module for an electronic appliance of the type that is controlled by radiated signals transmitted through free space, and which has a built-in signal detector for detecting the radiated signals, comprising:
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a housing which comprises a material which substantially blocks radiated signals; said housing being adapted to be affixed over the signal detector of the electronic appliance to prevent the signal detector from detecting stray radiated signals; and a transmitter portion carried by said housing for radiating control signals to the signal detector when the housing is affixed over said signal detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An interface module and control apparatus for an electronic appliance of the type that is controlled by radiated signals transmitted through free space and has a built-in radiated signal detector for receiving the radiated signals, comprising:
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a housing which comprises a material which substantially blocks radiated signals; said housing being adapted to be affixed over the signal detector of the electronic appliance to prevent the signal detector from detecting stray radiated signals; said housing comprising a transmitter portion adapted to radiate control signals to the signal detector when said housing is affixed over said signal detector; a control unit; and an output line coupled from said control unit to said transmitter portion; wherein said transmitter portion radiates the control signals to the signal detector in accordance with control action signals which are received from said control unit via said output line for controlling the electronic appliance. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An interface module for electronic appliances, comprising:
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a housing which is adapted to be attached over a signal detector on an electronic appliance; a transmitter portion carried by said housing for communicating with the signal detector on the electronic appliance when the housing is attached over said signal detector; said housing comprising a receiver portion which receives signals from a remote control; and means for coupling the command signals received by said receiver portion to a control unit; wherein said transmitter portion receives control action signals from said control unit in response to the remote control command signals received by said receiver portion.
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19. An interface module and control apparatus for electronic appliances, comprising:
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a housing which is adapted to be attached over a signal detector on an electronic appliance; said housing comprising a transmitter portion adapted to communicate with the signal detector on the electronic appliance when said housing is attached over said signal detector; a control unit; an output line coupled from said control unit to said transmitter portion; wherein said transmitter portion receives control action signals from said control unit via said output line for controlling the electronic appliance; said housing comprising a receiver portion; and an input line coupled from said receiver portion to said control unit; wherein said receiver portion passes command signals received from a remote control to said control unit via said input line, said control unit being responsive to said command signals to provide said control action signals to control the electronic appliance.
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Specification