WO1996014606A1

WO1996014606A1 - A remote controller for setting clocks in appliances

Info

Publication number: WO1996014606A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/014456
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henry C. Yuen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-11-07
Filing date: 1995-11-07
Publication date: 1996-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 1997-05-07
Also published as: AU4148796A

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for setting clocks in appliances. A remote controller (10) for setting a first clock (34) in an appliance includes a second clock (20) in the remote controller set to a first time zone, a key (116) for entering a command into the remote controller to set the second clock to a second time zone, a key (12) for entering a command into the remote controller to set the first clock in the appliance to be equal to the second clock in the remote controller, a processor (14) for processing the command in the remote controller to insert a time read from the second clock in the remote controller into a stored sequence of commands for setting the first clock in the appliance to form a sequence of time commands; and a transmitter (28) for transmitting the sequence of time commands from the remote controller to the appliance to set the first clock in the appliance.

Description

A REMOTE CONTROLLER FOR SETTING CLOCKS IN APPLIANCES

Field of the Invention:

This invention relates to remote controllers and particularly to apparatus and methods for setting clocks on appliances.

Description of the Related Art: There are many appliances for which initial setup of a clock is required, including

VCRs, cable boxes, televisions, microwave ovens, timers for lights, timers for sprinkler systems, and heater/air conditioning control systems. Every time power is removed and then reapplied to these appliances, the clock must be reset. For example, when a power outage occurs for an appliance such as a VCR the time setting for the clock in the VCR is lost. When power is restored after a power outage, the clock displayed on the liquid crystal display (LCD) of many VCRs becomes a flashing "12:00" and keeps flashing until the user resets the clock. Resetting the clock typically requires many steps, even if a relatively convenient method is available, such as an "on screen" method for setting the clock. This is an annoyance to the user and often the user will put up with the flashing " 12:00" rather than take the time to reset the clock. This is not an uncommon event and may happen 3 to 4 times a year in a typical household, which leads to a time consuming and annoying process of resetting the clock on each appliance.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a system for more conveniently setting the clock for appliances such as VCRs, cable boxes, televisions, microwave ovens, timers for lights, timers for sprinkler systems, and heater/air conditioning control systems.

Summary of the Invention:

An object of the invention is to provide a remote controller that can conveniently set clocks in appliances. Another object of the invention is to provide a remote controller that has a clock that is set before delivery to a consumer to a particular time zone without regard to the time zone of the consumer, which lowers the cost of manufacturing. Another object of the invention is to allow consumers to easily adjust the time zone setting of the clock.

Accordingly, apparatus and methods are provided for setting clocks in appliances. In one embodiment, a remote controller for setting a first clock in an appliance includes a second clock in the remote controller set to a first time zone, a key for entering a command into the remote controller to set the second clock to a second time zone, a key for entering a command into the remote controller to set the first clock in the appliance to be equal to the second clock in the remote controller, a processor for processing the command in the remote controller to insert a time read from the second clock in the remote controller into a stored sequence of commands for setting the first clock in the appliance to form a sequence of time commands; and a transmitter for transmitting the sequence of time commands from the remote controller to the appliance to set the first clock in the appliance.

Other objects and many of the attendant features of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed descriptions and considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols designate like parts throughout the figures.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a system for setting clocks in appliances according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of circuitry in a typical appliance in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cable box placed on top of a VCR with both appliances having a display of a clock.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a remote controller for providing clock setup for appliances according to the present invention. FIGS. 5 and 6 are flow diagrams for a method for setting clocks in appliances according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly, to FIG. 1, there is shown a remote controller 10 for controlling various appliances. The remote controller 10 can be a universal remote controller capable of controlling all of the appliances shown in FIG. 1. Alternately each appliance can have its own remote controller. Some examples of appliances which can be controlled by a remote controller include VCR 30, television 36, cable box 40, microwave 46, sprinkler-water timer 50, temperature control system 54, and light control system 58. Other appliances can also be controlled by a remote controller in accordance with this invention. The remote controller 10 contains a microprocessor 14, a keypad 16, a display 18, a clock 20, a command-sequence memory 22, and a transmitter 28. The transmitter can be an infrared transmitter, an RF transmitter, or any other type of transmitter.

The remote controller has a send key 12, an eastern standard time (EST) key 112, a central standard time (CST) key 114, a mountain standard time (MST) key 116, and a pacific standard time (PST) key 118. The remote controller also has an up key 120 and a down key 122. The functions of these keys will be explained further below.

In addition to using the keypad 16 for entering information into the remote controller, the external input 29, which can be a microphone or a connector, can also be used to enter data into the remote controller 10. Power for the remote controller 10 is provided by a battery 110 which can be a lithium battery.

The remote controller 10, in addition to providing the normal functions of a remote controller for a particular appliance, also has a capability for sending clock information to an appliance in order to initialize the clock in the appliance. For example, to set clock 34 in VCR 30, the user of a remote controller 10 for the VCR presses the send button 12. This causes microprocessor 14 to access a command sequence from the command-sequence memory 22 to set the clock. The microprocessor 14 accesses time from clock 20 and inserts the time into the command sequence and then transmits the assembled time commands to the VCR 30 via transmitter 28 in the remote controller 10. The VCR 30 receives the time commands via receiver 32 and the clock 34 is set to be equal to the time read from clock 20. The other appliances shown in FIG. 1 also have clocks that need resetting after power is lost by the appliance. For example, cable box 40 has a clock 42, and typically many of the other appliances also have clocks, such as the microwave 46, the sprinkler-water timer 50, the temperature control system 54, and the light control system 58. All of those appliances use the time of day to control turning on or off a subsystem or controlling the operation of a subsystem.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the circuitry of a typical appliance in accordance with this invention. As shown, a typical appliance includes a microcomputer 70, which contains a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, I/O ports, and timers and counters. The microcomputer 70 has an input/output port 74 which interfaces to a display 76, a keyboard 78 and a clock 72. In a typical appliance, the user uses the keyboard 78 to set the clock 72 and to set other settings in the appliance, such as timers and counters. The display is used to display the time of the clock and also to display other information. The input/output interfaces with a receiver 80 which can receive a transmission from a remote controller. The receiver 80 can be an infrared receiver, an R/F receiver or any other device that can receive commands from a remote controller.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cable box 40 placed on top of a VCR 30 with both appliances showing a display of a clock. VCR 30 has a display 90 showing the time on a clock. As discussed above, when a typical VCR loses power, the display 90 becomes a flashing " 12:00" o'clock such as shown in FIG. 3. Similarly, cable box 40 shows a display 92 of a clock. When power is lost to these subsystems, the user must reset the clocks. If the user does not reset the clock on the VCR 30, then the user will not be able to program the VCR to turn on and off at the right times for recording a program. Fortunately, when power is lost to the VCR 30, the remote controller 10, which is powered by batteries, does not lose power and so the clock in the remote controller is still set to the proper time. Thus, when the user presses the send button 12 on the remote controller 10 to send the time in clock 20 to the VCR 30 via the transmitter 28, the correct time is set into clock 34 of the VCR and the correct time will then be immediately displayed on display 90 of the VCR. The purpose of the EST 112, the CST 114, the MST 116, the PST 118 and the up 120 and down 122 keys will now be explained. When the remote controller 10 is manufactured and before delivery to the user, the clock 20 is set to a particular time zone. For example, the clock 20 can be set to eastern standard time. Since the clock is set during manufacturing, the clock can be set quite accurately. Then when the user purchases the remote controller 10, the user can set the clock 20 to the proper time zone by pressing one of the time zone keys: EST 112, CST 114, MST 116 or the PST 118 key. Pressing one of these keys will automatically adjust the clock to the time in the time zone selected. For example, if before pressing the PST 118 key, the clock 20 has a time of 11:21:45 EST, then after pressing the PST 118 key the clock 20 will have a time of 8:21:45. If the user has accidentally pressed the incorrect key or the user wishes to readjust the time zone to another time zone, then the user need only press the proper time zone key. The remote controller 10 keeps track of the current time zone setting of the clock and adjusts the clock according to the pressed time zone key.

Even though the clock 20 is set quite accurately during manufacture, the time on clock 20 will eventually have to be adjusted in order to be correct. Up key 120 is provided to allow the user to increase the clock time in one minute intervals as required to account for clock drift over time. Down key 122 is provided to allow the user to decrease the clock time in one minute intervals. The time zone keys 112, 114, 116 and 118 and the up and down keys 120 and 122 reduce the inconvenience that the user would otherwise experience in having to set the clock 20 to the proper time.

An embodiment of a remote controller 10 for setting clocks in appliances is shown in FIG. 4. The remote controller has a keypad 16, a display 18 and infrared transmitters 28 which are capable of transmitting in the up/down, right/left as well as forward directions.

A battery 110 is provided. As shown the remote controller includes a send key 12, a EST key 112, a CST 114, a MST key 116, a PST key 118, a down key 122 and an up key 120. The remote controller also has other keys for the normal functions provided by a remote controller. Such a remote controller for controlling a VCR is described in patent application serial No. 08/269,740 filed July 1, 1994, which is incorporated herein by this reference as though set forth in full. A remote controller for controlling a television set or a VCR, has channel up and down keys for changing the channels and volume up and down keys for changing the volume as shown in FIG. 4. The display 18 can be used for displaying various items including the time on clock 20. The external input 29 for the remote controller 10, can be a microphone. The microphone can be used to down load via telephone various set up information required by the remote controller. For example, a sequence of commands for setting a clock in an appliance can be downloaded from a telephone via microphone 29, as described in patent application serial No. 08/237,506, filed 5/3/94.

