Upgradeable remote control device

• US 5,953,144 A
• Filed: 06/16/1997
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• 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:
  US08/874,431
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 359/142, 359/143, 359/146, 359/148, 348/734, 340/825.72
• 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

The universal remote control system includes input means, signal output means for supplying a signal to a controlled device and a central processing unit coupled to the input means and the signal output means, no ROM, and a single non-volatile, read-write RAM coupled to said central processing unit.

The RAM in the ROM-less microprocessor system is loaded by carrying out the following steps: (a) disabling the central processing unit; (b) connecting a separate microprocessor system to said RAM; (c) transferring instructions and/or data to said RAM; (d) re-enabling the central processing unit to enable the central processing unit to execute the instructions so transferred.

Claims

1. A method for downloading information from a microprocessor controlled system to a remote control capable of commanding actions from a consumer electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

disabling a central processing unit resident in said remote control;

storing said information downloaded from said microprocessor controlled system in a memory resident in said remote control;

enabling said central processing unit resident in said remote control; and

reading from said memory resident in said remote control said information to enable said central processing unit resident in said remote control to command an action from said consumer electronic device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of storing is performed via a serial communication link which is formed between said memory and said microprocessor controlled system.

3. An upgradeable remote control unit for use in commanding actions from a consumer electronic device, said remote control comprising:

a central processing unit;

a memory linked to said central processing unit;

a serial port linked to said memory for allowing information to be downloaded to said memory from an external, microprocessor controlled system via a serial communication link;

a transmitter linked to said central processing unit; and

wherein said central processing unit reads from said memory said information and causes said transmitter to send a command code based, at least in part, upon said information to said consumer electronic device to command said consumer electronic device to perform an action.

4. The remote control unit as recited in claim 3, wherein said transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter.

5. The remote control unit as recited in claim 3, wherein said serial port is adapted for two-way serial communication.