GB2511324A

GB2511324A - System and method for a remote control handset

Info

Publication number: GB2511324A
Application number: GB1303526.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rahav Cohen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-02-28
Filing date: 2013-02-28
Publication date: 2014-09-03
Also published as: GB201303526D0

Abstract

A remote control handset including a light source, such as LED 8 is adapted to emit a beam of light responsive to pressing of a button 6. The centre of the beam of the light is configured to propagate from the remote control handset at an angle Ï´ between +20 and +90 degrees from the planar contour A of the upper portion of the housing. The light source may be mounted at the angle within the remote control handset or an optical clement such as a lens, mirror, prism, prism array, grating or a holographic element (see figures 3-6) may used to bend the centre of the light beam into the angle. An adjustment mechanism such as a hinged mirror unit (60c, figure 6c) or cylinder housing (69, figure 6d) may be used to adjust the angle of the centre of the beam. The optical elements may be provided as part of a fastener (32, figures 4a-c) which can be a retrofit solution.

Description

SYSTEM AN) METHOD FOR A REMOTE CONTROL HANDSET

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Aspects of the present invention relate to a remote control handset used for remote control of electronic device using a (IR) line-of-sight light beam omitted from the remote control handset and received by the electronic device.

2. Description of Related Art

Remote control systems for operating a number of electronic devices such as a television (TV) receiver, a radio receiver, video recorder, DVD player and/or video projector are well known in the art. The operator initiates a command to change the operation of an electronic device by pressing a button of a hand held remote control handset. The transmitted command of the hand held remote control handset is usually a burst of light energy which is directed toward an electronic device. The electronic device is equipped with an optical receiver for receiving a portion of the transmitted light from the remote control handset. The optical receiver then provides an electrical signal derived from the received light. The electrical signal is decoded into a command which the electronic item executes, for example the changing of a TV channel.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various mcthods and systcms arc provided for a remote control handset which includes a button and a housing. The housing has an upper portion. The button is disposed on the upper portion. The upper portion may be a touch display and the button may be a software button and/ or software icon. The upper portion may include an aperture, where the button extends through the aperture. The upper portion is of substantially planar contour. A light source is adapted to emit a beam of light responsive to pressing of the button. The center of the beam of the light is configured to propagate fix,m the remote control handset at an angle between +20 and +90 degrees from the planar contour of the upper portion of the

I

housing. The upper portion of the housing may include a longitudinal axis in the planar contour. The angle may be measured from the longitudinal axis. The light source may be mounted at the angle within the remote control handset so that light emitted from the light source is centered between the angle of +20 and +90 degrees from the planar contour of the upper portion of the housing.

The light source may be mounted within the remote control handset and the center of the light beam in the immediate vicinity of the light source is substantially in a plane including the planar contour. The remote control handset further includes an optical element adapted to bend the light beam into the angle. The optical element may be adapted to bend the light beam into the angle by reflection, by refraction and/or diffiaction of the light emitted from the light source. The optical element may be a lens, a mirror, a mirror array, a prism, a prism array, a grating or a holographic optical element.

Various methods and systems are provided for a remote control handset which includes a button and a housing. The housing has an upper portion. The button is disposed on the upper portion. The upper portion may be a touch display and the button may be a software button and/ or software icon. The upper portion may include an aperture, where the button extends through the aperture. The upper portion is of substantially planar contour. A light source is adapted to emit a beam of light responsive to pressing of the button. The light source may be mounted within the remote control handset. A mechanism is configured to adjust angularly the center of the beam from the light source to an angle selectably greater than +20 degrees from the planar contour of the upper portion of the housing. The mechanism may be configured to adjust angularly the center of the beam from the light source to an angle selectably between +20 and +90 degrees, selectably between +30 and +90 degrees or selectably between +40 and +90 degrees from the planar contour of the upper portion of the housing. The upper portion of the housing may include a longitudinal axis in the planar contour. The angle may be measured from the longitudinal axis. The light source may be mounted within the remote control handset and the center of the light beam in the immediate vicinity of the light source may be substantially in a plane including the planar contour. The adjustment mechanism may include an optical element adapted to adjust the light beam into said angle. he optical element may be a lens, a mirror, a mirror array, a prism, a prism array, a grating, and/or a holographic optical &cmcnt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures Ia and lb show a respective side view and a plan view of a remote control handset, according to conventional art.

