Versatile remote control device and system
US8233803B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jul 31, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/42206
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A radio-frequency (RF) remote control (10) has a user interface and transmits an RF signal (11) which designates a device (14) to be controlled and a command for that device. The RF signal is received by an intermediary device (12). The intermediary device, in turn, generates and broadcasts a plurality of high-power IR signals (13A-13F). These signals may be received directly by a controlled device (14A) or may be received indirectly by a controlled device (14B, 14C) after one or more reflections from objects (16A, 16B) and/or room surfaces (18). Thus, reliable control of the devices (14) is obtained even in situations where merely transmitting a typical IR signal may not provide reliable control of the device (14).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.