United States Patent [19]
`Darbee et al.
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,959,810
`Sep.25, 1990
`
`[54] UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE
`Inventors: Paul V. Darbee, Santa Ana; Richard
`[75]
`E. Ellis, Garden Grove; Louis S.
`JBDSky, Long Beach; Avram S.
`Grossman, Santa Ana, all of Calif.
`(73] Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc., Tustin,
`Calif.
`[21] Appl. No.: 127,999
`(22] Filed:
`Dec. 2, 1987
`
`[56]
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 109,336, Oct. 14, 1987,
`abandoned.
`Int. Cl.5 ....................... H04B 9/00; GOSC 19/00;
`(51]
`H04Q 1/00
`[52] u.s. Cl •............................... 364/900; 340/825.69;
`340/825.57; 340/825.12; 455/151; 455/603;
`455/352
`[58] Field of Search ................ 364/900; 455/355, 151,
`455/603; 340/825.69
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,956,745 5/1976 Ellis ..................................... 340/337
`4,200,862 4/1980 Campbell et al .................... 340/310
`4,356,509 10/1982 Skerlos et al ......................... 358/85
`4,386,436 5/1983 Kocher et al ....................... 455/151
`4,425,647 1/1984 Collins et al .......................... 371/70
`4,509,211 4/1985 Robbins ............................... 455/603
`4,517,564 5/1985 Morishita et al ............... 340/825.69
`4,535,333 8/1985 Twardowski ....................... 455/151
`4,566,034 _l/1986 Harger etal ......................... 455/151
`- 4,623,887 11/1986 Welles, II ....................... 340/825.57
`4,626,847 12/1986 Zato ............................... 340/825.56
`4,626,848 12/1986 Ehlers ............................ 340/825.69
`4,703,359 10/1987 Rumbolt et al .................. 358/194.1
`4,712,105 12/1987 Kohler ........................... 340/825.69
`4,718,112 1/1988 Shiroda ............................... 455/151
`4,746,919 5/1988 Reitmeier ....................... 340/825.56
`
`4,769,643 9/1988 Sogame .......................... 340/825.69
`4,771,283 9/1988
`Imoto .................................. 455/603
`4,774,511 9/1988 Rumbott et al ................ 340/825.69
`4,794,371 12/1988 Yamamoto ..................... 340/825.69
`4,807,052 2/1989 Amano ................................ 455/355
`4,825,200 4/1989 Evans et al. .......................... 341/23
`4,841,368 6/1989 Rumbolt et al. .................... 455/352
`4,855,746 8/1989 Stacy ................................ 358/194.1
`4,856,081 8/1989 Smith .................................. 455/151
`4,860,380 8/1989 Mengel ................................ 455/185
`4,866,434 9/1989 Keenan ........................... 340/825.69
`Pn"mary Examiner-Andrew J. James
`Assistant Examiner-Viet Q. Nguyen
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Thomas R. Vigil
`ABSTRACI
`[57]
`The universal remote control system comprises data
`processor, input device including a keyboard and a
`keyboard circuit connected to the data processor, signal
`output device including circuitry for generating infra(cid:173)
`red light codes connected to the data processor means,
`a memory including a battery backed, non-volatile
`RAM only and no ROM for storing (a) a set of instruc(cid:173)
`tions and (b) a library of code data for enabling the
`infrared light generating circuitry to generate specific
`infrared codes, the RAM being coupled to the data
`processor, and a data coupling device including termi(cid:173)
`nals coupled to the CPU for enabling new code data to
`be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved
`from, the RAM through the terminals and the CPU.
`The RAM in the ROM-less data processing means is
`loaded by carrying out the following steps: (a) disabling
`the central processing unit; (b) connecting a separate
`microprocessor system to said RAM; (c) transferring
`instructions and/or data to said RAM; and (d) re-ena(cid:173)
`bling the central processing unit to enable the central
`processing unit to execute the instructions so trans(cid:173)
`ferred.
`
`38 Claims, 17 Drawing Sheets
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 25, 1990
`
`Sheet 1 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`FIG. I
`
`12
`
`16
`
`l--r---+-tt+---25
`
`~10
`
`18
`
`61
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 2
`
`

`

`~ =
`
`00
`....
`\0
`til
`\0
`....
`.&;;..
`
`-l
`~
`~
`N
`~
`~
`:r
`rJJ
`
`Q
`\C
`\C
`~
`'*
`Ul
`N
`"?
`~
`rJJ
`
`16
`
`lo
`II Q
`.
`Q o o a
`Q Q Q Q
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`0
`~ Ql
`b Q ~.
