Auto-finder and distance warning method and apparatus for a remote control input device
First Claim
1. A remote control input device for wireless input to a stationary device, the input device comprising:
- a wireless signal receiver that receives signals from a stationary device;
a distance warning circuit that produces a distance warning output signal when the input device is beyond a specified distance from the stationary device, as a function of the signals received by the wireless signal receiver;
an indicator that continues to produce a human-perceptible distance warning signal at predetermined intervals in response to production of the distance warning output signal by the distance warning circuit, even when said input device is outside a predetermined region;
a finder circuit that produces a finder circuit output signal as a function of the signals from the stationary device, the indicator responsive to the finding circuit output signal to produce a human-perceptible input device location signal;
wherein the signals from the stationary device are code signals that include finding signals and timing signals, the distance warning circuit being responsive to the receipt of the timing signals and the finder circuit being responsive to the receipt of the finding signals;
wherein the distance warning circuit and the finder circuit comprise a code signal discrimination circuit that discrimination between the signals received by wireless signal receiver; and
wherein the discrimination circuit includes a storage device in which a distance code and finder code are stored, and a comparator circuit that compares received code signals to the stored distance and finder codes and generates a distance code match signal when the received code signals match the stored distance code, and a finder code match signal when the received code signals match the stored finder code signal, the finder code match signal forming the finder circuit output signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for preventing the loss of a remote control input device used with a stationary device provides the stationary device with a transmitter and a signal generator that generates signals transmitted by the transmitter. The remote control input device communicates wirelessly with the stationary device, and has a wireless signal receiver that receives the signals from the signal generator, and a distance warning circuit. A distance warning output signal is produced by the distance warning circuit when the input device is beyond a specified distance from the stationary device, as a function of the signals received by the wireless signal receiver. The remote control input device also has an indicator that produces a human-perceptible distance warning signal in response to the production of the distance warning output signal by the distance warning circuit. This alerts a person carrying the remote control input device beyond a specified distance from the stationary device that the remote control input device is being moved out of range of the stationary device, and thereby helps to prevent the permanent loss of the remote control input device.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A remote control input device for wireless input to a stationary device, the input device comprising:
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a wireless signal receiver that receives signals from a stationary device; a distance warning circuit that produces a distance warning output signal when the input device is beyond a specified distance from the stationary device, as a function of the signals received by the wireless signal receiver; an indicator that continues to produce a human-perceptible distance warning signal at predetermined intervals in response to production of the distance warning output signal by the distance warning circuit, even when said input device is outside a predetermined region; a finder circuit that produces a finder circuit output signal as a function of the signals from the stationary device, the indicator responsive to the finding circuit output signal to produce a human-perceptible input device location signal; wherein the signals from the stationary device are code signals that include finding signals and timing signals, the distance warning circuit being responsive to the receipt of the timing signals and the finder circuit being responsive to the receipt of the finding signals; wherein the distance warning circuit and the finder circuit comprise a code signal discrimination circuit that discrimination between the signals received by wireless signal receiver; and wherein the discrimination circuit includes a storage device in which a distance code and finder code are stored, and a comparator circuit that compares received code signals to the stored distance and finder codes and generates a distance code match signal when the received code signals match the stored distance code, and a finder code match signal when the received code signals match the stored finder code signal, the finder code match signal forming the finder circuit output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system comprising:
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a stationary device having; a transmitter; and a signal generator that generates signals transmitted by the transmitter; a remote control input device that communicates wirelessly with the stationary device, the remote control input device having; a wireless signal receiver that receives signals from the signal generator; a distance warning circuit that produces a distance warning output signal when the input device is beyond a specified distance from the stationary device, as a function of the signals received by the wireless signal receiver; an indicator that continuously produces a human-perceptible distance warning signal at predetermined intervals in response to production of the distance warning output signal by the distance warning circuit, even when said remote control input device is outside a predetermined distance from said stationary device; wherein the input device further has a finder circuit that produces a finder circuit output signal as a function of the signals from the stationary device, the indicator responsive to the finding circuit output signal to produce a human-perceptible input device location signal; wherein the signal generator is a code sender that produces finding signals and timing signals, the finding signals and the timing signals forming the signals transmitted by the transmitter, the distance warning circuit being responsive the receipt of the timing signals and the finder circuit being responsive to the receipt of the finding signals; wherein the distance warning circuit and the finder circuit comprise a code signal discrimination circuit that discriminates between the signals received by the wireless signal receiver; and wherein the discrimination circuit includes a storage device in which a distance code and a finder code are stored, and a comparator circuit that compares received code signals to the stored distance and finder codes and generates a distance code match signal when the received code signals match the stored distance code, and a finder code match signal when the received code signals match the stored finder code signal, the finder code match signal forming the finder circuit output signal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification