Remote controller and remote control system

• US 7,932,811 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd. (Funai Electric Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd. (Funai Electric Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Takeshita, Masahiro, Murakami, Sadanori, Tanabe, Hideki, Masaki, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US11/805,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,434 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A remote controller that can infer the intention of a user and that can control a plurality of devices based on the inferred intention is provided. A remote controller includes memory, a control circuit, and a transmission portion. The memory stores in advance, in association with a situation sensed by a sensor, information of a first control signal. The control circuit generates, in association with the situation sensed by the sensor and the information stored in the memory, the first control signal. The transmission portion transmits the first control signal generated by the control circuit.

Claims

1. A remote controller controlling a plurality of devices each including a sensor and a transmitter connected to said sensor, comprising:

a transmission portion;

an input device configured to accept an instruction to the remote controller;

memory configured to store, pieces of information of control signals respectively controlling said devices, wherein pieces of information are stored in association with combinations of situations respectively sensed by said sensors;

a display device configured to display information of an apparatus controlled by the remote controller;

a reception portion configured, to receive signals respectively representing a human'"'"'s movement, wherein each of the signals is sent by each said transmitter;

a determination circuit configured to determine whether or not a combination of each of the signals received by the reception portion matches a combination of the pieces of information stored in the memory; and

a generator configured to generate a control signal for controlling an apparatus, wherein said generator is configured to;

generate, in response to the instruction to the input device, a control signal for controlling an apparatus predetermined as an apparatus to be controlled by the remote controller; and

generate, in association with the combinations of said situations represented by a plurality of signals received in serial order by said reception portion with a reception interval being at most a predetermined threshold value, and with said pieces of information stored in said memory, control signals respectively controlling said plurality of devices when the combination of each of the signals and the combination of the pieces of information match; and

wherein the transmission portion is configured to transmit said generated control signals as infrared signals.

8. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the control signal includes at least any one of a control signal for switching an ON/OFF of an air conditioner, an ON/OFF of a television, an ON/OFF of an HDD recorder, or an ON/OFF of a light.

2. A remote controller controlling a plurality of devices, each including a sensor and a transmitter connected to the sensor, comprising:

a transmission portion;

an input device configured to accept an instruction to the remote controller;

a storage portion configured to store information of a control signal controlling said device, wherein the information is stored in association with situations sensed by said sensor;

a reception portion configured to receive signals respectively representing a human'"'"'s movement, wherein each of the signals is sent by each said transmitter;

a determination portion configured to determine whether or not a combination of each of the signals received by the reception portion matches a combination of pieces of information stored in the storage unit; and

a generator configured to generate a control signal for controlling an apparatus, wherein said generator is configured to;

generate, in response to the instruction to the input device, a control signal for controlling an apparatus predetermined as an apparatus to be controlled by the remote controller; and

generate, in association with a combination of said situations situation represented by a plurality of signals received in serial order by said reception portion with a reception interval being at most a predetermined threshold value, and with said information stored in said storage portion, a control signal controlling said plurality of devices when the combination of each of the signals and the combination of the pieces of information match; and

wherein the transmission portion is configured to transmit said generated control signal.

3. The remote controller according to claim 2, further comprising a sensor,

wherein said generator generates said control signal in association with said situations sensed by said sensor and with said information stored in said storage portion.

9. The remote controller according to claim 2, further comprising a display device configured to display information of an apparatus controlled by the remote controller.

10. The remote controller according to claim 2, wherein the control signal includes at least any one of a control signal for switching an ON/OFF of an air conditioner, an ON/OFF of a television, an ON/OFF of an HDD recorder, or an ON/OFF of a light.

4. A remote control system controlling a device, comprising a remote controller and an adapter, said device including a sensor and a transmitter connected to the sensor,

wherein said remote controller includes:

a transmission portion;

an input device configured to accept an instruction to the remote controller;

a storage portion configured to store information of a control signal controlling said device, wherein the information is stored in association with situations sensed by said sensor;

a reception portion configured to receive signals respectively representing a human'"'"'s movement, wherein each of the signals is sent by each said transmitter;

a determination portion configured to determine whether or not a combination of each of the signals received by the reception portion matches a combination of pieces of information stored in the storage unit; and

a generator configured to generate a control signal for controlling an apparatus,

wherein said generator is configured to;

generate, in response to the instruction to the input device, a control signal for controlling an apparatus predetermined as an apparatus to be controlled by the remote controller; and

generate a control signal controlling said plurality of devices when the combination of each of the signals and the combination of the pieces of information match, wherein the control signal is generated in association with a combination of said situations represented by a plurality of signals received in serial order by said reception portion with a reception interval being at most a predetermined threshold value, and with said information stored in said storage portion;

wherein the transmission portion is configured to transmit said control signal generated by the generation portion, and

wherein said adapter includes;

a storage portion configured to store in advance information of an operation signal in association with said control signal transmitted from said remote controller;

a reception portion configured to receive said control signal transmitted from said remote controller;

a generator configured to generate said operation signal, in association with said control signal received by said reception portion and with the information stored in said storage portion; and

a transmission portion configured to generate said generated operation signal.

5. The remote control system according to claim 4,

wherein said remote controller further includes a sensor, and

wherein said generator of said remote controller generates said control signal in association with said situations sensed by said sensor and with said information stored in said storage portion.

6. The remote control system according to claim 4, further comprising a display device configured to display information of an apparatus controlled by the remote controller.

7. The remote control system according to claim 4, wherein the control signal includes at least any one of a control signal for switching an ON/OFF of an air conditioner, an ON/OFF of a television, an ON/OFF of an HDD recorder, or an ON/OFF of a light.