Transmitter For Remote Control Signal Patents (Class 341/176)
  • Patent number: 8212708
    Abstract: The remote controller includes: a casing with a battery holder provided to house a battery; a lid to cover the battery holder of the casing and provided with a latch-hook extending downward at its end; a switch-contact to carry out electrical switching conducted by the operation panel; a controller to send remote signals from transmitter in response to the electrical switching of the switch-contact; a plurality of protrusions provided symmetrically on the front and rear surfaces of the latch-hook on the lid; and latch-pawls provided on the casing internally to engage with the protrusions. The remote controller can hold the lid reliably and additionally can open/shut the lid easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Nozoe, Taisaku Maeda
  • Patent number: 8212707
    Abstract: A remote control system is provided. The remote control system includes at least one first remote control apparatus and at least one second remote control apparatus. The at least one first remote control apparatus includes a command input unit, a first control unit, and a first output unit. The at least one second remote control apparatus includes a first user interface unit, a first input unit, a second control unit, and a second output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsugihiko Haga, Hiroto Kimura, Masanori Machimura, Koichiro Tsuji, Toshiyuki Hino, Tetsujiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 8207883
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for remote control of electronic products using a portable terminal. The portable terminal performs a remote control function in the remote control mode. When communication is tried during the remote control mode, the portable terminal terminates the remote control mode and displays the communication state to provide a communication service upon a user's selection. When the communication ends, the portable terminal returns to the remote control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jae-Ser Lee, Soon-Jin Kim
  • Publication number: 20120154195
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for selecting a remote controlled device to be controlled from among a plurality of remote controllable devices. The system includes an electronic device having a registration interface configured to register device data corresponding to the plurality of remote controllable devices, a position locator configured to determine position data corresponding to a position of the electronic device, and an orientation interface configured to receive orientation data corresponding to an orientation of a user. A controller is configured to select the remote controlled device based on the device data, the position data, and the orientation data. The plurality of remote controllable devices each may include a respective data source configured to provide the device data, and a headset may be configured to generate the orientation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
    Inventors: Martin Nystrom, Erik Ahlgren
  • 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: 8198988
    Abstract: In certain embodiments consistent with the invention, a method of associating a controlled device with a remote controller device involves providing a controlled device with a near field communication (NFC) module; providing a remote controller device with a near field communication (NFC) module; bringing the remote controller device into close enough proximity to the controlled device to establish an NFC communication link; communicating secret data between the remote controller device and the controlled device to establish an association between the remote controller device and the controlled device so that commands from the remote controller device to the controlled device will be accepted. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Hardacker, David H. Bessel
  • 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: 8187095
    Abstract: A universal game console controller that has an LCD presenting, depending on what type of game console a user has input, a controller key layout for a first type of game console or a controller key layout for a second type of game console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ling Jun Wong, Utkarsh Pandya, Biranchi Narayan Rout
  • Publication number: 20120127011
    Abstract: A remote control method applied to a remote control system, including a remote control device and at least one be-controlled device, includes the following steps. The remote control device discovers the at least one be-controlled device dynamically via a network and retrieves a device control profile from the at least one be-controlled device. The device control profile includes a composite finite state machine representing the dependency of various operation states of the at least one be-controlled device and multiple control codes coded in a bit-string format. Then the remote control device retrieves a current operation state code from the at least one be-controlled device via the network periodically. The remote control device analyzes the current operation state code based on the device control profile to accordingly generate a user interface to control the at least one be-controlled device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kuen-Ming Lee, Chi-Wei Huang, Yu-Chang Chao
  • Publication number: 20120127012
    Abstract: In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling a receiving device, the method comprising: detecting a position of a control device operated by a user; detecting horizontal orientation or vertical inclination of the control device; based on the position and the horizontal orientation or vertical inclination of the control device, determining that the control device is pointed at the receiving device as opposed to another receiving device in the vicinity; and causing the control device to control the receiving device at which it is pointed based on the determination that the control device is pointed at the receiving device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daniel P. GICKLHORN, Dang TRAN, Michael R. LOVELACE, Andrew R. SHELANSKY
  • Patent number: 8179244
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byeong-Gyun You
  • Patent number: 8179297