`~
`
`1111
`
`I
`II'·
`
`I
`
`\\-\~ II
`
`--
`
`43
`
`26
`
`I
`~
`
`38 '
`
`I
`I
`
`40
`
`25
`
`12
`
`14
`
`~~'
`~~~~
`~~~~
`~~~~
`
`24
`
`Q ~ ~ ~
`,.:-·I
`
`~~~ ":\"-1'111& 1111
`
`a
`~
`.......
`~
`LEDI ~ en
`•
`~
`
`Ill
`
`II
`
`',
`
`30
`
`I
`
`I
`
`LED3
`
`LED 4
`,y --LED 2
`
`~~t-,~
`
`34
`
`25
`
`'I
`
`~~~
`~~~~
`~~~
`~~~~I
`~~~~
`~~~
`~
`~~~!II 32 ~-~~~
`I""~ 11'
`
`I
`
`11111
`
`~~
`
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`~~
`~~~ 18
`22..--I~~~~
`~~ ~
`~~~
`~~~
`~
`~
`~~~
`~~~
`~~
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 25, 1990
`
`Sheet 3 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`FIG.3
`
`FIG.~
`
`25
`
`48
`
`24
`
`24
`
`FIG.5
`
`25
`
`26
`
`l I
`
`14
`
`12
`
`12
`
`25
`
`FIG. 6
`
`26
`
`50
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.25,1990
`
`Sheet 4 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`F/G.7
`
`12
`
`36
`
`PORTS
`'· 2. 3
`
`BATTERY COMPARTMENT 45
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.25,1990
`
`Sheet 5 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`FIG.B
`
`INFRARED
`LIGHT(cid:173)
`EMITTING
`010DE(x3)
`SERIAL 4++--1
`I/0~~~----~----~
`
`RANDOM
`8- BIT
`MICROPROCESSOR t - - - - l ACCESS
`MEMORY
`CPU 56
`54
`
`60
`
`4 X f4
`KEYBOARD
`61
`
`4 X ''AAA''
`BATTERY
`46
`
`FIG.IO
`
`54
`
`LED 3
`LED 4
`LED 2
`LED 1
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.25,1990
`
`Sheet 6 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`WAKE UP ~106 RESET
`WRITE PROTECT
`117
`118~~ . CIRCUIT 78~ VCC"l CIRCUIT70
`rciRCUITRY
`L~J74
`
`~ >
`
`-'--
`
`--
`
`(52
`
`116-:E
`~ ~170
`ISO-
`1785 ~
`171~1..,
`
`v1721
`
`I
`
`h.l73-=-
`
`)
`
`_L-1021
`-.-
`-.-
`
`:
`HI-
`I04f ~
`--=
`>L,,o-=-
`
`~
`
`- I -
`
`.J
`
`RAM
`54
`
`CwRITE
`ENABLE
`LINE 176
`
`FIG
`.9A
`
`LATCH
`58
`
`y
`
`I
`~
`
`MULTIPLEX
`LINES 150....,
`
`LOWER 8 BIT
`ADDRESS BUS
`
`,.--ALE IOS
`
`/'141
`r142
`]143
`
`I
`
`7
`
`""144
`r145
`,.-146
`rl47
`
`v
`~
`-148
`
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`
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`_rl52
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`
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`
`158~
`
`164 '-.,_
`
`156
`
`(
`
`_rl60
`
`\.....,.162
`
`I
`
`__[_
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.25, 1990
`
`Sheet 7 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`5vcc
`
`r r r
`
`..;~A/
`~~,....
`-
`,A/
`
`--
`
`1-..
`
`-
`-
`-
`
`CPU
`56
`
`.......
`I.--~~
`~
`;:_
`LED 4
`R
`G
`•
`~
`
`.... ~.--
`
`=~
`
`1321
`I
`• I ~
`131\ \
`
`133
`)
`
`l,
`I)
`
`FIG. 9B
`
`)62
`
`137.
`
`lr64
`
`V:.l38
`1/ )25
`1
`,r-61
`\:7 ~
`
`-
`
`k-
`
`k-¥
`
`flrr4
`......__
`
`c (,36
`a 135
`
`134
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`121,
`122"'1...,
`123'-..
`124'-
`125----...
`126\,.
`127,
`128'-,.
`
`- -
`-
`
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`o-
`....___
`
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`c:::::J =r= II
`
`II
`
`-==
`-
`
`182j
`
`-
`
`>60
`
`63
`
`"
`
`I'"
`
`.....
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`-
`
`112J
`
`>
`
`__.___
`-
`
`----
`
`- -
`
`-
`
`Page 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.25,1990
`
`Sheet 8 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`FIG. II
`MODULATION SCHEMES
`
`I
`
`0
`
`0
`
`I
`
`0
`
`FIG. lla
`
`~ ~
`
`FIXED BIT TIME,
`FULL WIDTH BURST
`
`FIG. lib
`
`r
`{J.'hl
`
`0
`lj
`I
`
`0
`
`I
`
`~ Jm.r
`
`I
`
`r
`M~
`I
`
`0
`M
`I
`
`FIXED BIT TIME,
`BURST WIDTH MODULATED
`
`FIG. lie
`
`I
`I 00
`I
`~ M H ~ tJJJJ.
