Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-18
2003-05-27
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
C340S870030, C455S039000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06570507
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a remote controlling system between an electronic appliance and remote controller in which the electronic appliance can call its remote controller and, more particularly, to an improved method for automatically assigning a call identification code corresponding to each remote controller and calling the remote controller: and also a power saving remote controller and electronic appliance capable of decreasing power consumption by using the method.
2. Description of the Background Art
In general, an electronic apparatus, such as a television set, audio system and other various electronic systems, have a private remote controller corresponding to them. It is a current tendency to assign various operational functions of an electronic apparatus to the corresponding remote controller for the user's convenience.
Such a remote controller, however, is usually so small, that it may easily get lost, and frequently, the user does not remember where it was placed. In order to easily find the remote controller, a method has been introduced in which the user pushes a remote controller call key attached at a television set and then transmits a remote controller call signal in space. When the remote controller receives the call signal, it makes an answer sound, thereby enabling the user to find its location.
FIG. 1
is a block diagram illustrating a general remote controlling system including a remote controllable television set and its remote controller.
As shown, a television set portion
10
related to a remote controller includes a TV microcomputer
11
, a remote controller call signal transmitter
12
, and an infrared receiver
13
. Also, there is provided a remote controller call key button to facilitate the finding of the remote controller in case the user does not remember where it was placed. The remote control call button is connected to the TV microcomputer
11
.
When the remote controller can't be easily found, the user inputs the remote controller call key through its key button disposed at the television set. In response, TV microcomputer
10
transmits a remote controller call signal via the remote controller call signal transmitter
12
into space.
The remote controller
20
includes a microcomputer
21
, a remote controller call signal receiver
22
, a key matrix
23
, an infrared emitter
24
, and an answer sound generator
25
. When the call signal receiver
22
of the remote controller
20
receives a remote controller call signal outputted from the remote controller call signal transmitter
12
in the television set, the remote controller call receiver
22
notifies that fact to the microcomputer
21
. Then, the microcomputer
21
generates an answer sound through the answer sound generator
25
, such as a “beep”, so that the user can listen to the sound and find the remote controller.
At this time, a random key input of the key matrix
23
in the remote controller by the user is understood that the user has found the remote controller, so that the answer sound generator
25
is controlled to halt its sound generation. With the key input of the remote controller by the user, the microcomputer
21
of the remote control
20
outputs a command code corresponding to the input key signal through the infrared emitter
24
. The infrared receiver
13
of the television set receives the command code from the remote controller
20
and notifies it to the microcomputer
11
. Accordingly, the microcomputer
11
carries out its function in accordance with the command code applied thereto.
Such remote controller call method is advantageous when there is provided only a single television set. However, when a plurality of the same kinds of television sets are installed in one household or a television set in one household is the same model as its next door neighbor's, the remote controller call signal generation from one television set may cause a plurality of remote controllers to make answer sounds at the same time, or cause a different remote controller other than the user's to respond thereto.
Further, in the case that the remote controller call function is applied to a television set, the remote controller should be continuously supplied by electrical power so as to be ready to generate an answer sound at a random call from the television set, thereby significantly increasing battery consumption of the remote controller and the electronic appliance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for automatically assigning a remote control call identification code, wherein only a desired remote controller can be called using an automatic identification code assignment, thereby calling the remote controller.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a remote controller which is capable of decreasing its battery consumption through using the method.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic appliance, which is provided together with a corresponding remote controller, capable of decreasing its power consumption through using the method.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a remote controlling system including an electronic appliance and a remote controller effectively utilizing electrical power, thereby decreasing its power consumption.
To achieve the above-described objects, there is provided a method for assigning a remote controller identification code. The method comprises a step for setting a second remote controller identification code different from a first remote controller identification code set in the electronic appliance; a step for requesting a reset of the remote controller call identification code by the remote controller having the first remote controller identification code; and a step for replacing the first remote controller identification code in the electronic appliance with the second remote controller identification code in response to the request.
Further, to achieve the above-described objects, there is provided a method for assigning a remote controller identification code and calling the remote controller. The method comprises a step for setting a second remote controller identification code different from a first remote controller identification code which is set in the electrical appliance; a step for requesting a reset of the remote controller identification code by the remote controller having the first remote controller identification code; a step for replacing the first remote controller identification code in the electronic appliance with the second remote controller identification in response to the request and resetting the replaced value as the identification code to the remote controller; a step for calling the remote controller by transmitting a remote controller call signal in accordance with the identification code from the electronic appliance having an identification code identical to the set identification code; a step for receiving the remote controller call signal; a step for comparing whether the identification code detected from the remote controller call signal corresponds to one set in the remote controller; and a step for generating an answer sound when the identification codes correspond to each other.
Still further, to achieve the above-described objects, there is provided an electronic appliance and remote controller having a function of assigning a remote controller identification code wherein the electronic appliance comprises a rewrite memory means disposed in the electronic appliance and for storing therein a first remote controller identification code; a memory means disposed in the electronic appliance and for generating and temporarily storing therein a second remote controller identification code different from the first remote controller identification code; a transmission means for transmitting the first remote controller identification code when calling the remote controller, and transmitting the second remo
Choi Jeong-Soo
Lee Jae-Kyung
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Horabik Michael
LG Electronics Inc.
Shimizu Matsuichiro
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