Figure 2a shows a cross sectional view of a remote control handset, according to conventional art.

Figure 2b shows a cross sectional view of a remote control handset, according to a feature of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows an isometric view of remote control handset fitted with a prism array unit, according to a feature of the present invention.

Figures 4a, 4b and 4c show side views of prism arrays, according to features of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows a portion of the prism array shown in Figure 4c in greater detail, according to a feature of the present invention.

Figures 6a and 6b show isometric views of respective mirror units used to attach to a remote control handset, according to features of the present invention.

Figure 6c shows a mirror unit used to attach to a remote control handset, according to features of the present invention.

Figure 6d shows an isometric view of a cylinder housing for an LED which is part of a remote control handset, according to features of the present invention.

Figures 7a and 7b show a user operating a remote control handset of conventional art.

Figure 7c illustrates a user operating a modified remote control handset, according to features of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to features of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The features arc described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

Before explaining features of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of design and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other features or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is fbr the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

By way of introduction, aspects and features of the present invention are directed to means to modify the angle an infra-red (IR) line-of-sight beam emitted from a remote control handset. A possible draw back to conventional remote control handsets is that thc optimal orientation for viewing the buttons of the remote handset is not the same orientation of the handset for the optical beam emitted from the handset to be optimally received by the optical receiver in the electronic device being controlled.

Thus, there is a need for and it would be advantageous to have a means for a remote control handset in which the angle of emission from the remote control handset is configured to optimize both the view of the buttons by the user and the reception of the optical signal by the optical receiver.

It should be noted that the present invention may include originally manufactured remote control handsets which are retrofit according to embodiments of the present invention and/or remote control handsets originally manufactured according to embodiments of the present invention.

Reference is now made to Figures la and lb which show a respective side view and a plan view of a remote control handset 10, according to conventional art. Figure lb shows three buttons 6 with rcspcctivc apertures 6a. Apertures 6a arc through an upper planar surface 4 which is part of the housing of remote control handset 10. When button 6 is pressed by a user of remote control handset 10, button 6 comes into mechanical and electrical contact with a circuit board 2. Circuitry on circuit board 2 (not shown) detects the desired function the user requires of remote control handset 10. The desired function of the user (to change a television channel for example) by virtue of the pressing of button 6, provides an electrical signal unique to the desired function of button 6, to be applied to leads Sa and Sb of a light emitting diode (LED) S which are connected to circuit board 2.

The electrical signal is then converted by LED S to emit a line-of-sight signal which propagates centered around a longitudinal axis A. The line-of-sight signal may be received by a receiver remote control handset. The receiver may be located in a television set, an audio stereo unit, a video recorder! player, DVD player, or an interactive white

board for example.

The line-of-sight signal may be an infra red signal, a visible light signal, an ultraviolet signal and!or a radio frequency signal centered around axis A as shown in Figures Ia and lb. Reference is now made to Figure 2a which shows a cross sectional view 20a of a remote control handset 10, according to conventional art. Again as with Figures Ia and lb circuit board 2 may be electrically and mechanically connected to buttons 6. Apertures 6a (not shown) are located on planar surface 4. LED 8 connects to circuit board 2 via leads Sat and 8h. LED is mounted such that when a button 6 is pressed by a user, LED S emits the infra red (IR) line-of-sight signal along axis A or in the immediate vicinity of LED S within about -10 degrees and +10 degrees from axis A. For the description that follows for remote control handset 10 according to features of the present invention, a light source which produces an infra red (IR) line-of-sight signal is shown by way of example.