`I
`I
`
`0
`lY.
`I
`
`I
`
`FIXED OFF TIME,
`BURST WIDTH MODULATED
`
`FIG. lid
`
`I
`~H.
`I
`
`0
`
`0
`
`I u I ~
`
`I
`
`I JJY
`
`I
`WM
`I
`
`0
`
`I u
`
`FIXED BIT TIME,
`SINGLE /DOUBLE BURST
`
`FIG. lie
`
`I
`-ay
`I
`
`0
`
`0
`
`~
`
`~
`
`I
`
`rY
`
`I
`~~ I
`
`0
`~
`
`FIXED OFF TIME,
`I SINGLE I DOUBLE BURST
`
`FIG. llf
`
`~ I
`
`t I
`
`0
`
`0
`
`~
`
`M
`I
`
`~
`
`FIG.IIg ~ UJ. ~ )))J)NJJ
`
`FIG. II h
`
`FIG. IIi P 0 P P p 0 p 0 p 0
`
`0
`
`0
`
`0
`
`~
`
`~
`
`FIXED BURST
`I TIME, OFF TIME
`MODULATED
`
`RANDOM
`
`ONE FREQUENCY
`FOR EACH KEY
`
`SINGLE I DOUBLE PULSE,
`FIXED BIT TIME
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.25,1990
`
`Sheet 9 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`FIG. 12A
`CAPTURING
`
`IR CODE
`
`PASS '
`+
`
`PRESS KEY
`ON TARGET
`REMOTE
`
`~
`
`TRANSFORM
`IR SIGNAL TO
`BIT STREAM
`+
`STORE BIT
`STRtAM lOR
`RUN- LENGTH CODED
`BIT STREAM)
`
`+
`
`TRANSFORM
`STORED DATA
`TO LIST OF
`EXECUTABLE
`INSTRUCTIONS
`WHICH REPRODUCE.
`
`BIT STREAM •
`
`TO PASS 2
`
`STEP t
`
`STEP 2
`
`STEP 3
`
`eq.
`
`STEP 4
`
`_j
`
`za..a..LLa..
`OOOLLQ
`a::zzOz
`....
`......
`a::
`
`z
`C)
`ILl
`
`ID t
`
`FIG. 12B
`
`a.. za..O..LLO..z
`0 OOOLL0\3
`Z a::zZOZLLI
`....
`0::
`
`CD -
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.25,1990
`
`Sheet 10 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`FIG. 13A
`CAPTURING IR CODE
`
`STEP 5
`
`FIG.I3B
`
`( PASS 2
`I
`PRESS KEY
`ON TARGET
`REMOTE AGAIN
`I
`FILTER OUT
`CARRIER FROM s TEP 6
`I R BIT STREAM
`_jr---."----~
`I
`MEASURE ON
`TIMES AND
`OFF TIMES
`I
`STORE
`ON/OFF DATA
`I
`ANALYZE DATA
`FOR REPETITION s
`I
`
`..__JR BIT STREAM
`
`.._ _ __.n._ __ FILTERED
`
`BIT STREAM
`
`F/G.13C
`
`FILTERED
`BIT STREAM
`.____
`
`REPETITION
`tDISCARD)
`
`., "' OFF
`• ON
`TIME
`TIME
`
`STEP 7
`
`STEP 8
`
`STEP 10
`
`STEP 11
`
`STORE
`REPETITION
`SCHEME
`I
`STORE
`POINTER
`TO KEY
`I
`~ODE CAPTURED
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.25, 1990
`
`Sheet 11 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`FIG. /4 GENERATING
`
`IR CODE
`
`PRESS KEY FOR
`DESIRED FUNCTION
`
`STEP 1
`
`POl NT TO FIRST
`ON/OFF TIME
`
`STEP 2
`
`SET Tl MER TO
`GENERATE INTERRUPT
`AFTER ON TIME
`
`STEP 3
`
`EXECUTE CARRIER
`GENERATOR CODE
`LOOP
`
`STEP 4
`
`NO
`
`STEP 5
`
`SET Tl MER TO
`GENERATE INTERRUPT
`AFTER OFF TIME
`
`STEP 6
`
`EXECUTE NO P
`(NO OPERATION)
`
`STEP 7
`
`STEP 8
`
`STEP 9
`
`POINT TO
`NEXT ON/OFF
`TIME
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 12
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 25, 1990
`
`Sheet 12 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`FIG. 15
`
`LED 4
`
`I fable, II 8
`llia.ver, I
`I ~CR ~ ,,, c D I "' DO 1 I ,,, DO 21 I
`
`32
`
`25
`
`61
`
`18
`
`12
`
`2
`
`3
`
`8
`
`I,,,
`j, o
`
`I ~ 111~:~~r11 ~ II rause, I _..-r'o
