Remote Control Patents (Class 340/12.22)
  • Patent number: 8264333
    Abstract: A trainable transceiver for learning signal characteristics of an RF control signal received from a remote control transmitter used to remotely actuate a device and for subsequently transmitting a modulated RF signal having the learned signal characteristics includes an antenna, a wideband receiver and a control circuit. The wideband receiver is coupled to the antenna and is configured to receive an RF control signal from the remote control transmitter. The RF control signal includes a control code, a set of data characteristics and an RF carrier frequency. The control circuit is coupled to the wideband receiver and has a training mode in which the control circuit is configured to identify and store the control code of the RF control signal, to identify at least one data characteristic from the set of data characteristics and to identify at least one RF frequency associated with the RF control signal based on the at least one data characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: David A. Blaker, Loren D. Vredevoogd
  • Patent number: 8264332
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for demodulating a subcarrier tag signal in a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader is provided. The apparatus for demodulating the subcarrier tag signal in the RFID reader may include: an edge signal generation unit receiving a subcarrier tag signal and generating an edge signal with respect to the tag signal; an edge information extraction unit extracting edge information from the generated edge signal; and a decoding unit decoding the tag signal using the extracted edge information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Ji-Hoon Bae, Donghan Lee, Won Kyu Choi, Cheng-Hao Quan, Gil Young Choi, Jong-Suk Chae
  • Publication number: 20120219298
    Abstract: A remote control system and method having reduced vulnerability to noise. In an environment having noise at a frequency of infrared signals transmitted by a remote controller, errors and malfunctions in a remote control receiving device such as a set top box are controlled by selectively transmitting an entire code including header pulses and data pulses, or a repeat code including header pulses, data pulses and repeater pulses from the remote controller, and receiving and using the entire code or repeat code at the remote receiving device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byeong-Gyun YOU
  • Patent number: 8253618
    Abstract: A remote controller is provided with: at least one first input unit that macro-controls predetermined remotely controlled devices including signal source devices; a plurality of second input units that select the signal source devices; a memory unit that stores a plurality of remote control codes for remotely controlling the remotely controlled devices; a transmitting unit that externally transmits the remote control codes; and a control unit that, when the first input unit is operated, outputs the remote control codes for remotely controlling the plurality of remotely controlled devices to the transmitting unit, and causes the transmitting unit to externally transmit the codes, wherein when the first input unit and one of the second input units are operated in a predetermined manner, a signal source device to be remotely controlled by the first input unit is changed to a signal source device that has been selected by the operated one of the second input units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Onkyo Corporation
    Inventors: Tadaharu Sunaga, Naoki Hamada, Yoshimichi Kawata, Takumi Tanaka, Hiroyuki Fukuma
  • Patent number: 8253545
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a remote control and a host. The remote control is for generating different wireless signals. The host communicates with the remote control. The host includes a processor, a control panel, and a receiving unit. The control panel is for generating different key signals. The control panel includes a key for generating a locking signal and an unlocking signal. The receiving unit is for transferring the different key signals from the control panel to control the processor, and further for transferring the different wireless signals from the remote control to control the processor. The processor disables the receiving unit according to the locking signal and enables the receiving unit according to the unlocking signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tao Wang
  • Patent number: 8253529
    Abstract: An image acquisition system includes an image acquisition device and a commanding device configured as a member separate from an image acquisition device proper to transmit a command for controlling the image acquisition device to the image acquisition device proper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Nagahiro Gocho
  • Publication number: 20120214476
    Abstract: A portable information terminal is placed in proximity with an ID recognition unit of a notebook PC. By reading ID from the portable information terminal, the notebook PC is able to identify a network address of the portable information terminal so as to establish a network connection with the portable information terminal. The notebook PC then sends suitable operation information to the portable information terminal via a network. For example, if presentation is running on the notebook PC, screen information for operating the presentation is transferred to the portable information terminal. Accordingly, by using one device connected to the other device by a wired or wireless network, the operation of the other device can be controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Junichi Rekimoto, Yuji Ayatsuka, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Haruo Oba