    Abstract: A remote control device which can remotely control drive quantities of apparatuses arranged two-dimensionally and better matches a sense of adjustment of a user with being excellent in usability. The remote control device comprises an acceleration sensor unit including an acceleration sensor to detect three-dimensional acceleration; a specified area determining unit that determines one of the plurality of areas to be a specified area based on detected acceleration of the acceleration sensor unit in a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction in the plane; and a drive quantity determining unit that determines a drive quantity of one of the subject apparatuses placed in the specified area according to a detected acceleration of the acceleration sensor unit in a third direction perpendicular to the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Lapis Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8179404
    Abstract: An appliance according to the present invention is operative under instructions from a plurality of control units, which includes a first control unit and a second control unit. The first control unit outputs a first control signal to the appliance to instruct the appliance to perform a predetermined operation. The second control unit outputs a second control signal to the appliance to instruct the appliance to perform the predetermined operation. The appliance includes a receiving section that receives the first and second control signals and an image control section that changes sizes of a particular image to be presented during the predetermined operation depending on whether the receiving section has received the first control signal or the second control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Tamio Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 8174133
    Abstract: A remote control is suggested, which comprises an electric signal transmitter being supplied with energy from an electrical energy storage device. The remote control comprises a generator for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy to be stored in the electrical energy storage device. The remote control is provided with a display indicating an empty electrical energy storage device. The display informs the user immediately and unambiguously about the situation that he has to recharge the energy storage of the remote control before he tries to send out a command in vain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Kim Suan Pang, Vinod Menon
  • Patent number: 8174411
    Abstract: A system, such as a web server, in communication with the database, includes a configurator application for providing data from the database to a consumer to thereby allow the consumer to configure a controlling device whereupon the controlling device will be adapted to command functional operations of one or more appliances and a builder application for providing data from the database to a developer to thereby allow the developer to develop one or more codesets to be provisioned to a controlling device to thereby allow the controlling device to be adapted to command functional operations of one or more appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: UEI Cayman Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Lee, Oscar C. Miramontes
  • Publication number: 20120098692
    Abstract: A remote controller is arranged for selecting a light source among a plurality of light sources. The remote controller has an omnidirectional transmitter and is arranged to instruct, by means of the omnidirectional transmitter, the light sources to transmit a directional signal comprising a code, which is unique for each light source. Further, the remote controller has a directional signal receiver, and is arranged to receive the directional signals from the light sources, and signal comparison circuitry connected with the directional signal receiver. The remote controller is arranged to select one of the light sources on basis of the received directional signals. Furthermore, the remote controller comprises a transmission indicator, which is arranged to generate an indication signal, indicative of a successful omnidirectional transmission, and it is arranged to initiate the selection of one of the light sources by means of the indication signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Johan Cornelis Talstra, Hendricus Theodorus Gerardus maria Penning De Vrier, George Frederic Yianni, James Joseph Anthony Mccormack
  • Publication number: 20120092204
    Abstract: A method of selecting a light source among a plurality of light sources by means of a remote controller includes the remote controller: instructing, by omnidirectional transmission, the light sources to each transmit a directional signal comprising a code, which is unique for each light source; receiving the directional signals from the light sources; and selecting one of the light sources on basis of the received directional signals. Furthermore, the method includes: generating, remotely of the light sources, codes to be transmitted by the light sources; and the remote controller instructing each one of the light sources which one of the remotely determined codes to transmit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Johan Cornelis Talstra, Hendricus Theodorus Gerardus Maria Penning De Vries, George Frederic Yianni
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8138942
    Abstract: An annular operation unit is formed as an outer shape to cover entire outline of a surface of a case, and inputting switches and displaying unit are attached inside of an opening at the center side of the annular operation unit, allowing the annular operation unit to have a size to perform fine rotational operations in case the entire size of the remote control transmitting device is miniaturized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: SMK Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Otsuka, Ryuhei Noguchi, Noriaki Miyata
  • 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
  • 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: 8134488
    Abstract: An exemplary remote controller for a mobile internet device includes a remote control module, a center control module, and a wireless transmitter. The mobile internet device includes a wireless receiver disposed therein. The remote control module generates a control signal. The center control module determines whether the control signal is legal. The transmitter reads out a wireless data from the control signal and transmits to the wireless receiver. A remote control system and method thereof are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Action Technology (SZ) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Juen Tien Peng