`,,Rew I II tev I II tlay, II rwd I I
`I ~UT~ I
`I II yo! u~ I
`j, 1
`I IJ1
`I Ill
`1611,~11611~1
`II 7
`I I
`9
`I Ill
`I II fnter' II ,cH u~ I
`I recall, II ,cH D11
`
`,, DO I I
`I6II1C 1lll E 1ll1 G II
`J, s,11,D,11,F ,11,H ,j
`
`14
`
`( _____ )
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.25, 1990
`
`Sheet 13 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`FIG. 16
`
`STEP AND SET METHOD
`
`STEP
`
`I
`
`STEP 2
`
`STORE POINTER
`TO CURRENT
`<BEGINNING) STEP 3
`DRIVER
`
`STEP 12
`
`BLINK
`
`LED
`RED
`
`STEP II
`
`STEP13
`
`BLINK
`LED
`YELLOW
`
`STEP 9
`POINT TO NEXT
`DRIVER IN
`CIRCULAR LIST
`
`STEP 14
`POINT TO
`PREVIOUS
`DRIVER IN
`CIRCULAR LIST
`
`DONE
`
`STEP 15
`
`RESTORE DO 1, DO 2
`MACROS, IF ANY
`
`SEND lR SIGNAL
`FOR FUNCTION STEP 9
`BLINK LED GREEN
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.25, 1990
`
`Sheet 14 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`FIG.17
`DIRECT ENTRY-QUICK SET
`
`STEP II
`LED
`BLINKS
`LONG YELLOW
`
`STEP I
`
`STEP 2
`
`STEP 3
`
`STEP 4
`
`ENTER BLINK
`CODE
`CHV =RED
`CH6 =GREEN
`
`NO
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 15
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.25,1990
`
`Sheet 15 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`FIG. IBA
`SETTING A "OO"COMMANO MACRO
`
`FIG. IBB
`EXECUTING A
`MACRO "00" COMMAND
`
`PRESS
`DO KEY
`
`STEP I
`
`STEP 2
`
`PRACTICE KEY
`SEQUENCE TO STEP 1
`MAKE SURE
`IT IS VALID
`
`PRESS
`DO, RECALL
`
`STEP 2
`
`PRESS ANY KEY
`(EXCEPT MODE KEY,
`NUMBER KEYS, OR
`DO, ENTER RECALL)
`
`STEP 3
`
`ENTER
`IN
`SEQUENCE DESIRED KEYS~ STEp 4
`INCLUDE MODE
`AND FUNCTION
`
`UNTIL MEMORY FULL
`
`STEP 8
`
`* eq. TV, POWER, VCR 1, POWER, PLAY, TV, 3, ENTER
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.25, 1990
`
`Sheet 16 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`FIG. 19A
`
`TO IDENTIFY WHAT DEVICE REMOTE IS SET FOR-BLINK CODE
`
`PRESS
`DO KEY
`
`STEP 1
`
`PRESS
`MODE KEY
`lTV, VCR, ETC.)
`
`STEP 2
`
`FIG.19B
`
`G G
`
`G
`
`G G G G G
`
`R R
`
`R
`
`R R R R R
`
`LOOK UP
`BLINK CODE STEP 5
`IN BOOKLET
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.25,1990
`
`Sheet 17 of 17
`
`4,959,810
`
`228
`
`FIG. 20
`
`251
`255
`207~2501
`256
`257
`258
`
`~·
`~~ .......... ,~253
`254
`259
`FIG.21
`
`+9V ..,_
`
`IBMOTR
`~
`20
`
`-9 OR 9V 0--
`2
`
`JBMRXD
`3 -+---
`
`---=9:....:.V~ • o--
`7
`
`270
`JBMRTS
`4
`
`230AJ
`
`FIG.22
`
`rooK
`R3
`
`~ 230
`
`JN5229
`4.3V
`CR I
`
`224
`
`RED
`
`226
`
`~'HOs:r-'
`FEMALE FEMALE
`DB-9
`DB-25
`
`22S
`
`CONNECTOR
`IN BATTERY
`COMPARTMENT
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 18
`
`

`

`1
`
`4,959,810
`
`UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE
`
`This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
`07/109,336 now abandoned on 6/7/89.