  • Patent number: 8248540
    Abstract: In a broadcast signal receiving apparatus, a remote controller has, as one of a plurality of buttons thereof, a state changing button for instructing to change a source to be reproduced by a main body. The main body or the remote controller has a memory storing a first state changing table indicating an order in which the source is changed. When the state changing button is operated, if the broadcast signal is being received by the tuner portion and reproduced as the source, the main body performs state change such that the first source in the first state changing table is specified as the source to be reproduced by the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Hayashi, Hiroshi Yamaga, Hirofumi Okada
  • Patent number: 8242894
    Abstract: To realize a system for simplifying a user's operation to instruct a main device to operate as desired, using a remote control device such as a remote controller or the like. An operation device has an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration in one or more directions of the operation device. A main device has an operation control section for causing the main device to begin a predetermined operation according to an acceleration pattern detected by the acceleration sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Kutaragi
  • Publication number: 20120200399
    Abstract: A transmitting apparatus and receiving apparatus for indicating a position can be remotely controlled. The transmitting apparatus includes a means for measuring an inclined angle of a transmitter with respect to a gravity axis of the earth to measure and transmit the inclined value of the transmitter in addition to transmitting waveforms having different phase angles and the same frequency simultaneously and the receiving apparatus is configured by a receiving apparatus that receives and ultimately amplifies the transmitted signal and processes the amplified signal so as to acquire positional information regarding a shift of a phase which is shifted from a reference signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventor: Kwang Muk Chae
  • Publication number: 20120182134
    Abstract: A positioning system is provided for use in remotely-controlled surgical procedures. Also provided are methods of manufacture and use of such a positioning system. The positioning system may hold an instrument, and may provide multiple degrees of freedom of movement to the instrument. The positioning system may be coupled to a control unit, such that manipulation of the control unit results in movement of the positioning mechanism, thereby eliminating the need to manually hold and position the instrument. According to some aspects, the positioning system may be hydraulically actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: CAREFUSION 2200, INC
    Inventor: Mark Doyle
  • Patent number: 8223001
    Abstract: A target device comprising a wireless interface that transmits configuration data to and receives commands from a remote control device. A control module that receives said commands and that adjusts operation of said target device based thereon; and a user input interface for locally adjusting operation of said target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: Marvell International Ltd., Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventor: Sehat Sutardja
  • Publication number: 20120154129
    Abstract: A remote control for an electronic device comprises an input unit for generating control signals, a connector and a microprocessor. A connector with a plurality of interfaces, one end of connector is electrically connected to a transmission unit of the remote control via a data bus, each of the interfaces of the connector is configured for engaging with an interface of the electronic device for transmitting the control signals to the electronic device. The microprocessor determines which interface to transmit the control signals to the electronic device to control the electronic device to flip pages. A signal transmission method applied in a remote control for an electronic device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: KUAN-HONG HSIEH, HAN-CHE WANG, BO-CHING LIN, XIN ZHAO, CHIH-SAN CHIANG, HUA-DONG CHENG
  • Patent number: 8203436
    Abstract: A remote controller for operating another apparatus has: an operating unit having operation keys to which different key numbers have been allocated and with which operation commands for operating the another apparatus have been associated; a transmitting/receiving unit for communicating with the another apparatus by bidirectional radio communication; a memory to store the operation commands; and a control unit for reading out the operation command according to the executed operation and transmitting the operation command to the another apparatus. The control unit forms a request signal for requesting code information including a key number and the operation command, transmits it to the another apparatus, receives the code information corresponding to the request signal, and stores the operation command into the memory so as to be associated with the operation key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhisa Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8193945
    Abstract: A system and method for remote activation of a device includes, in one embodiment, a user interface for selecting a command associated with the one or more vehicle functions, a controller for processing the selected command, the controller having a plurality of input ports, and a switch array including a plurality of switches corresponding to the one or more vehicle functions. The plurality of switches can be divided into a first set and a second set with the first set of switches being connected across a fixed voltage and a controller input port and the second set of switches being connected across multiple controller input ports. The at least one of the controller input ports connecting the second set of switches may be temporarily configurable to an output port for determining which of the plurality of switches has been actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald O. King, Neal Richard Manson, Tom Q. Tang
