WO1998048394A1 - Remote control apparatus - Google Patents

Remote control apparatus Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998048394A1
WO1998048394A1 PCT/IB1998/000554 IB9800554W WO9848394A1 WO 1998048394 A1 WO1998048394 A1 WO 1998048394A1 IB 9800554 W IB9800554 W IB 9800554W WO 9848394 A1 WO9848394 A1 WO 9848394A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
remote control
control device
light source
external signal
keyboard
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB1998/000554
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Eduard Rudolphus Van Dongen
Paul Hermann Maria Pessers
Original Assignee
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Philips Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Philips Ab filed Critical Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Publication of WO1998048394A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998048394A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C23/00—Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems
    • G08C23/04—Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems using light waves, e.g. infrared
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C23/00—Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems
    • G08C23/02—Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic waves
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/02—Bases, casings, or covers
    • H01H9/0214—Hand-held casings
    • H01H9/0235—Hand-held casings specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C2201/00—Transmission systems of control signals via wireless link
    • G08C2201/30—User interface
    • G08C2201/31—Voice input
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C2201/00—Transmission systems of control signals via wireless link
    • G08C2201/30—User interface
    • G08C2201/32—Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a remote control device comprising a keyboard and a light source for illuminating said keyboard.
  • Illuminated remote control devices as defined in the opening paragraph simplify the control of home appliances such as television receivers in a dusky living room.
  • the keyboard has transparent keys and the light source is of the backlight type.
  • An example hereof is disclosed in US 5,568,367.
  • the invention addresses the aspect of activating the light source.
  • the light source is activated by pressing a particular key.
  • the necessity for a user to press a key for activating the illumination of a remote control device constitutes a vicious circle.
  • the first key to be pressed still has to be found by touch. For many persons, particularly elderly people who are afraid to press the "wrong" key, this is a tremendous problem.
  • the remote control device in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the device comprises means for detecting an external signal and activating the light source in response to detection of said external signal.
  • the need for pressing a key to activate the light source is eliminated.
  • the external signal may be a specific sound signal produced by the user, such as whistling or clapping his hands.
  • the external signal may also be an ultrasonic, infrared, or radio signal produced by the controlled apparatus in response to pressing a key on said apparatus.
  • the abstract of Japanese Patent Application JP 61-292479 discloses a remote control device which generates a light signal when it detects an external signal produced by the controlled apparatus. However, the light source of this device does not illuminate the keyboard. The light signal allows the user to locate the remote control device when it has been mislaid.
  • the external signal may also be kinetic motion applied to the device.
  • the light source is simply activated, inter alia, by shaking the device for a short period of time.
  • a light sensor may be provided for disabling the detection means when sufficient environmental light is detected.
  • Fig. l shows a remote control device in accordance with the invention.
  • Fig.2 shows a remote control device in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. l shows a cross section of a remote control device in accordance with the invention.
  • the device 1 comprises a keyboard 10 with a plurality of labeled keys 11.
  • the keys are transparent and illuminated by a light source 12.
  • the remote control device further comprises a detector 13 which is arranged so as to activate the light source 12 in response to an input signal which is received from a transducer 14.
  • the light source may be switched off automatically after a predetermined period of time, or in response to the reception of a further input signal.
  • the transducer 14 is a microphone.
  • the detector 13 is arranged to detect a whistle tone 2 produced by a person 3, or an audio wave 4 that is typically produced by clapping of hands 5.
  • the detector 14 is known per se and needs no further description. It is already used, inter alia, for locating mislaid articles such as key rings which produce a beep signal in response to whistling or clapping of hands.
  • the remote control device 1 may optionally comprise a light sensor 15. The sensor is connected to detector 13 so as to prevent the detector from activating the light source 12 when there is sufficient environmental light. A considerable reduction of battery power consumption is herewith achieved because the keyboard will not be illuminated unintentionally in the daytime.
  • the transducer 14 is an element for receiving a wireless signal 6 which is generated by a signal generator 71 accommodated in the controlled apparatus 7 when a button 72 of said apparatus is pressed.
  • the signal 6 may be an ultrasonic, infrared or radio signal.
  • Fig.2 shows a cross section of a remote control device in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.
  • the detector 13 is now arranged to detect kinetic motion applied to the device.
  • the detector comprises two contact plates 131 and 132, perpendicular to each other, and a conducting ball 133 which is withheld from making contact with one of the plates by means of a spring member 134. If the remote control device is subject to substantial acceleration due to, inter alia, shaking, the ball contacts the plate 131 in spite of the spring force, and the light source is provided with power from a power source 16.
  • electromechanical accelerometers as used in wireless PC mouse devices, or acceleration detectors as used in car airbag systems, are nowadays available.
  • a remote control device for controlling home consumer equipment, it is not restricted thereto. More particularly, a mobile telephone apparatus having a keyboard for controlling an operation center so as to establish a requested telephone connection is also understood to fall under the wording of the appended claims.
  • a remote control device with a keyboard (10) and a light source (12) for illuminating said keyboard.
  • the device comprises a detector (13) which activates the light source upon reception of an external signal.
  • the external signal may be a specific sound signal such as a whistle tone (2) or clapping of hands (4) . It may also be a wireless signal (6) generated by the controlled appliance (7) when a button (72) of said apparatus is pressed.
  • An optional light sensor (15) may disable the operation of the detector by day.

