Infrared signal communication system and method including transmission means having automatic gain control
First Claim
1. A device, comprising:
- a transmitter circuit that includes a transmitter driver;
an infrared transmitter that receives an amplified signal from the transmitter driver, wherein the amplified signal contains transmit data, wherein the infrared transmitter transmits a transmitted infrared signal that contains the transmit data, and wherein the transmitted infrared signal has a transmit power level;
an infrared receiver that receives an incident infrared signal, wherein the incident infrared signal contains receive data and exhibits an incident power level; and
a receiver circuit coupled to the infrared receiver, wherein the receiver circuit outputs both the receive data and a control signal, wherein the control signal has an amplitude that depends on the incident power level, and wherein the transmit power level varies in proportion to the amplitude of the control signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An Improved Infrared Signal Communication System and Method Including Transmission Means Having Automatic Gain Control is disclosed. Also disclosed is system and method that adjusts signal transmission power in response to incident signal power amplitude. The preferred system includes a control signal loop within the signal receiving system, and the system further includes a signal transmitting system that is responsive to the control signal loop. The preferred system includes manual, semi-automatic and automatic modes of operation. Still further, the preferred method includes at least two Ir-enabled appliances “stepping” each other “down” in transmit power in response to directives issued by the other Ir-enabled appliance.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A device, comprising:
-
a transmitter circuit that includes a transmitter driver; an infrared transmitter that receives an amplified signal from the transmitter driver, wherein the amplified signal contains transmit data, wherein the infrared transmitter transmits a transmitted infrared signal that contains the transmit data, and wherein the transmitted infrared signal has a transmit power level; an infrared receiver that receives an incident infrared signal, wherein the incident infrared signal contains receive data and exhibits an incident power level; and a receiver circuit coupled to the infrared receiver, wherein the receiver circuit outputs both the receive data and a control signal, wherein the control signal has an amplitude that depends on the incident power level, and wherein the transmit power level varies in proportion to the amplitude of the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method, comprising:
-
determining an incident power level of an incident infrared signal received by an infrared receiver; generating a control signal having an amplitude, wherein the amplitude of the control signal depends on the incident power level; and adjusting a transmit power level of a transmitted infrared signal transmitted by an infrared transmitter, wherein the transmit power level varies in proportion to the amplitude of the control signal when the incident power level is above a preset value. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A device, comprising:
-
an infrared receiver that receives an incident infrared signal, wherein the incident infrared signal exhibits an incident power level; a receiver circuit coupled to the infrared receiver, wherein the receiver circuit outputs a control signal, and wherein the control signal has an amplitude that depends on the incident power level; a transmitter circuit that includes a transmitter driver, wherein the transmitter circuit receives the control signal; and an infrared transmitter that receives an amplified signal from the transmitter driver, wherein the infrared transmitter transmits a transmitted infrared signal having a transmit power level, and wherein the transmitter driver controls the transmit power level based on the amplitude of the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A device, comprising:
-
an infrared receiver that receives an incident infrared signal, wherein the incident infrared signal exhibits an incident power level; an infrared transmitter that transmits a transmitted infrared signal having a transmit power level; and means for adjusting the transmit power level in proportion to the incident power level when the incident power level is above a preset value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification