Remote controller capable of selectively controlling a plurality of electric appliances, remote control system and method thereof

• US 8,232,861 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2005
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Watonga Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Watonga Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Tsou, Hsien-Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US10/908,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20060103545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,624 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.25, 340/5.64, 340/5.72, 340/825.19, 340/825.72, 340/5.23, 340/5.21, 710/5, 710/15, 710/72, 348/734, 307/11, 307/38, 307/40
• US Class Current: 340/5.25
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission

Abstract

A remote controller for controlling a selected electric appliance includes a code input interface for inputting an control identification code of the selected electric appliance, a instruction input interface for inputting a function instruction for controlling the operation of the electric appliance, a wireless transmission module for outputting wireless signals, and a control module for controlling the wireless transmission module to output a corresponding control identification code signal after the code input interface receives the control identification code of the electric appliance, and the control module also for controlling the wireless transmission module to output a corresponding function instruction signal after the instruction input interface receives the function instruction.

Claims

1. A remote controller for controlling a selected electric appliance, the remote controller comprising:

a code input interface for a user to input a control identification code of the selected electric appliance;

an instruction input interface for inputting a function instruction for controlling the operation of the electric appliance if the control identification code matches an appliance identification code corresponding to the electric appliance, the appliance identification code being assignable by the user;

a wireless transmission module for outputting wireless signals; and

a control module for controlling the wireless transmission module to output a corresponding control identification code signal after the code input interface receives the control identification code of the electric appliance, and the control module also for controlling the wireless transmission module to output a corresponding function instruction signal, independent of the control identification code signal, after the instruction input interface receives the function instruction, wherein the control module is configured to control the wireless transmission module to output the corresponding control identification code signal to the electrical appliance to set the electric appliance corresponding to the control identification code as a lock status, and the control module is also capable of controlling the wireless transmission module to output the corresponding function instruction signal to the electric appliance to control the locked electric appliance to execute the function instruction;

wherein the control module is configured to control the wireless transmission module to output the corresponding control identification code signal to the electrical appliance to set the electric appliance corresponding to the control identification code as a lock status, and the control module is also capable of controlling the wireless transmission module to output the corresponding function instruction signal to the electric appliance to control the locked electric appliance to execute the function instruction;

wherein the code input interface is configured to receive another input of the control identification code of the electric appliance, and wherein the control module is configured to control the wireless transmission module to output the corresponding control identification code signal to the electric appliance to release the lock status of the electric appliance corresponding to the control identification code.

2. A remote controller for controlling a first selected electric appliance and a second selected electric appliance, the remote controller comprising:

a code input interface for a user to input a first control identification code of the first selected electric appliance and a second control identification code of the second selected electric appliance;

an instruction input interface for inputting a function instruction for controlling the operation of the first and second electric appliances if the first and second control identification codes match a first appliance identification code and a second appliance identification code, respectively, wherein the first and second appliance identification codes are assignable by the user;

a wireless transmission module for outputting wireless signals; and

a control module for controlling the wireless transmission module to output corresponding first and second control identification code signals after the code input interface receives the first and second control identification codes, and the control module also for controlling the wireless transmission module to output a corresponding function instruction signal, independent of the control identification code signals, after the instruction input interface receives the function instruction, wherein the control module is configured to control the wireless transmission module to output the corresponding first and second control identification code signals to the first and second electrical appliances, respectively, to set the first and second electric appliances corresponding to the first and second control identification codes in a lock status, and wherein the control module is also capable of controlling the wireless transmission module to output the corresponding function instruction signal to the first and second electric appliances to control the locked electric appliances to execute the function instruction;

wherein the control module is configured to control the wireless transmission module to output the corresponding first and second control identification code signals to the first and second electrical appliances, respectively, to set the first and second electric appliances corresponding to the first and second control identification codes in a lock status, and wherein the control module is also capable of controlling the wireless transmission module to output the corresponding function instruction signal to the first and second electric appliances to control the locked electric appliances to execute the function instruction;

wherein the code input interface is configured to receive another input of the first control identification code of the first electric appliance, and wherein the control module is configured to control the wireless transmission module to output the corresponding first control identification code signal to the first electric appliances to release the lock status of the first electric appliance while maintaining the lock status of the second electric appliance.

3. A remote controller for controlling a first selected electric appliance and a second selected electric appliance, the remote controller comprising:

a code input interface for a user to input a first control identification code of the first selected electric appliance and a second control identification code of the second selected electric appliance;

an instruction input interface for inputting a function instruction for controlling the operation of the first and second electric appliances if the first and second control identification codes match a first appliance identification code and a second appliance identification code, respectively, wherein the first and second appliance identification codes are assignable by the user;

a wireless transmission module for outputting wireless signals; and

a control module for controlling the wireless transmission module to output corresponding first and second control identification code signals after the code input interface receives the first and second control identification codes, and the control module also for controlling the wireless transmission module to output a corresponding function instruction signal, independent of the control identification code signals, after the instruction input interface receives the function instruction, wherein the control module is configured to control the wireless transmission module to output the corresponding first and second control identification code signals to the first and second electrical appliances, respectively, to set the first and second electric appliances corresponding to the first and second control identification codes in a lock status, and wherein the control module is also capable of controlling the wireless transmission module to output the corresponding function instruction signal to the first and second electric appliances to control the locked electric appliances to execute the function instruction;

wherein the code input interface is configured to receive another input of the first control identification code of the first electric appliance and the second control identification code of the second electric appliance, and wherein the control module is configured to control the wireless transmission module to output the corresponding first and second control identification code signals to the first and second electric appliances, respectively, to release the lock status of the electric appliances corresponding to the control identification codes.