Remote control system for electric devices, signal conversion device, and control method for signal conversion devices

• US 9,401,083 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2014
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KYE Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: KYE Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Liao, Jui-Tsung
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akki, Munear
• Application Number:
  US14/274,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20150199898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 340/4.11, 340/12.22, 340/815.6, 398/106, 398/114, 384/14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/10 Power supply of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

The invention discloses a remote control system for electric devices, a signal conversion device, and a control method for signal conversion devices. The signal conversion device may control an electric device according to a remote control signal including an identification code and a control command. The signal conversion device may include a wireless receiving module, a control module, and a wireless transmission module. The wireless receiving module may receive the remote control signal. The control module may determine whether the identification code matches a default identification code stored in the signal conversion device, to decide whether to convert the control command to a control signal. The wireless transmission module may transmit the control signal to the electric device such that the electric device operates according to the control signal.

Claims

1. A remote control system, comprising:

a remote electric device, configured to send out a remote control signal carrying an identification code and a control command; and

at least one signal conversion device, comprising;

a wireless receiving module, configured to receive the remote control signal;

a control module, electrically connecting to the wireless receiving module and configured to determine whether the identification code matches a default identification code stored in the at least one signal conversion device, to decide whether to convert the control command into a control signal; and

a wireless transmission module, electrically connecting to the control module and configured to send the control signal to an electric device, whereby the electric device operates according to the control signal,

wherein the at least one signal conversion device is removable and disposed on the electric device, and a through-hole on the casing of the at least one signal conversion device is aligned with an infrared ray receiver in the electric device such that the infrared ray receiver is exposed in the through-hole.

2. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is an infrared ray signal.

3. The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein a light-transmissive film is located on at least one surface of the casing of the at least one signal conversion device, and a location of the light-transmissive film corresponds to a location of the through-hole.

4. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control system further comprises a relay device configured to receive the remote control signal from the remote electric device and broadcast the remote control signal to the at least one signal conversion device in the remote control system by a wireless communication protocol.

5. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one signal conversion device further comprises:

a storage module, electrically connecting to the control module, and configured to store the default identification code and a lookup table which records a relationship between the control command and the control signal; and

a power storage module, electrically connecting to the control module and configured to power the wireless receiving module, the control module, the wireless transmission module, and the storage module.

6. A signal conversion device for controlling an electric device according to a remote control signal which comprises an identification code and a control command, comprising:

a wireless receiving module, configured to receive the remote control signal;

a control module, electrically connecting to the wireless receiving module and configured to determine whether the identification code matches a default identification code stored in the signal conversion device, to decide whether to convert the control command to a control signal; and

a wireless transmission module, electrically connecting to the control module and configured to send the control signal to the electric device, whereby the electric device operates according to the control signal,

wherein the signal conversion device is removable and disposed on the electric device, and a through-hole on the casing of the signal conversion device is aligned with an infrared ray receiver in the electric device such that the infrared ray receiver is exposed in the through-hole.

7. The signal conversion device according to claim 6, wherein the control signal is an infrared ray signal.

8. The signal conversion device according to claim 7, wherein a light-transmissive film is located on at least one surface of the casing of the signal conversion device, and a location of the light-transmissive film corresponds to a location of the through-hole.

9. The signal conversion device according to claim 7, wherein the signal conversion device further comprises:

a storage module, electrically connecting to the control module and configured to store the default identification code and a lookup table that records a relationship between the control command and the control signal; and

a power storage module, electrically connecting to the control module and configured to power the wireless receiving module, the control module, the wireless transmission module, and the storage module.

10. A control method for controlling an electric device via at least one signal conversion device removably disposed on the electric device, a through-hole on the casing of the at least one signal conversion device being aligned with an infrared receiver in the electric device such that the infrared ray receiver is exposed in the through-hole, comprising:

receiving a remote control signal carrying an identification code and a control command;

determining whether the identification code matches a default identification code stored in the at least one signal conversion device, to decide whether to convert the control command to a control signal; and

sending the control signal to the electric device, whereby the electric device operates according to the control signal.

11. The control method according to claim 10, wherein the control signal is an infrared ray signal.

12. The control method according to claim 11, wherein a light-transmissive film is located on at least one surface of the casing of the at least one signal conversion device, and a location of the light-transmissive film corresponds to a location of the through-hole.

13. The control method according to claim 10, wherein the step of receiving the remote control signal further comprises broadcasting the remote control signal to the at least one signal conversion device via a relay device.