  • Patent number: 8188842
    Abstract: The rotation operation plane of the ring-shaped operation members that operate the rotation is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so that the rotation operation of the ring-shaped operation member can be performed without holding a finger in the vertical direction. Furthermore, since the rotation operation plane is inclined with respect to the placement plane of the case, static friction on the placement plane is generated by a force component of the operation force acting on the rotation operation plane and is perpendicular to the placement plane, thus the case does not move toward the rotation operation direction during the rotation operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: SMK Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Otsuka, Ryuhei Noguchi, Noriaki Miyata
  • Patent number: 8183977
    Abstract: A control system includes: an input unit through which a signal for a gesture and a background of the gesture is input; a gesture recognition unit which recognizes the gesture on the basis of the input signal; an attribute recognition unit which recognizes an attribute of a background target of the recognized gesture on the basis of the input signal; and a command transmitting unit which generates a control command on the basis of a combination of the recognized gesture and the background target attribute and transmits the control command to a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeyuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8174358
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an X-ray system includes a handheld X-ray interface device. The handheld X-ray interface device includes a wireless interface for communicating with an imaging system and a tracking device configured to provide a location and/or to track movement of the handheld X-ray interface device relative to the imaging system, wherein the location or tracked movement of the handheld X-ray interface device is communicated to the imaging system as an input for at least one control function of the imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Mark Butzine, Jeremy Patrick Hannon
  • Publication number: 20120105216
    Abstract: A device for receiving a primary remote control signal and sending a secondary remote control signal where the primary remote control signal and the secondary remote control signal have the same signal-format, and where the secondary remote control signal comprises a secondary information value based upon a primary information value which is comprised by the primary remote control signal, is disclosed. The device is thus capable of eavesdropping on signals sent from a remote controller to a controllable device, and send secondary remote control signals which can be read by the controllable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Peter Bingley
  • Patent number: 8159354
    Abstract: A system for use in playing a video game, the system acting to measure the position of transponders for testing and to train the user to manipulate the position of the transponders while being guided by interactive and sensory feedback. A bidirectional communication link to a processing system supporting the video game provides functional movement assessment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Motiva LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Ferguson, Donald Gronachan
  • Patent number: 8159325
    Abstract: In response to continuous operation of an operation key on a remote control transmitter, the transmitter repetitively transmits a corresponding remote control signal with a predetermined cyclic period. The signal is received and analyzed by a remote control receiver and transmitted via a wired transmission path to a remote control re-transmitter. Then, the signal is re-transmitted by the re-transmitter via the wired transmission path. Due to a low transmission speed of the transmission path, the transmission path can not transmit all data of the remote control signal to the re-transmitter. Thus, until the next data are received from the transmission path, the re-transmitter interpolates the remote control signal based on the last data, and repetitively transmits the interpolated signal with the predetermined cyclic period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20120081216
    Abstract: A remote-controlled motion apparatus is controlled by a remote control apparatus. The remote control apparatus transmits a target motion signal by radio. The remote-controlled motion apparatus includes a communication module, an acceleration sensing module, a processing module and a driving module. The communication module receives the target motion signal from the remote control apparatus. The acceleration sensing module senses an acceleration of the remote-controlled motion apparatus to output an acceleration sensing signal. The processing module is coupled with the acceleration sensing module and the communication module, and processes the acceleration sensing signal and the target motion signal to output a driving control signal. The driving module is coupled with the processing module to receive the driving control signal, and adjusts the driving of the remote-controlled motion apparatus according to the driving control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventor: Yu-Tuan LEE
  • Patent number: 8149084