`
`5
`
`30
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`l. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a universal remote
`control device of the type which is hand held and which 10
`can be coupled via coded infrared signals with a remote
`control receiver built into a television or other remotely
`controlled electrical apparatus to tum on the apparatus,
`such as the television, at a distance, to adjust the vol(cid:173)
`ume, tone and brightness, to change channels. and to 15
`tum the television off.
`Additionally, the present invention relates to a
`method for acquiring the infrared codes for a controlled
`apparatus, such as a television, generating code data
`related to these infrared codes for storage in a remote 20
`control device and methods for using the remote con(cid:173)
`trol device for finding, in a library or table of code data
`for generating infarared codes for operating different
`electrical apparatus manufactured by different manufac(cid:173)
`turers stored in a RAM of the remote control device, 25
`the code data for generating infrared coded signals for
`operating a particular apparatus, such as a television,
`and then for using the stored code data for generating
`the coded infrared signals for operating the controlled
`apparatus.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Heretofore it has been proposed to provide a recon(cid:173)
`figurable remote control device and programmable
`functions for such a remote control device which will
`enable one to learn, store and retransmit infrared codes 35
`that are emitted from the controller for a remotely
`controlled apparatus, such as a television.
`For example_,_ in the Welles II U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,887
`and -the Ehlers U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,848, there is dis(cid:173)
`closed a reconfigurable remote control device which 40
`has the ability to learn, store and repeat remote control
`codes from any other infrared transmitter. Such a
`reconfigurable remote control transmitter device in(cid:173)
`cludes an infrared receiver, a microprocessor, a non(cid:173)
`volatile random access memory, a scratch pad random 45
`access memory, and an infrared transmitter.
`According to the teachings of the Ehlers patent, the
`infrared signals received by the remote control device
`are in bursts of pulses and the device counts the number
`of pulses in each burst as well as the time duration of 50
`each pause in a transmission between bursts.
`As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the
`universal remote control device of the present invention
`utilizes a single non-volatile RAM does not provide a
`separate scratch pad RAM or, more importantly, a 55
`ROM.
`In learning the infrared code and transforming same
`to code data which is then stored in a RAM of the
`control device and later used to generate infrared codes,
`a novel method is utilized wherein no counting of pulses 60
`takes place, and only the time duration of the pulses in
`a burst of pulses from the leading edge of the rlfSt pulse
`in a burst of pulses to the trailing edge of the last pulse
`in the burst as well as the time duration of the pause
`between bursts are sensed and used to learn and later to 65
`generate the infrared codes.
`Additionally, unique methods for use of the remote
`control device are provided so that a number of infrared
`
`2
`operation code sequences can be generated by the re(cid:173)
`mote control device for operating various types of elec(cid:173)
`tronic apparatus.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`According to the invention there is provided a uni(cid:173)
`versal remote control system having input means for
`inputting commands, signal output means for supplying
`infrared signals to a controlled device, a central pro(cid:173)
`cessing unit (CPU) coupled to the input means and to
`the signal output means, a single non-volatile, read(cid:173)
`write RAM (such as a battery-backed RAM) coupled to
`the central processing unit and data coupling means
`including terminal means coupled to the CPU for en(cid:173)
`abling new code data to be supplied from outside the
`system to, or retrieved from the RAM through the
`terminal means and the CPU.
`Further according to the invention, there is provided
`a method of loading a RAM in a ROM-less micro(cid:173)
`processor system comprising a central processing unit, a
`single non-volatile, read-write RAM, input means, out(cid:173)
`put means, and means for coupling said central process(cid:173)
`ing unit, said RAM, said input means, and said output
`means together, said method including the steps of:
`(a) disabling the central processing unit;
`(b) connecting a separate microprocessor system to
`said RAM;
`(c) transferring instructions and/or data to said
`RAM;
`(d) re-enabling the central processing unit to enable
`the central processing unit to execute the instructions so
`transferred.
`Still further according to the present invention, there
`is provided a process of learning, storing and reproduc(cid:173)
`ing the remote control codes of any of a diverse plural(cid:173)
`ity of remote control transmitters, comprising the steps
`of:
`(a) receiving a transmission of a train of pulses from a
`remote control transmitter;
`(b) recording the point-in-time of an edge of each
`pulse in a train of said pulses;
`(c) transforming the recorded point-in-time data into
`a list of instructions for generating a replica of said train
`of pulses;
`(d) timing the duration of a train of said pulses;
`(e) timing the period between trains of pulses;
`(t) associating a function key of a universal remote
`control device with said time duration of said train of
`pulses and said list of instructions for generating a rep(cid:173)
`lica of said train of pulses;
`(g) determining whether or not repetitions of the
`transmission of train of pulses is present;
`(h) ignoring repetitions of the train of pulses;
`(i) noting that repetitions are present; and
`(j) storing for use in a universal remote control de(cid:173)
`vice, the information acquired in steps (c), (d), (e), (t)
`and (i).
