Combining input/output paths for infra-red remote device inputs

• US 6,281,880 B1
• Filed: 06/15/1998
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VLSI Technology, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: VLSI Technology, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Jaramillo, Kenneth A., Rose, Jerry Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anyaso, Uchendu O.
• Application Number:
  US09/097,887
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 345/158, 345/175, 359/109, 359/142, 359/145, 710/73
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

An electronic device for receiving infra-red inputs from remote units and propagating the inputs to an intelligent controller circuit. In one embodiment, the present invention receives the infra-red energy emitted from different remote units in a single infra-red receiver circuit. This embodiment then generates digital data signals responsive to the infra-red energy, and propagates the digital data signals through a single external single-pin bus to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit contains circuitry therein to decode control signals from a variety of different remote units. In this embodiment, the integrated circuit'"'"'s internal bus is coupled to the single external single-pin bus. The internal bus is commonly coupled to all remote control decoder circuits within the integrated circuit. In this embodiment, the integrated circuit decodes keyboard digital data signals into keyboard control signals for the intelligent controller unit, mouse digital data signals into mouse control signals for the intelligent controller unit, and remote control digital data signals into remote-control control signals for the intelligent controller unit. By integrating the decoder circuits into a single integrated circuit and by sharing a single external bus for the remote control signals, significant size reductions are provided for set-top-boxes and other electronic devices.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a) a single infra-red receiver circuit for receiving infra-red energy emitted from remote units and for generating data signals responsive thereto;

b) a single external single-pin bus coupled to said infra-red receiver circuit for propagating said data signals; and

c) an integrated circuit coupled to said single external single-pin bus for decoding said data signals for an intelligent controller circuit, said integrated circuit comprising;

an internal bus coupled to said single external single-pin bus;

a keyboard interface coupled to said internal bus to receive said data signals and to identify keyboard data signals, wherein said keyboard interface decodes said keyboard data signals into keyboard control signals for said intelligent controller circuit;

a mouse interface coupled to said internal bus to receive said data signals and to identify mouse data signals, wherein said mouse interface decodes said mouse data signals into mouse control signals for said intelligent controller circuit; and

a remote-control interface circuit coupled to said internal bus to receive said data signals and to identify remote-control data signals, wherein said remote-control interface circuit decodes said remote-control data signals into remote-control control signals for said intelligent controller circuit.

2. An electronic device as described in claim 1 wherein said intelligent controller circuit is a microprocessor.

3. An electronic device as described in claim 1 wherein said intelligent controller circuit is a micro-controller.

4. An electronic device as described in claim 1 wherein said remote units comprise:

a mouse unit;

a keyboard unit; and

a remote control unit.

5. An electronic device as described in claim 1 wherein said integrated circuit further comprises a PS/2 converter circuit coupled between said single external single-pin bus and said mouse and keyboard interfaces, said PS/2 converter circuit for transforming said mouse and keyboard data signals to signals of the PS/2 communications standard and wherein said mouse data signals and said keyboard data signals both conform to the PS/2 communications standard.

6. A set-top-box device comprising:

a) an intelligent controller circuit for controlling the display of media information;

b) a single infra-red receiver circuit for receiving infra-red energy emitted from remote units and for generating data signals responsive thereto;

c) a single external single-pin bus coupled to said infra-red receiver circuit for propagating said data signals; and

d) an integrated circuit coupled to said single external single-pin bus for decoding said data signals for an intelligent controller circuit, said integrated circuit comprising;

an internal bus coupled to said single external single-pin bus;

a keyboard interface coupled to said internal bus to receive said data signals to identify keyboard data signals, wherein said keyboard interface decodes said keyboard data signals into keyboard control signals for said intelligent controller circuit;

a mouse interface coupled to said internal bus to receive said data signals and to identify mouse data signals, wherein said mouse interface decodes said mouse data signals into mouse control signals for said intelligent controller circuit; and

a remote-control interface circuit coupled to said internal bus to receive said data signals and to identify remote-control data signals, wherein said remote-control interface decodes said remote-control data signals into remote-control control signals for said intelligent controller circuit.

7. A set-top-box device as described in claim 6 wherein said intelligent controller circuit is a microprocessor.

8. A set-top-box device as described in claim 6 wherein said intelligent controller circuit is a micro-controller.

9. A set-top-box device as described in claim 6 wherein said remote units comprise:

a mouse unit;

a keyboard unit; and

a remote control unit.

10. A set-top-box device as described in claim 6 wherein said integrated circuit further comprises a PS/2 converter circuit coupled between said single external single-pin bus and said mouse and keyboard interfaces, said PS/2 converter circuit for transforming said mouse and keyboard data signals to signals of the PS/2 communications standard and wherein said mouse data signals and said keyboard data signals both conform to the PS/2 communications standard.

11. A set-top-box device as described in claim 6 wherein media information comprise multi-media data.

12. A set-top-box device as described in claim 11 wherein said multi-media data includes data of a Motion Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) format.

13. A set-top-box device as described in claim 6 wherein said media information comprise an internet channel.

14. A set-top-box device as described in claim 6 wherein said media information comprise information from a cable television channel.

15. A set-top-box device as described in claim 6 wherein said media information comprise information from a satellite television channel.

16. Within an electronic device, a method for receiving infra-red inputs from different remote units and propagating the inputs to an intelligent controller circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

a) said electronic device receiving infra-red energy emitted from said different remote units;

b) generating digital data signals responsive to said infra-red energy;

c) propagating said digital data signals through a single external single-pin bus to an integrated circuit; and

d) decoding said digital data signals into device-specific control signals for application to said intelligent controller circuit.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said different remote units are a mouse unit, a keyboard unit, and a remote control unit.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein step d) further comprises the steps of:

d1) decoding keyboard data signals into keyboard control signals for said intelligent controller circuit;

d2) decoding mouse data signals into mouse control signals for said intelligent controller circuit; and

d3) decoding remote-control data signals into remote-control control signals for said intelligent controller circuit.