IR remote control transmitter with power saving feature
AssigneeZenith Electronics Corporation
InventorsMark Bernardi, Carl W. Stacy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A remote control transmitter has a kill mode in which less power is drawn than in the full power operating mode. The transmitter has a stop mode in which minimal power is consumed. The stop mode is entered whenever no keys are being depressed. The device stays in the kill mode whenever a key closure is maintained for longer than a predetermined time.
Claims10
A method of operating a remote control device comprising:
- generating IR commands in response to key closures;
- timing all key closures;
- and
- disabling the remote control device for the duration of a key closure that is maintained for more than a predetermined time period.
A method of operating an IR remote control transmitter having an operating mode requiring full power, a kill mode requiring less than full power and a stop mode requiring minimal power, comprising:
- entering the operating mode from the stop mode, responsive to a key closure for transmitting selected IR commands;
- entering the kill mode upon failure to release the key after a predetermined time;
- and
- returning to the stop mode upon release of the key.
An IR remote control device comprising:
- keyboard means including a keypad for selecting control functions;
- IR code generation means for transmitting coded commands for performing said control functions;
- keyboard scanning means for determining a key closure on said keypad;
- a microprocessor for controlling said keyboard scanning means and said IR code generation means;
- and
- means for disabling said remote control device when a key is depressed for longer than a predetermined duration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.