Method and Device for Learning and Playing Back Electromagnetic Signals

• US 20130004178A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flirc, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flirc, Inc.
• Inventors: Kotzin, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 9,257,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/106
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

Methods and device for learning electromagnetic signals, saving the signals, and pairing the signals with commands interpreted by a processor. The methods comprise the steps of detecting an electromagnetic signal transmitted from an external device; converting the detected electromagnetic signal into a numerical representation; placing the numerical representation into an array; associating the array with a reference or transforming the array with an algorithm and adding the reference or transformation into a memory table; and associating the reference or transformation with a computer command or combination of computer commands and adding the associated computer command or combination of commands into the memory table.

Claims

1. A method for learning electromagnetic signals comprising:

detecting an electromagnetic signal transmitted from an external device;

converting the detected electromagnetic signal into a numerical representation;

placing the numerical representation into an array;

associating the array with a reference or transforming the array with an algorithm and adding the reference or transformation into a memory table; and

associating the reference or transformation with a computer command or combination of computer commands and adding the associated computer command or combination of commands into the memory table.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transformation of the array comprises:

encoding the numerical representations in the array using an algorithm with multiple inputs producing a single output.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic signal is an infrared signal.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the infrared signal is detected by an infrared receiver.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein learning the infrared signal comprises:

detecting an edge or edges of an infrared signal;

waiting for either a subsequent edge of the infrared signal or the expiration of a predetermined amount of time;

recording the time between the previous edge of the infrared signal and the subsequent edge of the infrared signal into an array of values;

transforming the array of multiple values using an algorithm with an output of one representative value; and

storing the representative value.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic signal is one chosen from a group consisting of:

a radio signal, an electrical signal, and an optical signal.

7. A method for playing back a previously recorded electromagnetic signal comprising:

detecting an electromagnetic signal transmitted from an external device;

converting the detected electromagnetic signal into a numerical representation;

placing the numerical representation into an array;

associating the array with a reference or transforming the array with an algorithm;

searching a previously constructed memory table for a matching reference or transformation of the array; and

outputting an associated computer command or combination of commands if a matching reference or transformation of the array is found in the memory table.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the transformation of the array comprises:

encoding the numerical representations in the array using an algorithm with multiple inputs producing a single output.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the electromagnetic signal is an infrared signal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the infrared signal is detected by an infrared receiver.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the electromagnetic signal is one chosen from a group consisting of:

a radio signal, an electrical signal, and an optical signal.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the previously constructed memory table is stored in memory in a computer or peripheral device.

13. A device for learning electromagnetic signals comprising:

a microcontroller component;

an electromagnetic signal detecting component coupled to the microcontroller; and

a port coupled to the microcontroller or integrated with the microcontroller for communicating with a computer.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the microcontroller component comprises:

an arithmetic logic unit; and

a memory component.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the microcontroller further comprises:

a Universal Serial Bus stack.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the port is a Universal Serial Bus port.

17. The device of claim 13 wherein the port is either a serial port or an RS232 port.

18. The device of claim 13 wherein the port is coupled directly to a memory module.

19. The device of claim 13 wherein the electromagnetic signal is an infrared signal.

20. The device of claim 13 wherein the electromagnetic signal is one chosen from a group consisting of:

a radio signal, an electrical signal, and an optical signal.