    Abstract: A remote control apparatus and method of using are disclosed for controlling an electronic appliance such as a television set, radio, computer, or other. The remote control apparatus may include a hand held housing, a wireless transmitter for sending signals to the appliance, and a manually operated rotary controller for causing operation adjusting signals to be generated and supplied to the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: Lane T. Hauck
  • Publication number: 20120068833
    Abstract: An electronic device configured for closed loop remote control functionality and related methods are disclosed herein. In particular, in one embodiment, an electronic device configured for closed loop remote control functionality is provided. The device includes a processor and a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit instructions to a remotely controlled device. Additionally, the device includes an input device configured to allow a user to provide input to the electronic device related to remote control and one or more sensors configured to obtain information related to a state of the remotely controlled device. The processor is configured to use the information obtained by the one or more sensors to determine the state of the remote controlled devices upon receiving the input from a user to transmit instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Publication number: 20120068832
    Abstract: Presented is a wall-mounted control system for a portable touch screen device. The control system includes a housing, a touch screen mounting member moveably coupled to the housing and configured to releasably hold the portable touch screen device, a processor configured for providing an interface between the portable touch screen device and one or more remote systems, a docking connector configured for electrically mating with the portable touch screen device and establishing electrical communication between the processor and the portable touch screen device, and a communication circuitry configured for establishing communication between the processor the one or more remote systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: George Feldstein, Mark LaBosco, Timothy Wickham
  • Patent number: 8138894
    Abstract: An in-vehicle device notifies a mobile device of a frequency channel which has been stored in its memory unit, and sets the notified channel to a reception channel. The mobile device transmits a reply signal through the channel notified from the in-vehicle device. When the in-vehicle device determines that a code included in the received reply signal is identical with a code specific to a vehicle, the in-vehicle device stores the channel used for receiving the reply signal in its memory unit. As a result, each communication is conducted through the same channel, which enabled the successful communication previously, thereby enhancing the certainty of communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Kato, Masahiro Sugiura, Kazuhiro Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8134454
    Abstract: The present invention supports the remote control of a controlled device. A hybrid device receives a control signal over an infrared communications channel or a wireless networking channel. The hybrid device can replace an IR receiver module in the controlled device in order to provide backward compatibility as well as provide universal operation with a wireless networking controller. The hybrid device processes a signal received over one of the communications channels. When a signal is received over the infrared communications channel, the processor converts the signal to an output code that is sent to a device controller. When a signal is received over the wireless networking communications channel, the processor converts the signal to a wireless command, converts the wireless command to an output code, and sends the output code to the device controller. All output codes are transparent for the two communications channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Computime, Ltd
    Inventors: Wai-leung Ha, Kairy Kai Lei, Gordon Qian
  • Patent number: 8134453
    Abstract: An RF communications system including a controlled apparatus configured to receive a RF signal transmitted from a remote control transmitter on a channel that the controlled apparatus can receive, without providing a response signal to the remote control transmitter. The RF transmitting circuit unit of the remote control transmitter transmits RF signals on all of a number of selected transmission channels in a wireless frequency band, while the RF receiving circuit unit of the controlled apparatus stands by to receive an RF signal on a channel of the selected channels that has a relatively low electric field intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: SMK Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Ootsuka
  • Patent number: 8134649
    Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate the elimination of interference of an IR signal emitted from an IR blaster by the IR signal emitted from a remote control unit. In a preferred embodiment in which an AV device coupled to a television receives IR signals repeated and transmitted by the television over an IR blaster cable, a right hand polarizer lens is positioned on the front of the remote control unit in front of the IR emitter and a left hand polarizer lens is positioned on the AV device in front of its IR detector. In operation, the IR beam emitted from the remote control unit is right hand polarized and is blocked by the left hand polarizer lens. The IR beam emitted from the IR blaster is randomly polarized and passes through the left hand polarizer lens with only a slight attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America, Inc.