Reference is now made to Figure 2b which shows a cross sectional view 24Th of a remote control handset 10, according to a feature of the present invention. A light source, e.g. LED 8 is mounted such that LED 8 emits the infra red (IR) line-of-sight signal which deviates from axis A by positive angIe 0 when button 6 and! or buttons 6 are pressed by a user. Alternatively, upper planar surface 4 may be a touch display and button 6 may be a software button and! or software icon. A deviation from the center of LED 8 from upper planar surface 4 (plane XZ) is shown in Figure Ia. With axis A being considered to be zero degrees, the deviation is in a anticlockwise direction and is shown as a positive angle 9 in the XV plane. A deviation above the A axis in an clockwise direction would be shown as a negative angle -0.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 which shows an isometric view of remote control handset 10 fitted with a prism unit 30, according to a feature of the present invention.

remote control handset 10 is shown with planar surface 4 and numerous buttons 6. Prism unit 30 bends the infra red (IR) beam of LED 8 (not shown) located in remote control handset 10 from the longitudinal axis (A not shown) in a positive angle.

Reference is now made to Figures 4a, 4b and 4c which show respective possible prism array configurations 30a, 30b and 30c according to features of the present invention.

Prisms 30a, 30b and 30c may be attached to remote control handset 10 by a fastener 32 or adhesive. Fastener 32 allows a retrofit of a remote control handset 10 by virtue of bending the infra red (IR) line-of-sight signal of LED 8 (not shown) by positive angle 0 away from axis A. According to another feature of the present invention, prisms 30a, 3% and 30c may be removable and re-attachable by fastener 32 or fastener 32 may allow prisms 30a, 3% and 30c to be slid to one side. Fastener 32 which allows prisms 30a, 30b and 30c to removable or prisms 30a, 30b and 30c to be slid to one side, allows the line of sight infrared beam emitted by LED 8 to be parallel with axis A. Different prism designs with different dimensions and! or shape configurations as shown with prisms 30a, 30b and 30c and other prisms 30 which are removable and re-attachable by virtue of fastener 32 also allows for prisms 30 to be attached with different dimensions and! or shape configurations as well as different refractive indexes to allow for a range of positive angles 0.

Reference is now also made to Figure 5 which shows a portion SO of prism 30c shown in Figure 4c in greater detail according to a feature of the present invention. Superimposed onto the drawing of prism 30c are two normals 52a and 52b to respective optical surfaces.

An incident infra red line-of-sight beam 54 travels in air along axis A from LED 8 and reaches a surface of prism 30c at angle 1 relative to normal 52b. Air has a refractive index n1 1, if the refractive index of prism 30e is n2 1.58 and angle 1 is 55° degrees then according to Snell's law angle 2 -31.228 degrees. Incident infra red line-of-sight beam 54 is bent or refracted and travels through prism 30c as refracted infra red line-of-sight beam 56. At the interface between prism 30c and the open air with refractive index 113 1, is normal 52a. Angle 3 is relative to normal 52a and refracted infra red line-of-sight beam 58 travels out of prism 30c at a refracted angle of angle 4 relative to normal 52a. Angle 3 = 23.77° degrees and according to Snell's law angle 4 = 39.56° degrees. Normal 52a is parallel to axis A and so the angular deviation of the center of incident infra red line-of-sight beam 54 from upper planar surface 4 of remote control handset 10 is angle 4 = 39.56° degrees which is positive angle 0 as shown in Figure 2b.

Reference is now made to Figures 6a and 6b which show respective mirror units 60a and 6Gb used to attach to remote control handset 10 and to retrofit thereby remote control handset 10, according to features of the present invention. Mirror unit 60a 60b has supporting webs 64 to give extra mechanical support. A line of sight infrared beam emits from LED 8 which is parallel with axis A and planar surface 4 and is emitted through aperture 66 to be reflected off reflective mirror surface 62 at positive angle 0.

