Remote control system

• US 5,986,644 A
• Filed: 07/30/1997
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RICHARDS, III.,JAMES D. AND MARTINE RICHARDS
• Original Assignee: SelecTech, Ltd.
• Inventors: Herder, Lisa A., Simmons, Harve P., Magnant, Paul H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, KENT WU
• Application Number:
  US08/903,052
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/163, 345/161, 345/168, 463/39, 273/148 B
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A remote control system for providing information to an electronic apparatus such as a PC, Net computer or video game. The system includes a remote controller for generating an IR signal containing information usable by the apparatus, including cursor position information, select commands and other information. The system also includes a primary controller that is connected to the electronic apparatus typically, but not necessarily, by a cable. The primary controller includes a secondary controller having a movable element. The secondary controller generates relative position information based on the position of the movable element. The primary controller also receives the IR signal from the remote controller, converts this signal into electronic form, and then provides this signal to the electronic apparatus. The primary controller, in one embodiment, allocates control between the secondary controller and the remote controller such that the electronic apparatus receives information from only one of the secondary controller and remote controller at a given time.

Claims

1. A controller system for providing information to an electronic apparatus, the system comprising:

a. a remote controller for providing a first infrared signal containing information usable by the electronic apparatus; and

b. a primary controller connectable to the electronic apparatus, said primary controller having;

i. a secondary controller with;

1. at least one movable element;

2. a transducer associated with said at least one movable element for providing a second signal containing information regarding the position of said at least one movable element; and

ii. an IR communication section connected to said transducer (1) for receiving said first infrared signal, (2) for generating a third signal containing information in said first infrared signal and (3) for providing a fourth output signal comprising at least one of said second and third signals.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus has a display that includes a cursor, further wherein said remote controller includes means for providing cursor location information in said first infrared signal that is usable by the electronic apparatus to control the location of the cursor.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said cursor location information is relative cursor location information.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein said cursor location information is absolute cursor location information.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said remote controller includes a receiver for receiving a fifth infrared signal and said primary controller includes a transmitter for providing said fifth infrared signal.

6. A system according to claim 5, further wherein said IR communication section includes means for providing a signal from the electronic apparatus to said transmitter in a form that can be included in said fifth infrared signal.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said primary controller further includes a cable connectable with the electronic apparatus for providing said fourth output signal to the electronic apparatus.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said remote controller is a wireless mouse.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said remote controller is a wireless trackball.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said remote controller is a wireless keypad.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said remote controller is an absolute position pointer.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said secondary controller includes control allocation means for selecting one of said second and third signals and including only said selected one in said fourth output signal.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said control allocation means monitors said third signal to determine if a data message is present and includes only said third signal in said fourth signal upon detection of said data message.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein said secondary controller removes power from said transducer when said control allocation means determines said data message is present.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein said secondary controller includes an IR emitter and an IR detector.

16. A system according to claim 4, wherein said IR communication section includes means for converting said absolute cursor location information to relative cursor location information prior to providing said fourth output signal.

17. A controller for providing information to an electronic apparatus, which information, in part, may comprise information in a first infrared signal provided by a peripheral device, the controller comprising:

a. at least one movable element;

b. a transducer associated with said movable element for providing a second signal containing information regarding the position of said movable element; and

c. IR means connected to said transducer (i) for receiving the first infrared signal and for generating a third signal containing information in said first infrared signal and (ii) for providing a fourth output signal comprising at least one of said second and third signals.

18. A controller according to claim 17, wherein the peripheral device includes a receiver for receiving a fifth infrared signal, further wherein said IR means includes a transmitter for providing said fifth infrared signal.

19. A controller according to claim 17, wherein said controller further includes a cable connectable with the electronic apparatus for providing said fourth output signal to the electronic apparatus.

20. A controller according to claim 17, wherein said IR means includes control allocation means for selecting one of said second and third signals and including only said selected one in said fourth output signal.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein said control allocation means monitors said third signal to determine if a data message is present and includes only said third signal in said fourth signal upon detection of said data message.

22. A system according to claim 20, wherein said secondary controller removes power from said transducer when said control allocation means determines said data message is present.

23. A system according to claim 17, wherein said secondary controller includes an IR emitter and an IR detector.

24. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a. a device for processing information;

b. a remote controller for providing a first infrared signal containing information usable by said device; and

c. a primary controller connected to said device, said primary controller having;

i. at least one movable element;

ii. a transducer associated with said at least one movable element for providing a second signal containing information regarding the position of said at least one movable element; and

iii. an IR communication section connected to said transducer (1) for receiving said first infrared signal, (2) for generating a third signal containing information in said first infrared signal and (3) for providing a fourth output signal comprising at least one of said second and third signals.