    Inventor: Harlan Rogers
  • Publication number: 20120056730
    Abstract: A click position control apparatus (3601) that controls a click position on a touch sensor (102) clicked by a user when the user operates an input device (101) including a clickable touch sensor (105) including the touch sensor (102) and a click detecting unit (103), the click position control apparatus including: a touch position information generating unit (401) which generates touch position information indicating a position on the touch sensor (102) touched by the user; a click judging unit (402) which detects a click on the click detecting unit (103); a click position information generating unit (403) which generates click position information indicating a click position when the click is detected; and a correcting unit (404) which corrects the click position information based on a positional relationship between a reference position on the input device (101) and the click position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ujiie, Susumu Kobayashi, Masaki Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20120056729
    Abstract: A remote control communicates via two-way communication with a controller for a bed facility to allow a user of the remote control to control a function of the bed facility. Adjustable features of an adjustable bed can be controlled through the two-way communication. Inflation or other features of an air mattress can be controlled through the two-way communication. Two-way communication is supported by either a wired connection or a wireless connection such as Bluetooth, USB, ultra wideband, and the like. The two-way communication also supports the remote control controlling a second system that is associated with the adjustable bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventor: Martin B. Rawls-Meehan
  • Publication number: 20120055387
    Abstract: A shallow water anchor is provided. The shallow water anchor comprises a first anchor extension and a second anchor extension axially received by a housing. The first anchor extension is axially received by the second anchor extension such that the first and second anchor extensions are sequentially deployable from the housing using an actuation arrangement. The actuation arrangement is controlled by a control interface that is operable to detect when the shallow water anchor has reached a fully extended state and fully retracted state. The shallow water anchor further includes a biasing compensator that compensates for fluctuations in the overall depth of water the anchor is deployed in due to waves or other anomalies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC.
    Inventors: Darrel A. Bernloehr, Gregory Paul Beamer, David M. Samek
  • Publication number: 20120048122
    Abstract: This invention relates to an interactive device (100) to interactively communicate with a remote device (107). A receiver (101) receives event related information from a remote device which supplies the event related information which includes event progress information. A display (102) displays an image of the current status of the event based on the received event related information. A progress indicator (103) indicates the progress of the event based on received progress information. A sensor (104) receives a modification command from a user indicating a modification of the progress of the event, and a transmitter (105) for transmits the modification command to the remote device. The remote device then adjusts the progress of the event in accordance to the received modification command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Pavankumar M. Dadlani Mahtani, Alexander Sinitsyn
  • Publication number: 20120050622
    Abstract: An electronic device for controlling a remote electronic device is described. The electronic device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The electronic device enters a control state that is not a power off state and is not a power on state. The electronic device also generates a control message for a remote electronic device while in the control state. The electronic device further transmits the control message for controlling the remote electronic device while in the control state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Control4 Corporation
    Inventors: Wallace Eric Smith, William B. West
  • Patent number: 8125318
    Abstract: A wireless control system for use with a patient-support apparatus includes a first receiver located on the patient-support apparatus and a wireless hand-held controller configured to wirelessly communicate with the first receiver to control functions of the patient-support apparatus and/or functions of hospital room equipment. The wireless control system may also include a second receiver located apart from the patient-support apparatus. The wireless hand-held controller may be configured to wirelessly communicate with the second receiver to control functions of the hospital room equipment. Additionally, the wireless control system may include a docking station configured to receive and charge the wireless hand-held controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Heimbrock, Craig A. McNeely, Keith A. Huster
  • Patent number: 8120470
    Abstract: An edge signal extractor generates an edge signal according to a sound wave generated for controlling the electronic appliance. According to the edge signal, an edge pulse generator generates an edge pulse. If a predetermined number of such edge signals are generated, a controller displays, on a display of the electronic appliance, one of menu images associated with control operations of the electronic appliance in an active state. The controller alternately displays, in an active state, the menu images on the display at predetermined intervals. When the edge pulse is generated, the controller carries out the control operation associated with the presently displayed menu image with respect to an electronic appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Limited
