# US 2004/0071471 A1 · Method and system for pairing a remote control transmitter and receiver > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2004/0071471 A1 - Document ID: US20040071471A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 10/269,574 - Filed: 2002-10-10 - Published: 2004-04-15 - Earliest claimed: 2002-10-10 - Assignees: Interlink Electronics, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey Ross Baker; Lev Freidin; Larry Stuart Shilkoff; Kenneth E. Johnson; Carlos Solis Sanchez; James Dexter Tickle; David Lee Stallard; Michael W. Ambrose - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20040071471A1 ## CPC - H04B 10/1143: {Bidirectional transmission} - G08C 2201/20: Binding and programming of remote control devices - H04B: TRANSMISSION - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) ## Abstract A method and system for pairing a remote control transmitter and receiver includes associating an identification (ID) code with the transmitter. The transmitter includes a light generator for generating a light signal in order to perform a primary function which is visually detectable by a human operator. The light generator may be a laser pointer or a status indicator LED. The light generator is modulated to encode the identification code onto the light signal while the light generator is performing the primary function. The receiver includes a light signal detector such as an LED for receiving the light signal from the light generator. The receiver associates itself with the ID code contained in the light signal in order to pair the receiver with the transmitter. By being paired with the transmitter, the receiver acts upon transmitted command signals received from the transmitter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A remote control system comprising: a transmitter having a light generator for generating a light signal in order to perform a primary function which is visually detectable by a human operator, the transmitter further having an identification code, wherein the transmitter modulates the light generator to encode the identification code onto the light signal while the light generator is performing the primary function, the transmitter further having a command signal generator for transmitting a wireless command signal containing the identification code and a command; and a receiver having a light signal detector for receiving the light signal from the light generator of the transmitter, wherein the receiver is operable to become associated with the identification code contained in the light signal such that the receiver acts upon the commands of received command signals containing the identification code. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: the light generator is a laser pointer and the light signal is a laser beam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein: the primary function of the laser pointer is to highlight a target with the laser beam. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: the light generator is a light emitting diode (LED). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein: the primary function of the LED is to provide a light signal indicative of the status of the transmitter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: the wireless command signal is an radio frequency (RF) command signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: the wireless command signal is an infrared command signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: the light signal detector is a light emitting diode (LED). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein: the receiver includes a light pipe associated with the LED for transferring the light signal from the surface of the receiver to the LED. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: the light signal detector functions in second mode for generating an indicator light signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: the receiver includes a graphical overlay indicative of instructions for associating the receiver with the identification code of the transmitter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein: the instructions of the graphical overlay include a transparent window which is aligned with the light signal detector of the receiver. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: the receiver is operable to become associated with the identification code contained in the light signals of multiple transmitters such that the receiver acts upon the commands of received command signals containing identification codes from any of the multiple transmitters. ### Claim 14 A method for pairing a remote control transmitter and receiver, the transmitter having a light generator for generating a light signal in order to perform a primary function which is visually detectable by a human operator, the method comprising: associating an identification code with the transmitter; modulating the light generator to encode the identification code onto the light signal while the light generator is performing the primary function; using a light signal detector of the receiver to receive the light signal from the light generator of the transmitter; and associating the receiver with the identification code contained in the light signal in order to pair the receiver with the transmitter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein: the light generator is a laser pointer and the light signal is a laser beam. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein: the light generator is a light emitting diode (LED). ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein: the light signal detector is a light emitting diode (LED). ### Claim 18 A remote control system comprising: a transmitter having a command signal generator for wirelessly transmitting a command signal containing at least one identification code and a command; a receiver having an identification code, the receiver operable for wirelessly receiving the command signal and acting upon the command of the command signal if the at least one identification code of the command signal matches the identification code of the receiver, the receiver further having a light generator for generating a light signal in order to perform a primary function which is visually detectable by a human operator, wherein the receiver modulates the light generator to encode the identification code of the receiver onto the light signal while the light generator is performing the primary function; the transmitter further having a light signal detector for receiving the light signal from the light generator of the receiver, wherein the transmitter is operable such that additional command signals transmitted by the transceiver contain the identification code of the receiver. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18 wherein: the light generator is a light emitting diode (LED). ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18 wherein: the light signal detector is a light emitting diode (LED).