Integrated remote control unit for operating a television and a video game unit

• US 6,794,992 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rogers, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US09/750,137
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.25, 340/825.22, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/5.74, 348/14.05, 348/734, 367/133, 341/173, 341/174, 341/175, 341/176, 341/23, 341/22, 359/142, 359/145, 359/146, 273/148
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

A hand-held remote control unit for controlling the operation of a television and other electronic audio/video components, such as a VCR, DVD player, or home stereo, operates in a different mode for use as a video game controller. The location and position of the push buttons on the remote controller unit are arranged such that a subset of the buttons that are used for the television remote control are operable in a different mode as a video game controller. A user rotates the remote control unit from a vertically upright position to a horizontal position to use the remote control unit for operating a video gaming system. When used as a video game controller, the controller indicates which of the subset of buttons on the remote control are to be used for operating the video game.

Claims

1. A remote control unit for controlling a plurality of electronic audio/video applications, comprising:

(a) a keypad having a plurality of keys on a remote control housing arranged for receiving input to control a first electronic audio/video application when the remote control unit is accessed in a first position and a second electronic audio/video application when the remote control unit is accessed in a second position;

(b) a CPU for generating control signals to control electronic audio/video applications based upon input received from the keypad;

(c) a memory connected to the CPU for storing control signal data associated with input received by the CPU; and

(d) at least one transmitter for transmitting control signals from the CPU to an electronic device for controlling either the first or second electronic audio/video application according to the position by which the remote control unit is accessed;

wherein the remote control housing is ergonomically shaped and the keys on the keypad are arranged such that the remote control is handheld in one hand when operated in the first position and is handheld in two hands when operated in the second position.

2. The remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein the remote control is hand-held by a user in a vertically upright position when accessed in the first position and handheld by the user in a horizontal position when accessed in the second position.

3. The remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein the first position is orthogonal to the second position.

4. The remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein only a subset of the keys are activated for receiving input to control the second electronic audio/video application.

5. The remote control unit according to claim 4, wherein the keypad further includes at least one pushbutton for designating whether the remote control is controlling the first or second electronic audio/video application.

6. The remote control unit according to claim 4, wherein the keypad further includes a toggle switch for designating whether the remote control is controlling the first or second electronic audio/video application.

7. The remote control unit according to claim 2, wherein the keypad is a LCD touchscreen.

8. The remote control unit according to claim 3, wherein the keypad includes a plurality of keys and a face plate for indicating to a user the type of control signal associated with each key when the remote control unit is operated in either the first or second positions.

9. The remote control unit according to claim 8, wherein the face plate includes alphanumeric text or symbols above each activated key when used in the first position and above each activated key when used in the second position, such that alphanumeric text or symbols appear on the face plate along two orthogonal sides of at least one key.

10. The remote control unit according to claim 4, wherein the keypad includes a lighting assembly for illuminating keys on the keypad, and

wherein the lighting assembly only illuminates the subset of keys that are activated for receiving input to control the second electronic audio/video application when the remote control unit is accessed in the second position.

11. The remote control unit according to claim 4, further comprising at least one face plate that is removably attached to the keypad of the remote control unit to cover the keys that are not activated to control the operation of the second electronic audio/video application.

12. The remote control unit according to claim 11, wherein the second electronic audio/video application is an electronic video game, and the remote control unit comprises a second face plate for use when operating a different electronic video game for which different keys are not activated.

13. The remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein the first electronic audio/video application operates a television and the second electronic audio/video application operates a video game.

14. A remote control unit, comprising:

(a) a plurality of pushbuttons arranged on a housing of the remote control unit for operating the remote control unit in a first hand-held position to control a first electronic device;

(b) a subset of the plurality of pushbuttons for operating the remote control unit in a second hand-held position to control a second electronic device;

(c) a CPU for receiving input from the pushbuttons and generating control signals for controlling either the first or second electronic device; and

(d) a first and second transmitter for transmitting control signals to control the respective first and second electronic devices.

15. The remote control according to claim 14, wherein the first and second transmitters are light emitting diodes for transmission of infra-red light.

16. The remote control according to claim 14, wherein the first hand-held position is a vertically upright position and the second hand-held position is a horizontal position.

17. The remote control according to claim 16, wherein the first light emitting diode is located at a top edge of the housing of the remote control unit and the second light emitting diode is located at a side edge of the housing of the remote control unit.

18. The remote control unit according to claim 14, wherein the first application is an operation of a television, and the second application is an operation of a video game system.

19. A remote control unit for controlling the operation of a plurality of applications of at least one electronic audio/video device, comprising:

(a) input means for providing user input, wherein a user enters input by operating the remote control in a first hand-held position when controlling the operation of a first application and by operating the remote control in a second hand-held position when controlling the operation of a second application;

(b) removable face plate means for indicating functions operating the remote control for different applications;

(c) transmitting means for transmitting signals to the at least one electronic audio/video device to operate an application indicated by user input to the input means; and

(d) switching means for switching the operation of the remote control unit between the plurality of applications.

20. A method for controlling access to operation of video games, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a controller unit to users for operating video games on video game consoles, wherein the controller unit includes a keypad with a plurality of keys for controlling the operation of video games;

(b) designing face plates that are removably attachable to the controller keypad for operating different video games, wherein each face plate covers keys on the keypad that are unnecessary for controlling a particular video game, and the face plate provides an access code to the controller when attached to the keypad for accessing operation of the particular video game; and

(c) selling the face plates to users.