    Inventor: Masahiro Kitaura
  • Patent number: 8115596
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling distant equipment. A passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag within a Programmable Secure Remote Controller (PSRC) receives a radio frequency (RF) signal from a transmitter integrated in the distant equipment. The distant equipment is external to and remote from the PSRC. The PRSC does not include an internal source of energy and requires energy from an external source to operate. The PSRC is configured to distribute sufficient energy from the RF signal to components of the PSRC to enable the components to operate. The RFID tag is activated to generate information and the information is decoded to identify the distant equipment. A request to perform an operation that controls the distant equipment is received. After the request is received, a first predefined scenario is activated for performing the operation that controls the distant equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Intermational Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Arnaud Lund
  • Patent number: 8111185
    Abstract: A universal remote control device (100) is provided which is able to operate different electronic devices such as television sets, recorders, set top boxes, and audio systems. The universal remote control device (100) is provided with a database (10) in which control data collected from a plurality of individual physical remote control units (2) is stored in a structured manner. To enable the memory storing the database (10) to be kept small, repetitious and/or redundant control data is omitted. In addition, the database structure uses a hierarchical structure and inheritance. The control data of a physical remote in memory may be stored, therefore, in part in a child physical remote and also in one or more parent or grandparent virtual remotes. Such a structure enables control information which is common to a number of remotes to be stored in just a single occurrence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: EchoStar Global B.V.
    Inventors: Sieme Teuling, Menno De Jong, Jeroen van Oorspronk
  • Publication number: 20120025958
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a storage unit, a sound signal receiving unit, a remote signal generating unit, a processing unit, and a transmitting unit. The control table records RC devices, sound parameters, and control commands. Each RC device is associated with at least one sound parameter. Each sound parameter corresponds to one control command. The sound signal receiving unit receives sound signals. The processing unit determines a sound parameter according to the received sound signals, searches in the control table to determine the control command the sound parameter corresponding to according to a selected RC device, and controls the remote signal generating unit to generate a remote signal corresponding to the determined control command. The transmitting unit transmits the remote signal to the selected RC device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: PING-YANG CHUANG, YING-CHUAN YU
  • Publication number: 20120025959
    Abstract: An input device for a computer or other programmable device translates the proximity of an object to one or more antennae into an electronic signal. The antennae generate a first frequency and a second frequency. When an object, such as a hand, is placed in proximity to the antenna, the object causes the first and second frequencies to heterodyne, which creates a third frequency, also referred to as a beat frequency or pulse frequency. A receiver interprets the pulse frequency and translates it into an electronic signal that can be used to command a computer or other programmable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: Chauncy Godwin
  • Patent number: 8106749
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided for controlling a controller without physically touching the controller. A hand or other object interacts with a field surrounding the controller, altering the field. A change in characteristic of the altered field causes a corresponding movement of the controller that, in turn, corresponds to an amount of change in a parameter of a target device being controlled by the controller. The parameter of the target device is controlled by the controller while a user has no physical contact with the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson MObile Communications AB
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Ina, William O. Camp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8106748
    Abstract: A remote-controlled motion apparatus is controlled by a remote control apparatus. The remote control apparatus transmits a target motion signal by radio. The remote-controlled motion apparatus includes a communication module, an acceleration sensing module, a processing module and a driving module. The communication module receives the target motion signal from the remote control apparatus. The acceleration sensing module senses an acceleration of the remote-controlled motion apparatus to output an acceleration sensing signal. The processing module is coupled with the acceleration sensing module and the communication module, and processes the acceleration sensing signal and the target motion signal to output a driving control signal. The driving module is coupled with the processing module to receive the driving control signal, and adjusts the driving of the remote-controlled motion apparatus according to the driving control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Yu-Tuan Lee
  • Patent number: 8106743
