Integrated remote control unit for operating a television and a video game unit
First Claim
1. A remote control unit, comprising:
- (a) a keypad having a plurality of keys on a remote control housing arranged for receiving an input;
(b) a CPU for generating control signals to control multiple applications based upon the input received from the keypad;
(c) a memory connected to the CPU for storing control signal data associated with the input received by the CPU;
(d) at least one transmitter for transmitting control signals from the CPU; and
(e) multiple removable face plates, with each face plate corresponding to each application, wherein each face plate covers keys that are not activated for the corresponding application.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A remote control unit, comprising:
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(a) a keypad having a plurality of keys on a remote control housing arranged for receiving an input; (b) a CPU for generating control signals to control multiple applications based upon the input received from the keypad; (c) a memory connected to the CPU for storing control signal data associated with the input received by the CPU; (d) at least one transmitter for transmitting control signals from the CPU; and (e) multiple removable face plates, with each face plate corresponding to each application, wherein each face plate covers keys that are not activated for the corresponding application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A remote control unit, comprising:
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a plurality of pushbuttons arranged on a housing of the remote control unit for operating the remote control unit in a first position to control a first electronic device and for operating the remote control unit in a second position to control a second electronic device, the second position having a different orientation from the first position; a CPU for receiving input from the pushbuttons and generating control signals for controlling either the first or second electronic device; and at least one transmitter for transmitting control signals to control the respective first and second electronic devices. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A remote control unit, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of pushbuttons arranged on a housing of the remote control unit for operating the remote control unit in a first position to control a first electronic device; (b) a subset of the plurality of pushbuttons for operating the remote control unit in an orthogonal second 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; (d) a transmitter for transmitting the control signals to control the respective first and second applications; and (e) an illuminating display on the housing for illuminating pushbuttons on the remote control unit, wherein only the subset of pushbuttons for controlling the second electronic device are illuminated when the remote control unit is operated in the second position to control the second electronic device.
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19. A remote control unit for controlling the operation of a plurality of video game applications of a video game system, comprising:
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(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 video game application and by operating the remote control in a second hand-held position when controlling the operation of a second video game application; (b) multiple removable face plates, with at least one face plate corresponding to each video game application, each face plate exposing keys that are activated for the corresponding video game application; and (c) transmitting means for transmitting signals to the video game system to operate the video game application.
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20. A method for controlling access to operation of video games, comprising the steps of:
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(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 has at least one opening through which a key on the keypad protrudes to control a particular video game, and the face plate covers keys on the keypad that are unnecessary for controlling the particular video game; and (c) selling the face plates.
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Specification