UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE
A universal remote control device includes a housing, an IR signal generator positioned in or on the housing, a user interface positioned in or on the housing, a control unit positioned in the housing and connected with the IR signal generator and the user interface, a rechargeable battery positioned in the housing and connected with the control unit, and first and second power contacts each connected with the rechargeable battery. Each power contact includes an external contact surface that is parallel, at least flush with, or outwardly offset from an unrecessed flat external surface of the housing.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Applicant No. 62/014,952 having the title UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL and filed on Jun. 20, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDThis disclosure relates to a universal remote control device and a charging base for the universal remote control device. In general, a remote control is an electronic device used to remotely control the operation of a machine such as a television. Universal remote control devices are used to remotely control multiple machines often manufactured by different manufacturers. Universal remote control devices generate infrared (IR) signals that are received by the machine to be controlled, and the machine performs particular functions based on the IR signals received from the universal remote control device. IR signals often require a line of sight between the device generating the IR signal and the machine receiving the IR signal.
Universal remote control devices often include a rechargeable battery as a power source. Power contacts electronically connected with the rechargeable battery are often provided in a recess formed in the housing of the universal remote control device. This recess mates with a pedestal or a similar extension on a charging base. The recess and corresponding pedestal are often small making it difficult to align of the universal remote control device with respect to the charging base.
A control unit, which is typically a small processor or integrated circuit, for the universal remote control device is programmed in a factory. It is desirable to program the control unit in an assembled universal remote control device. As such, it can be desirable to expose data contacts on the universal remote control device.
SUMMARYIn view of the foregoing, an improved universal remote control device is provided. Such a universal remote control device includes a housing, an IR signal generator positioned in or on the housing, a user interface positioned in or on the housing, a control unit positioned in the housing and connected with the IR signal generator and the user interface, a rechargeable battery positioned in the housing and connected with the control unit, and first and second power contacts each connected with the rechargeable battery. Each power contact includes an external contact surface that is parallel, at least flush with, or outwardly offset from an unrecessed flat external surface of the housing.
The aforementioned universal remote control device can be provided in combination with a charging base. The charging base includes a casing, first and second contact springs, and first and second electrical conductors. The casing includes a recess for receiving the universal remote control device. Each contact spring extends through a respective contact spring opening in the casing and into the recess. The first and second electrical conductors are each connected with a respective contact spring for connection with power conditioning electronics.
The universal remote control device 10 includes a housing 14, which in the illustrated embodiment is hollow and generally box shaped. When in use, the universal remote control device 10 is often oriented as shown in
With reference back to
The front wall 42 connects together the upper wall 16, the left side wall 18, the lower wall 20, and the right side wall 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the front wall 42 is made from glass. The front wall 42 includes an indicator light opening 52. The rear wall 44 connects the upper wall 16, the left side wall 18, the lower wall 20, and the right side wall 40 together. The rear wall 44 is also made from glass in the illustrated embodiment, which is IR transmissive.
With reference to
The control unit 64 can include a processor and other control circuitry and is powered by the rechargeable battery 66. The control unit 64 is electrically connected with a power switch 100 that can be operated by a power button 102 (
As indicated above, the IR signal generator 60 can include a plurality of IR signal generators such as an upper IR signal generator 170 (shown in phantom in
The universal remote control device 10 further includes a magnet 190, which is shown in phantom in
With reference back to
The casing 210 of the charging base 12 includes an upper cover 214 and a base wall 216 connected with the upper cover, both of which are made from an electrically nonconductive material such as plastic. A non-slip foot pad (not shown) can be provided on the base wall 216 so that when the base wall is supported on a support surface and parallel thereto the non-slip foot pad inhibits movement of the charging base 12 with respect to the support surface.
