Energy efficient remote control protocol with improved reliability

A remote control system comprising:

• a transmitter having:
• a code register for storing a code having a plurality of bits, said code register grouping said plurality of bits into a plurality of groups each having a respective numeric value;
• a parity encoder connected to said code register for determining the parity of each group;
• a modulator connected to said parity encoder for converting said groups into a plurality of segments each segment having a start bit and a data length, said start bit corresponding to said parity of said group and said data length of said group having a length corresponding to said numeric value;
• and
• an emitter connected to said modulator for generating a transmission encoding first and second logic levels defining said data length as a time period between successive start bits for successive segments;
• and
• a receiver having:
• a detector for receiving said transmission;
• a demodulator connected to said detector for separating said transmission into segments, each of said segments having a start bit and a data length;
• a timing controller connected to said demodulator for measuring time between successive start bits to determine said data lengths;
• said demodulator converting said data lengths into a received code;
• a code register for storing a stored code;
• a code comparator connected to said demodulator and said code register for comparing said stored code and said received code;
• and
• an output driver for enabling a function if said stored code is equal to said received code.

A method for operating a remote control device having a transmitter and a receiver, said receiver having a memory, said transmitter generating a transmission of a code, comprising the steps of:

• generating a code, said code having a plurality of bits;
• grouping said bits into a plurality of groups;
• determining a parity and a numeric value for each of said groups;
• transmitting a code having a plurality of segments each corresponding to a respective one of said groups, each of said segments having a start bit corresponding to said parity of said respective group and a data length corresponding to said respective numeric value, said data length being determined by a length of time between successive start bits of successive segments;
• receiving said transmission;
• converting said transmission into a received code based on said received data length of each of said segments;
• comparing said code to a stored code in said memory of said receiver;
• and
• enabling said remote control device if said received code matches said stored code.