Wireless remote control system for controlling an appliance

• US 6,636,157 B1
• Filed: 12/27/1996
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Application Number:
  US08/773,173
• Time in Patent Office: 2,489 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.22, 340/825.24, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.71, 340/825.73, 340/825.57, 348/734, 364/146, 359/142, 359/145, 359/146, 341/176, 455/352, 455/151.1, 455/151.2, 455/151.4, 345/169, 345/507
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units

Abstract

A remote control system included a remote commander and a control apparatus. The remote commander includes a first transmitting unit for transmitting a first command signal modulated based on a first carrier frequency by a first radio transmission medium in response to an input operation. The control apparatus includes a receiving unit for receiving a radio transmission signal transmitted from the remote commander by a first radio transmission unit, and a second transmitting unit for transmitting a second command signal modulated based upon a second carrier frequency by a second radio transmission medium. This second command signal is to control an operation of an electronic appliance designated by the remote commander among a plurality of electronic appliances based upon an output signal derived from the receiving unit. A plurality of electronic appliances have such a receiving unit for receiving the second command signal outputted from the second transmitting unit of the control apparatus, and operations of these electronic appliances are controlled in response to the output signal issued from this receiving unit.

Claims

1. A remote control system comprising:

a remote commander for wirelessly transmitting a first command signal in accordance with a user operation, the first command signal having a first carrier frequency;

control means including a receiving unit for receiving said first command signal as transmitted directly from said remote commander; and

a transmitting unit, connected to said control means, for wirelessly transmitting a second command signal having a second carrier frequency, different than said first carrier frequency, directly to a selected appliance, said second command signal controlling operation of said selected appliance in response to said user operation;

wherein said first and second command signals do not interfere with each other even though wirelessly transmitted through an operational range of common space in the vicinity of said selected appliance,

a selecting apparatus having a receiving unit for receiving the second command signal,

said selecting apparatus being connected among a plurality of appliances, each of which output at least one of an audio or video signal, and a speaker and a video monitor,

said selecting apparatus selectively supplying a signal or signals from one of said plurality of appliances to said speaker or video monitor in response to said second command signal.

2. A remote control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second command signals are both wirelessly transmitted using radio waves.

3. A remote control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selecting apparatus and said selected appliance are both controlled by said second command signal in response to a single user operation.