United States Patent [19]
`Bialobrzewski
`
`[54] 1R REMOTE CONTROL CODE
`TRANSLATOR FOR ENABLING CONTROL
`OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH
`DIFFERENT FORMAT CONTROL CODES
`
`[75}
`
`Inventor: Casimer Bialobr.zewski, Niles, lll.
`
`[73] Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation,
`Glenview, Dl
`
`[21} Appl No.: 531,575
`
`Sep. 18, 1995
`
`[22} Filed:
`Int. CI.6
`....................................................... H04N 5/44
`[51]
`[521 u.s. ct .............................................. 34Sn34; 348ml
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 348n34, 725,
`3481731; 340/825.69, 875.72; H04N 5/44
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMBNI'S
`1/1995 Movshovich ............................ 3481734
`
`5,386,251
`
`IIIIIWIIIII~IIIIIIIIIIII
`US005745192A
`5,745,192
`[llJ Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Apr. 28, 1998
`
`5,436,676 7/1995 Pint et a!. • .•••....•..•....•.....•....... 348n34
`5,477;275 1211995 Toyoshima ...•.....•.................... 348n34
`
`Primary Examiner-Sherrie Hsia
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A remote control code translator integrated circuit converts
`input remote control codes of one format to output remote
`control codes of a different format for application to a
`microprocessor decoder iu a television receiver. The
`arrangement enables a ma.uufacturer to use common remote
`control codes for a number of products obtained from
`different OEM sources.
`
`9 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`12
`
`4
`
`TV SICNAL
`PROCESSING
`CJRCUJTS
`
`18
`
`flP
`
`10
`
`TUNER
`
`m
`
`2
`
`...
`
`tst
`CODES
`
`JR
`REC'R
`
`1----+1 8 I TRANSLATOR
`
`JlJUl ...
`
`Roku EX1020
`U.S. Patent No. 7,589,642
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 28, 1998
`
`5,745,192
`
`12
`
`1'V SICNAL
`PROCESSINC
`CIRCUITS
`
`18
`
`flP
`
`to
`
`TUN!'R
`
`m
`
`:2
`
`...
`
`IR
`
`8
`
`2~
`
`fst
`CODES
`
`/',._.-
`/',._.-
`
`REC'R 1
`
`2nd
`-----CODES
`10
`IR CODE
`
`TRANSLATOR
`
`24
`
`JUUL ...
`
`2
`
`2A
`
`26
`
`5
`
`2
`
`6
`7 .
`
`JC
`
`30
`
`INPUT JR JlJUL ...
`OUTPUT JR JlJlfl_.,,
`
`SELECT
`
`PIN I
`
`PIN 2
`
`OUTPUT CODE
`FORMAT
`
`I
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`Wlf
`
`wr
`
`wr Am ...
`HICJJ nJlJlJl_ ___
`
`HICH
`
`LOW
`
`cSlJUliL ...
`
`HJCH
`
`JJJCH DJlfliL ...
`
`FIG. I
`
`FIG. 2
`
`FIG. 3
`
`

`

`5,745,192
`
`1
`lR REMOTE CONTROL CODE
`TRANSLATOR FOR ENABLING CONTROL
`OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH
`DIFFERENT FORMAT CONTROL CODES
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND
`PRIORARI'
`
`This invention relates generally to remote control systems
`and particularly to remote control systems for television
`receivers, VCRs and the like. It is common for a manufac(cid:173)
`turer to purchase one or more products for sale under its
`brand name from a number of individual original equipment
`manufacturer (OEM) sources. Generally the individual
`sources also sell substantially identical products under their
`own brand names. Most modern electronic products are
`remotely controllable, that is they include a remote trans(cid:173)
`mitter for transmitting infrared (IR) control signals to a
`receiving device for controlling various functions thereof.
