WO2003025882A1

WO2003025882A1 - Gun shaped remote controller

Info

Publication number: WO2003025882A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/004076
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan Storbeck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-09-12
Filing date: 2001-09-12
Publication date: 2003-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2004-03-12

Abstract

An infra-red remote control as used in conjunction with televisions, video machines, music systems and the like, or ergonomic shape, e.g.: a replica pistol employing one dual pressure main switch (trigger) 1, and one or more auxiliaires 3-7,. Including one or more tilt switches 3 & 4. These switches are use independently or in conjunction to cause the remote control to emit the required signal. In 'code mode' the main switch is employed to cause the remote control to emit differing required signals by differing repeated applications of the said switch in a time period, in the form of varying codes. The cowl assembly housing the emitter (8), at the front of the remote control is able to be adjusted or replaced so that the infra-red beam's footprint is reduced and or deflected. Plug-ins carry data either magnetically, electro-magnetically or optically, that is read by the remote control then transmitted to the video recorder to program it for timer functions.

Description

New Styie Remotes

Many household devices, such as televisions, video recorders, music systems etc. use remote controls. These operate by sending an encoded infra-red waveform signal to a sensor on the device to be controlled. It is to these remote control devices that this invention relates.

Remote controls are common place items, tha^,r comprise of an infra-red asnicter, a circuit ooard incnrpoi sτinε, a semiconductor ι„c-i oH it- c f -reducing the nscasaaiv ai^ l. e LOKΓ suoolv and a set of buttons or switches. These minimum components, correctlv connected are housed in, usual lv a plastic rectangular box the switches either on the top or top and bottom and the emitter at the front. This ubiquitous design is unimaginative.

According to the present invention the components of a remote control are encased in an ergonomic housing, one main switch is used, which is of high qualitv. and is either single or dual pressure. Auxiliary switches are also employed either independ -antly or in conjunction with the main switch. Application of these switches causes the remote control to emi the required sign 1.

The e'ϊonouic design of th≡. rGruofc- ronf-.oi is __'_ -'_ > ø > if fi L= r.-mfn. cabl t i to a pc-, εnn. hand, with the din _'

F! j ^"I * H .I.Γ- 'Ϊ J ¹ -> ι«i ι •= i rji t >-'_icl iju .Λ f 1 u,_: - ^■ <." Lbυmu of T ' 3ι ! ocμ m'i ΠF on the d-cigα. T e fii ilisr"' swi tches =u e. if _. e i ] V ui ch the minimum of ώo'fsmeαt zy one or more digits of that hand or that hand.

The auxiliary switches include one or more tilt swi ches such that inclining the remote control through a requisite angle or angles with or without use of the main switch or other auxiliary switches causes the remote control to emit the required signal.

Plug-ins which are placed either within the remote control or into a carriage then inco the remote control, carry encoded information which is readable by the semiconducting chip electrically, electromagnetically or opto-electrical ly causing the remote control to emit the required signal.

The inf a-red emitter is housed at the front of the remote control , closest to the sensor at which it is aimed. The emitter is housed in a cowl assembiy. The cowl assembly can be adjusted or replaced so that it narrows and or deflects the emitted beam, either by shielding or focusing the said beam. Referring to the drawings, the two basic ergonomic designs : -

Fig 1 The Replica Pistol, main switch operated by index finger.

Fig 2 The Sci-fi Laser, main switch operated by thumb.

The main switch is a high Quality switch, dual pressure and capable of many make/break operations within a second.

When full pressure is applied to the main switch, the remote control emits the required signal to switch the device (television, video machine , music system etc on or off, or from stand-by to on or on to stand-by.

By using less pressure en the main switch the remote control ς?tαits the correct signal t c ange e channel t ai r e

By combining the use of th-a main swi ch with one or more of the auxiliary switches, different command signals are emitted f om the remote control .

When in "code mode" the main switch only, is used to cause the remote control to emit a required signal. A series of applications of the main switch through a time period is interpreted bv the semi-conductor chip to cause the remote control to emit the required signal. This code is similar to Morse code, where dots and dashes are, applica ions of the main switch and pauses for a specified time period.

The tilt switches are mounted inside the casing of the remote control so that when it is inclined through a requisite angle the switch is made. Fig 3.

Inclining the remote control is achieved by the operator twisting thier wrist, left or right. The aim of the remote control at the sensor is not impaired by this action.

The cowl assembly reduces the spread of the beam emitted from the remote control, so that the footprint is smaller and must be aimed accurately at the sensor of the device. The cowl assembly also can be preset to deflect the emmitted beam so that although the remote control is "pointed" at the centre of, or example the television screen. the beam is "aimed¹ at the nearby sensor. The cowl assembly allows the remote control's emitted beam's footprint to fall in a different location to the apparent aim of the remote control .

Plug-in carry data about channels .times and dates for programming a video recorder to record television programs using a timer facility on the video recorder. The plug-ins are loaded into the remote control like bullets. Fig 5.

The shape of the retαote control and positioning of the main switch 1, auxiliary switches 3,4,5,6,7, and emitter 8. are important features. The other Internal components are positions within the remote control according spacial requirements. Fig 6. . . Ergonomic shape.

The ergonomic design of the remote control is such that it "fits the hand", comfortably and easily. Two main designs are employed :-

.1. Replica Pistol.

