Remote controller

• US 20060049958A1
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Hsu, Ya-Hsun, Lai, Chang-Chin
• Granted Patent: US 7,202,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.720
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices

Abstract

A remote controller accesses via a connection control data from an appliance to be controlled. The remote controller includes a connection interface, a control unit, an input keypad and a remote signal output unit. When a user intends to remotely operate the appliance, first the connection interface needs to be inserted to a connection slot of the appliance, allowing the control unit to read the control data for remotely controlling the appliance. Then, when the user uses the input keypad to operate a function of the appliance, the control unit transmits an operational instruction from the input keypad and the control data to the remote signal output unit where a control command is generated and transmitted to the appliance such that the appliance can execute the function corresponding to the control command.

Claims

1. A remote controller for remotely controlling operation of a digital electric appliance, the remote controller comprising:

a connection interface for being connected to the digital electric appliance so as to read control data from the digital electric appliance via the connection interface;

an input means comprising a plurality of buttons for a user to input an instruction for control of the digital electric appliance;

a control unit electrically connected to the connection interface and the input means, for accessing the control data and generating a control signal according to the input instruction and the control data; and

a remote signal output unit electrically connected to the control unit, for outputting a control command corresponding to the control signal so as to remotely control the operation of the digital electric appliance.

2. The remote controller of claim 1, wherein the connection interface is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) plug.

3. The remote controller of claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a USB control module.

4. The remote controller of claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a memory module for storing the control data retrieved from the digital electric appliance.

5. The remote controller of claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a recognizing module for recognizing the control data and generating the control signal.

6. The remote controller of claim 5, wherein the recognizing module is provided with recognition software.

7. The remote controller of claim 1, wherein the remote signal output unit is a wireless radio frequency output module.

8. The remote controller of claim 1, further comprising a power supply unit for supplying electric power.

9. The remote controller of claim 8, wherein the power supply unit is a chargeable battery and supplies power from public electricity or the digital electric appliance.