Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
  • H04B1/06—Receivers
  • H04B1/16—Circuits
  • H04B1/20—Circuits for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
  • H04B1/202—Circuits for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver by remote control
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
  • G08C19/00—Electric signal transmission systems
  • G08C19/16—Electric signal transmission systems in which transmission is by pulses
  • G08C19/28—Electric signal transmission systems in which transmission is by pulses using pulse code

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to a programmable universal remote
• wireless remote control devices were provided for use with a
• command is associated with a particular button on a key pad ofthe remote control.
• each electronic unit will have a separate remote control, this is very inconvenient for the
• a panicular television with a particular preprogrammed remote control to instruct the
• Universal remote controls may contain either different sections of a key
• the remote control is provided with the programming
• the programmable universal remote control has the ability to operate any
• This EEPROM may be programmed by the remote control. In addition, these EEPROM may be programmed by the remote control. In addition, these EEPROM may be programmed by the remote control. In addition, these EEPROM may be programmed by the remote control. In addition, these EEPROM may be programmed by the remote control. In addition, these EEPROM may be programmed by the remote control. In addition, these EEPROM may be programmed by the remote control. In addition, these
• EEPROMs do not lose their storage capacity upon the removal of electricity thereto.
• the invention comprises a programmable universal remote
• control for controlling a plurality of electronic devices comprising a
• microprocessor a keyboard matrix coupled to the microprocessor for inputting
• the microprocessor outputs driving signals to the output circuit for outputting remote
• control command signals for controlling an electronic device in response to the driving
• a device code look-up table is stored in the microprocessor, the look-up table
• EEPROM erasable programmable read only memory
• the remote control would operate as noted above, whereby a panicular apparatus could be selected, and the remote control would thereafter operate
• the remote control In order to keep the EEPROM small, the remote
• control might only allow for one or two devices to be programmed in this manner, but
• the remote control would also be able to erase the EEPROM so that if a
• Another object of the invention is to provide an improved programmable
• a further object ofthe invention is to provide an improved programmable
• a still further object of the invention is to provide an improved
• Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved
• FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram depicting a particular embodiment ofthe
• FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of the method for entering a program code
• FIG. 3 is a flow diagram ofthe method for providing the program code to
• FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the method for having the remote control
• FIG. 5 is a flow diagram depicting the method for entering specific key
• FIG. 6 is a flow diagram ofthe method for playback of key data entered
• FIG. 1 depicts a block circuit diagram of
• microprocessor 10 is provided for controlling the invention.
• microprocessor 10 An electrically erasable programmable read only memory
• EEPROM 30 is coupled in two way communication with microprocessor 10.
• microprocessor 10 is provided with a number of bits
• keyboard matrix 20 More
• Each of these crossing portions 21 is also associated with a particular
• microprocessor 10 determines the location of the key being pressed in the keyboard, and therefore the associated key function. Therefore, for example, if portion
• microprocessor 10 would receive information at input/output pin
• Microprocessor 10 is further provided with a timing circuit 12 comprising
• a voltage input 17 is coupled to a voltage source 49 which powers microprocessor
• Microprocessor 10 includes a data output pin 18 for providing output data to control
• Microprocessor 10 includes a data input pin 19
• Microprocessor 10 includes internal
• RAM random access memory
• ROM read only memory
• EEPROM 30 comprises a voltage in line
• a chip select line 32 is connected to microprocessor
• a clock line 33 and a data in line 34 also couple EEPROM 30
• lines 33 and 34 also use data input/output pins P04 and P05 of microprocessor 10. These pins also being used for keyboard matrix
• Chip Select line 32 output at P07. Lines P04 and P05 of microprocessor 10 will be
• EEPROM 30 is not selected by Chip Select line 32, the information contained on lines
• Chip Select line 32 has selected the EEPROM.
• EEPROM 30 will provide the requested stored
• the remote control circuit is also provided with an infrared output
• circuit 40 to produce the remote control command signals to control the electronic
• infrared output circuit 40 includes voltage source
• capacitor 48 are connected to opposite ends of the parallel combination of first and
• microprocessor 10 receives driving signals from microprocessor 10 regarding a