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the universal
`remote control deVice constructed according to the
`teachings of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the control
`device shown in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view
`through two of the push buttons of the control device
`shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 19
`
`

`

`4,959,810
`
`4
`constructed according to the teachings of the present
`invention.
`As shown, the device 10 includes a housing 11 includ(cid:173)
`ing an upper housing member 12 having a base panel 14,
`S and a lower housing member 16. An overlay face panel
`18 is positioned over the base panel 14.
`The two panels 14 and 18 have openings 22 and 24
`(FIG. 2) therethrough for receiving elastomeric push(cid:173)
`buttons 25, all of which extend from and are fixed to or
`10 integral with an elastomeric body panel 26 as shown in
`FIG. 2.
`The pushbuttons 25 are arranged in rows and col(cid:173)
`umns and are identified as follows on the overlay face
`panel18:
`
`15
`
`25
`
`VCR 1
`VCR2
`Rec
`Rew
`
`Cable
`CD
`TV.VCR
`Reverse
`
`1
`4
`7
`
`DO
`A
`B
`
`2
`5
`8
`0
`
`c
`D
`
`TV
`DOl
`Stop
`Play
`
`3
`6
`9
`Enter
`Recall
`
`E
`F
`
`Power
`D02
`Pause
`Fast Fwd
`Mute
`Vol Up
`Vol Dn
`
`CH Up
`CHOn
`
`G
`H
`
`3
`FIG. 4 is a fragmentary comer view of a push button
`containing panel and a base panel.
`FIG. S is a fragmentary comer view similar to FIG.
`4 as the panels are brought together and shows one of
`the push buttons cut away from the push button con(cid:173)
`taining panel.
`FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the assem(cid:173)
`bly 15 formed by bringing the push button containing
`panel into engagement with the base panel.
`FIG. 7 is a plan view of the circuit board assembly
`mounted inside the control device viewing the control
`device from the back side thereof with a back cover
`panel removed.
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the operating circuitry in
`the control device.
`FIGS. 9A & 98 are a detailed schematic circuit dia(cid:173)
`gram of the operating circuitry shown in FIG. 8.
`FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the connection
`of a programming connector over the central process(cid:173)
`ing unit of the operating circuitry in the control device, 20
`the programming connector being connected to a mi(cid:173)
`croprocessor, being operable to disable the central pro(cid:173)
`cessing unit, and being used to program the random
`access memory (RAM) of the operating circuitry.
`FIGS. lla to lli are graphical representations of
`several modulation schemes which are used in infrared
`remote control transmitters.
`FIG. 12A is a flow chart of a first part of a method for
`capturing an IR code and FIG. 128 is a graph of the 30
`envelope of the code.
`FIG. 13A is a flow chart of a second part of a method
`for 5 capturing an IR code; FIG. 138 is a waveform of
`theIR bit stream and filtered bit stream; and FIG. 13C
`is a graph of the waveform of a filtered repetition of a 35
`filtered bit stream.
`FIG. 14 is a flow chart of the method used for gener(cid:173)
`ating an infrared code.
`FIG. 15 is a front plan view of the control device
`shown in FIG. 1 and shows the various pushbuttons of 40
`the device.
`FIG. 16 is a flow chart of the search and set proce(cid:173)
`dure followed in using the control device of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 17 is a flow chart of a direct-entry/quick-set 45
`procedure followed in using the remote control device.
`FIG. 18A is a flow chart of the procedure followed in
`setting a "DO" command and FIG. 188 is a flow chart
`of the method for executing a "DO" command.
`FIG. 19A is a flow chart of the method used to iden- so
`tify what type of unit the remote control device is set
`for and FIG. 198 is a table of the identifying blink code.
`FIG. 20 is a fragmentary perspective view with por(cid:173)
`tions broken away of a connector with conversion cir(cid:173)
`cuitry therein and a special battery case cover for the ss
`control device by which new data can be inputed into
`the RAM of the operating circuitry of the control de(cid:173)
`vice.
`FIG. 21 is a schematic circuit diagram of part of the
`conversion circuitry in the connector shown in FIG. 20. 60
`FIG. 22 is a schematic circuit diagram of another part
`of the conversion circuitry in the connector shown in
`FIG. 20.
`
`This arrangement is shown in FIG. 15 and the man(cid:173)
`ner in which these pushbuttons 25 are utilized in operat(cid:173)
`ing the control device 10 will be described in greater
`detail in connection with the description of FIGS.
`15-198.
