Remote control with LED capabilities

• US 6,933,833 B1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Darbee, Paul V.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US10/223,431
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45, 340/815.65, 340/815.66, 340/815.63, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/815.69, 341/173, 341/176, 341/175
• US Class Current: 341/175
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/189 with a tactile symbol or indication, e.g. for blind people
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/056 Modular conception
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/24 Remote control device with display showing program content
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A universal remote control comprising a keyboard having a plurality of pushbuttons including a macro pushbutton and a library of codes and data for use in transmitting operating commands to a plurality of different home appliances of different manufacturers. Instructions within the remote control are used to match the universal remote control to a plurality of different home appliances of different manufacturers such that selected codes and data from the library are used to transmit operating commands to the matched home appliances in response to activation of selected pushbuttons of the keyboard. The instructions are also used to assign to the macro pushbutton a subset of the selected codes and data from the library whereafter activation of the macro pushbutton causes the universal remote control to use the subset of selected codes and data from the library to transmit operating commands to one or more of the matched home appliances.

Claims

1. A method of communicating information to a user of a remote control device, comprising:

testing a condition of the remote control in response to a request to write data into a memory of the remote control to determine if the memory of the remote control is able to accept the data, the data being used by the remote control to transmit one or more signals to command operations of one or more appliances; and

providing a visual indication to the user that the testing has determined that the condition is such that the memory of the remote control is unable to accept the data.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein testing the condition comprises testing to determine if a level of battery power is sufficient to enable writing the data into the memory of the remote control.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual indication comprises illuminating an LED.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein illuminating the LED comprises flashing the LED.

5. For use in a remote control, a readable medium having programming for communicating information to a user of the remote control device, the programing performing steps comprising:

testing a condition of the remote control in response to a request to write data into a memory of the remote control to determine if the memory of the remote control is able to accept the data, the data being used by the remote control to transmit one or more signals to command operations of one or more appliances; and

providing a visual indication to the user that the testing has determined that the condition is such that the memory of the remote control is unable to accept the data.

6. The readable medium as recited in claim 5, wherein testing the condition comprises testing to determine if a level of battery power is sufficient to enable writing the data into the memory of the remote control.

7. The readable medium as recited in claim 5, wherein the visual indication comprises illuminating an LED.

8. The readable medium as recited in claim 7, wherein illuminating the LED comprises flashing the LED.