WO2011036371A1

WO2011036371A1 - Device for transmitting codes from a remote control device

Info

Publication number: WO2011036371A1
Application number: PCT/FR2010/051876
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stéphane GAGNAT
Original assignee: Agath
Priority date: 2009-09-23
Filing date: 2010-09-09
Publication date: 2011-03-31
Also published as: FR2950458A1; FR2950458B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (B) for transmitting codes from a remote control device (RM), characterized in that it includes means for receiving codes from a remote control device (RCV, I01), means for transmitting (I03, I04, I05, EM) control codes to one or more audiovisual units (DV1, DV2, DV3, DV4), conversion means (TBL) intended to establish a correlation between a code received from the remote control device (RM) and one or more codes being sent in response to receiving the code from the remote control device (RM), and control means (CTRL) which, upon receipt of a code from the remote control device (RM), are designed to obtain one or more codes to be sent from the conversion means (TBL), and to control the sending of said codes by the transmission means (I03, I04, I05, EM).

Description

Device for transmitting codes from a remote control

The present invention relates to a device for transmitting codes from a remote control and a system comprising such a type of device.

It is known to control an audiovisual device remotely using a remote control.

In the case of multiple devices, multiple remote controls are required. Alternatively, a universal programmable remote control can be used, which allows to replace several remote controls by reproducing the control signals emitted by these remote controls.

It is also known, in the context of the use of several devices from the same manufacturer to have a single remote control for several devices. According to a known configuration, the same infrared reception card can be used to receive the signals for all the devices.

However, these systems do not allow the use of a remote control for devices from different manufacturers. In addition, these systems do not allow to control non-visible devices from the position of the remote control because they use infrared signals.

Finally, in the case of the universal remote control, it is necessary to have a programmable remote control of complex structure whose use can be difficult.

The present invention aims to solve all or part of the disadvantages mentioned above.

For this purpose, the present invention relates to a device according to the aforementioned type, characterized in that it comprises:

means for receiving codes from a remote control;

means for transmitting control codes to one or more apparatuses; conversion means intended to establish a correspondence between a code received from the remote control and one or more codes to be sent in response to the reception of the code of the remote control;

control means arranged for, on receiving a code from the remote control, obtaining one or more codes to send conversion means, and controlling the sending of said codes by the transmission means,

and in that the conversion means are arranged to have at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation in which the results of the conversion are distinct.

The solutions according to the invention allow the use of any remote control to operate a set of devices. This allows you to choose a remote only in relation to its aesthetic or ergonomic, and it also allows, for example in the case of a hotel, to have a single remote control to control all devices in all rooms without use the remote control of the TV brand.

It is also possible to make a custom remote control, with the certainty of being able to use it even if the devices and brands change.

The device according to the invention also allows:

- a redistribution of codes to peripherals beyond visual range;

- integration in all types of devices using an infrared receiver such as a screen, a monitor, a DVD player, or

- an autonomous realization, including its own infra red receiver, and in this case to control non-visible peripherals.

a transformation of infrared codes into other types of formats, for example the RS232 format;

- a reinterpretation of the codes allowing the use of a single remote control to control for example different televisions of different brands with the same remote control, thus providing a universal receiver function.

According to a mode of real isation, the modes of operation correspond to a type of user. These provisions allow to set up a different operation by user with rights. In particular, it is possible for one user to be able to use all the functions of one remote control while another only has access to a list of predefined functions for example.

Advantageously, the operating mode is modified by the control means upon receipt of a specific code from the remote control.

According to a real isation mode, the conversion means are arranged to store several codes to the same device in correspondence with the same code from the remote control.

These arepositions make it possible to create "acros" which correspond to the sending of several orders following the reception of a single code by the device.

Advantageously, the ispos itif is constituted by an electronic card.

According to one possibility, the transmission means are of wired type. According to another possibility, the transmission means are of the infrared type.

The present invention also relates to a remote control system of a set of audiovisual devices comprising:

- a remote control ;

- A device according to one of the preceding claims,

a set of devices connected to the device.

Advantageously, the system comprises an auxiliary device connected to the device and controlled by the device via a power card.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the detailed description which is set out below with reference to the appended drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a system according to the invention.

Fig ure 2 is a block diagram of the operation of the system of Figure 1.

Fig ure 3 is a schematic diagram of the operation of the system of Figure 1 during a change of operating mode.

In the following detailed description of the figures defined above, the same elements or elements fulfilling functions identical ones may retain the same references so as to simplify the understanding of the invention.

According to one embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the system comprises a remote control RM intended for the control of a set of audiovisual devices or apparatuses DV1, DV2, DV3, DV4 that may notably be constituted by a television set DV1 , a DV2 DVD player, a DV3 audio amplifier or a DV4 satellite receiver. Of course other types of audiovisual devices can be connected.

The system comprises an electronic card B constituting a device for transmitting the codes. This card comprises CT R L control means, for example constituted by a microprocessor (microcontroller or C) to be programmed as we will detail below.

