Method and apparatus for controlling electrical appliances by remote control transmitters

• US 6,198,408 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elihay Cohen
• Original Assignee: Elihay Cohen
• Inventors: Cohen, Elihay
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Asongwed, Anthony A
• Application Number:
  US09/057,810
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.22, 348/734, 359/142, 455/151.4
• US Class Current: 340/12.29
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling an electrical appliance by means of a command signal transmitted by a particular remote control transmitter, by means of a converter device which includes a receiver for receiving the command signal, a microprocessor for converting the command signal, according to a predetermined conversion process compatible with various types of command signals, to a code unique to that particular remote control transmitter, and a storage device for storing the unique code. The microprocessor may be programmed to operate in a Learn Mode to convert the command signal according to the predetermined conversion process to the unique code, and to store the unique code, and then to operate in an Operational Mode to convert any subsequently-received command signal to a code according to the predetermined conversioned process, to compare the two codes, and to effect the control of the electrical device when a match is found to be present.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an electrical appliance by means of a command signal transmitted by a particular remote control transmitter, comprising:

providing a converter device which includes a receiver for receiving said command signal, a microprocessor for converting said command signal, according to a predetermined conversion process comparable with various types of command signals, to a code unique to that particular remote control transmitter, and a storage device for storing said unique code;

transmitting to said converter device a command signal from said particular remote control transmitter while said microprocessor is programmed in a Learn Mode to convert said command signal according to said predetermined conversion process to said unique code, and to store said unique code in said storage device;

and subsequently transmitting to said converter device another command signal from said particular remote control transmitter, while said microprocessor is programmed in an Operational Mode, to convert said latter command signal to a code according to said predetermined conversion process, to compare said latter code with the code produced and stored during said Learn Mode, and to effect said control of the electrical device when a match is found to be present between the code produced and stored during the Learn Mode and the code produced during the Operational Mode;

wherein said command signal is a pulse-width-modulated signal, and said predetermined conversion process senses the rising points, the falling points, and the width of the pulse in said pulse-width-modulated signal to convert the command signal to said unique code;

wherein said microprocessor is programmed to execute said Learn Mode in at least two stages, including a first stage in which it detects the widths of the pulses and spaces in the command signal, and a second stage in which it detects the rising points and the falling points of the pulses in the command signal;

wherein said microprocessor is programmed to execute said Learn Mode in an additional third stage, said third stage being a repetition of said second stage but applicable to process a second command signal transmitted by a remote control transmitter immediately subsequently to the transmission of the command signal processed in said second stage.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined conversion process utilizes the changes in the rising points, the falling points, and the length of the pulses in said pulse-width-modulated signal to convert the command signal to said unique code.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is programmed to execute said Learn Mode in at least two stages, including a first stage in which it detects the widths of the pulses and spaces in the command signal, and a second stage in which it detects the rising points and the falling points of the pulses in the command signal.

4. Apparatus for controlling an electrical appliance by means of a command signal transmitted by a particular remote control transmitter, comprising:

a converter device including a receiver for receiving said command signal, a microprocessor for converting said command signal, according to a predetermined conversion process compatible with various types of command signals, to a code unique to that particular remote control transmitter and a storage device for storing said unique code;

said microprocessor being programmed to execute a Learn Mode when receiving, during the Learn Mode, a first command signal transmitted by said particular remote control transmitter to convert said first command signal to said unique code according to said predetermined conversion process, and to store said unique code in said storage device;

said microprocessor also being programmed to execute an Operational Mode when receives, during the Operational mode, a second command signal from a remote control transmitter, to convert said second command signal to a code according to said predetermined conversion process, to compare said latter code with the code produced and stored during said Learn Mode, and to effect said control of the electrical device when a match is found to be present between the code produced and stored during the Learn Mode and the code produced during the Operational Mode;

wherein said command signal is a pulse-width-modulated signal, and said predetermined conversion process senses the rising points, the falling points, and the width of the pulse in said pulse-width-modulated signal to convert the command signal to said unique code;

wherein said microprocessor is programmed to execute said Learn Mode in at least two stages, including a first stage in which it detects the widths of the pulses and spaces in the command signal, and a second stage in which it detects the rising points and the falling points of the pulses in the command signal;

wherein in the first stage, the widths of the pulses and spaces in the command signal are classified in a plurality of different classes; and

in the second stage, each change in a rising point and each change in a falling point of a pulse are combined with the class of the respective pulse as classified in the first stage.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined conversion process utilizes the changes in the rising points, the falling points, and the length of the pulses in said pulse-width-modulated signal to convert the command signal to said unique code.

5. Apparatus for controlling an electrical appliance by means of a command signal transmitted by a particular remote control transmitter, comprising:

a converter device including a receiver for receiving said command signal, a microprocessor for converting said command signal, according to a predetermined conversion process compatible with various types of command signals, to a code unique to that particular remote control transmitter and a storage device for storing said unique code;

said microprocessor being programmed to execute a Learn Mode when receiving, during the Learn Mode, a first command signal transmitted by said particular remote control transmitter to convert said first command signal to said unique code according to said predetermined conversion process, and to store said unique code in said storage device;

said microprocessor also being programmed to execute an Operational Mode when receives, during the Operational mode, a second command signal from a remote control transmitter, to convert said second command signal to a code according to said predetermined conversion process, to compare said latter code with the code produced and stored during said Learn Mode, and to effect said control of the electrical device when a match is found to be present between the code produced and stored during the Learn Mode and the code produced during the Operational Mode;

wherein said command signal is a pulse-width-modulated signal, and said predetermined conversion process senses the rising points, the falling points, and the width of the pulse in said pulse-width-modulated signal to convert the command signal to said unique code;

wherein said microprocessor is programmed to execute said Learn Mode in at least two stages, including a first stage in which it detects the widths of the pulses and spaces in the command signal, and a second stage in which it detects the rising points and the falling points of the pulses in the command signal;

wherein said microprocessor is programmed to execute said Learn Mode in an additional third stage, said third stage being a repetition of said second stage but applicable to process a second command signal transmitted by a remote control transmitter immediately subsequently to the transmission of the command signal processed in said second stage.