In the illustrated embodiment, the recess 212, which is provided in the casing 210, is provided in the upper cover 214 and extends toward the base wall 216 from a top 220 of the upper cover. The top 220 is generally planar and is positioned horizontally in a typical use configuration with the charging base 12 resting on a horizontal support surface. The top 220 includes an indicator opening 222. An indicator light 224 is visible through the indicator opening 222 to provide indications to an operator as to the charging status of the universal remote control device 10. The upper cover 214 further includes a first external end wall 226, which includes a power port opening 228. A power port 232, such as a micro USB, is accessible through the power port opening 228 in the first external end wall 226. The upper cover 214 also includes a second external end wall 234 opposite the first external end wall 226 and situated generally parallel to the first external end wall. The upper cover 214 also includes a first external side wall 236, which depends downwardly from the top 220 and is positioned perpendicular to the top 220, the first external end wall 226 and the second external end wall 234. The upper cover 214 further includes a second external side wall 238 positioned opposite the first external side wall 236 and depending downwardly from the top 220.
The recess 212 is defined by a floor 242 that is offset below the top 220. The recess 212 is further defined by an end wall 244 located at a first end of the floor 242 and extending away from the floor 242 in a first (upward) direction toward the top 220. The recess 212 is further defined by a first side wall (not visible in
First and second contact spring openings 260, 262, respectively are provided in the end wall 244. First and second contact springs 264, 266 each extend through a respective contact spring opening 260, 262 in the casing 210 and into the recess 212. First and second electrical conductors (depicted schematically in
With reference to
The power contacts 68 and 70 are appropriately spaced to inhibit a short circuit when charging the universal remote control device 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the first power contact 68 is positioned nearer to the left (first) side wall 18 as compared to the right (second) side wall 40 and the second power contact 70 is positioned nearer to the right (second) side wall 40 as compared to the left (first) side wall 18. Also, the first power contact 68 is positioned between the left (first) side wall 18 and the first data contact 138 and the second power contact 70 is positioned between the right (second) side wall 40 and the second data contact 140. Since the lower wall 20 is made from electrically nonconductive plastic, the power contacts 68, 70 and the data contacts 138, 140 are electrically isolated from one another.
As mentioned above, the universal remote control device 10 includes a magnet 190, which will be referred to as a first magnet, disposed adjacent to the rear wall 44 and nearer the lower wall 20 as compared to the upper wall 16 of the housing 14. The charging base 12 includes a second magnet 290 (shown in phantom in
With reference to
A universal remote control device and a charging base have been described above with particularity. Modifications and alterations will occur to those upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. The invention, however, is not limited to only the embodiments described above. Instead, the invention is broadly defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof. It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives or varieties thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
Claims
1. A universal remote control device comprising:
- a housing;
- a IR signal generator positioned in or on the housing;
- a user interface positioned in or on the housing;
- a control unit positioned in the housing and connected with the IR signal generator and the user interface;
- a rechargeable battery positioned in the housing and connected with the control unit; and
- first and second power contacts each connected with the rechargeable battery, wherein each power contact includes an external contact surface that is parallel, at least flush with, or outwardly offset from an unrecessed flat external surface of the housing.
2. The universal remote control device of claim 1, wherein each external surface is outwardly offset from and parallel with the unrecessed flat external surface.
3. The universal remote control device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a front wall, a rear wall spaced from the front wall, a lower wall connected with and disposed perpendicular to the front wall and the rear wall, and an upper wall connected with and disposed perpendicular to the front wall and the rear wall, and
- wherein the unrecessed flat external surface of the housing is provided on the lower wall.
4. The universal remote control device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a magnet,
- wherein the housing includes a rear wall, a lower wall connected with and disposed perpendicular to the rear wall, and an upper wall connected with and disposed perpendicular to the rear wall,
- wherein the lower wall includes first and second power contact openings each providing access to a respective power contact,
- wherein the magnet is disposed in the housing adjacent to the rear wall and nearer to the lower wall as compared to the upper wall.
5. The universal remote control device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a front wall, a rear wall spaced from the front wall, a lower wall connected with and disposed perpendicular to the front wall and the rear wall, and an upper wall connected with and disposed perpendicular to the front wall and the rear wall,
- wherein the IR signal generator includes an upper IR signal generator positioned in the housing and configured to generate an IR signal through the upper wall and a rear IR signal generator positioned in the housing and configured to generate an IR signal through the rear wall.
