Versatile remote control device and system
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an electronic device to process at least one of digital or analog signals, the electronic device being a predetermined one of;
a content serving, displaying, transmitting or repeating device, a media device, a cable television box, a fiber optic box, recording equipment, a digital video recorder, an Internet video box, a gaming device, a gaming console, a personal electronic device, a computing device, a network device, a router, a home automation device, a television set, a stereo system, an audio amplifier, a video cassette recorder, a compact disc player, a digital video disk player, an Internet video box, a satellite signal receiving system, a fire monitoring system, a security monitoring system, a home automation system, or an office automation system; and
a remote control receiving and transmitting device being at least partially enclosed within the electronic device and having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a base plane, the remote control receiving and transmitting device comprising;
a receiver disposed to receive at least one of a radio frequency control signal or a power line control signal, and to demodulate the received control signal to provide a demodulated control signal;
a processor functionally coupled to the receiver to receive the demodulated control signal and to generate a corresponding drive signal;
a plurality of infrared light sources functionally coupled to the processor and responsive to the drive signal to generate a plurality of modulated infrared light emissions to control at least one infrared receiving device, each of the plurality of infrared light sources having an optical axis, a first group of the plurality of infrared light sources being disposed on the apparatus such that the optical axis of each of the plurality of infrared light sources in the first group is at a different angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the modulated infrared light emissions controlling the at least one infrared receiving device; and
a power supply to provide operating power for at least one of electronic device, the receiver, the processor, or the plurality of infrared light sources;
wherein the total infrared power emitted by the plurality of infrared light sources whose optical axis is at an angle of greater than a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis is greater than the total infrared power emitted by the plurality of infrared light sources whose optical axis is at an angle of less than the predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the total infrared power emitted by the plurality of infrared light sources whose optical axis is at an angle of less than the predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis being greater than zero.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radio-frequency (RF) remote control (10) has a user interface and transmits an RF signal (11) which designates a device (14) to be controlled and a command for that device. The RF signal is received by an intermediary device (12). The intermediary device, in turn, generates and broadcasts a plurality of high-power IR signals (13A-13F). These signals may be received directly by a controlled device (14A) or may be received indirectly by a controlled device (14B, 14C) after one or more reflections from objects (16A, 16B) and/or room surfaces (18). Thus, reliable control of the devices (14) is obtained even in situations where merely transmitting a typical IR signal may not provide reliable control of the device (14).
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an electronic device to process at least one of digital or analog signals, the electronic device being a predetermined one of;
a content serving, displaying, transmitting or repeating device, a media device, a cable television box, a fiber optic box, recording equipment, a digital video recorder, an Internet video box, a gaming device, a gaming console, a personal electronic device, a computing device, a network device, a router, a home automation device, a television set, a stereo system, an audio amplifier, a video cassette recorder, a compact disc player, a digital video disk player, an Internet video box, a satellite signal receiving system, a fire monitoring system, a security monitoring system, a home automation system, or an office automation system; anda remote control receiving and transmitting device being at least partially enclosed within the electronic device and having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a base plane, the remote control receiving and transmitting device comprising; a receiver disposed to receive at least one of a radio frequency control signal or a power line control signal, and to demodulate the received control signal to provide a demodulated control signal; a processor functionally coupled to the receiver to receive the demodulated control signal and to generate a corresponding drive signal; a plurality of infrared light sources functionally coupled to the processor and responsive to the drive signal to generate a plurality of modulated infrared light emissions to control at least one infrared receiving device, each of the plurality of infrared light sources having an optical axis, a first group of the plurality of infrared light sources being disposed on the apparatus such that the optical axis of each of the plurality of infrared light sources in the first group is at a different angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the modulated infrared light emissions controlling the at least one infrared receiving device; and a power supply to provide operating power for at least one of electronic device, the receiver, the processor, or the plurality of infrared light sources; wherein the total infrared power emitted by the plurality of infrared light sources whose optical axis is at an angle of greater than a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis is greater than the total infrared power emitted by the plurality of infrared light sources whose optical axis is at an angle of less than the predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the total infrared power emitted by the plurality of infrared light sources whose optical axis is at an angle of less than the predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis being greater than zero. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus, comprising:
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an article of manufacture, the article of manufacture being a predetermined one of;
a light fixture, a lamp, an appliance, an item of furniture, or a wall clock; anda remote control receiving and transmitting device being at least partially enclosed within the article of manufacture and having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a base plane, the remote control receiving and transmitting device comprising; a receiver disposed to receive at least one of a radio frequency control signal or a power line control signal, and to demodulate the received control signal to provide a demodulated control signal; a processor functionally coupled to the receiver to receive the demodulated control signal and to generate a corresponding drive signal; a plurality of infrared light sources functionally coupled to the processor and responsive to the drive signal to generate a plurality of modulated infrared light emissions to control at least one infrared receiving device, each of the plurality of infrared light sources having an optical axis, a first group of the plurality of infrared light sources being disposed on the apparatus such that the optical axis of each of the plurality of infrared light sources in the first group is at a different angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the modulated infrared light emissions controlling the at least one infrared receiving device; and a power supply to provide operating power to at least one of the receiver, the processor, or the plurality of infrared light sources; wherein the total infrared power emitted by the plurality of infrared light sources whose optical axis is at an angle of greater than a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis is greater than the total infrared power emitted by the plurality of infrared light sources whose optical axis is at an angle of less than the predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the total infrared power emitted by the plurality of infrared light sources whose optical axis is at an angle of less than the predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis being greater than zero. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification