Remote controller capable of selecting and setting preset data

• US 5,726,645 A
• Filed: 10/22/1996
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takiguchi, Iwao, Takahashi, Toshiyuki, Kamon, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON JR, WILLIAM HALL
• Application Number:
  US08/735,419
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.22, 340/825.37, 340/825.56, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 348/734, 359/142, 359/143, 359/146, 359/148, 359/157
• US Class Current: 340/12.28
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

A method of presetting is provided, wherein a plurality of command signals associated with a plurality of apparatuses, a plurality of manufacturers, a plurality of format systems and a plurality of control operations are stored in a memory in advance. A detecting circuit is provided for sequentially transmitting predetermined command signals (e.g., a power on command) to an apparatus to be controlled in accordance with the operation in the preset mode to detect the operational mode of the apparatus to be controlled. As a result, the operation of the apparatus to be controlled can be automatically detected, and the type, the manufacturer and the format of the of the apparatus can be identified from the command signal transmitted.

Claims

1. A remote controller for controlling various operations of an electronic apparatus in accordance with command signals transmitted thereto comprising:

an operation detecting means for detecting a change in the operational state of said electronic apparatus;

a memory means in which a first group of command signals for instructing various operations associated with a plurality of manufacturers, a plurality of electronic apparatus and a plurality of format systems are stored in advance;

a plurality of control input means for inputting control; and

a control means for reading out a second group of command signals for instructing predetermined operations associated with a plurality of manufacturers, a plurality of electronic apparatuses and a plurality of format systems from the first group of command signals stored in said memory means in accordance with an operation on a predetermined control input means among the plurality of control input means, for performing control such that command signals for instructing a predetermined operation among the second group of command signals thus read out are sequentially transmitted at periodic intervals, for automatically identifying the manufacturer, electronic apparatus and format system based on a detection signal from said operation detecting means, and for setting each of a plurality of command signals for instructing various operations associated with the identified manufacturer, electronic apparatus and format system in association with said plurality of control input means.

2. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein said command signal for instructing a predetermined operation is a signal for turning a power supply of said electronic apparatus on or off.

3. The remote controller according to claim 2, wherein said operation detecting means detects an audio output of said electronic apparatus.

4. The remote controller according to claim 2, wherein said operation detecting means detects a change in the voltage in said electronic apparatus.

5. The remote controller according to claim 2, wherein said operation detecting means detects a video output of said electronic apparatus.

6. The remote controller according to claim 2, wherein said operation detecting means detects an electromagnetic wave or a high frequency generated by said electronic apparatus.

7. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein an output interval of said command signal sequentially transmitted at periodic intervals is longer than the sum of the time during which said electronic apparatus responds to the transmitted command signal and the time required for mutual transmission and reception between said remote controller and said operation detecting means.

8. The remote controller according to claim 1, further comprising a sound generating means.

9. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein said control means cancels a preset mode if no detection signal is obtained from said operation detecting means even after all the command signals belonging to said second group of command signals have been transmitted.

10. A remote control system comprising:

an electronic apparatus controlled in accordance with command signals transmitted thereto;

an operation detecting portion for detecting a change in the operational state of said electronic apparatus;

a memory means in which a first group of command signals for instructing various operations associated with a plurality of manufacturers, a plurality of electronic apparatus and a plurality of format systems are stored in advance;

a plurality of control input means for inputting control; and

a remote controller including a control means for reading out a second group of command signals for instructing predetermined operations associated with a plurality of manufacturers, a plurality of electronic apparatuses and a plurality of format systems from the first group of command signals stored in said memory means in accordance with an operation on a predetermined control input means among the plurality of control input means, for performing control such that command signals for instructing a predetermined operation among the second group of command signals thus read out are sequentially transmitted at periodic intervals, for automatically identifying the manufacturer, electronic apparatus and format system based on a detection signal from said operation detecting portion, and for setting each of a plurality of command signals for instructing various operations associated with the identified manufacturer, electronic apparatus and format system in association with said plurality of control input means.

11. The remote control system according to claim 10, wherein said command signal for instructing a predetermined operation is a signal for turning a power supply of said electronic apparatus on or off.

12. The remote control system according to claim 11, wherein said operation detecting portion detects an audio output of said electronic apparatus.

13. The remote control system according to claim 11, wherein said operation detecting portion detects a change in the voltage in said electronic apparatus.

14. The remote control system according to claim 11, wherein said operation detecting portion detects a video output of said electronic apparatus.

15. The remote control system according to claim 11, wherein said operation detecting portion detects an electromagnetic wave or a high frequency generated by said electronic apparatus.

16. The remote control system according to claim 10, wherein an output interval of said command signal sequentially transmitted at periodic intervals is longer than the sum of the time during which said electronic apparatus responds to the transmitted command signal and the time required for mutual transmission and reception between said remote controller and said operation detecting portion.

17. The remote control system according to claim 10, further comprising a sound generating means.

18. The remote control system according to claim 10, wherein said control means cancels a preset mode if no detection signal is obtained from said operation detecting portion even after all the command signals belonging to said second group of command signals have been transmitted.

19. The remote control system according to claim 10, wherein said operation detecting portion is incorporated in said electronic apparatus.

20. The remote control system according to claim 19, wherein said remote controller further comprises a receiving means for receiving a detection signal from said operation detecting portion.

21. The remote control system according to claim 10, wherein said operation detecting portion is incorporated in said remote controller.

22. The remote control system according to claim 10, wherein said remote controller further comprises a receiving means for receiving a detection signal from said operation detecting portion.

23. A method of presetting a remote controller wherein command signals instructing various operations associated with a particular manufacturer, a particular electronic apparatus and a particular format system are selected and set from among a first group of command signals for instructing various operations associated with a plurality of manufacturers, a plurality of electronic apparatuses and a plurality of format systems in association with a plurality of control input means comprising steps of:

performing comparison to check whether a preset mode has been selected or not;

sequentially transmitting a command signal at periodic intervals from among a second group of command signals for instructing particular operations associated with a plurality of manufacturers, a plurality of electronic apparatuses and a plurality of format systems if it is determined at said step that the preset mode has been selected;

determining the state of the operation of an electronic apparatus; and

automatically setting command signals for instructing various operations associated with each of a plurality of command signals for instructing various operations associated with a particular manufacturer, a particular electronic apparatus and a particular format system based on the command signal which was being transmitted when a change in the operational state of said electronic apparatus was detected in association with a plurality of control input means.

24. The method of presetting a remote controller according to claim 23, wherein the command signal sequentially transmitted at periodic intervals from among the second group of command signals for instructing particular operations is a signal for turning a power supply of said electronic apparatus on or off.

25. The method of presetting a remote controller according to claim 24, wherein said determination of the operational state is to determine an audio output of said electronic apparatus.

26. The method of presetting a remote controller according to claim 24, wherein said determination of the operational state is to determine a change in the voltage in said electronic apparatus.

27. The method of presetting a remote controller according to claim 24, wherein said determination of the operational state is to determine a video output of said electronic apparatus.

28. The method of presetting a remote controller according to claim 24, wherein said determination of the operational state is to determine an electromagnetic wave or a high frequency generated by said electronic apparatus.

29. The method of presetting a remote controller according to claim 24, wherein an output interval of said command signal sequentially transmitted at periodic intervals is longer than the sum of the time during which said electronic apparatus responds to the transmitted command signal and the time required for mutual transmission and reception between said remote controller and said operation detecting portion.

30. The method of presetting a remote controller according to claim 23, a preset mode is canceled if there is no change in the operational state of said electronic apparatus even after all the command signals belonging to said second group of command signals have been transmitted.