System and method for controlling a plurality of electronic entertainment devices

A system for controlling the operation of a plurality of electronic devices from a plurality of remote areas, each of said remote areas having a signal receiver, at least one of said electronic devices having a light energy receiver ordinarily cooperable with a corresponding portable light energy transmitter for controlling the operation of the corresponding device, said corresponding transmitter when in said remote area being beyond the range of the corresponding receiver, said system comprising:

• electrical conductor means for electrically coupling said electronic devices to said signal receivers;
• light energy detector means positioned at each of said remote areas for detecting respective light energy control signals generated by a corresponding transmitter and for converting said light energy control signals into corresponding electrical control signals, said detector means being coupled to said conductor means for transmitting said control signals in both directions along said conductor means;
• and
• control means electrically coupled in series between each of said detector means and said electronic devices for receiving said electrical control signals from each of said detector means, said control means being electrically coupled to said electronic devices for receiving respective electrical signals therefrom, said control means having:
• means for combining the respective electrical signals from said electronic devices into corresponding mixed electrical signals at a relatively constant impedance and for transmitting said mixed electrical signals to said signal receivers,
• means for converting the electrical control signals from each of said detector means into corresponding light energy control signals and for transmitting the corresponding light energy signals to control the corresponding electronic devices, and
• means for generating a predetermined DC electrical signal and for transmitting said DC electrical signal to each remote area to provide operating power for the detector means at each remote area.