It should be noted that the microcontroller is used with a monitoring clock to perform a reset in case of failure. Indeed, the card represents an important element of the system, because if it no longer works, devices or DV devices can no longer be ordered.

The electronic card comprises input / output means IO1, in particular for communicating with RCV reception means of the signals of the remote control.

Input / output means IO3, IO4, IO5, IO6 also enable the card to communicate with audiovisual devices or devices.

The IO4 input-input means allow communications in particular of the infrared type, by connecting an infrared transmitter to an output of the card.

The input / output means IO3 allow communications according to a wired connection protocol, for example of the RS232 type, which is a standardized serial communication protocol.

In this way, the card is able to receive an infra-red command, and send it back in either IR or RS232, and also receive an RS232 command and send it back in IR or RS232.

It is possible to combine the two when performing "macro", generating an IR code and RS232 code, for example to control multiple devices. The card B has a power input not shown. The voltage of this power supply may for example be between 3 and 5 V.

Other types of wired and / or wireless links can of course be used.

The card is relayed by the input / output means 103 to ancillary devices AUX1 lighting types or rolling shutter AUX2. In this case, these devices are advantageously controlled via a PW power card. For example, the input / output means may comprise digital outputs enabling the control of LEDs or relays, thus enabling all-or-nothing control of devices, for example AUX1 lighting or roller shutter control. AUX2.

According to a variant, it is possible to replace an output input means IO intended to be connected to a receiver or to a transmitter by a receiver or an infrared transmitter directly integrated on the card.

The electronic card includes means for storing TBL conversion tables.

Such a conversion table makes it possible to establish a correspondence between a code received from the remote control and one or more actions to be performed in response to receiving the code of the remote control. Examples of table structure are described below.

The storage means may in particular be constituted by a flash type memory or EEprom. The tables can be updated simply by means of a COMP computer which is connected to input / output means IO2.

The control means CTRL are arranged to allow the passage of a first mode of operation to at least a second mode of operation. In particular, it is possible to define several operating modes corresponding to several user profiles USR.

For example, in the case of an installation in a hotel room, it is possible to define profiles corresponding to a user, a child, a member of the maintenance service, an installer or maintenance profile. .

In the case of a child profile, it is possible to give access to only certain functions such as the lighting of the television but not to allow the use of a specific input like the HDMI for example. A member of the maintenance department may have wider access allowing him, for example, to access a video input or a channel indicating his work schedule.

When using installer or maintenance mode, you may be able to adjust the TV settings.

The user management mode also makes it possible to control the startup of specific devices such as a DVD player or access to TV channels via a video box also called set top box.

In addition, it is possible to consider a follow-up of the use by sending the information in RS232 to a computer-type device COMP, which can be useful for the billing of paid service in the hotel.

In order to switch from one mode to another, it is advisable to use a mechanism that avoids as much as possible the mode change inadvertently by the user. For example, using a succession of keys, or maintaining an unused key for a prolonged time.

Figure 3 illustrates the realization of such a mode change. In a first step E1 ', a specific user change code is received.

In a second stage E2 ', the mode is changed to match the type of operator contained in the specific code.

Advantageously, the Installer mode will be visible by the flashing of the LED of the card B for the duration of activation of the mode.

At startup, after connecting the power to the TV, or after a power failure, the default mode will always be the user mode.

Likewise, after a TV ON / OFF, the default mode will be user mode.

It may be optionally provided a time counter on the installer mode after a period of 10 min without use for example.

The structure of the TBL conversion table is described below.

The conversion table has several fields, allowing multiple codes to be sent simultaneously. In addition, in the conversion table it is indicated the type of coding to be performed so that a code generation function can send the code in the correct format.

All TBL tables are based on the same structure, the table number being used to select the user mode USR appropriate to the device operating mode.

A base table consists of 3 columns:

The 1st column corresponds to the identification of the key on the remote control.

The following columns correspond to the different code formats that you want to send (for example column 2 type code NEC, column 3 type code RC5 etc.) to different DV devices connected to the card.

It is possible to create as many columns as necessary depending on the number of DV devices to connect.

We will now detail an example of a conversion table for a user, in the case of a remote control with two devices constituted by a television and a video box, for example marketed under the trademark AMINO.

In this case, the first column corresponds to the codes sent by the remote control, the second column to the code to be sent to the television, and the third column to the code to be sent to the video box.

The TBL table icon corresponding to the operation of the ON / OFF button on the remote control is in the following form:

{0x1 1, 0x1 1, 0xFF},

in which

0x1 1: hexadecimal code sent by the remote control

0x1 1: hexadecimal code in NEC format returned by the card

OxFF: indicates that we do not send other codes in AMINO format

Thus, when the ON / OFF button is pressed, only a code is sent to the TV by the card B, no code is sent to the video box.