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is remotely controlled based on a remote control signal transmitted from a remote controller using radio wave. The electronic apparatus contains a communication module that receives the remote control signal transmitted from the remote controller and an electronic apparatus main body that performs predetermined processing based on the remote control signal from the remote controller. The remote control signal is received by the communication module. The communication module has an intermittent operation mode in which the communication module operates intermittently when the electronic apparatus main body shifts to a standby state thereof. The period of off time of the communication module in the intermittent operation mode thereof is shorter than a period of transmission time of the remote controller for transmitting a power-on signal that causes the electronic apparatus main body to shift the standby state thereof to a normal state thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Katsuyama
  • Publication number: 20120019371
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a universal remote control, which includes a display screen and a user input mechanism. The universal remote control also includes a processing unit that is configured to display information on the display screen and to accept selection data from the user input mechanism. The universal remote control additionally includes a wireless communication mechanism that is configured to provide communications between the processing unit and an appliance or computer program running on a computer system. The appliance provides information to be displayed on the display screen, and information entered through the user input mechanism is communicated to the appliance. Since the appliance provides the information to be displayed on the display screen and also interprets the entries on the input mechanism, the universal remote control needs no special knowledge about the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Alberto Vidal
  • Patent number: 8098140
    Abstract: A remote control is configured by a user specifying a type and brand of a consumer electronic device. A plurality of function code sets that have been identified as being candidates for commanding operations of the specified type and brand of consumer electronic device are selected and at least a subset of each of the plurality of selected function code sets is made available such that a user may determine by experimentation which one of the plurality of function code sets is appropriate for commanding operations of the specified type and brand of consumer electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus Escobosa, Patrick H. Hayes, James N. Conway, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110309914
    Abstract: A remote control system includes an emitter and a remote controller. The emitter is installed in an electronic device and is configured for emitting a search signal. The remote controller includes a wireless receiving module and a beacon module. The wireless receiving module is configured for receiving the search signal transmitted from the emitter to activate the beacon module to emit a guiding signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: LUNG DAI
  • Publication number: 20110298594
    Abstract: An apparatus for remotely controlling an eReader device including a transceiver. The transceiver can receive an input data from a user, convert the input data to an output data and send the output data to the eReader. Further, the output data can include an eReader command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick Mish, Jim Ward, Adam Ashley
  • Publication number: 20110298581
    Abstract: A universal remote controller comprises a controlling and processing module to control and process the universal remote controller for operating; a storage module coupled to the controlling and processing module and utilized for storing information data, such as remote digital codes of several remote controllable electric devices; a display module coupled to the controlling and processing module and displays an operating interface of the universal remote controller; a finger control module coupled to the controlling and processing module for operating and controlling the universal remote controller; a keypad module coupled to the controlling and processing module for operating and controlling any remote controllable electric device; and a signal transmission module coupled the controlling and processing module to receive a command and emit a controlling signal to the remote controllable electric device for remote controlling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: Wei HSU
  • Patent number: 8072315
    Abstract: A universal decoding device and associated method is provided. The universal decoding device includes a counter unit for counting signal cycles and a logic unit for identifying coded data or commands according to counted signal cycles. The logic unit includes a register, an boundary logic unit, a key identification unit, a code bank, a multiplexer, and a FIFO memory. The universal decoding device is capable of operating in a full decoding mode, a raw data decoding mode, and a software decoding mode. In the full decoding mode, the FIFO stores remote control commands corresponding to the counted signal cycles through the multiplexer. In the raw data decoding mode, the FIFO stores raw data corresponding to the counted signal cycles through the multiplexer. In the software decoding mode, the FIFO stores the counted signal cycles provided by the counter unit through the multiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Sheng-Feng Lin
  • Publication number: 20110291800
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an X-ray system includes a handheld X-ray interface device. The handheld X-ray interface device includes a wireless interface for communicating with an imaging system and a tracking device configured to provide a location and/or to track movement of the handheld X-ray interface device relative to the imaging system, wherein the location or tracked movement of the handheld X-ray interface device is communicated to the imaging system as an input for at least one control function of the imaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Mark Butzine, Jeremy Patrick Hannon