Remote control with a detachable insert

• US 6,327,459 B2
• Filed: 01/26/1998
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Evidea Com Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TV Interactive Data Corporation
• Inventors: Stern, Donald S., Redford, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US09/013,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20010003041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 341/22, 341/23, 345/173, 345/169, 345/168, 434/118, 434/169, 434/185, 434/307.R, 434/308, 434/317, 434/365, 348/7, 348/12, 348/476, 348/563, 348/601, 348/706, 348/731, 348/734, 348/738, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/990, 369/24, 463/1, 463/5
• US Class Current: 434/307.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/056 Keyboard or overlay identification features
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus

Abstract

A remote control includes a base and an insert that is attached in a detachable manner to the base. The base includes a remote control circuit, a button coupled to operate the remote control circuit and a fastener capable of holding the insert. The insert includes a printed publication (such as a card, a sheet of paper or a booklet) containing at least one leaf having human-understandable content (such as text and/or graphics). To assemble the remote control, a user attaches the insert to the fastener, so that the human-understandable content is laid over the button. Thereafter, when the user operates the button (e.g. by touching the leaf), the base transmits a remote control signal that causes a host device to visually display information related to the human-understandable content at the touched location. A base in the form of a three ring binder gives the user an intuitive feel of simply touching human-understandable content on a leaf in the binder to view a display of information related to the content. In addition to the human-understandable content, the insert can carry a predetermined pattern that can be sensed by a sensor during mounting of the insert on the base. The base transmits, in the remote control signal, a number determined from the redetermined pattern thereby to indicate to the host device the insert currently in the base.

Claims

1. A remote control comprising:

a file folder including a front cover, a back cover and a spine located between said front cover and said back cover, said file folder further including a fastener mounted on said spine, said fastener being capable of detachably holding a printed publication, said printed publication devoid of electronic components permanently attached to said printed publication;

a remote control circuit supported by said file folder; and

a button supported on at least one of said front cover and said back cover and coupled to said remote control circuit;

a plurality of leaves of the printed publication detachably attached to said fastener so that a leaf is laid over said button, said leaf being sufficiently thin for pressure on said leaf to transfer through said leaf to operate said button;

wherein said remote control circuit transmits a remote control signal to a host device in response to application of pressure to said button, said remote control signal identifying a location on the leaf where the pressure is applied.

2. The remote control of claim 1 wherein:

said remote control has the appearance of a normal ring binder.

3. The remote control of claim 1 wherein:

said button includes a touch panel capable of indicating the location of application of said pressure.

4. The remote control of claim 3, wherein said touch panel is supported by said back cover, the remote control further comprising:

another touch panel supported by said front cover and coupled to said remote control circuit.

5. The remote control of claim 1 wherein:

said button includes a switch in a plurality of discrete switches mounted on said back cover;

an internal surface of said back cover is substantially planar; and

said base has the appearance of a normal ring binder.

6. The remote control of claim 1 further comprising:

information in the form of electronic content identified at least partially by said signal, said electronic content being related to content printed on said leaf.