`While common remote control codes may be used among
`the different product offerings of that manufacturer, the
`codes will differ from the control codes of other manufac(cid:173)
`turers. A problem arises when a customer purchases a brand
`name product that may not be manufactured by the brand
`manufacturer and discovers that the remote control trans(cid:173)
`mitter cannot control other products of that manufacturer
`and vice versa, even though the products all bear the same
`brand name. The invention provides a relatively simple, Jow
`cost way to enable a manufacturer to sell products purchased
`from OEM's that utilize the brand manufacturers' remote
`control transmitters.
`
`OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
`
`A principal object of the invention is to provide an
`improved remote control system.
`Another object of the invention is to provide remote
`control compatibility among similarly branded products
`although the individual products may normally be respon(cid:173)
`sive to a different remote control codes.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPI'ION OF THE DRAWINGS
`These and other objects and advantages of the invention
`will be apparent upon reading the following description in
`·
`ti
`"th th dr
`hi h
`·
`·
`.
`conjunc o_n WI •
`~ awmgs, ~ w c :
`FIG. Its ~ s~liiied block diagram showmg the appa-
`ratus of the mvention;
`FIG. 2is a block diagram of the transmitterofF1G. 1; and
`FIG. 3 is a truth table for converting an input control code
`to one of a pltuality of different output control codes.
`
`DESCRlPTION OF THE PRFFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`Referring to FIG. 1, a tuner 10 of conventional construp(cid:173)
`tion is coupled to a block 12 that indicates a television signal
`processing circuit. Block 12 in turn supplies a loudspeaker
`14 and a cathode ray tube 16. It will be appreciated that the
`circuits of the simplified block diagram are all conventional
`and do not involve the invention. In accordance with well
`known practice. tuner 10 and block U are controlled by a
`microprocessor 18 for controlling the signal tuning and
`signal processing of the receiver. A remote control transmit(cid:173)
`ter 20 supplies first remote control signals in a first format
`to an IR receiver 22 that is included in the television
`receiver. m receiver 22 in turn is coopled to an IR code
`translator which translates the input fust control codes into
`corresponding output second control codes for application to
`
`s
`
`15
`
`2
`microprocessor 18. Microprocessor 18 is programmed to
`recognize the bit patterns of the second control codes of the
`OEM and consequently the first remote control codes from
`transmitter 20 are rendered usable by the receiver for con-
`trolling the various receiver functions.
`The waveforms illustrated in FIG. 1 illustrate different
`control code bit patterns. The first control code for example,
`includes a "start bit" consisting of two closely spaced bits
`whereas the second control code include a start bit consist-
`10 ing of a long pulse. The individual functional portions of the
`control codes are different for each control function, it being
`understood that the IR code translator 24 is arranged to
`recognize the various control signals in the first code format
`and to convert them to similar control signals in the second
`control format
`In FIG. 2, translator 24 is indicated as being an integrated
`circuit chip (IC) 26 which includes an eight bit micropro(cid:173)
`cessor with 8 K of ROM and 256 of RAM (not illustrated).
`The IC is available from Zilog under Part No. Z86C71. The
`pin numbers illustrated on IC 26 coxrespond to those on the
`20 actual product An output select circuit 28 is coupled to pins
`1 and 2 and, as will be discussed, is used to select which of
`a plurality of second control code outputs is desired in
`response to first control code inputs. A crystal 30 is coupled
`across pins 6 and 7 , VCC is connected to pinS, ground is
`25 connected to 16, pin 8 is the input for the first IR control
`codes and pin 10 represents the output of the corresponding
`second control codes in the selected different format.
`In FIG. 3, a truth table is shown which indicates four
`different select conditions for output IR code selector 28.
`3o The combination of voltages on pins 1 and 2 of IC 26
`determines the output code format, four of which A, B, C
`and D are illustrated with arbitrarily selected different output
`bit waveforms.