.2. Sci/Fi Laser.

The main switch, actuated by the index finger "Trigger" on .1. replica pistol by thumb on .2. sci/fi. 2. .Single control.

The main switch is used in three possible ways.

.1. Turn the device ON or OFF , or , ON or STANDBY

.2. Independently or in conjunction with auxiliaries to send other commands . .3. Repeatedl , encoded . 3. .Encoded transmiεion.

The "trigger" is repeatedly applied In a short time period, This "code" is interpreted by the semi-conductor and the required signal is emitted to the device. he trigger must be a high speed minimum bounce switch. 4. .Tilt controls.

Tilt switches are auxiliaries where the make/break action is effected by the operater altering the angle of the remote control in. 3-diraensional space. 5. .Plug-ins.

Similar to "bullets", the plug- Ins are either loaded into, or into a carridge then into, or caused to connect to the remote control , Information for Timer Functions on the device is then available in the remote control to transmit to the device. he "plug-ins" can be stored separately. 6. . Airαing .

The cowl assembly is designed to reduce the spread of the Infra-red beam from^' the remote control, so that the operator must aim accurately at t e sensor on the ^vice- The «.,".<-•;.' .'i !-^* ι~ ^"-it--.- Tfi r be reduced so that it Is no larger than L t? -,' ΔI.C on Hfiico It falls. This Is either done bv a physical sheild cowl or a magnetic or an electro-magnetic focus cowl.

The cowl assembly is also designed to allow the infra-red beam from the remote control to be deflected "out of true" aim of the remote control. So that the tight beam can be set. deflected to fall on the sensor, of the television or nearby video-recorder whilst the remote control itself is pointed at the centre of the television. This is either achieved by a physical shield or magnetic/electo-magnetic fG&U§ G&yl ; fie. ; . Swi ches .

A basic set-up is outlined, not necessarily the switch configuration, not using "Code Mode"

With switches labeled as table below , numbers relating to fig 6

?1-?, '^" -,M "^" t»":", i j u l p *essu_'e MF Main st-'j fcch, Light pressure M Tilt swi ch, Right T Till swi ch, Left l o AUKillary swi tches SI 6

-Switch- -Fig.6- -Com and-

MF I Standby^r>0n - On > Standby

M 2 '. Channel Up

M+Tr 2+3 Play

M+Tl 2+4 ϊ Stop

M+Tr+ ^■SI 2+3+5 : Forward-wind

M+T1 + SI 2+4+5 z Rewind

M+Tr+ S2 2+3+6 Record

M+ 1 + S2 2+4+6 : Pause

SI 5 ; Volume Up

S2 6 ; Volume Down

Fox* example :-

Example 1

Pressing M (2) the main switch to its first connection (light pressure) and Inclining the remote control to the right through the requisite angle, so that Tr (3) one of the Internally mounted tilt switches is mad« the remote control transmits the

PLAY command .

Example

Pressing; M (2) the main switch (light pressure) aswell as the auxiliary switch S2 (6) whilst inclining the remote control to the left through the requisite angle so that Tl (4) is made; the remote control transmits the

PAUSE command. . Code Mode . 5

When switched to Code Mode, the main switch, a high quality minimum bounce switch is used to cause the remote control to emit the various commands to the device.

This is achieved by the semi-conducting chip interpreting a dot/dash type code, where the make/break of switch M(2) is read over a time period.

The amount of different comsiand codes is limited only by the speed of the operator .

Examples of various "Trigger actions" ;-

Switch M(2) >time

I-Mak —I

I Ϊ y

I-Make--I == == == Remote control

I-Break-I ===== == == ========= transmits

I 1 _> the relevant

I -Make—I =

Claims

1 An infra-red remote control for use with televisions, video- machines, music systems etc. which is housed in an ergonomic casing.

2 A remote control as claimed in Claim 1 which Is designed to resemble a oistol .

3 A remote control as claimed in Claim 1 which is designed to resemble a Sci-Fi Laser.

4 A remote control as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, wherein one main switch is used to activate the remote control to emit the reαulred signal.

5 A remote control as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim or claim 4 wherein a high quality switch , capable of several make/break, make/break actions per second, is employed. This allows the operator to input a code through a time period, similar to Morse, which causes the remote control to emit the required signal.

6 A remote control as claimed In any preceding claim wherin the main switch is a dual pressure switch.

7 A remote control as. claimed in any preceding claim, wherein uxil iar switches sic ϋ::i-~c! i tu- veυdar.n-^" y i^~> <,o >juue I; 1 n wf-'-" it"- ι,ι- ι>\ .-^■.^■•( '" '< ,_ι 1 l wii'.f, clf f •_!_-_'iil -. I'_? ^-1-». is ■•'• h^;-^j ■-^■ n i "vteci .

8 A remote control as claimed in any preceding claim employing one or more tilt switches.

9 A remote control as claimed in any preceding claim using a shield or focusing device to narrow the spread of the emitted infra-red beam.

lo A remote control as claimed in any preceding claim using a shield or focusing device to deflect the emitted beam, moving the beams footprint away from the remote controls apparent aim,

11 A remote control as claimed in any preceding claim wherein plug-Ins carry data to program a device for timer functions.

12 A remote control substantially as described herein, with reference to Figures 1-6 of the accompanying, d aw