Multi-remote controller circuit having automatic setting functions

• US 5,929,768 A
• Filed: 04/30/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Byung-Hyuk
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Asongwed, Anthony A.
• Application Number:
  US08/841,622
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.22, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/539, 340/825.39, 341/176, 455/151.4, 455/151.1, 455/151.2, 455/92, 371/377, 374/102.7
• US Class Current: 340/12.28
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

A multi-remote controller circuit for selecting a manufacturer of an object to be controlled. The multi-remote controller circuit has: a key matrix including an automatic setting key, numeric keys, and various keys for automatic selection of a manufacturer of the control object; a light emitting unit for receiving data corresponding to the selected key of the key matrix and outputting a corresponding pulse wave; a light receiving unit for detecting a power-on/off state of the control object; and a controller for proceeding to a manufacturer selection mode in response to activation of the automatic setting key, sequentially applying data of different manufacturers for power-on/off of the control object to the light emitting unit according to a preset manufacturer selection table, and upon detection of a signal by the light receiving unit of a change in the power on/off state of the control object, setting the manufacturer of the control object.

Claims

1. A multi-remote controller circuit, comprising:

a key matrix including an automatic setting key;

a unit for outputting data;

a receiving unit for detecting a power-on/off state of an object to be controlled; and

a controller which, in response to activation of said automatic setting key, sequentially applies data of different manufacturers for power-on/off of said object to be controlled to said unit for outputting data, and when said receiving unit detects that the power on/off state of the control object changes, sets multi-remote controller to the manufacturer of said object to be controlled.

2. The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving unit is a light receiving unit comprising a resistor and a photo input detection component, said resistor and said photo input detection component being in turn connected between a power supply voltage and a ground voltage.

3. The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller is a micro-controller included with a program.

4. The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said key matrix comprises numeric keys.

5. The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said unit for outputting data is a light emitting unit which receives data corresponding to a selected key of said key matrix and outputs a corresponding pulse wave.

6. The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the data of different manufacturers for power-on/off of said control object is stored in a manufacturer selection table.

7. A method for automatically setting a manufacturer of an object to be controlled in a multi-remote controller circuit which has a key matrix including an automatic setting key, a unit for outputting data, and a detecting unit for detecting a power-on/off state of the object to be controlled, the method comprising the steps of:

proceeding to a manufacturer selection mode in response to activation of said automatic setting key;

sequentially applying data of different manufacturers for power-on/off of said object to be controlled to said unit for outputting data; and

upon detection of a change in the power on/off state of said object to be controlled by the detecting unit, setting the multi-remote controller to the manufacturer of said object to be controlled.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the step of sequentially applying data of different manufacturers is performed according to a manufacturer selection table.