Remote control unit integrator console

• US 4,709,412 A
• Filed: 08/26/1986
• Issued: 11/24/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Devan T. Dockery
• Original Assignee: Xantech Corporation (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Robbins, Michael S., Seymour, Herbert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): ORSINO JR, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US06/900,540
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 455/128, 455/617, 455/618, 455/603, 455/151, 455/352, 455/600, 455/601, 340/825.72, 340/696, 358/194.1, D14/84, D14/85, 206/328
• US Class Current: 398/114
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/025 Stands or organisers to facilitate location or operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

A remote control unit integrator console includes a console tray to hold a plurality of infrared remote control transmitter units of various sizes and shapes. The tray includes a front hood which houses a mechanism for transferring infrared signals from the control units toward the appliances to be controlled. In one embodiment the infrared transfer mechanism includes a set of reflectors capable of efficiently reflecting infrared energy. In another embodiment, the infrared transfer mechanism includes infrared photo detectors connected to amplifiers which drive either a set of infrared emitters positioned in a diverging array or a single infrared emitter mounted in such a manner as to be pivotable. In still another embodiment, the coded infrared signals from the infrared remote control units are converted to radio signals which are received and reconverted to coded infrared signals by receiver units close to the controlled appliances for control of the respective appliances.

Claims

1. An infrared remote control unit integrator console for housing a plurality of hand held infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size, shape, and coding scheme which are operable to selectively emit infrared signals toward infrared controlled appliances having respectively compatible infrared receivers associated therewith, said console comprising:

(a) console housing means sized to receive a plurality of infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size and shape therein; and

(b) infrared transfer means at least a portion of which is mounted within said housing means to receive an infrared signal from any infrared control transmitter unit positioned in said housing means and operatively transfer said infrared signal toward a respective infrared controlled appliance to be controlled by said infrared control transmitter unit.

2. A console as set forth in claim 1 wherein said infrared transfer means includes:

(a) infrared energy reflector means positioned within said housing means to receive an infrared signal from an infrared control transmitter unit positioned in said housing means and reflect same toward a respective infrared controlled appliance.

3. A console as set forth in claim 1 wherein said infrared transfer means include:

(a) a set of mirrors capable of efficiently reflecting infrared energy positioned within said housing means in such a manner as to reflect an infrared signal from an infrared control transmitter unit in said housing means toward an infrared controlled appliance when said housing means is aimed generally toward such an infrared controlled appliance.

4. A console as set forth in claim 1 wherein said infrared transfer means includes:

(a) at least one infrared reflector pivotally mounted with respect to said housing means and selectively rotatable to receive an infrared signal from an infrared control transmitter unit positioned in said housing means and reflect same toward a respective infrared controlled appliance.

5. A console as set forth in claim 1 wherein said infrared transfer means includes:

(a) an infrared photo detector positioned within said housing means to receive an infrared signal from an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means and generate an electrical signal analogous to said infrared signal;

(b) amplifier means connected to said infrared photo detector and cooperating therewith to amplify said electrical signal; and

(c) an infrared emitter device connected to said amplifier means and emitting an amplified infrared signal toward a respective infrared controlled appliance in response to said electrical signal.

6. A console as set forth in claim 5 including:

(a) detector reflector means having such a shape and being so positioned on said housing means with respect to said infrared photo detector as to create a wide acceptance pattern of said infrared photo detector to infrared signals from an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means.

7. A console as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

(a) said infrared emitter device is mounted in an infrared emitter head structure pivotally connected to said housing means and pivotable to selectively aim said infrared emitter device toward an infrared controlled appliance.

8. A console as set forth in claim 5 including:

(a) a plurality of infrared emitter devices connected to said amplifier means, driven in unison by said amplifier means, and positioned in diverging relation to emit said amplified infrared signal in a wide diverging pattern toward respective appliances controlled by infrared control transmitter units within said housing means.

9. A console as set forth in claim 1 including:

(a) illuminator means positioned within said housing means and selectively operable to illuminate an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means.

10. A console as set forth in claim 1 wherein said infrared transfer means includes:

(a) an infrared photo detector positioned within said housing means to receive an infrared control signal from an infrared control transmitter within said housing means and generate a console electrical signal analogous to said infrared control signal;

(b) console amplifier means connected to said infrared photo detector and cooperating therewith to amplify said console electrical signal;

(c) radio transmitter means connected to said console amplifier means, modulating a radio signal with said console electrical signal, and transmitting the modulated radio signal;

(d) radio receiver means separated from said housing means, receiving said modulated radio signal, and demodulating same to recover a receiver electrical signal analogous to said console electrical signal;

(e) receiver amplifier means connected to said radio receiver means and amplifying said receiver electrical signal; and

(f) an infrared emitter device connected to said receiver amplifier means, converting said receiver electrical signal to an appliance control infrared signal analogous to said infrared control signal, and emitting said appliance control infrared signal toward an appliance associated with said infrared control transmitter within said housing means.

11. A console as set forth in claim 1 including:

(a) transmitter unit attachment means within said housing means to removably attach a plurality of infrared control transmitter units within said housing means.