  • Patent number: 8130134
    Abstract: The claimed invention relates to an interactive television system including a controller for converting the hand motion of the user into acceleration data of three axes by a single 3-axis accelerometer 113 and an interactive system for mapping the output of the acceleration data with the pre-defined data in a motion database thereof so that the user can remotely control the TV centric devices with a reduced set of instructions. The claimed invention also relates to a method of using a controller incorporated with a single 3-axis accelerometer to control an interactive system for TV centric devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Bojun Meng, Yeaun Jau Liou
  • Patent number: 8125368
    Abstract: The present invention relates to touch-screen intuitive based control elements and interfaces and devices using said intuitive based control elements. Control elements provided herein having intuitive shapes and/or positions described above as associated with the man-machine interfaces are provided integral with a display screen or as a module for a touch-screen device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: About Face Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Kimberly A. McRae
  • Publication number: 20120032830
    Abstract: A motion controlled vehicle power adapter with a vehicle power adapter that can be plugged into the 12V vehicle power outlet and has a remote motion sensor at one end of the vehicle power adapter opposite the end that plugs into the 12 V vehicle power outlet. The remote motion sensor is operated by the operator's hand motion near the sensor without contacting the sensor. The remote motion sensor may be detachable from the vehicle power adapter. The operator's hand motions are translated into control signals and sent to a portable electronic device to control its functions. The control signals may be sent through a wire or wirelessly through a wireless transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Ever Win International Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Yamamoto
  • 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: 20120026097
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a remote control which may include one or more buttons configured to provide input to the remote control upon being activated, a transmitter for transmitting data, a receiver for receiving data, a processor and memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed, cause the two-way remote control to perform a method for configuring repeat transmission behavior of one or more of the buttons of the two-way remote control. Further, the receiver may be configured to receive data from a device configured to be controlled by the remote control and the data may include instructions for configuring the repeat transmission behavior of the one or more buttons of the two-way remote control. Additionally, the two-way remote control may configure the repeat transmission behavior of the one or more buttons of the two-way remote control based on the data received from the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Ross GILSON
  • 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: 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.
  • Publication number: 20120007763
    Abstract: A receiver interacts with a remote control to assist with one or more user-defined macros. In a first embodiment, the receiver may execute a macro recording program to record user input and create a macro based at least partially thereon. The receiver may associate the macro with a remote control selection element or a menu element of a menu operable to be displayed by the receiver on a display. The receiver may also transmit the macro to a storage medium. Subsequently, the user may trigger execution of the macro by the remote control or the receiver. In executing the macro, the remote control or the receiver may transmit instructions to entertainment system components or may signal the other to do so. In a second embodiment, the remote control may record the macro transmit it to the receiver for storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Nathan Hale, David A. Innes
  • Patent number: 8089389
    Abstract: The present invention relates to intuitive based control elements and interfaces and devices using said intuitive based control elements. In certain embodiments, machine interfaces such as remote control devices for operation of various devices are provided. More specifically, machine interfaces according to embodiments of the invention herein include one or more control elements in the form of shapes and/or positioned indicia to facilitate operation by users. Control elements provided herein having intuitive shapes and/or positions described above as associated with the man-machine interfaces may also be provided integral with various devices. For example, personal electronic devices, personal care devices, personal healthcare devices, communications devices and personal comfort devices may benefit from control elements having intuitive shapes and/or positions associated with the function as described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: About Face Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Kimberly A. McRae
  • Publication number: 20110309964
    Abstract: A network of devices with remote control includes a network interconnecting two or more networked devices and a wireless remote control unit for communicating with one or more of the networked devices. The remote control unit stores an interface for one or more of the networked devices so that the networked devices can be controlled with the remote control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicants: Sony Electronics Inc., Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Poslinski
  • Patent number: 8081102
