Infrared hand-held remote control
First Claim
1. An ergonomic control device for the setting of a given first respective variable physical property of a first structure between a maximum setting and a minimum setting, and at least a second respective variable physical property of a second structure between a maximum setting and a minimum setting;
- each of said first and second structures having a respective control input connected thereto for adjusting said first and second variable properties to any of a plurality of settings between said maximum and minimum settings;
said control device having first, second, third and fourth separate manually operable control elements which are operatively connected to said respective control inputs;
said first and second control elements being operable to set said first and second variable properties of said first and second structures, respectively, at said maximum setting and said minimum setting respectively;
said third and fourth control elements being vernier controls and being respectively operable to adjust said first and second variable properties from said maximum setting and toward said minimum setting, and to any of said plurality of settings and from said minimum setting and toward said maximum setting and to any of said plurality of settings; and
wherein at least one of said first, second, third or fourth control element of said control device is operable to select said first and second structures for setting said first property or said second property.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An infrared hand-held remote control for handling a single or plural devices such as lights, shades, drapes and the like contains ergonomically selected and placed control buttons that are self-describing and easy to use. It allows explicit, easy-to-use control of different functions by providing for each function to be controlled vertically disposed discrete buttons that provide “all or nothing” control of some physical feature and similar, vertically disposed and horizontally aligned “adjust” buttons that allow for fine and continuous control of the physical quantities between the extremes or limits of the discrete button functions. Successive groups of buttons provide for the control of different appliances or devices, where each group of buttons is identified by easy to comprehend icon or alphabetic representations.
45 Citations
42 Claims
-
1. An ergonomic control device for the setting of a given first respective variable physical property of a first structure between a maximum setting and a minimum setting, and at least a second respective variable physical property of a second structure between a maximum setting and a minimum setting;
- each of said first and second structures having a respective control input connected thereto for adjusting said first and second variable properties to any of a plurality of settings between said maximum and minimum settings;
said control device having first, second, third and fourth separate manually operable control elements which are operatively connected to said respective control inputs;
said first and second control elements being operable to set said first and second variable properties of said first and second structures, respectively, at said maximum setting and said minimum setting respectively;
said third and fourth control elements being vernier controls and being respectively operable to adjust said first and second variable properties from said maximum setting and toward said minimum setting, and to any of said plurality of settings and from said minimum setting and toward said maximum setting and to any of said plurality of settings; and
wherein at least one of said first, second, third or fourth control element of said control device is operable to select said first and second structures for setting said first property or said second property. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- each of said first and second structures having a respective control input connected thereto for adjusting said first and second variable properties to any of a plurality of settings between said maximum and minimum settings;
-
15. The process of adjusting a single respective given physical property of at least two respective apparatuses in which at least one respective physical property of said at least two apparatuses is adjustable between minimum and maximum values;
- said process comprising the steps of activating only one of a first and a second control element to set said respective physical property at its minimum or maximum value respectively; and
thereafter selectively activating only one of a third and fourth control element to readjust said physical property in a vernier manner from said minimum value, or from said maximum value, respectively, and toward an intermediate setting between said minimum and maximum values. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
- said process comprising the steps of activating only one of a first and a second control element to set said respective physical property at its minimum or maximum value respectively; and
-
18. The process of adjusting at least two respective electrical loads from a portable hand held remote control device which has at least first, second, third and fourth manually operable control elements on surface thereof for producing control signals for operating said respective electrical loads in accordance with respective first, second, third and fourth values, which are maximum energization, minimum energization, a continually decreasing energization to a selected respective value, and a continuously increasing energization to a selected value;
- said process comprising the sequence of first manually operating either said first and then said third control elements, and thereafter operating either of said second and fourth control elements until a desired selected value on at least one of said electrical loads is achieved.
- View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
-
22. An ergonomic hand-held control device for controlling the setting of at least two respective electrically controlled appliances, each having a physical property adjustable between a maximum setting and a minimum setting and at intermediate positions therebetween, the control device comprising a first pair, including first and second buttons that are vertically aligned on a face plate of the control device and a second pair comprising respective first and second buttons that are vertically aligned relative to one another, and horizontally aligned with the first pair of buttons, and an electronic circuit in the control device that is associated with the first and second pair of buttons and so operable as to cause the variable property to assume its maximum setting when the first button of the first pair is actuated, to assume the minimum setting when the second button of the first pair is actuated, continuously increase its setting value when the first button of the second pair is activated and continuously decrease its setting when the second button of the second pair is actuated;
- and the control device further having third and fourth pairs of buttons, each comprising, respectively, first and second buttons for controlling another appliance.
- View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
Specification