Remote control with safety features

• US 6,680,673 B1
• Filed: 03/19/1999
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acumen Associates Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acumen Associates Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wong, Philip Lim-Kong
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG Q
• Application Number:
  US09/272,309
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 307/115, 379/88.12, 200/400, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/825.56, 318/266, 126/512, 236/94, 312/333, 744/70, 361/170, 361/172, 348/734, 348/569
• US Class Current: 340/12.27
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link

Abstract

A remote control for an operating system such as a fireplace, includes a remote transmitter and a receiver. The remote transmitter communicates signals to the receiver to control the operating system. The remote transmitter includes a child safety switch which, when activated, prevents activation of the receiver by the remote transmitter.

Claims

1. A remote control for an operating system, comprising:

a remote transmitter including an actuating device;

a receiver, said remote transmitter being controlled by said actuating device in order to communicate signals to said receiver to control the operating system; and

wherein said remote transmitter further includes a child safety toggle switch which is activated by movement from a first fixed position to a second fixed position and which, when activated, deactivates said actuating device, further comprising a child safety switch override system, wherein said child safety switch is deactivated for a predetermined time period upon activation of the override system, wherein said override system comprises a defined key sequence of the remote transmitter.

2. The remote control according to claim 1, wherein said remote transmitter includes a housing, and further wherein said child safety switch is enclosed within said housing such that it is not visible from outside said housing.

3. The remote control according to claim 1, wherein said operating system is a fireplace operating system.

4. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said remote transmitter is wirelessly coupled with the receiver.

5. The remote control according to claim 4, wherein said wireless coupling is carried out by one of radio frequency, ultrasonic, and infrared communications.

6. A remote control for an operating system, comprising:

a remote transmitter including an actuating device;

a receiver, said remote transmitter being controlled by said actuating device in order to communicate signals to said receiver to control the operating system; and

wherein said remote transmitter further includes a child safety toggle switch which is activated by movement from a first fixed position to a second fixed position and which, when activated, deactivates said actuating device, further comprising a child safety switch override system and, wherein said operating system is a fireplace operating system, further comprising an over temperature control circuit in said receiver, said over temperature control circuit operating to turn off the fireplace operating system when a temperature detected at the receiver is above a maximum temperature.

7. The remote control according to claim 6, wherein the over temperature control circuit operates to turn on the fireplace when the detected temperature falls below a restart temperature.