System for extending infrared remote control

A method for effecting control of an electronic device having an infrared sensor for receiving an infrared control signal from a manually actuated remote control, the method comprising:

• operating the remote control to produce the infrared signal;
• receiving said infrared signal at an audio speaker assembly of an audio reproduction system;
• at the speaker assembly, generating an RF carrier frequency;
• also at the speaker assembly, modulating the RF carrier frequency with instructions encoded in the received infrared control signal;
• transmitting the RF carrier frequency from the speaker assembly to the electronic device;
• and
• at the electronic device, receiving the RF carrier frequency;
• in response to the received RF carrier frequency, generating, at said electronic device, a secondary infrared signal substantially similar to said infrared control signal;
• and
• emitting said secondary infrared signal toward the infrared sensor of the electronic device.

An infrared remote control extension system for effecting control of an electronic device having an infrared sensor for receiving an infrared control signal from a manually actuated remote control, the assembly comprising:

• an audio speaker assembly including an electro-acoustic transducer, said transducer being operatively coupled to an audio reproduction system;
• an infrared sensor at least indirectly attached to said speaker assembly for receiving and converting the infrared control signal from the remote control to an electrical signal;
• a signal generator operatively connected to said sensor for generating an RF carrier signal carrying control information encoded in said infrared control signal and said electrical signal;
• transmission means for transmitting the RF carrier signal from said signal generator to the electronic device;
• a signal receiver at the electronic device for receiving and converting the RF carrier signal transmitted from said signal generator to a secondary infrared signal essentially identical to said infrared control signal, said signal receiver being disposed adjacent to the infrared sensor of the electronic device;
• and
• modification means operatively connected to said transducer for modifying a characteristic of an audio signal applied to said audio reproduction system, said sensor being operatively connected to said modification means for changing said characteristic in accordance with instructions encoded in said infrared control signal.

A method for effecting control of an electronic device having an infrared sensor for receiving an infrared control signal from a manually actuated remote control, the method comprising:

• operating the remote control to produce the infrared signal;
• receiving said infrared signal at an audio speaker assembly of an audio reproduction system;
• at the speaker assembly, generating an RF carrier frequency containing or carrying instructions encoded in the received infrared control signal;
• transmitting the RF carrier frequency from the speaker assembly to the electronic device;
• at the electronic device, receiving the RF carrier frequency;
• in response to the received RF carrier frequency, generating, at said electronic device, a secondary infrared signal substantially similar to said infrared control signal;
• emitting said secondary infrared signal toward the infrared sensor of the electronic device;
• receiving an audio signal at said speaker assembly;
• converting said audio signal to an electrical signal;
• applying said electrical signal to said speaker to generate an acoustic pressure wave;
• and
• modifying, in accordance with instructions encoded in said infrared control signal, a characteristic of said electrical signal applied to said speaker assembly.

An infrared remote control extension system for effecting control of an electronic device having, an infrared sensor for receiving an infrared control signal from a manually actuated remote control, the assembly comprising:

• an audio speaker assembly including an electro-acoustic transducer, said transducer being operatively coupled to an audio reproduction system;
• an infrared sensor at least indirectly attached to said speaker assembly for receiving and converting the infrared control signal from the remote control to an electrical signal;
• a signal generator operatively connected to said sensor for generating an RF carrier signal containing or carrying control information encoded in said infrared control signal and said electrical signal;
• transmission means for transmitting the RF carrier signal from said signal generator to the electronic device, and
• a signal receiver at the electronic device for receiving and converting the RF carrier signal transmitted from said signal generator to a secondary infrared signal essentially identical to said infrared control signal, said signal receiver being disposed adjacent to the infrared sensor of the electronic device, said transmission means including an antenna operatively connected to said signal generator for wirelessly transmitting said RF carrier signal from said signal generator to said signal receiver.

An infrared remote control extension system for effecting control of an electronic device from a manually actuated remote control, the assembly comprising:

• an audio speaker assembly including an electro-acoustic transducer, said transducer being operatively coupled to an audio reproduction system;
• an infrared sensor at least indirectly attached to said speaker assembly for receiving and converting an infrared control signal from the remote control to an electrical signal;
• a signal generator operatively connected to said sensor for generating an RF carrier signal including control information encoded in said infrared control signal and said electrical signal;
• and
• transmission means for transmitting the RF carrier signal from said signal generator to the electronic device.

A method for effecting control of an electronic device from a manually actuated remote control, the method comprising:

• operating the remote control to produce an infrared signal;
• receiving said infrared signal at an audio speaker assembly of an audio reproduction system;
• at the speaker assembly, generating an RF carrier frequency;
• also at the speaker assembly, modulating the RF carrier frequency with instructions encoded in the received infrared control signal;
• and
• transmitting the RF carrier frequency from the speaker assembly to the electronic device.

An infrared remote control extension system for effecting control of an electronic device from a manually actuated remote control, the assembly comprising:

• an audio speaker assembly including an electro-acoustic transducer, said transducer being operatively coupled to an audio reproduction system;
• an infrared sensor at least indirectly attached to said speaker assembly for receiving and converting an infrared control signal from the remote control to an electrical signal;
• a signal generator operatively connected to said sensor for generating an RF carrier signal including control information encoded in said infrared control signal and said electrical signal;
• and
• transmission means for transmitting the RF carrier signal from said signal generator to the electronic device.

A method for effecting control of an electronic device from a manually actuated remote control, the method comprising:

• operating the remote control to produce an infrared signal;
• receiving said infrared signal at an audio speaker assembly of an audio reproduction system;
• at the speaker assembly, generating an RF carrier frequency including instructions encoded in the received infrared control signal;
• transmitting the RF carrier frequency from the speaker assembly to the electronic device;
• receiving an audio signal at said speaker assembly;
• converting said audio signal to an electrical signal;
• applying said electrical signal to said speaker to generate an acoustic pressure wave;
• and
• modifying, in accordance with instructions encoded in said infrared control signal, a characteristic of said electrical signal applied to said speaker assembly.

An infrared remote control extension system for effecting control of an electronic device from a manually actuated remote control, the assembly comprising:

• an audio speaker assembly including an electro-acoustic transducer, said transducer being operatively coupled to an audio reproduction system;
• an infrared sensor at least indirectly attached to said speaker assembly for receiving and converting the infrared control signal from the remote control to an electrical signal;
• a signal generator operatively connected to said sensor for generating an RF carrier signal including control information encoded in said infrared control signal and said electrical signal;
• and
• transmission means for transmitting the RF carrier signal from said signal generator to the electronic device.