    Abstract: A database of codesets for a remote control device includes codeset information blocks for derivative codesets and codeset information blocks for nonderivative codesets. A codeset information block for a derivative codeset includes: a bit indicating that the block is for a derivative codeset, a plurality of bits each of which corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of fields in a referenced codeset information block, and a pointer that points to the referenced codeset information block. The digital value of a bit determines whether information from the corresponding field in the referenced block will be used as part of the derivative codeset or whether such information is contained in the derivative codeset information block itself. The sizes of the fields in the referenced block are predetermined or are determinable, so a field in the referenced block can be located if its bit is set in the referencing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: UEI Cayman, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam P. G. Provis
  • Patent number: 8081103
    Abstract: For a remote controller that is mainly used for simply and surely controlling various electronic devices, when predetermined pressing force is imposed on an operating body, a predetermined set value is stored in a storing section when a detection value of a pressure-sensitive conducting contact exceeds a predetermined resistance value and the detected value is stored in the storing section when the detection value of the contact point is within the range of the predetermined resistance value. Since a remote control signal is generated using a ratio of a value stored in the storing section and a value obtained when the remote controller is operated, an electronic device can be controlled without being influenced by variation of elements constituting the remote controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Yamagiwa
  • Publication number: 20110302607
    Abstract: A hospitality media system includes a media system controller and a plurality of controllable devices operable by the media system controller, each of a plurality of rooms having one or more in-room controllable devices. A communication module performs data communications with a mobile device. An authentication module receives identification information from the mobile device, determines a registered room currently associated with the identification information, and includes in an authorized subset of the controllable devices for which the mobile device is authorized to operate at least the in-room controllable devices of the registered room. The media system controller operates the authorized subset of the controllable devices in dependence upon commands received from the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Warrick, Brendan Cassidy, Brian King, Lea Lorenzo, Blake Read, Ian McBeth
  • Publication number: 20110298646
    Abstract: Universal Remote Controls are designed for controlling a large amount of appliances. Each of these appliances needs to be controlled by using codes of its own code set. For this reason, Universal Remote Controls store multiple code sets, so that they are able to control any of the appliances by using the corresponding code set. A method is described for determining the right code set to be used for controlling an appliance. Thereto, the remote control sends one or more commands using the corresponding code of at least one of the multiple code sets to the appliance (3040). The code set to be used for controlling this appliance is determined based on at least a command sent to the appliance by a user of the remote control, in reaction thereto (3070).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Lucas Griet Johan Hellemans
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8068013
    Abstract: A RF communication system includes a RF communication module capable of controlling either an IR communication system-controlled device or a controlled device not equipped with a reception circuit for receiving IR signals remotely with RF signals. The RF communication module is equipped with an antenna for receiving RF signals, a RF communication circuit for demodulating the remote control data from the RF signal received by the antenna, a UART interface for outputting bit stream remote data to a device-side microcomputer of the controlled device, and a communication control unit having two types of communication interfaces in a pulse signal interface that outputs a pulse modulated signal, having been pulse modulated with remote control data, to a pulse modulated signal input port of the device-side microcomputer, so that remote control data transmitted by RF signals is output freely, as either bit stream or pulse modulated signals, to a device-side microcomputer of the controlled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: SMK Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Otsuka, Nobuhide Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 8069351
    Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and memory are disclosed for remote controlling consumer electronics devices. Different orientations of a remote control device are detected. A signal is provided to a processor, and the signal indicates an orientation. The processor changes a mode of operation of the remote control device that corresponds to the orientation such that different orientations of the remote control device control different electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: John R. Stefanik
  • Publication number: 20110285570
    Abstract: A radio remote controller can precisely transfer user's intended control. A radio communication module sends control data for controlling a controlled device by radio communications to provide remote control to the controlled device. The radio communication module includes a communication control section, and a communication section. The communication control section creates transmission data by adding order data indicative of a transmission order to control data to be successively transmitted to the controlled device. The communication section successively outputs the transmission data created by the communication control section via a radio signal. The radio communication module further includes a transmission buffer for storing therein the transmission data. In order to re-transmit the transmission data to the controlled device, the communication control section causes the communication section to output the transmission data stored in the transmission buffer via a radio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: SMK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichiro SHIRAI, Paul MURPHY
