Remote control system having full-function and abbreviated-function remote control units
AssigneeMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
InventorsTakashi Deguchi, Makoto Hori, Morihiro Nakayama, Hiroyuki Unida
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A remote control system includes a first remote control unit having complete functional capabilities and a second remote control unit having simplified and abbreviated functional capabilities. An apparatus is controlled in a detailed manner by the first remote control unit. For example, the operational mode and timer settings are set by the first remote control unit. On the other hand, the second remote control unit is limited to activating and deactivating the apparatus and/or the timer of the apparatus.
Claims6
A remote control system for controlling the operation of an apparatus, comprising:
- a full-function remote control unit including a timer content setting means for setting timing parameters of a timer which is associated with the apparatus and which controls the operation of the apparatus in accordance with set timing parameters when the timer is activated, a first timer ON/OFF means for activating and deactivating the timer associated with the apparatus, and a first transmitting means for transmitting a first remote control signal in accordance with said timer content setting means and said first timer ON/OFF means;
- an abbreviated-function remote control unit including a second timer ON/OFF means for activating and deactivating the timer associated with the apparatus, and a second transmitting means for transmitting a second remote control signal in accordance with said first timer ON/OFF means, and being devoid of a timer content setting means for setting the timing parameters of the timer associated with the apparatus;
- and,
- a receiver means for receiving said first and second remote control signals from said full-function remote control unit and said abbreviated-function remote control unit, respectively, and for controlling the timer associated with the apparatus in accordance with said first and second remote control signals to thereby control the operation of the apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.