12. A console as set forth in claim 11 wherein said transmitter unit attachment means includes:

(a) one component of a hook and loop adhesive set positioned on one of said housing means and at least one infrared control transmitter unit; and

(b) the other component of a hook and loop adhesive set positioned on the other of said housing means and at least one infrared control transmitter unit.

13. An infrared remote control unit integrator console to house a plurality of hand held infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size, shape, and coding scheme which are operable to selectively emit infrared signals toward infrared controlled appliances having respectively compatible infrared receivers associated therewith, said console comprising:

(a) console housing means sized to receive a plurality of infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size and shape therein;

(b) transmitter unit attachment means within said housing means to removably attach a plurality of infrared control transmitter units within said housing means;

(c) an infrared photo detector positioned within said housing means to receive an infrared signal from an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means and generate an electrical signal analogous to said infrared signal;

(d) amplifier means connected to said infrared photo detector and cooperating therewith to amplify said electrical signal;

(e) an infrared emitter device connected to said amplifier means and emitting an amplified infrared signal toward a respective infrared controlled appliance in response to said electrical signal; and

(f) detector reflector means having such a shape and being so positioned on said housing means with respect to said infrared photo detector as to create a wide acceptance pattern of said infrared photo detector to infrared signals from an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means.

14. A console as set forth in claim 13 wherein:

(a) said infrared emitter device is mounted in an infrared emitter head structure pivotally connected to said housing means and pivotable to selectively aim said infrared emitter device toward an infrared controlled appliance.

15. A console as set forth in claim 13 including:

(a) more than one infrared photo detector positioned within said housing means and spaced from said detector reflector means.

16. A console as set forth in claim 13 including:

(a) a plurality of infrared emitter devices connected to said amplifier means, driven in unison by said amplifier means, and positioned in diverging relation to emit said amplified infrared signal in a wide diverging pattern toward respective appliances controlled by infrared control transmitter units within said housing means.

17. A console as set forth in claim 13 including:

(a) illuminator means positioned within said housing means and selectively operable to illuminate an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means.

18. A console as set forth in claim 13 wherein said transmitter unit attachment means includes:

(a) one component of a hook and loop adhesive set positioned on one of said housing means and at least one infrared control transmitter unit; and

(b) the other component of a hook and loop adhesive set positioned on the other of said housing means and at least one infrared control transmitter unit.

19. An infrared remote control unit integrator console to house a plurality of hand held infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size, shape, and coding scheme which are operable to selectively emit infrared signals toward infrared controlled appliances having respectively compatible infrared receivers associated therewith, said console comprising:

(a) console housing means sized to receive a plurality of infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size and shape therein;

(b) transmitter unit attachment means within said housing means to removably attach a plurality of infrared control transmitter units within said housing means;

(c) more than one infrared photo detectors positioned within said housing means to receive an infrared signal from an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means and generate an electrical signal analogous to said infrared signal;

(d) amplifier means connected to said infrared photo detectors and cooperating therewith to amplify said electrical signal;

(e) a plurality of infrared emitter devices connected to said amplifier means, driven in unison by said amplifier means, positioned within said housing means in diverging relation, and emitting an amplified infrared signal toward a respective infrared controlled appliance in response to said electrical signal; and

(f) detector reflector means having such a shape and being so positioned on said housing means with respect to said infrared photo detectors as to create a wide acceptance pattern of said infrared photo detectors to infrared signals from an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means.

20. A console as set forth in claim 19 including:

(a) illuminator means positioned within said housing means and selectively operable to illuminate an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means.

21. A console as set forth in claim 19 wherein said transmitter unit attachement means includes:

(a) one component of a hook and loop adhesive set positioned on one of said housing means and at least one infrared control transmitter unit; and

(b) the other component of a hook and loop adhesive set positioned on the other of said housing means and at least one infrared control transmitter unit.

22. An infrared remote control unit integrator console system to house a plurality of handheld infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size, shape, and coding scheme which are operable to selectively emit infrared signals toward infrared controlled appliances having respectively compatible infrared receivers associated therewith, said console system comprising:

(a) console housing means sized ot receive a plurality of infrared control transmitter units of not necessarily uniform size and shaped therein;

(b) transmitter unit attachment means within said housing means to removably attach said pluraltiy of infrared control transmitter units within said housing means;

(c) an infrared photo detector positioned within said housing means to receive an infrared control signal from an infrated control transmitter unit within said housing means and generate a console electrical signal analogous to said infrared control signal;

(d) detector reflector means having such a shape and being so positioned on said housing means with respect to said infrared photo detector as to create a wide acceptance pattern of said infrared photo detector to an infrared control signal from an infrared control transmitter unit within said housing means;

(e) console amplifier means connected to said infrared photo detector and cooperating therewith to amplify said console electrical signal;

(f) radio transmitter means connected to said console amplifier means, modulating a radio signal with said console electrical signal, and transmitting the modulated radio signal;

(g) radio receiver means separated from said housing means, receiving said modulated radio signal, and demodulating same to recover a receiver electrical signal analogous to said console electrical signal;

(h) receiver amplifier means connected to said radio receiver means and amplifying said receiver electrical signal; and

(i) an infrared emitter device connected to said receiver amplifier means, converting said receiver electrical signal to an appliance control infrared signal analogous to said infrared control signal, and emitting said appliance control infrared signal toward an appliance associated with said infrared control transmitter within said housing means.