US 5,515,052 A · Universal remote control with function synthesis

Abstract

The universal remote control comprises: light emitting circuitry; driver circuitry coupled to the light emitting circuitry; a microprocessor including a CPU coupled to the driver circuitry, structure, such as a keyboard, coupled to the CPU for communicating "code signal generation sequences" including a "code generate command" signal followed by a "code setting" signal to the CPU, a memory for storing information therein coupled to the CPU, program instructions stored in the memory, and, signal determining and function code creating program and circuitry associated with the memory and the CPU for determining when a "code signal generation sequence" has been received and for using the "code setting" signal of the sequence received to create a function code, comprising, a specific IR blink code, defined by a series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses, defining a code signal for causing a controlled apparatus to execute a specific function, e.g., "volume up", and for energizing the driver circuitry to cause the light emitting circuitry to emit the specific series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses defining the specific code signal to the controlled apparatus.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A universal remote control comprising:

light emitting means;
driver circuitry coupled to said light emitting means;
and,
a microprocessor including:
a CPU coupled to said driver circuitry, communication means, coupled to said CPU, for communicating a "code signal generation sequence" including a "code generating" or "code generate command" signal followed by a "code setting" signal to said CPU;
memory means for storing information therein coupled to said CPU;
program instructions stored in said memory means;
and,
signal determining and function code creating means associated with said memory means and said CPU (a) for determining when said "code signal generation sequence" has been received by said CPU, (b) for using the "code setting" signal of the sequence received to create a function code signal comprising a specific IR blink code that includes a specific series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses which define bits of a byte that defines the function code signal for causing a controlled apparatus to execute a specific function, and (c) for energizing said driver circuitry to cause said light emitting means to emit the specific series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses which define the specific function code signal to be sent to the controlled apparatus.

6 more elements

A method for operating a remotely controlled apparatus using a remote control comprising:

signal input means, light signal emitting means, and a microprocessor including a CPU, memory means for storing information therein coupled to the CPU and program instructions stored in the memory means and including an algorithm for creating different function code signals, each for causing the light signal emitting means to emit an IR blink code comprising a series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses, defining bits of a byte which will cause the controlled apparatus to perform a specific function, said method comprising the steps of:
causing generation of a "code generate command" signal to initiate code signal generation;
supplying said "code generate command" signal to the CPU;
causing generation of a "code setting" signal for creating a specific function code;
supplying said "code setting" signal to the CPU;
generating with the program instructions the bits of a byte of said specific function code for generating a specific function code signal comprising an IR blink code defined by a specific series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses;
and,
transmitting the specific series of infra-red "light on-light off" pulses to the controlled apparatus to cause the controlled apparatus to perform a specific function associated with the specific function code signal created.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Universal remote control with function synthesis

Life of this patent

Universal remote control with function synthesis

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14