Patents Assigned to Universal Electronics
  • System and methods for home appliance identification and control in a networked environment
    Publication number: 20050159823
    Abstract: A home control and automation system and method. The system generally includes one or more wireless remote controls, a plurality of appliances (including network enabled appliances and traditional legacy appliances in the exemplary system), associated control centric devices, and associated content centric devices. Various methods for control and operation of appliances in the networked home control and automation environment are disclosed. Specifically, methods are disclosed which enable advanced home control features such as location based control setup and operation, network enabled legacy appliances and system integration, save and recall capabilities for appliance and media states, generic command based appliance controls, dynamic/complex macro command generation, and Internet based control capabilities from remote locations are disclosed in conjunction with the system of the current invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Hayes, Jeremy Black
  • System and method for retrieving information while commanding operation of an appliance
    Patent number: 6917302
    Abstract: When a command key of a controlling platform is activated, the platform performs an operation associated with the command key and also initiates the retrieval of information from an information source. The information retrieved is related to the operation being performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Lilleness, Han-Sheng Yuh, Weidong William Wang, Wayne Scott
  • System and methods for interacting with a control environment
    Publication number: 20050134578
    Abstract: A system and methods for facilitation of user interactions with an electronic device. A number of user interface methods are described and may be used alone or in combination with one another to present an enhanced interface to a user. A method of providing user interaction using a compact status indicator is described. A method for providing a virtual scroll wheel to a user for interaction with content sets is described. A method for allowing a user to dynamically modify a scalable user interface is described. A method for providing gesture based input to a user via a virtual gesture pad is described. A method of providing an interactive graphic search query interface is described. A method for indicating and selecting available content type is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Chambers, Wayne Scott, Alex Louie, Cheryl Scott, Allen Yuh, Cesar Alvarado, Paul Arling
  • Remote control having a display with multi-function EL segments
    Publication number: 20050116930
    Abstract: An EL display is provided with EL segments which are individually illuminable and which include one or more complete function key images and/or fragments of complete function key images. One or more of the EL segments may thus be illuminated to present multiple, different user interfaces each having one or more complete function key images. A complete function key image presented as part of a user interface may be a complete key image that was included as part of an illuminated EL segment or may be formed by a combination of key image fragments included as part of multiple illuminated EL segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Gates
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING VOLTAGE LEVELS
    Publication number: 20050107966
    Abstract: A method for determining a power source voltage level of a power source in a system in which the power source is connected to a microcontroller. A charging circuit is in direct communication with a pin of the microcontroller and the power source voltage level is determined by charging the charging circuit using a constant voltage level and determining a time when the charging circuit attains a voltage level sufficient to transition the pin of the microcontroller from a state corresponding to a logic “0” to a state corresponding to a logic “1.” The determined time and a predetermined relationship between the power source voltage level and an input port transition voltage value of the microcontroller is then used to determine the power source voltage level of the power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Hayes
  • Home appliance control system and methods in a networked environment
    Publication number: 20050096753
    Abstract: A home control and automation system and method. The system generally includes one or more wireless remote controls, a plurality of appliances (including network enabled appliances and traditional legacy appliances in the exemplary system), associated control centric devices, and associated content centric devices. Various methods for control and operation of appliances in the networked home control and automation environment are disclosed. Specifically, methods are disclosed which enable advanced home control features such as location based control setup and operation, network enabled legacy appliances and system integration, save and recall capabilities for appliance and media states, generic command based appliance controls, dynamic/complex macro command generation, and Internet based control capabilities from remote locations are disclosed in conjunction with the system of the current invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Arling, Jeremy Black, Christopher Chambers, Mauro Dresti, Patrick Hayes, Robert Lilleness, Wayne Scott, Allen Yuh
  • System and method for controlling device location determination
    Publication number: 20050094610
    Abstract: A controlling device location determination system and method. A controlling device such as a remote control has programming for transmitting a signal response to a plurality of control environments, each environment including a signaling device. Each signaling device in receipt of the signal request sends a signal response having a unique ID (associated with location definitions relating to the environment from which he signaling device is located) which is chosen to be characteristically attenuated by the surroundings of the environment (i.e., IR signals in a room). Because the controlling device can only be in one environment at a given time, and given the attenuation characteristics of the signal response from each signaling device, only one signal response will be received by the controlling device in each environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan de Clerq, Christopher Chambers, Wayne Scott, Allen Yuh, Paul Arling, Robert Lilleness
  • System and method for saving and recalling state data for media and home appliances
    Publication number: 20050097618
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for enabling a user to save and recall media playback and device setting states across multiple sets of home appliances. A set of media playback and device settings data from each home appliance of a first set of home appliances is stored on a central server and/or sent to a remote control device upon initiation of a suspend command by a user. The stored media and devices states may be used at a later time to control the first set of home appliances, or a user may, after relocating to a second set of home appliances, initiate a resume state command whereupon media playback and device settings data from the central server and/or remote control device controls each home appliance in the second set of home appliances to bring about the same or substantially similar media and device states as in the first set of home appliances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Arling, Christopher Chambers, Wayne Scott, Mark Momot
  • Controlling device having a device mode state toggle feature
    Publication number: 20050088315
