Audio-recording remote control and method therefor

• US 6,069,567 A
• Filed: 11/25/1997
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: VLSI Technology, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Zawilski, Peter S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US08/978,333
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/825.22, 348/734, 455/150.1, 455/151.1, 455/151.2, 455/153.2, 455/157.1
• US Class Current: 340/4.37
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/301 Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone

Abstract

A remote control has the ability to record the aural characteristics of a user'"'"'s listening environment. Integral microphones receive the loudspeaker output providing feedback to the unit while the user makes adjustments to the audio/visual equipment. The remote control is programmable to control a plurality of different makes and arrangements of remote-operable ANV equipment. The sonic characteristics of the loudspeakers in combination with the room'"'"'s acoustics are processed by the remote in the form of a "sound signature." This "sound signature" is remembered along with the corresponding physical settings of the A/V equipment'"'"'s controls to provide the user with a selectable listening experience.

Claims

1. A remote control unit arranged to control an audio-generating apparatus comprising:

a microphone;

a memory;

a user-interface for generating user commands;

a processor-based circuit, including an audio signal processor configured and arranged to respond to a first user command by programming the memory with apparatus-setting data corresponding to an audio state of the audio-generating apparatus, and, the audio state captured by the processor-based circuit via the microphone, to respond to a second user command by recalling the apparatus-setting data from memory; and

a transmitter circuit, responsive to the processor-based circuit, configured and arranged to send control signals for resetting the audio-generating apparatus in the audio state corresponding to the apparatus-setting data.

2. A remote control unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the transmitter circuit generates an infrared light signal.

3. A remote control unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the transmitter circuit generates an ultrasonic signal.

4. A remote control unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the transmitter circuit generates a radio signal.

5. A remote control unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the transmitter circuit generates an electrical signal carried by a wire, the wire having a physical connection to the audio apparatus.

6. A remote control unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the audio state includes at least one of the following attributes of volume, frequency, and delay.

7. A remote control unit arranged to control an audio-generating apparatus comprising:

means for generating signals which represent sound;

means for storing;

means for generating user commands;

a processor-based means, including an audio signal processor means, means for responding to a first user command by programming the storing means with apparatus-setting data corresponding to an audio state of the audio-generating apparatus, the audio state captured by the processor-based means via the signal generating means, for responding to a second user command by recalling the apparatus-setting data from the storing means; and

means, responsive to the means for responding, for sending control signals that reset the audio-generating apparatus in the audio state corresponding to the apparatus-setting data.

8. A remote control unit arranged to control an audio-generating apparatus, according rto claim 7, wherein the means for generating user commands includes a keypad.

9. A remote control unit arranged to control an audio-generating apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein the means for generating user commands includes a dial.

10. A remote control unit arranged to control an audio-generating apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein the means for responding to a first user command includes at least one of:

a digital signal processor chip, and a programmed array of logic circuits.

11. A remote control unit as recited in claim 7 wherein the audio state includes at least one of the following attributes of volume, frequency, and delay characteristics.

12. A remote control unit arranged to control an audio-generating apparatus in a listening environment comprising:

a microphone;

a memory;

a user-interface for generating user commands;

a processor-based circuit, including an audio signal processor configured and arranged to respond to a first user command by programming the memory with apparatus-setting data corresponding to a combined audio state of the audio-generating apparatus and the listening environment, and, the audio state captured by the processor-based circuit via the microphone, to respond to a second user command by recalling the apparatus-setting data from memory; and

a transmitter circuit, responsive to the processor-based circuit, configured and arranged to send control signals for resetting the audio-generating apparatus in the audio state corresponding to the apparatus-setting data.

13. A remote control unit as recited in claim 12 wherein the combined audio state of the audio-generating apparatus and the listening environment include the attributes of volume, frequency, and delay.