Nap Consumer Electronics Corp.

U.S. Philips Corporation

William R McIntyre

Robin B Rumbolt

Larry E Goodson

Donald P McConnell

A permanent non-erasable memory stores formatting data and command bit patterns for a plurality of devices of different categories manufactured by different manufacturers to be controlled by the remote control transmitter incorporating the memory. To select the correct format, the user activates an enter initiate key, thereafter a key to indicate the category of the selected device, and thereafter two digits which together signify the manufacturer and model number. The keyboard output signals resulting from activation of the keys are stored in RAM in the microprocessor controlling the remote control transmitter's operation. The stored values in RAM constitute an address for the memory. Under microprocessor control, the data read out from memory is then applied to the transmitter driver circuit to cause the properly formatted device control signal to be transmitted.

Universal remote control transmitter with simplified device

The remote control unit has a selection mechanism for selecting any one of a number of categories of equipment to be controlled. The commands available for keyboard input in any given category are automatically displayed to the user upon selection of the category. Switches are provided for user selection of the model number of any one of a number of manufacturers of the equipment within the category to be controlled. Operation of the switches allows program controlled read-outs of formats stored in memory. An infra-red LED is then energized in accordance with the format to transmit the signal to the unit to be controlled.

Universal remote control unit

A remote control unit responds to activation of a 'identify' button by transmitting a sequence of command signals, each of the same command in a different format. Since the appliance to be controlled is turned on, it responds in a predetermined way (e.g. a channel change) when it receives the properly formatted command. The user then terminates the learn mode and a pointer denoting the address of the last transmitted command, i.e. the properly formatted command, is stored in the unit and used as part of the address for reading data for subsequent user-selected commands out of memory.

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Knoxville, TN, United States of America

William R McIntyre