    Abstract: A controlling device having a feature for toggling between various device mode states. The device mode state toggle feature may be implemented as a key which is preferably located with the function keys thus being spaced from the top of the controlling device. The device mode state toggle feature may be used to sequentially toggle between all device mode states of the controlling device, to toggle between a currently selected device mode state and a previously selected device mode state of the controlling device, to toggle between device mode states that have been designated by a user of the controlling device, etc. An indicia, such as a LED, key illumination, color, sound, or the like, may be utilized to provide an indication to the user as to which device mode state the controlling device is placed into when the device mode state toggle feature is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sandro Klein, Patrick Hayes
  • System and method for determining voltage levels
    Patent number: 6885952
    Abstract: A method for determining a power source voltage level of a power source in a system in which the power source is connected to a microcontroller. A charging circuit is in direct communication with a pin of the microcontroller and the power source voltage level is determined by charging the charging circuit using a constant voltage level and determining a time when the charging circuit attains a voltage level sufficient to transition the pin of the microcontroller from a state corresponding to a logic “0” to a state corresponding to a logic “1.” The determined time and a predetermined relationship between the power source voltage level and an input port transition voltage value of the microcontroller is then used to determine the power source voltage level of the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick H. Hayes
  • System and method for limiting access to data
    Patent number: 6882729
    Abstract: A data system includes a secured appliance capable of receiving broadcast programming and a remote control used to transmit data frames to the secured appliance. The secured appliance is provided with a decryption key that is complimentary to an encryption key provided to the remote control. The encryption key is used to encrypt at least a part of a data frame transmitted by the remote control to the secured appliance, the data frame including data for commanding an operation of the secured appliance. The remote control cannot be used to command certain operations of the secured appliance until such time as the decryption key is supplied to the secured appliance thus effectively limiting the ability to use the secured appliance to access the broadcast programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes, Wayne Scott, Christopher Alan Chambers
  • Hand held device having a browser application
    Publication number: 20050080496
    Abstract: A hand-held device having a display and a browser application which supports functionality particularly suited for the hand-held device. For example, the browser application supports a full screen tag which allows information to be displayed as a full screen within the display. The browser application may also support a tag for use in displaying a link the activation of which will cause the hand-held device to transmit command codes to a consumer appliance. Still further, the browser application can support a tag which the hand-held device can use to issue reminders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Hayes, Steven Huang, Weidong Wang, Han-Sheng Yuh, Jonathan Lim, Joyce Presseau
  • Control device having integrated mouse and remote control capabilities
    Publication number: 20050078087
    Abstract: A controlling device for operating a PC and one or more home appliances. The described controlling device has integrated mouse and remote control functions, and may be configured to automatically detect whether the controlling device is being used as a mouse or as a remote control. For effective operation in both control modes, the controlling device includes both RF and IR transmitters, and is configured to transition between these transmission mediums based on the detection of whether the controlling device is being used as a mouse or as a remote control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Gates, Jeremy Black
  • Controlling device using visual cues to indicate appliance and function key relationships
    Publication number: 20050062636
    Abstract: A controlling device, such as a universal remote control, that uses visual and/or audio cues, such as sounds, color, patterns, shapes, etc., to indicate a relationship between a function key and an intended target appliance for a command transmitted in response to activation of the function key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: James Conway, Adam Villani
  • System and method for measuring and presenting memory size of a universal remote control
    Publication number: 20050062614
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring and presenting a size of a memory within a universal remote control. The described system and method allows a user to place a universal remote control into an operational mode wherein it measures a size of memory and reports the measured memory by means of an audio or visual indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Young
  • Controlling device using cues to convey information
    Publication number: 20050066370
    Abstract: A controlling device, such as a universal remote control, that uses visual, audio, and/or tactile cues, such as sounds, color, patterns, shapes, vibrations, etc., to indicate relationships. Relationships may be between a function key and an intended target appliance for a command transmitted in response to activation of the function key, a user and the controlling device, or a room and the controlling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Cesar Alvarado, Alex Louie, James Conway, Patrick Hayes
  • Remote control device with appliance power awareness
    Patent number: 6870463
    Abstract: A controlling device having programming which ensures an appliance will be placed into a desired power state. The controlling device transmits a query message to a power monitor associated with the appliance to obtain the current power state of the appliance. If the current power state corresponds to the desired power state, the controlling device inhibits the transmission of a command to the appliance to effect a change in the current power state of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Mauro Dresti, Patrick H. Hayes
  • System and method for adaptively controlling the recording of program material using a program guide
    Publication number: 20050055716
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying an electronic program guide (“EPG”), the EPG allowing for the controlling of recording functionality of an appliance and/or playing of media. The displayable EPG includes a listing of playable media from which the user may select a program of interest for recording or playing. The EPG may also include a display of prior recorded media for playing. Options may be presented to allow for a selection of a rendering device on which selected media is to be played.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Louie, Cesar Alvarado, Patrick Hayes
  • Universal remote control with display and printer
    Patent number: 6859197
    Abstract: Portable device to interface with a printer and with a computing device. The portable device may interface with a local printer through a base mated with the portable device or with a remote printer through a wireless communication link. The portable device preferably has standard remote control capability and web browsing capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sandro D. Klein, Mauro Dresti, Robert A. Campbell, Han-Sheng Yuh
  • Microphone
    Patent number: D504126
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Baltic Latvian Universal Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Martins Saulespurens, Bernard Wise