Universal remote control device

Abstract

The universal remote control system includes input means, signal output means for supplying a signal to a controlled device and a central processing unit coupled to the input means and the signal output means, no ROM, and a single non-volatile, read-write RAM coupled to said central processing unit. The RAM in the ROM-less microprocessor system is loaded by carryout 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; (d) re-enabling the central processing unit to enable the central processing unit to execute the instructions so transferred. The control codes of any of a diverse plurality of remote control transmitters are learned, stored and reproduced by carrying out the following steps: (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; (f) 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 replica 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 device, the information acquired in steps (c), (d), (e), (f) and (i).