`At a top or forward end 28 of the device 10, there is
`provided an opening 30 for three light emitting diodes,
`LED 1, LED 2 and LED 3. The opening 30 is covered
`by an infrared-transport lens 31. Also, provided on a top
`surface 32 of the upper housing member 12 of the con(cid:173)
`trol device 10 is a light emitting diode, LED 4, by
`which information, in the form of red and green blink
`codes, is communicated to the user of the device 10.
`FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components of the
`device 10. As shown, the device 10 includes the overlay
`face panel18 with pushbutton-receiving, generally rect(cid:173)
`angular openings 22, the upper housing member 12 with
`base panel 14 having a plurality of generally rectangu-
`lar, pushbutton receiving openings 24, the elastomeric
`body panel 26 having pushbuttons 25 extending from an
`upper surface 34 thereof, a printed circuit board 36
`having conductive switches 38 on an upper surface 40
`thereof and operating circuitry 42 (FIG. 7) mounted on
`the underside 43 thereof, the lower housing member 16,
`a cover 44 for a battery compartment 45 (FIG. 7) for
`receiving batteries 46 (FIG. 10) for the circuitry 42 of
`the control device 10, and the infrared-transport lens 31.
`It will be noted that the base panel 14 of the upper
`housing member 12 bas pushbutton openings 24 com(cid:173)
`pletely across each one of fourteen (14) rows across and
`four (4) columns down. However, not all of these open(cid:173)
`ings or holes 24 have pusbbuttons 25 extending there(cid:173)
`through, as noted by the lesser number of pushbutton-
`receiving openings 22, in the overlay face panel 18.
`Likewise, the body panel 26 initially has pushbuttons 25
`arranged completely across the upper surface 34 thereof
`65 in fourteen (14) rows across and fourteen (14) columns
`down.
`The printed circuit board 36 has conductive switches
`38 aligned with each one of the pushbuttons 25 so that
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`Referring now to FIG. 1 in greater detail, there is
`illustrated therein a universal remote control device 10
`
`Page 20
`
`

`

`4,959,810
`
`5
`more switches 38 are provided than may be necessary
`for this particular control device 10.
`The availability of additiona1 pushbutton openings 24
`in the base panel 14 wil1 enable the control device 10 to
`be modified as necessary by the addition of further s
`pushbuttons 25 to perform numerous other functions as
`called for.
`This mechanical construction of the upper and lower
`housing members 12 and 16 and the panels 14 and 18
`and circuit board 36 enable the control device 10 to be 10
`modified to include additional circuits in the operating
`circuitry 42 and pushbutton switches 25 for performing
`additional functions, if desired. In this respect, overlay
`face panel 18 is easily replaceable to modify the device
`10 to include more or less pushbuttons 25 and associated 15
`switches 38.
`The simplicity of the construction of the pushbuttons
`25, the base panel 14 and the overlay panel 18 is shown
`in FIGS. 3-6. As shown in FIG. 3, the body panel 26
`has a plurality of raised pushbuttons 25 formed thereon. 20
`Each raised rectangular button 25 has a recessed area or
`hollow 48 on the underside 49 of each button 25 in
`which is mounted a conductive plunger or puck 50
`adapted to engage one of the conductive switches 38 on
`the circuit board 36. With the pushbuttons 25 and the 25
`panel 26 being formed from a sheet of elastomeric mate(cid:173)
`rial it is an easy matter to remove the buttons 25 that are
`not necessary with a scissors or other cutting element,
`as shown in FIG. 4.
`Then, the pushbutton body panel 26 is moved into 30
`engagement with the base panel14, as shown in FIG. 5,
`to form the assembly shown in FIG. 6.
`After the pushbutton body panel 26 and the base
`panel portion 14 have been assembled as shown in FIG.
`6, the overlay face panel 18 is mounted on top of the 35
`base panel14 and the circuit board 36 is mounted within
`the housing member 12.
`Referring now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated therein
`the operating -circuitry 42 of the control device 10
`which includes batteries 46 (FIG. 10) mounted in the 40
`compartment 45 for providing power for the circuitry
`42 and a lithium battery 52, which backs up a statue
`RAM 54. A central processing unit (CPU) 56, is cou(cid:173)
`pled through a latch 58 to the RAM 54. Three LEOs,
`LED 1, LED 2, and LED 3 are coupled to the circuitry 45
`42 for communication with the apparatus to be con(cid:173)
`trolled. All elements of the circuitry 42 are mounted on
`the circuit board 36 mounted in the upper housing mem(cid:173)
`ber 12. A further LED, LED 4 is coupled to CPU 56 for
`communication with the user of the device 10 as will be 50
`described in greater detail below.
`A block schematic circuit diagram of the operating
`circuitry 42 is shown in FIG. 8 and includes CPU 56,
`the infrared light emitting diodes, LED 1, LED 2, and
`LED 3 coupled to the CPU 56, serial input/output ports 55
`60 of CPU 56, the RAM 54 coupled to CPU 56 and
`backed up by lithium battery 52 and a 4X 14 keyboard
`61 coupled to CPU 56. The four AAA batteries 46 are
`also shown.