Abstract

A remote control device is disclosed with a keyboard (10) and a light source (12) for illuminating said keyboard. The device comprises a detector (13) which activates the light source upon reception of an external signal. The external signal may be a specific sound signal such as a whistle tone (2) or clapping of hands (4). It may also be a wireless signal (6) generated by the controlled appliance (7) when a button (72) of said apparatus is pressed. An optional light sensor (15) may disable the operation of the detector by day.

Description

Remote control apparatus.
The invention relates to a remote control device comprising a keyboard and a light source for illuminating said keyboard.
Illuminated remote control devices as defined in the opening paragraph simplify the control of home appliances such as television receivers in a dusky living room. Usually, the keyboard has transparent keys and the light source is of the backlight type. An example hereof is disclosed in US 5,568,367.
The invention addresses the aspect of activating the light source. In the above-mentioned prior art remote control device, the light source is activated by pressing a particular key. However, the necessity for a user to press a key for activating the illumination of a remote control device constitutes a vicious circle. The first key to be pressed still has to be found by touch. For many persons, particularly elderly people who are afraid to press the "wrong" key, this is a tremendous problem.
It is an object of the invention to provide a remote control device which does not have this disadvantage. To achieve this, the remote control device in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the device comprises means for detecting an external signal and activating the light source in response to detection of said external signal. Herewith, the need for pressing a key to activate the light source is eliminated.
The external signal may be a specific sound signal produced by the user, such as whistling or clapping his hands. The external signal may also be an ultrasonic, infrared, or radio signal produced by the controlled apparatus in response to pressing a key on said apparatus. It should be noted that the abstract of Japanese Patent Application JP 61-292479 discloses a remote control device which generates a light signal when it detects an external signal produced by the controlled apparatus. However, the light source of this device does not illuminate the keyboard. The light signal allows the user to locate the remote control device when it has been mislaid.
The external signal may also be kinetic motion applied to the device. In such an embodiment, the light source is simply activated, inter alia, by shaking the device for a short period of time. In order to preclude the light source from consuming battery power when illumination is not necessary, a light sensor may be provided for disabling the detection means when sufficient environmental light is detected.
Fig. l shows a remote control device in accordance with the invention. Fig.2 shows a remote control device in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.
Fig. l shows a cross section of a remote control device in accordance with the invention. The device 1 comprises a keyboard 10 with a plurality of labeled keys 11. The keys are transparent and illuminated by a light source 12. The remote control device further comprises a detector 13 which is arranged so as to activate the light source 12 in response to an input signal which is received from a transducer 14. The light source may be switched off automatically after a predetermined period of time, or in response to the reception of a further input signal.
In one embodiment of the invention, the transducer 14 is a microphone. The detector 13 is arranged to detect a whistle tone 2 produced by a person 3, or an audio wave 4 that is typically produced by clapping of hands 5. The detector 14 is known per se and needs no further description. It is already used, inter alia, for locating mislaid articles such as key rings which produce a beep signal in response to whistling or clapping of hands. The remote control device 1 may optionally comprise a light sensor 15. The sensor is connected to detector 13 so as to prevent the detector from activating the light source 12 when there is sufficient environmental light. A considerable reduction of battery power consumption is herewith achieved because the keyboard will not be illuminated unintentionally in the daytime.
In another embodiment of the invention, the transducer 14 is an element for receiving a wireless signal 6 which is generated by a signal generator 71 accommodated in the controlled apparatus 7 when a button 72 of said apparatus is pressed. The signal 6 may be an ultrasonic, infrared or radio signal.
Fig.2 shows a cross section of a remote control device in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. The detector 13 is now arranged to detect kinetic motion applied to the device. In the embodiment shown, the detector comprises two contact plates 131 and 132, perpendicular to each other, and a conducting ball 133 which is withheld from making contact with one of the plates by means of a spring member 134. If the remote control device is subject to substantial acceleration due to, inter alia, shaking, the ball contacts the plate 131 in spite of the spring force, and the light source is provided with power from a power source 16. It will be appreciated that more sophisticated detectors than the simple mechanical one described above can be used. For example, electromechanical accelerometers as used in wireless PC mouse devices, or acceleration detectors as used in car airbag systems, are nowadays available.
Although the invention described hereinbefore relates to a remote control device for controlling home consumer equipment, it is not restricted thereto. More particularly, a mobile telephone apparatus having a keyboard for controlling an operation center so as to establish a requested telephone connection is also understood to fall under the wording of the appended claims.
In summary, a remote control device is disclosed with a keyboard (10) and a light source (12) for illuminating said keyboard. The device comprises a detector (13) which activates the light source upon reception of an external signal. The external signal may be a specific sound signal such as a whistle tone (2) or clapping of hands (4) . It may also be a wireless signal (6) generated by the controlled appliance (7) when a button (72) of said apparatus is pressed. An optional light sensor (15) may disable the operation of the detector by day.