Reference is now made to Figure 6c which shows a mirror unit 60c used to attach to remote control handset 10 and to retrofit thereby remote control handset 10, according to features of the present invention. Mirror unit 60c is the same as mirror unit 60a except that mirror unit 60c has a hinge 68 along axis B. Hinge 68 allows mirror surface 62 to be moved around laterally with respect to axis B such that a line of sight infrared beam emits from LED 8 at a variable positive angle 0. Indeed mirror surface 62 may be moved around laterally with respect to axis B such that mirror surface 62 no longer reflects the line of sight infrared beam emitted from LED 8, so that the line of sight infrared beam emitted by LED 8 is parallel with axis A. Reference is now made to Figure 6d which shows a cylinder housing 69 for LED 8 which is part of an original manufacture for remote control handset 10, according to features of the present invention. Cylinder housing 69 mechanically holds LED 8, allows rotation of LED 8 and also provides an electrical connection between LED 8 and circuit board 2 (not shown). Cylinder housing 69 is rotatable around axis C such that a line of sight infrared beam emits from LED 8 at a variable positive angle 0. Cylinder housing 69 is rotatable such that the line of sight infrared beam emitted by LED 8 is parallel with axis A. The electrical connection to LED 8 via leads 8a and Sb (not shown) may be at respective ends of cylinder housing 69 and! or in thc middle of cylinder housing 69. A requirement of a connector for thc electrical conncction to LED 8 is such that thc connector has utility both as an electrical connector and as a mechanical coupling which allows rotation of cylinder housing 69 around axis C whilst maintaining the electrical connection between LED 8 and circuit board 2. Other connectors with both electrical and mechanical coupling known in the art may also be used.

Reference is now made to Figures 7a and 7b which shows how a user may use a conventional remote control handsct 10. In Figurc 7a the uscr holds and looks at remote control handset 10 to see which button and! or buttons he is going to press. Then in Figure 7b the user has to press the button or buttons of remote control handset 10 as well as rotate remote control handset 10 so that an JR receiver may receive the line-of-sight infra red beam 7Gb.

Reference is now made to Figures 7a and 7c which shows how a user may use a modified rcmote control handsct 10, according to features of the present invention with a tilted LED 8 housed in remote control handset 10 as shown in Figure 2b, prisms 30a-30c as shown in Figures 3a-3e, mirror units 60a and 60b as shown in Figures 6a and 6b, rotatable minor unit 60c as shown in Figure ôc or with rotatable cylindrical housing 69 as shown in Figure 6d. In Figure 7a the user holds and looks at modified remote control handset 10 to see which button and! or buttons he is going to press. Then in Figure 7e the user presses the button or buttons of modified remote control handset 10 without having to rotate remote control handset 10 so that an IR receiver may receive the line-of-sight infra red beam 70c.

In the above features to provide a line-of-sight infrared beam at a positive angle 0 relative to planar surface 4 has been achieved by a tilted LED 8 housed in remote control handset as shown in Figure 2b, prisms 30a-30c as shown in Figures 3a-3c or mirror units 60a and 60b as shown in Figures 6a and 6b have been used. Other optical units may also be considered to provide the line-of-sight infrared beam at a positive angle 0 relative to planar surface 4. The other optical units may include a lens, a prism, a diffraction grating, a blazed diffraction grating, a holographic optical element or a holographic grating.

The terms "bend", "bent" or "bending" of a light beam as used herein includes and refers to reflection, refraction and!or diffraction of the light beam. The terms "bend" in the context of a light beam and the term "modifying the angle of the light beam" are used herein interchangeably.

The term "longitudinal axis" A as used herein in the context of the remote control handset refers to an axis of at least approximate symmetry of the remote control handset cross the length of the remote unit.

The term "greater than" in the context of an angle refers to one quadrant only that is from zero to ninety degrees.

The term "lateral axis" as used herein in the context of the remote control handset refers to an axis of at least approximate symmetry of the remote control handset perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and crosses the width of the remote control handset.

The terms "remote controller", "remote control handset" and "remote control unit" are used herein interchangeably.

The term "original manufacture" as used herein refers to a device as originally manufactured.

The term rctrofit" as used hcrein rcfcrs to a modification of a device subscquent to the original manufacture.

The indefinite articles!!a!!an!! is used herein, such as " a button", "an LED, an angle" have the meaning of "one or more" that is "one or more buttons" "one or more LEDs" or one or more angics.