  • Publication number: 20110279300
    Abstract: A remote control for a wireless control system includes a controller, at least one actuator for operating the controller, a radio-frequency (RF) transmitter coupled to the controller, an antenna coupled to the RF transmitter, and a housing for the controller, the RF transmitter, the antenna and a power source. The antenna comprises a conductive loop mounted in the housing and being disposed in a first plane. The remote control further comprises a surface on the housing disposed in a second plane substantially parallel to and overlying the first plane. The surface has a conductive material disposed thereon substantially coplanar with the second plane and substantially coextensive with said conductive loop on said first plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Donald R. Mosebrook
  • Patent number: 8054211
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Alberto Vidal
  • Patent number: 8049600
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for controlling a RC device via a secure radio link. In one embodiment of the invention, spread spectrum modulation may be employed which may provide a digital radio frequency (RF) link between a controller and a RC device. A controller may be coupled with a transmitter module and a radio controlled device may be coupled with a receiver module in accordance with the present invention to provide an add-on upgrade capability. The method and system for controlling a RC device may also include error detection and correction, interpolation of lost packets, failsafe technology and force-feedback telemetric technology to further enhance the user experience with radio controlled devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Horizon Hobby, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Beard, John Adams, Mathew Lee, Eric Meyers
  • Patent number: 8049593
    Abstract: A universal remote control apparatus and method for controlling various types of devices and equipments, the universal remote control apparatus includes a service profile generator which generates a service profile based on first device information and second device information that are recognized from at least one device, a service profile management unit which stores and manages the generated service profile, a service profile-based control unit which universally controls the at least one device based on the service profile, and a user interface unit which receives from a user a first selection on a first device object corresponding to the first device information and a second selection on a second device object corresponding to the second device information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Hyeong Kim, Sang Do Park
  • Patent number: 8049655
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Conway, Jr., Adam N. Villani
  • Publication number: 20110260903
    Abstract: The present utility provides a universal remote control device in smart phone, where it consists of two components: a hardware device which can be connected to a smart phone through the hands-free/earpiece connector; and a piece of software application running on the smart phone. The hardware device consists of a microcontroller unit (MCU), an IR transmitter, an IR receiver and a power regeneration circuit. This device adds the IR front-end components to a smart phone, thus enabling it to have capability to receive and transmit IR signals compatible with those in the electrical appliances and their corresponding remote controls. The software application running on the smart phone is responsible for generating an audio signal to power the hardware device and displaying a graphical representation of the remote control, usually consisting of buttons, knots, dials, a simulated LCD, etc. The present invention provides a universal remote control device in smart phone as an enhancement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: ETERNAL ELECTRONICS LIMITED
    Inventor: SUK KUEN WONG
  • Publication number: 20110254723
    Abstract: A communication system includes: a remote controller having an input unit inputting user operations and a communication unit performing bidirectional communication, transmitting a remote control code in accordance with the user operation with respect to the input unit from the communication unit; and a host device having a communication unit performing bidirectional communication and a host function unit executing processing corresponding to the remote control code received in the communication unit, wherein the host device transmits a status response from the communication unit in response to a status inquiry transmitted from the communication unit of the remote controller, the remote controller repeatedly executes a status check communication procedure including the transmission of the status inquiry and waiting for receiving the status response after transmitting the remote control code at given time intervals during which the communication unit is in a dormant state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Tsurumoto, Yoshinori Satoh
  • Publication number: 20110248877
    Abstract: A system and method providing remote user selection of a device, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: Jeyhan Karaoguz
  • Patent number: RE43139
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for interacting with a mobile telephone are provided. A remote control unit receives a user command and transmits it to a TV system which recognizes the user command as a telephone function command and transmits the function command to the mobile telephone if the TV system is set to Telephone Mode. The TV system may also output data received from the mobile telephone in response to the transmitted function command. Thus, a user may interact with a mobile telephone using an interactive TV system by displaying text/image data received from the telephone and by inputting various telephone function commands using a remote control unit. Upon receiving a function command from the TV system, the mobile telephone generates output data in response to the function command and transmits itto the TV system. A display unit of the TV system displays the text/image data, and a speaker outputs the sound data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Kyung Lee