Method and apparatus for remote control transmission

• US 7,049,995 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2001
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Forler, Joseph Wayne, Testin, William John, Nierzwick, Mark Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US10/296,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20030227944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 341/50, 341/53, 341/71, 341/177, 341/173, 375/259, 375/238, 375/369, 375/239, 375/269, 370/503, 370/522, 398/106
• US Class Current: 341/177
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A remote control is operative to transmit a remote control signal composed of a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions are typically a pulse and a space. The pulse has a pulse width of a given duration within a pulse width range, while the space has a space width of a given duration within a space width range. An interrupt signal provided to indicate the end of transmission of the remote control signal is disabled when a space portion requires a space width greater than the space width range. The interrupt signal signaling the end of the remote control transmission is then disabled for a predetermined period of time essentially equivalent to a length of time that the additional space exceeds the space width. During the predetermined period of time, the remote control thus transmits a space. The interrupt signal is then re-enabled after expiration of the predetermined period of time in order to allow for another remote control transmission.

Claims

1. A remote control for generating a first transmission comprising first and second portions having respective first and second durations, the remote control comprising:

a first circuit operative to generate the first transmission if said first and second durations are not respectively greater than first and second time ranges, and generate a second transmissions having the first portion having the first duration and the second portion having a duration of the second time range if the second duration is greater than the second time range, wherein the first circuit generates a signal indicative of an end of transmission of either of said first and second transmissions; and

timer circuitry in communication with said first circuit and operative to render said end of transmission indicative signal inactive when the first circuit has generated the second transmission, and to generate a replacement signal for said end of transmission indicative signal.

2. The remote control of claim 1, wherein said first portion comprises a pulse and said second portion comprises a space.

3. The remote control of claim 1, wherein said first circuit and said timer circuitry are incorporated into an integrated circuit.

4. The remote control of claim 3, wherein said integrated circuit is an application specific integrated circuit.

5. The remote control of claim 1, wherein said first circuit is operative to generate a transmission utilizing infrared radiation.

6. The remote control of claim 1, wherein said first time range is ten microseconds to ten milliseconds and said second time range is ten microseconds to ten milliseconds.

7. The remote control of claim 1, wherein said end of transmission indicative signal comprises an interrupt.

8. The remote control of claim 1, wherein said first circuit comprises a transmitter cell and said timer circuitry comprises an output compare timer cell.

20. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the replacement signal lasts for an interval equal to a difference between the second duration and the second time range.

9. A method of generating a first remote control transmission comprising first and second portions having respective first and second durations wherein the first duration is no greater than a first time range but the second duration is greater than a second time range, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a second remote control transmission comprising the first portion having the first duration and the second portion having a duration of the second time range;

generating a signal indicative of an end of transmission of the second transmission;

inactivating the end of transmission indicative signal when the second transmission has been generated; and

generating a replacement signal for the end of transmission indicative signal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first portion comprises a pulse and the second portion comprises a space.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of inactivating the end of transmission indicative signal includes:

inactivating the of end of transmission indicative signal via software.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of inactivating the end of transmission indicative signal includes:

inactivating the end of transmission indicative signal via hardware.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said first time range is ten microseconds to ten milliseconds and said second time range is ten microseconds to ten milliseconds.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of generating the second remote control transmission includes generating a remote control transmission of infrared radiation.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the steps of generating the second remote control transmission and generating the end of the transmission indicative signal are performed by a transmitter cell, and the steps of inactivating the end of the transmission indicative signal and generating a replacement signal are performed by an output compare timer cell.

16. In a remote control having an integrated circuit operative to generate a first remote control transmission comprising a first pulse and a first space, the first pulse having a pulse width no greater than a pulse width range, and the first space having a space width no greater than a space width range, the integrated circuit further operative to generate a signal indicative of an end of transmission, a method of generating a second remote control transmission comprising second pulse and space having respective second pulse and space widths wherein the second space width is greater than the space width range, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a signal to the integrated circuit when the integrated circuit has generated a third remote control transmission having the second pulse having the second pulse width and a third space having a space width equal to the space width range, the signal operative to temporarily disable generation of another remote control transmission;

providing a timing interval equal to an amount of time equivalent to a difference between the second space width and the third space width, a signal present at an output of the integrated circuit during the timing interval equivalent to a space; and

enabling generation of another remote control transmission after expiration of the timing interval.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the enabling step further comprising the step of generating an interrupt signal via software.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the interrupt signal via hardware.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of providing a timing interval comprises providing a timing interval via an output compare timer cell.