Remote control systems and methods

• US 9,589,457 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2015
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mission Cables, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mission Cables, LLC
• Inventors: Wengreen, Brian Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Yang, James
• Application Number:
  US14/708,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20170076589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A remote control system can comprise a first remote control having a front side, a backside, and a first battery configured to provide a first electrical power to the first remote control. The front side can comprise at least a first button configured to wirelessly control a first device. The backside can comprise a battery access opening configured to enable replacing the first battery. As well, the remote control system can include a second battery cover that can block the battery access opening. The second battery cover can include a second remote control having a second battery configured to provide a second electrical power to the second remote control. The second remote control can be configured to wirelessly control a second device.

Claims

1. A remote control system comprising:

a first remote control having a front side comprising a first button to wirelessly control a first device, the first remote control having a backside comprising a battery access opening to enable replacing a first battery, wherein a first battery cover not having remote control capability comprises a first protrusion defining a first profile configured to couple the first battery cover to the backside; and

a second battery cover mechanically coupled to the battery access opening, the second battery cover comprising a second remote control having a second button to wirelessly control a second device, wherein the second battery cover comprises a second protrusion defining a second profile configured to couple the second battery cover to the backside, wherein the first profile matches the second profile such that the first battery cover is replaced by the second battery, and wherein the second button faces opposite the first button.

2. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the first device is a streaming media player.

3. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the second device is a television.

4. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the first remote control comprises a radio remote control and the second remote control comprises an infrared remote control.

5. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the first remote control comprises a Bluetooth remote control and the second remote control comprises an infrared remote control.

6. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the second battery cover protrudes away from the front side of the first remote control such that the backside is thickest in a region of the remote control system that includes the second battery cover, wherein the second battery cover comprises an infrared light oriented forward to emit light along a portion of the backside of the first remote control that does not include the second battery cover.

7. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the first remote control defines a first width that extends along a first direction and the second remote control defines a second width that extends along the first direction, and wherein the first width is equal to the second width.

8. A remote control system comprising:

a first remote control having a front side comprising a first button to wirelessly control a first device, the first remote control having a backside comprising a battery access opening to enable replacing a first battery, wherein the first remote control comprises indentations configured to couple a first battery cover that does not comprise remote control capabilities to the first remote control; and

a second battery cover mechanically coupled to the battery access opening, the second battery cover comprising a second remote control having a second button to wirelessly control a second device, wherein a first protrusion and a second protrusion of the second remote control are mechanically coupled to the indentations of the first remote control to mechanically couple the second remote control to the first remote control, wherein the second remote control is not communicatively coupled to the first remote control,

wherein the second battery cover comprises an outer housing that surrounds at least a majority of the second remote control that comprises at least a second button configured to wirelessly control the second device whereby the second button is located on the backside while the first button of the first remote control is located on the front side, and wherein the second battery cover comprises a light emitting diode and a printed circuit board that are not electrically coupled to the first remote control.

9. The remote control system of claim 8, wherein the first remote control is powered by the first battery that defines a first battery type, and the second remote control is powered by a second battery that defines a second battery type, and wherein the first battery type is different from the second battery type.

10. The remote control system of claim 8, wherein the second battery cover is removably coupled to the first remote control.