The symbol of the TB L table corresponding to the operation of the RED button on the remote control is in the following form:

{0x5D, 0x5D, 0x1 A}, 0x5D: hexadecimal code sent by the remote control

0x5D: hexadecimal code returned by the adapter

0x1 A: hexadecimal code returned by the adapter

Thus, the fact of pressing the red key on the remote control generates the sending of two orders by the card B to the devices: one for the television and one for the AMINO video box.

The entire table is for a user coded in C language as present in Eprom memory is reproduced below. Very few functions are returned to the TV (FF indicates no action to perform). Comments on the corresponding keys on the remote control are indicated after the // signs:

#define L TABLE N2 24 // size of the table static unsigned int8 Table [L_TABLE] [3] =

{{0x1 1, 0x1 1, 0xFF}, // ON-OFF

{0x1 E, OxFF, OxOC J.//CH0

{0X1 D, OxFF, 0x02}, // CH1

{0x1 C, 0xFF, 0x03}, // CH2

{0x46, 0xFF, 0x04}, // CH3

{0x15, 0xFF, 0x05}, // CH4

{0x14, 0xFF, 0x06}, // CH5

{0x45, 0xFF, 0x07}, // CH6

{0x00, 0xFF, 0x08}, // CH7

{0x1 F, 0xFF, 0x09}, // CH8

{0x1 B, OxFF, OxOA}, // CH9

{0x5D, 0x5D, 0x1 A}, // RED

{0x5F, 0x5F, 0x1 B}, // GREEN

{0x49, 0x49, 0x1 C}, // YELLOW

{0x5B, 0x5B, 0x1 D}, // BLUE

{0x47,0xFF, 0x15}, // scan UP

{0x4B, 0xFF, 0x19}, // DOWN scan

{0x53, 0xFF, 0x18}, // volume +

{0x57, 0xFF, 0x16}, // volume - {0x04, 0xFF, 0x17}, // VALID

{OxOC, OxFF, 0x12}, // MENU / RADIO

{0x52, 0xFF, 0x1 F}, // PLAY {0x44, 0xFF, 0x20}, // PAUSE

{0xOF, 0xFF, 0x25} // STOP

};

It should also be noted that it is possible to enter a code list in the same entry of the TBL table, in order to create a "macro", that is to say a sequence of code at the output of the card corresponding to a single input code.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control means CTRL are arranged to perform the following processing of the codes coming from the remote control:

In a first step E1, a detection of a code coming from the remote control RM is carried out. In particular, a detection of the format of this code is realisée (format type RC5, NEC etc .... or owner), then the content of this code.

In a second step E2, a check is made to determine in which operating mode the system is located, and in particular which user mode USR must apply.

In a third step E3, a consultation of the conversion table TBL corresponding to the current USR user mode is performed, in order to identify the actions to be performed in response to the receipt of the code of the remote control.

In the case of a startup of the system, the remote control sends the order of start-up by an infrared signal.

The signal is picked up by the infrared receiver RCV which retransmits the information to the card B by removing the modulation (generally 38khz).

Upon receipt of the code, the control means CTRL perform predefined operations, for example, sending code to start the TV, the audio amplifier and the satellite receiver.

The incoming code can also be sent to the card B via a computer COMP via the input I / O means of type RS232 or USB and perform the same functions.

When starting up, it can be defined that the light must be cut, and shutters closed for example.

Although the invention has been described in connection with particular examples of embodiment, it is obvious that it is in no way limited and it includes all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Device (B) for transmitting codes coming from a remote control (RM), characterized in that it comprises:

D e s o f th e C o n ters o f codes on a remote control (RCV, IO1);

means for emitting (IO3, IO4, IO5, EM) control codes to one or more audio-visual apparatuses (DV1, DV2, DV3, DV4);

conversion means (TBL) intended to establish a correspondence between a code received from the remote control (RM) and one or more codes to be sent in response to the reception of the code of the remote control (RM);

control means (CTRL) arranged for, upon receipt of a code from the remote control (RM), obtaining one or more codes to send conversion means (TBL), and to order the sending of said codes by the transmitting means (103, 104, 105, EM).

and in that the converting means (TBL) are arranged to have at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation in which the results of the conversion are distinct.

2. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating modes correspond to a type of user (USR).

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating mode is changed by the control means (CTRL) to receive a specific code from the remote control (RM).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the means of conversions (TBL) are arranged to store several codes to d is in a ion of a median pos it if (DV1, DV2, DV3, DV4) in correspondence with the same code from the remote control (RM).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims consisting of an electronic card (B).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitting means are of wired type.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitting means are of the infrared type.

8. Remote control system of a set of audiovisual devices comprising:

- a remote control (RM);

- A device (B) according to one of the preceding claims, - a set of devices (DV1, DV2, DV3, DV4) connected to the device (B).

9. System according to claim 8, comprising an auxiliary device (AUX1, AUX2) connected to the device (B) and controlled by the device (B) via a power card (PW).