Claims

Claims
1. A remote control device comprising a keyboard and a light source for illuminating said keyboard, characterized in that the device comprises means for detecting an external signal and activating the light source in response to detection of said external signal.
2. A remote control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the external signal is a predetermined sound signal.
3. A remote control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external signal is received from an apparatus controlled by the device.
4. A remote control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the external signal is kinetic motion applied to the device.
5. A remote control device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a light sensor for detecting the amount of environmental light, the detection means being arranged to activate the light source in response to the amount of environmental light.
PCT/IB1998/000554 1997-04-22 1998-04-14 Remote control apparatus WO1998048394A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP97201182 1997-04-22
EP97201182.9 1997-04-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998048394A1 true WO1998048394A1 (en) 1998-10-29

Family

ID=8228230

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB1998/000554 WO1998048394A1 (en) 1997-04-22 1998-04-14 Remote control apparatus

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1998048394A1 (en)

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1050864A1 (en) * 1999-05-05 2000-11-08 Sagem Sa System for remote control of apparatus with bidirectional connection
US6467924B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2002-10-22 Michael Shipman Keyboard having illuminated keys
WO2005045461A1 (en) * 2003-10-16 2005-05-19 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Universal communications, monitoring, tracking, and control system for a healthcare facility
US6918677B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2005-07-19 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
DE202004016868U1 (en) * 2004-11-02 2006-03-16 Schwaiger, Klaus Remote control e.g. for TV receiver, DVD or video recorder etc, has sensor device coupled on output side to control device input
US7172303B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2007-02-06 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
CN1303502C (en) * 2003-03-14 2007-03-07 三星电子株式会社 Electronic apparatus controller and method based on motion
US7193536B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2007-03-20 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
US7193535B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2007-03-20 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
US7283066B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2007-10-16 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
CN102346430A (en) * 2010-07-30 2012-02-08 鸿富锦精密工业（深圳）有限公司 Portable electronic device with remote control function
US8690368B1 (en) 2005-08-22 2014-04-08 Michael Shipman Cavity filled lightpipe for illuminating keys of a keyboard
US8890720B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2014-11-18 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
US10013075B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2018-07-03 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
US11216078B2 (en) 2005-01-18 2022-01-04 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2135536A (en) * 1982-12-24 1984-08-30 Wobbot International Limited Sound responsive lighting system and devices incorporating same
US5183325A (en) * 1990-10-09 1993-02-02 D. T. Hurdle Illumination apparatus for remote control device
EP0683476A1 (en) * 1994-05-16 1995-11-22 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Remote control device for automotive vehicle

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2135536A (en) * 1982-12-24 1984-08-30 Wobbot International Limited Sound responsive lighting system and devices incorporating same
US5183325A (en) * 1990-10-09 1993-02-02 D. T. Hurdle Illumination apparatus for remote control device
EP0683476A1 (en) * 1994-05-16 1995-11-22 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Remote control device for automotive vehicle

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1050864A1 (en) * 1999-05-05 2000-11-08 Sagem Sa System for remote control of apparatus with bidirectional connection
FR2793336A1 (en) * 1999-05-05 2000-11-10 Sagem TWO-WAY CONNECTION DEVICE SYSTEM
US7193536B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2007-03-20 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
US7193535B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2007-03-20 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
US6918677B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2005-07-19 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
US10942581B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2021-03-09 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
US7172303B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2007-02-06 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
US10013075B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2018-07-03 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
US6467924B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2002-10-22 Michael Shipman Keyboard having illuminated keys
US8890720B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2014-11-18 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
US7283066B2 (en) 1999-09-15 2007-10-16 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
CN1303502C (en) * 2003-03-14 2007-03-07 三星电子株式会社 Electronic apparatus controller and method based on motion
WO2005045461A1 (en) * 2003-10-16 2005-05-19 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Universal communications, monitoring, tracking, and control system for a healthcare facility
DE202004016868U1 (en) * 2004-11-02 2006-03-16 Schwaiger, Klaus Remote control e.g. for TV receiver, DVD or video recorder etc, has sensor device coupled on output side to control device input
US11216078B2 (en) 2005-01-18 2022-01-04 Michael Shipman Illuminated keyboard
US8690368B1 (en) 2005-08-22 2014-04-08 Michael Shipman Cavity filled lightpipe for illuminating keys of a keyboard
CN102346430A (en) * 2010-07-30 2012-02-08 鸿富锦精密工业（深圳）有限公司 Portable electronic device with remote control function

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