Remote control with programmable button labeling and labeling display upon button actuation
US7429979B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 16, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 30, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 22, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/47
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A universal remote control includes a display that is partitioned into a button touch-screen portion and a message area. The button touch-screen portion includes pre-determined or etched areas defining a plurality of buttons and a given number of pre-determined labels for each button. The message area includes individual pixels (i.e. a dot matrix) that allow the display of messages, labels or the like such as text. Activation of a touch-screen button having a message or label associated therewith causes the message or label to be displayed in the message area of the display. The remote control is customizable by the user. The user can configure a label for a particular button to suit the user's preference(s). This is especially useful for “learning remotes” where the function “learned” (stored) with respect to a particular button or key may bear no relationship to the label printed or available for that button. Now the user can create a custom label that is displayed in a message area of the remote.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.