Rf PC interface

• US 6,397,288 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: X10 Wireless Technology Incorporated (X10)
• Original Assignee: XID Wireless Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Rye, David John, Phillips, James, Leech, Lesley Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): THAI, XUAN MARIAN
• Application Number:
  US09/390,540
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 710/2,62,64,65,69-74,300,305,315 361/686
• US Class Current: 710/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

An rf PC interface transmits binary coded radio-frequency (rf) signals which are binary coded in accordance with software resident in a PC. The interface is plugged into a serial port of the PC and includes a pass-through port and an rf modulator. Also disclosed is an rf transceiver which receives and demodulates addressed coded rf signals, which are then combined with the appropriate audiovisual product remote control signals to drive an IR transmitter to produce remote control signals for the addressed audiovisual product.

Claims

1. An interface for connection to an I/O port of a computer, said interface comprising a first connector adapted to be plugged into the computer I/O, a second connector, a multi-conductor bus connecting said first connector to said second connector, an rf pulse modulator connected to said first connector for modulating an rf carrier in accord with the binary signals derived from the computer of said first connector, and means coupled to said pulse modulator for transmitting the binary coded rf signals over the air to a remote receiver.

2. The interface of said claim 1, in which said first connector is a female connector and said second connector is a male connector.

3. The interface of claim 1, further comprising means interposed intermediate said first connector and said pulse modulate for formatting the binary signals from the computer.

4. In combination with the interface of claim 1, for receiving and demodulating the binary coded rf signals, and processing means operatively connected to said demodulating means for modifying the demodulated binary coded signals in accordance with the type of audiovisual product the operation of which is to be controlled.

5. The combination of claim 4, in which said processing means includes a first memory storing a plurality of IR control codes for a corresponding plurality of brands of audiovisual products, the operation of which are to be controlled by said binary coded control signals.

6. The combination of claim 5, in which said processing means further comprises a second memory for storing the universal IR remote control codes for commercial audiovisual products and a first processor having input respectively operatively connected to said first and second memories.

7. The combination of claim 6, further comprising IR transmitting means operatively connected to the output of said first processor.

8. The combination of claim 5, further comprising a third memory for storing the addresses of the several audiovisual products to be remotely controlled and a second processor connected to the output of said demodulating means and to said third memory, the output of said second processor being applied to an input of said first processor.

9. The combination of claim 7, further comprising a third memory for storing the addresses of the several audiovisual products to be remotely controlled and a second processor connected to the output of said demodulating means and to said third memory, the output of said second processor being applied to an input of said first processor.