Infrared generator from audio signal source

• US 6,931,231 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: Griffin Technology Inc (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Griffin, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, CongVan
• Application Number:
  US10/195,049
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 455/151.2, 455/212, 455/221, 455/312, 455/39, 455/42, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/68, 455419-420
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

An apparatus and method for converting an audio signal output through a stereo headphone jack into an infrared remote control signal. The invention utilizes the audio output to generate positive and negative pulses for operating two infrared light emitting diodes placed in parallel with opposite polarities. This allows for multiple devices with audio output jacks to be utilized as remote control devices. This connection also allows for doubling of the audio output frequency to generate infrared signals at frequencies above the normal capabilities of the audio output.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting a multiple channel audio signal to an infrared signal, the multiple channel audio signal including both a first signal output and a second signal output, the apparatus comprising:

a first infrared generator connected to the first signal output and adapted to convert a positive signal on the first signal output into an infrared signal;

a second infrared generator connected to the second signal output and adapted to convert a positive signal on the second output into an infrared signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the first infrared generator comprising an infrared light emitting diode.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the second infrared generator comprising an infrared light emitting diode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the first and second infrared generators comprising infrared light emitting diodes.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the input jack comprising:

a male stereo headphone jack adapted to fit a female headphone output jack.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing encasing at least a portion of the infrared generators, the housing defining at least one opening adapted to allow the infrared signal to be transmitted from the infrared generators.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, the housing comprising:

a first case; and

a second case, the first and second case adapted to be engaged to encase at least a portion of the infrared generators, the housing defining at least one opening adapted to allow the infrared signal to be transmitted from the infrared generators.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, the housing further comprising:

a securing band adapted to secure the first and second case together.

9. An apparatus for converting an audio output to an infrared signal, the audio output including a first and second signal available through an output jack, the apparatus comprising:

a mating input jack adapted to couple with the output jack to receive the first signal and the second signal from the audio output;

a first infrared generator electrically connected to the mating input jack from the first signal to the second signal, the first infrared generator adapted to convert a positive signal differential between the first and second outputs into an infrared signal; and

a second infrared generator electrically connected to the mating input jack from the second signal to the first signal, the second infrared generator adapted to convert a negative signal differential between the first and second outputs into an infrared signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, the first infrared generator comprising an infrared light emitting diode.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, the second infrared generator comprising an infrared light emitting diode.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, the first and second infrared generators comprising an infrared light emitting diodes.

13. A method of generating an infrared control signal from an audio output signal including a first audio output signal and a second audio output signal, the method comprising:

converting a positive differential between the first and second audio output signals into a first infrared pulse;

converting a negative differential between the first and second audio output signals into a second infrared pulse; and

combining the first and second infrared pulses to generate the infrared control signal.

14. A method of generating an infrared control signal, the method comprising:

generating a first audio output signal;

generating a second audio output signal;

converting a positive differential between the first and second audio output signals into a first infrared pulse;

converting a negative differential between the first and second audio output signals into a second infrared pulse; and

combining the first and second infrared pulses to generate the infrared control signal.

15. The method of claim 14, generating a first audio output signal comprising:

determining a first electrical audio signal for the first audio output signal;

creating a first audio signal file with a first signal representation; and

processing the audio signal file to generate a first electrical audio signal from the first signal representation for the first audio output signal.

16. The method of claim 15, generating a second audio output signal comprising

determining a second electrical audio signal for the second audio output signal;

adding a second signal representation to the first audio signal file; and

processing the audio signal file to generate a second electrical audio signal from the second signal representation for the second audio output signal.

17. The method of claim 15, generating a first audio output signal further comprising:

storing the audio signal file.

18. The method of claim 14, generating a first audio output signal comprising:

reading an audio signal file; and

processing the audio signal file to generate an electrical audio signal for the first audio output signal.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein

generating the first audio output signal comprises generating a pulse at one-half of a desired infrared signal frequency as a first electrical audio signal waveform;

and

generating the second audio output signal comprises generating an inverted magnitude pulse at one-half of the desired infrared signal frequency as a second electrical audio signal waveform.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein combining the first and second infrared pulses comprises:

overlapping light paths of the first and second infrared pulses.