`In operation, the fust IR control codes transmitted by
`35 transmitter 20 and received by IR receiver 22 are converted
`to 5 volt peak to peak pulses. The translator 24 translates the
`number represented by the received first 1R code to a
`corresponding number in a selected bit pattern correspond(cid:173)
`ing to the second IR code. This second IR code is supplied
`40 to the microprocessor 18 which. in the usual way, decodes
`the second 1R control codes. In most ins1fances, a manufac-
`turer who wishes to retain remote control commonality
`among its various products, incl~diog_ 0~ products, will
`supply IC 26 to the OEM for msertion tn the purchased
`45 product. (fhe manufacturer-purchaser will generally also
`supply the remote control transmitters for inclusion with the
`product.) In some instances. it may be necessary to modify
`the 1R receiver 22 of the OEM to assure that the bandwidth
`is proper for receiving the first control codes. This is
`50 generally a minor tuning adjustment.
`Thus. it is seen that with the invention, the OEM need
`only substitute the supplied IR code translator 24 in the
`OEM product. This preserves the commonality of the manu(cid:173)
`facturer's remote control codes and enables the customer to
`ss use the remote control transmitters (from other products
`from the manufacturer) with the newly purchased OHM(cid:173)
`supplied product (and vice versa).
`It is recognized that changes in the described embodiment
`of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art
`60 without departing from its true spirit and scope. The inven(cid:173)
`tion is to be limited only as defined in the claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method of operating a remote control receiver
`comprising:
`transmitting first control signals having a first format to a
`receiver in an electronic product having controllable
`functions;
`
`65
`
`

`

`5,745,192
`
`3
`translating the received first control signals into corre(cid:173)
`sponding second control signals; and
`decoding the translated second control signals for con(cid:173)
`trolling respective functions of the electronic product
`2. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiver includes a
`microprocessor responsive to the bit patterns of the second
`control signals for decoding the second control signals and
`wherein the translating comprises converting the bit patterns
`of the first control signals into the bit patterns of the second
`control signals.
`3. The method of claim 2 further comprising providing
`translating means relating the bit patterns of the first control
`signals to a multiplicity of bit patterns corresponding to
`different format second control signals.
`4. A method of operating a remote control receiver in an
`electronic product including a microprocessor for decoding
`second control signals having second bit patterns for con(cid:173)
`trolling different functions of the electronic product com(cid:173)
`prising:
`transmitting first control signals having first bit patterns to 20
`the receiver;
`translating the received first control signal bit patterns to
`corresponding second control signal bit patterns; and
`decoding the translated second control signals for con- 25
`trolling the different functions of the electronic product
`5. A television receiver comprising:
`IR means for receiving first lR control signals having a
`first format;
`translating means for translating said received first lR 30
`control signals to corresponding second control signals
`having a different format for controlling various func(cid:173)
`tions of said television receiver; and
`
`15
`
`4
`means in said television receiver for responding to said
`second control signals.
`6. The receiver of claim 5 further incl uding microproces(cid:173)
`sor means for decoding said second control signals received
`5 from said translating means.
`7. The receiver of claim 6 wherein said translating means
`comprises an integrated circuit for translating the bit patterns
`of said first control signals into a plurality of different bit
`10 patterns corresponding to di1ferent second control signals;
`and
`means for selecting a desired one of said plurality of said
`di1ferent bit patterns.
`8. A television receiver comprising:
`IR means for receiving first IR control signals having first
`bit patterns;
`translating means for translating said received first IR
`control signals to corresponding second control signals
`having di1ferent bit patterns for controlling various
`functions of said television receiver; and
`microprocessor means in said television receiver for
`decoding said second control signals.
`9. The receiver of c.laim 8 wherein said translating means
`comprises an integrated circuit for translating said bit pat(cid:173)
`terns of said first control signals into a plurality. of dilfereot
`bit patterns corresponding to a plurality of dilferent second
`control signals; and
`means for selecting a desired one of said plurality of said
`di1ferent second control signals.
`
`* * * * *
`
`