Media system and remote control for same

• US 6,567,011 B1
• Filed: 10/14/1999
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Young, Jeffrey J., Phan, Anthony H., Firehammer, Richard A. Jr., Muncy, David N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/418,091
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/7.39, 359/148, 359/142, 359/143, 359/159, 359/176, 359/146, 341/176, 361/171, 361/172, 348/734
• US Class Current: 340/12.28
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

A media system capable of sending a plurality of input signals to a receiving device of the system is provided. A remote control for selecting among the input devices is also provided. An audio remote without numeric keys for an audio system is provided. The present apparatus also provides the user with the ability to control the output of an input selection key. This allows the user to select input source, perhaps from a table, or execute a function assigned to the key. When in a “locked” state, the input key will rotate through a table that contains individual input functions from target devices, or the target sources/devices. The table may consist of as many input functions are as available for each device. In an “unlocked” state the remote will attempt to send a function assigned to the input key prior to selecting a device selection from an input select table. Other features of a remote control for a media system are provided.

Claims

1. A remote control for a media system including a receiving device operably connected to receive one of at least two input sources, at least one input device operably connected to provide at least one of the at least two input sources, the remote control comprising:

a hand held case including;

a receiver mode key and an input device mode key;

a plurality of device control keys; and

a function key;

first means for placing the remote control in a receiver mode, wherein operation of the plurality of device control keys will effect operation of the receiving device; and

select means for selecting the one input source the receiving device will receive, wherein the one input source is selected upon operation of the function key.

2. The remote control of claim 1 wherein the select means comprises an input select table including the at least two input sources, wherein the input select table is stored in memory.

3. The remote control claim 1, wherein the select means includes means for incrementing an input select index in response to operation of the function key.

4. The remote control of claim 1, further comprising function lock means for toggling the remote control between a function-locked status and a function-unlocked status.

5. The remote control of claim 4, wherein the select means comprises means for selecting from an input select table in response to operation of the function key if no data is assigned to the function key, wherein the select means will attempt to send data assigned to the function key before selecting from the input select table.

6. A remote control adapted to effect operation of a receiver device, and first, second, and third input devices, the receiver device being adapted to receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of input sources, the signals including a plurality of input device signals from the input devices, the remote control comprising:

a case including a receiver key, and first, second, and third device keys, each key operably connected to activate a corresponding receiver mode, and corresponding first, second, and third device modes;

the case further including a plurality of device control keys operably connected to effectuate responses in the receiver, and the first, second, and third input devices when a respective corresponding mode is active; and

the case still further including a function key operably connected to select one of the input sources, wherein the input source is selected from an input select table.

7. The remote control of claim 6, comprising input select programming stored in memory and responsive to operation of the function key.

8. The remote control of claim 7, wherein the select programming comprises input-select-table index management programming, and wherein the index management programming is responsive to operation of the function key.

9. The remote control of claim 6, wherein the function key is adapted to toggle between a “

locked”

status and an “

un-locked”

status, and wherein when the function key is in the un-locked status, operation of the function key will effectuate input source selection only if no function data is assigned to the function key, and when the function key is in the locked status, operation of the function key will effectuate input source selection without regard to whether function data is assigned to the function key.

10. The remote control of claim 6, comprising a plurality of input select tables stored memory, including the input select table, wherein at least one input select table corresponds to the tuner device, at least one input select table corresponds to the first device, at least one input select table corresponds to the second device, and at least one input select table corresponds to the third device.

11. The remote control of claim 6, comprising a plurality of input select tables stored in memory, including the input select table, wherein one input select table corresponds to the receiver mode, one input select table corresponds to the first device mode, one input select table corresponds to the second device mode, and one input select table corresponds to the third device mode.

12. The remote control of claim 6, wherein the input select table includes the first input device, and wherein the first device key is operably connected to select the first device key as the one of the input sources the receiver will receive, whereby activation of the first device mode configures the receiver to receive one of the plurality of input signals from the first input device.

13. A media system comprising:

a receiver device adapted to receive a plurality of input signals;

first and second input devices connected to supply respective input signals to the receiver; and

a remote control programmed to effectuate responses in the receiver device, and the first and second input devices, the remote control including

a receiver mode key, and first input, and second input mode keys,

mode programming responsive to the mode keys and programmed to activate corresponding modes,

select programming having an input-select table including the first and second input devices, the select programming programmed to effectuate configuration responses in the receiver device, including configuring the receiver device to receive a selected input signal from one of the first or second input devices, the remote control further including

a function key, wherein the select programming is responsive to the function key, and wherein operation of the function key effectuates the configuration responses in the receiver.

14. The media system of claim 13, wherein the select programming is responsive to the mode keys, and wherein operation of the first input mode key activates the corresponding mode and configures the receiver to receive the selected input signal from the first input device.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the remote control is non-digitally keyed.

16. A remote control comprising:

a receiver mode key, and first input, and second input mode keys;

mode programming responsive to the mode keys and programmed to activate corresponding modes;

signal generating circuitry;

a function key operably connected to the signal generating circuitry; and

select programming having an input-select table including a plurality of input sources, the input sources including first and second input devices, wherein

the signal generating circuitry generates a receiver configuration signal to configure a receiver to receive input from one of the plurality of input sources, and wherein the select programming is responsive to the function key.

17. The remote control of claim 16, wherein the select programming steps through the input-select table in response to the function key.

18. The remote control of claim 16, wherein select programming comprises a plurality of input-select tables, including the input-select table, wherein at least one input-select table corresponds to each mode.

19. The remote control of claim 18, wherein each input-select table includes a pointer respectively corresponding to each mode.

20. The remote control of claim 16, wherein the select programming is responsive to the mode keys, and wherein

a first input receiver configuration signal is generated in response to operation of the first input mode key.

21. The remote control of claim 16, wherein the select programming includes select-input-table index management programming.

22. The remote control of claim 21, wherein the select-input-table index management programming increments an index in response to operation of the function key.

23. The remote control of claim 16, comprising:

a key group operably connected to the signal generating circuitry, wherein keys of the key group correspond to respective functions supported by a first input device and not supported by a second input device; and

wherein

the mode programming will activate the first input mode when in the second input mode in response operation of one of the keys in the key group.