6. The universal remote control device of claim 5, further comprising a display associated with the front wall and a touch panel associated with the display,
- wherein the user interface includes a graphical user interface (GUI) presented on the display and associated with the touch panel, and
- wherein the upper IR signal generator is positioned between an upper edge of the display and the upper wall of the housing.
7. The universal remote control device of claim 6, wherein the display has an aspect ratio of 21:9.
8. The universal remote control device of claim 1, further comprising first and second data contacts each connected with the control unit, wherein each data contact includes an outer contact surface that is parallel, at least flush with, or outwardly offset from the unrecessed flat external surface of the housing.
9. The universal remote control device of claim 8, wherein the outer contact surfaces are parallel with the external contact surfaces.
10. The universal remote control device of claim 9, wherein the housing includes a front wall, a rear wall spaced from the front wall, a lower wall connected with and disposed perpendicular to the front wall and the rear wall, and an upper wall connected with and disposed perpendicular to the front wall and the rear wall, and wherein the unrecessed flat external surface of the housing is provided on the lower wall.
11. The universal remote control device of claim 10, wherein the housing includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall, wherein the first power contact is positioned between the first side wall and the first data contact and the second power contact is positioned between the second side wall and the second data contact.
12. The universal remote control device of claim 10, wherein the housing includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall, wherein the first power contact is positioned nearer to the first side wall as compared to the second side wall and the second power contact is positioned nearer to the second side wall as compared to the first side wall.
13. The universal remote control device of claim 12, wherein the first power contact is positioned between the first side wall and the first data contact and the second power contact is positioned between the second side wall and the second data contact.
14. In combination, the universal remote control device of claim 1 and a charging base, the charging base comprising:
- a casing having a recess for receiving the universal remote control device;
- first and second contact springs, each contact spring extending through a respective contact spring opening in the casing and into the recess; and first and second electrical conductors each connected with a respective contact spring for connection with power conditioning electronics.
15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the recess is defined by a floor, an end wall located at a first end of the floor extending away from the floor in a first direction, a first side wall extending away from the floor in the first direction and extending away from a first lateral end of the end wall toward a second, opposite, end of the floor, and a second side wall extending away from the floor in the first direction and extending away from a second, opposite, lateral end of the end wall toward the second end of the floor, wherein the contact spring openings are each provided in the end wall.
16. The combination of claim 15, wherein the universal remote control device further includes first and second data contacts each connected with the control unit, wherein each data contact includes an outer contact surface that is parallel, at least flush with, or outwardly offset from the external surface of the housing, and
- wherein the universal remote control device and the charging base being configured such that with the universal remote control device received in the recess of the charging base with the first and second power contacts contacting the first and second contact springs, respectively, the first and second data contacts are adjacent to or in contact with an electrically non-conductive section of the end wall offset from the first and second contact springs.
17. The combination of claim 15, wherein the universal remote control device further includes a first magnet and the charging base includes a second magnet,
- wherein the housing includes a rear wall, a lower wall connected with and disposed perpendicular to the rear wall, and an upper wall connected with and disposed perpendicular to the rear wall,
- wherein the lower wall includes first and second power contact openings each providing access to a respective power contact,
- wherein the first magnet is disposed adjacent to the rear wall nearer the lower wall as compared to the upper wall,
- wherein the second magnet is disposed adjacent the floor nearer the first end of the floor as compared to the second end.
18. The combination of the claim 17, wherein with the universal remote control device received in the recess of the charging base with the first and second power contacts contacting the first and second contact springs, respectively, and the floor of the recess being positioned nearer to horizontal as compared to vertical, a portion of the universal remote control device cantilevers from the casing and the first magnet cooperates with the second magnet to retain the universal remote control device in the recess.
19. The combination of claim 15, wherein the recess is deeper at the first end as compared to the second end measured in a direction normal to the floor.
20. The combination of claim 19, wherein the end wall located at the first end of the floor is equal in height to a lower wall of the housing of the universal remote control device.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 19, 2015
Publication Date: Dec 24, 2015
Inventors: David Skokna (Brooklyn, NY), Aleksandar Kirovski (Portland, OR), Richard Besen (New York, NY)
Application Number: 14/744,081