Image display and remote control system capable of displaying two distinct images

• US 6,496,122 B2
• Filed: 06/26/1998
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sampsell, Jeffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/105,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.25, 348/734, 348/7, 348/10, 348/12, 345/1, 345/2.2, 345/211, 345/730, 455/6.2
• US Class Current: 340/4.42
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/23 Remote control device with display showing data to be transmitted to the controlled apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application

Abstract

An image display system capable of displaying two distinct images at the same time. One image is shown on an image display device such as a television or computer monitor which is coupled to the image display system. The other image is shown on a remote control included in an image display system. A docking station is also part of the image display system. It is connected by standard audio-visual coaxial cable to the TV and associated video devices and sends compressed digital video signal information to the video remote control by RF communication. Both the docking station and the video remote control have RF antennas and receivers capable of sending digital RF signals. Digital command and information signals are exchanged between the docking station and video remote control to allow control from the remote control of the functions of the TV and other video devices. The remote control has a learning mode with on-screen feedback making the image display system backward and forward compatible with a wide array of image display devices. The invention is thought to be particularly useful for networked computer televisions.

Claims

1. A remote control system for use with an audio/visual display device, wherein the audio/visual display device includes a receiver in a primary audio/visual display device for receiving plural audio/visual signals representing different, plural audio/visual programs, the remote control system comprising:

a controller for selecting between the plural audio/visual programs and for controlling the source of a primary program displayed on the primary audio/visual display and the source of a secondary program displayed on a remote audio/visual display device;

an image processor in the audio/visual display device for generating a secondary audio/visual signal from a received signal for a secondary program;

a transmitter in the audio/visual display device for transmitting said secondary audio/visual signal; and

a wireless remote control having said remote audio/visual display for displaying audio and video corresponding to said secondary audio/visual signal and a control signal generator for generating a signal for controlling the audio and video on the primary audio/visual device and for controlling audio and video on said remote audio/visual display.

2. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said remote control is a learning remote control.

3. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said primary program and said secondary program have the same source.

4. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said primary program and said secondary program have different sources.

5. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said wireless remote control includes a soft key mechanism for providing a variety of menus on said display for controlling the audio/visual display device.

6. The remote control system of claim 1 which includes a docking station hard-wired to the audio/visual display device for receiving said wireless remote control therein.

7. An audio/visual display system for displaying at least two distinct audio/visual programs, said display system comprising:

a first audio/visual source for outputting a first audio/visual signal;

a second audio/visual source for outputting a second audio/visual signal;

a first controller for selecting an audio/visual program to be displayed;

an audio/visual display for displaying a selected audio visual program thereon;

a first wireless transmitter for transmitting one of said audio/visual signals;

a video remote control (VRC) including;

a VRC receiver for receiving said transmitted audio/visual signal transmitted by said first transmitter;

a VRC display for displaying a audio/visual program corresponding to said transmitted audio/visual signal;

a VRC controller for producing control signals based upon inputs by a user; and

a VRC wireless transmitter for transmitting said control signals;

wherein said first controller is responsive to said control signals from said VRC controller.

8. The audio/visual display system of claim 7 further comprising an audio/visual device that includes at least one of said audio/visual sources.

9. The audio/visual display system of claim 8 wherein said audio/visual device is a television.

10. The audio/visual display system of claim 8 wherein said audio/visual source is taken from the group of audio/visual sources consisting of television broadcast, television analog and digital cable satellite, DSS, VCR, DVD and computer.

11. The audio/visual display system of claim 7 wherein said audio/visual program contains video only.

12. The audio/visual display system of claim 7 wherein said audio/visual program contains audio only.

13. The audio/visual display system of claim 7 wherein said first wireless transmitter and said VRC receiver operate in a frequency range between approximately 5.15 GHz and 5.85 GHz.

14. The audio/visual display system of claim 7 wherein said first wireless transmitter and said VRC receiver operate in a wavelength range between approximately 0.8 μ

m and 1.2 μ

m.

15. The audio/visual display system of claim 7 wherein said VRC display input options of said VRC controller correspond to said control signals for selection by said user.

16. The audio/visual display system of claim 15 wherein said VRC display is touch sensitive such that said input option is selected by said user by touching portions of said VRC display.

17. The audio/visual display system of claim 15 wherein said display of said input options on said VRC display is a soft key display.

18. The audio/visual display system of claim 7 further comprising a docking station including said first wireless transmitter.

19. The audio/visual display system of claim 18 wherein the docking station further includes at least one of said audio/visual sources.

20. A method of displaying any of several audio/visual programs on an audio/visual display system, wherein the audio/visual display system includes a primary audio/visual display device and a wireless remote control having a secondary audio/visual display therein, said method comprising:

selecting a mode of operation of the display system;

displaying a first audio/visual program on the primary audio/visual display device; and

displaying a second audio/visual program, selected from all available audio/visual programs, on the secondary audio/visual display on said remote control.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said selecting step includes:

inputting said mode selection to said video image display system.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said inputting occurs on said remote control.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein said displaying said second audio/visual program step includes:

showing on the wireless remote audio/visual display available modes of operation of the audio/visual display system.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

transmitting said selected mode input to said remote control; and

receiving in said audio/visual display on the remote control said transmitted selected mode.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

playing a first audio signal associated with said first audio/visual program on the primary audio/visual display device.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

playing a second audio signal associated with said second audio/visual program on the remote control.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein the displayed second audio/visual program is distinct from the displayed first audio/visual program.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein the displayed second audio/visual program is the same as the displayed first audio/visual program.