`FIGS. 9A and 9B are a detailed schematic circuit 60
`diagram of the operating circuitry 42. The operating
`circuit 42 includes the central processing unit 56, the
`latch 58, the random access memory 54 and LED 1,
`LED 2, LED 3 and LED 4.
`The operating circuitry also includes several subcir- 65
`cuits. One of those subcircuits 62 (FIG. 9B) includes the
`keyboard 61 having pushbuttons 25, each of which is
`connected to a port 63 of the CPU 56 shown in FIG. 9B
`
`6
`and can be referred to as the keyboard circuit 62. The
`X's in FIG. 9B indicate the pushbuttons 25 and when
`one of those pushbuttons X is pressed, current flows
`through a resistor in a column line, e.g., when button 25'
`is pressed current flows through resistor 64 in column
`line 138 going to the button or key 25'. That raises the
`voltage on a supply line VCC to the CPU 56 of the
`microprocessor.
`Accordingly, whenever a button 25 is pressed, it will
`increase the voltage on line vee which initiates a
`switching process in a wake up circuit 70 for "waking
`up" or energizing the CPU 56 in the manner described
`below.
`In addition to the keyboard circuit 62 and the wakeup
`circuit 70, the subcircuits include a reset circuit 74, and
`a write protect circuit 78.
`When the voltage on line vee goes up, a signal is
`passed through capacitor 102, to the base of a transistor
`104 in the wake up circuit 70. This turns on the transis(cid:173)
`tor 104 which in turn turns on transistor 106 This turn(cid:173)
`ing on of the transistors 104 and 106 will bring voltage
`on line VCC to the full DC voltage of about 5! volts.
`When the voltage on line vee reaches 51 volts, the
`CPU 56 begins to operate.
`When operating, the CPU 56 establishes a signal on
`line ALE 108 which is passed through a resistor 110 and
`filtered by capacitor 102. Once the ALE signal is estab(cid:173)
`lished, it causes a voltage to be generated at the base of
`transistor 104, maintaining transistor 104 turned on,
`which in turn maintains transistor 106 turned on, thus
`enabling the CPU 56 to continue to run. The CPU 56
`can turn itself off by executing a HALT instruction
`which causes the ALE signal to cease, thus turning off
`transistors 104 and 106 and removing power via line
`VCC to the CPU 56.
`It is to be noted that the wake up circuit 70 can be
`activated by depression of a key or button 25 or by an
`input signal at serial port 3 coupled to an input port 112
`of the CPU 56.
`the
`The circuit elements described above form
`wakeup circuit 70 for activating the operating circuitry
`42 of the device 10. This circuit uses substrate static(cid:173)
`protection diodes 114 in a CMOS chip coupled to the
`keyboard 61. With this arrangement, source current is
`supplied to transmitter 104 via line vee when a key or
`pushbutton 25 is depressed.
`The RAM 54 is connected to the lithium battery 52
`and, when the device 10 is not being used, draws about
`20 nanoamps from the battery 52, which gives the de(cid:173)
`vice 10 a shelf life between 5 and 10 years. A backup
`capacitor 116 is coupled to the RAM 54 and has (at 20
`nanoamps) a discharge time of about 10 minutes, pro(cid:173)
`viding ample time to change (if necessary) the battery
`52 without losing the instructions and data stored in the
`RAM 54. Capacitor 116 is kept charged by battery 46
`through diode 117 when the device 10 is operating and,
`at other times, by battery 52 through diode 118.
`After the CPU 56 has been powered up, or awakened,
`the CPU 56 makes a scan of row lines 121-128 to the
`keyboard 61 by sequentially forcing each line 121-128
`low and then polling the other lines to fmd out which
`button 25, such as button 25', has been pressed. As a
`result of pushbutton 25' being pressed, a low impressed
`upon row line 121 will cause a low on column line 128
`and that will result in the row line 128 being low.
`The CPU 56 first sets row line 121 low and then
`begins scanning, starting with the row line 122, for
`another row line having a low voltage thereon and by
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1011
`
`Page 21
`
`

`

`4.959.810
`
`20
`
`7
`fmding the row line with the low voltage, in the above
`example, row line 128, the CPU 56 knows that button
`25' at the intersection of row line 128 and column line
`138 has been depressed.
`If the CPU 56 had not found a low on another row 5
`line, such as row line 128, after having set line row 121
`low, line 121 is returned to its previous value and row
`line 122 is then set low, and the scan continued until a
`low row line is found to identify which button 25 has
`been depressed.
`When the CPU 56 determines which pushbutton 25