If the remote controller is to be used as an universal remote control, it must be programmed with the IR codes for the functions and the brand and models of the appliances it will control. This can be done via codes downloaded via microphone 29 as discussed above or the universal remote controller can "learn" the IR codes for the products that it is to control from the particular remote controller sold with an appliance. For learning the IR codes, the universal remote controller includes an IR receiver (not shown) that receives the IR codes from the other remote controllers. Another programming method involves providing a ROM that contains the IR codes for most functions of most brands and models of appliances. The user then enters into the universal remote controller the brand/model of each type of appliance to be controlled. A particular method of providing IR codes for an universal remote controller by downloading IR code fragments is disclosed in serial No. 08/269,740 filed July 1, 1994, which is hereby incorporated by reference as though set forth in full.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flow diagrams for a method for setting clocks in appliances according to the present invention. In step 200 a clock in a remote controller is set accurately for a particular time zone before delivery to a user. The clock can be set during manufacturing or later at a distribution center before a sale is made to a consumer/user. The clock on the remote controller is set for example to eastern standard time. In step 202 the user sets his time zone by pressing the appropriate time zone key on the remote controller. For example, the user/consumer presses the CST key for setting the clock to central standard time. Then in step 204 the user presses the time up or time down keys to adjust the clock on the remote controller to account for drift over time, if any. Then when the user presses the send button on the remote controller, as shown in step 206, the remote controller in step 208 reads the clock in the remote controller and inserts the time into a stored sequence of commands for setting the clock in an appliance. The result is a time command sequence which is then transmitted in step 210 to the appliance to set the clock in the appliance to be equal to the clock in the remote controller.

FIG. 6 illustrates methods to store sequences of commands for setting a clock in an appliance. These sequences of commands are used in step 208. In step 212 the command sequences are stored in a memory in the remote controller during manufacture or entered and stored into memory in the remote controller by a user. The user can enter the commands sequences manually, or the user can download the command sequences via telephone from a remote site. The method of downloading information to a remote controller via a telephone from a remote site is fully explained in U.S. Patent application serial No. 08/237,506, filed May 3, 1994, which is hereby incorporated by reference as though set forth in full.

The described embodiments of the invention are only considered to be preferred and illustrative of the inventive concept, the scope of the invention is not to be restricted to such embodiments. Various and numerous other arrangements may be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such applications, modifications and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A remote controller for setting a first clock in an appliance, the remote controller comprising: a second clock set to a first time zone; means for entering a command into the remote controller to set the second clock to a second time zone; and means for entering a command into the remote controller to set the first clock in the appliance to be equal to the second clock in the remote controller.

2. The remote controller of claim 1 further comprising: means for processing the command in the remote controller to insert a time read from the second clock in the remote controller into a stored sequence of commands for setting the first clock in the appliance to form a sequence of time commands; and means for transmitting the sequence of time commands from the remote controller to the appliance to set the first clock in the appliance.

3. The remote controller of claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting the minute setting of the second clock.

4. The remote controller of claim 3 wherein the means for adjusting the minute setting of the second clock comprises: an up key for increasing the minute setting of the second clock each time the up key is pressed; and a down key for decreasing the minute setting of the second clock each time the down key is pressed.

5. The remote controller of claim 1 wherein the means for entering a command into the remote controller to set the second clock to a second time zone comprises a plurality of keys corresponding to different time zones.

6. The remote controller of claim 5 wherein the plurality of keys comprises an Eastern Standard Time (EST) key, a Central Standard Time (CST) key, a Mountain Standard Time (MST) key, and a Pacific Standard Time (PST) key.

7. The remote controller of claim 1 wherein the means for entering a command into the remote controller to set the first clock in the appliance to be equal to the second clock in the remote controller comprises a send key on the remote controller.

8. The remote controller of claim 1 further comprising means for entering into the remote controller a sequence of commands for setting the first clock in the appliance.

9. The remote controller of claim 1 further comprising a display on the remote controller for displaying the setting of the second clock.

10. A method for setting a first clock in an appliance by using a remote controller, the method comprising the steps of: setting a second clock in the remote controller before delivery to consumers to a first time zone; entering a command into the remote controller to set the second clock to a second time zone; entering a command into the remote controller to set the first clock in the appliance to be equal to the second clock in the remote controller; processing the command in the remote controller to insert a time read from the second clock in the remote controller into a stored sequence of commands for setting the first clock in the appliance to form a sequence of time commands; and transmitting the sequence of time commands from the remote controller to the appliance to set the first clock in the appliance.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of adjusting the minute setting of the second clock.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of adjusting the minute setting of the second clock comprises the step of increasing the minute setting of the second clock by pressing an up key or decreasing the minute setting of the second clock by pressing a down key.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of entering a command into the remote controller to set the second clock to a second time zone comprises the step of pressing one of a plurality of keys corresponding to different time zones.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of pressing one of a plurality of keys corresponding to different time zones comprises the step of pressing an Eastern Standard Time (EST) key, a Central Standard Time (CST) key, a Mountain Standard Time (MST) key, or a Pacific Standard Time (PST) key.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of entering a command into the remote controller to set the first clock in the appliance to be equal to the second clock in the remote controller comprises the step of pressing a send key on the remote controller.

16. The method of step 10 further comprising the step of entering into the remote controller a sequence of commands for setting the first clock in the appliance.