Although selected embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be undcrstood thc present invcntion is not limitcd to the described embodiments.

Instead, it is to be appreciated that changes may be made to these embodimeilts and combinations of various features of different embodiments may be made without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof

JO

Claims

CLAIMS1. A remote control handset comprising: a button; a housing having an upper portion, wherein said button is disposed on said upper portion, wherein said upper portion is of substantially planar contour; and a light source adapted to emit a beam of light responsive to pressing of the button, wherein the center of said beam of said light is configured to propagate from the remote control handset at an angle between +20 and +90 degrees from said planar contour of said upper portion of said housing.
2. The remote control handset of claim I, wherein said upper portion includes an aperture, whcrcin said button extcnds through said apcrturc.
3. Thc remote control handset of claim I, wherein said uppcr portion is a touch display and said button is a software button.
4. Thc rcmotc control handsct of claim 1, wherein said upper portion of said housing includes a longitudinal axis in said planar contour, wherein said angle is measured from said longitudinal axis.
5. The remote control handset of claim 1, wherein said light source is mounted at said angle within said rcmotc control handsct.
6. The remote control handset of claim 1, wherein said light source is mounted within said remotc control handset and said center of said light beam in the immediate vicinity of said light source is substantially in a plane including said planar contour, the remote control handsct furthcr comprising: an optical element adapted to bend said light beam into said angle.
7. The remote control handset of claim 6, wherein said optical element adapted to bend said light beam into said angle includes reflection, refraction and diffraction of said light beam.
8. The remote control handset of claim 6, wherein said optical element is selected from the group consisting of: a lens, a mirror, a mirror array, a prism, a prism array, a grating, and a holographic optical element.
9. A method of modifying the angle of a center of a beam emitted from a light source mounted in a remote control handset including: a button, a housing having an upper portion, wherein said button is disposed on said upper portion, wherein said upper portion is of substantially planar contour; a light source adapted to emit a beam of light responsive to pressing of the button, the method comprising: attaching an optical element, wherein the optical element is configured to cause said center of said beam of said light to propagate at an angle between +20 and +90 degrees from said planar contour of said upper portion of said housing.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said upper portion includes an aperture, wherein said button extends through said aperture.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein said upper portion is a touch display and said button is a software button.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein said optical element is selected from the group consisting of: a lens, a mirror, mirror array, a prism, a prism array, a grating and a holographic optical element.
13. A remote control handset comprising: a button; a housing having an upper portion, wherein said button is disposed and operable on said upper portion, wherein said upper portion is of substantially planar contour; and a light source adapted to emit a beam of light responsive to pressing of the button, an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust angularly the center of the beam from the light source to a selectable angle greater than +20 degrees from said planar contour of said upper portion of said housing.
14. The remote control handset of claim 13, wherein said upper portion includes an aperture, wherein said button extends through said aperture.
15. The remote control handset of claim 13, wherein said upper portion is a touch display and said burton is a software button.
16. The remote control handset of claim 13, wherein said upper portion of said housing includes a longitudinal axis in said planar contour, wherein said angle is measured from said longitudinal axis.
17. The remote control handset of claim 13, wherein said light source is mounted within said remote control handset and said center of said light beam in the immediate vicinity of said light source is substantially in a plane including said planar contour.
18. The remote control handset of claim 17, wherein said adjustment mechanism includes an optical clement adapted to adjust said light beam into said angle.
19. The remote control handset of claim 18, wherein said optical element is selected from the group consisting of: a lens, a mirror, a mirror array, a prism, a prism array, a grating and a holographic optical clement.
20. A method of modifying the angle of a center of a beam emitted from a light source mounted in a remote control handset including: a burton, a housing having an upper portion, wherein said button is disposed on said upper portion, wherein said upper portion is of substantiafly planar contour; a light source adapted to emit a beam of light responsive to pressing of the button, the method comprising: adjusting said center of said beam of said light to propagate at an angle greater than +20 degrees from said planar contour of said upper portion of said housing.