• infrared output signal 40 and infrared output circuit 40 would output a signal in response
• a user first places the voltage source, or batteries, into the
• the RAM stores the identity ofthe apparatus which is to be controlled.
• This information is input at keyboard matrix 20 when initializing the remote control
• a look-up table which can be accessed by device code, will store a driver
• control contains the codes to operate any number of electronic devices, and the user is
• remote control in order to define a particular electronic apparatus, the user presses a
• Pressing F causes microprocessor 10 to begin the process of determining which
• step 3 the user is required to select the type of electronic device which
• step 3 the user
• keyboard matrix 20 At one of the crossing points 21. which informs microprocessor 10 which key has been
• step 4 the user then enters a code corresponding to the particular
• microprocessor 10 stores the device
• step 6 this code is transferred from microprocessor 10 through Data
• Chip Select
• s is forwarded and stored in EEPROM 30 and is also retained in RAM in microprocessor
• step 7 the device code entry process is completed.
• Microprocessor 10 contains a specific amount of random access memory (RAM) in which these device
• FIG. 3 in connection with FIG. 1 which depicts
• microprocessor 10 after the voltage source has been replaced. Specifically, when a new
• step 61 starts the
• microprocessor 10 reads the device code information from EEPROM 30
• step 62 microprocessor 10 selects EEPROM 30 through chip select pin
• microprocessor 10 will not hold the device codes, EEPROM 30 will automatically
• FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram showing
• step 71 the sequence is started, and the remote
• i5 control awaits an input from keyboard matrix 20.
• step 72 a button on keyboard
• this depression provides information along two pins to microprocessor
• microprocessor 10 determines which key is depressed, and also which
• microprocessor 10 looks up the
• step 74 Therefore, by example, if it were determined that
• microprocessor 10 would look up the device code for the VCR in step 74.
• step 75 by associating the determination of which
• microprocessor 10 is
• Microprocessor 10 reads from the ROM the appropriate driver
• step 75 the information is output along output line 18 to
• infrared output circuit 40 outputs the proper
• control awaits another keyboard input.
• microprocessor 10 is able to direct control of the electronic
• provided in the present invention can control any number of preprogrammed electronic
• microprocessor 10 to read the device code information from EEPROM 30, and
• EEPROM memory is provided, it is possible to form an additional look-up table to hold
• the device codes and associated driver and numerical data for any additional remote
• FIG ; 5 the process is started
• step 81 the user depresses a define key in keyboard matrix 20.
• step 83 the
• step 84 the user enters a two digit driver-type number. This driver number is
• step 85 the user enters the numeric data associated with this kev
• step 86 the key that was
• the driver data, and the numerical data are each stored in the EEPROM,
• step 87 This process may be repeated for each key on the keyboard to
• the EEPROM stores each key and
• This information is stored in the additional look-up table by key so that when a key is
• microprocessor 10 can scan the look-up table stored
• FIG. 6 depicts the process by which the
• remote control plays back and outputs the proper infrared remote control command
• step 91 the process begins in step 91. and in step 92 a key is depressed by the user. This information
• microprocessor 10 identifying which key has been depressed is transmitted to microprocessor 10 as
• step 93 microprocessor 10 determines which key was depressed
• step 94 microprocessor 10 searches the additional look-up table stored in
• EEPROM 30 through the steps of the method depicted in FIG. 5, as discussed above.
• search process is depicted in the choice step 96, in which it is determined whether the
• the depressed key is compared to each ofthe keys for which a definition is stored
• the driver data is first output from EEPROM 30 along Data Out line 35 through input
• microprocessor 10 in step 98.
• step 96 if the key has not been specifically defined in
• step 99 the numerical data in step 100.
• the depressing of that key will cause the remote control to operate as it does in the first embodiment, using the device code and the
• step 110 if the key was defined in the
• microprocessor 10 provided through microprocessor 10. and the proper driver signal is provided to infrared
• infrared circuit 40 to output the preprogrammed infrared remote control
• EEPROM Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory
• the device codes or driver and numerical data need not be reentered for

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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ID=24439683

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• 1997
  • 1997-02-27 WO PCT/US1997/002882 patent/WO1997032290A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-02-27 EP EP97907823A patent/EP0883869A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1997-02-27 AU AU19722/97A patent/AU1972297A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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