Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-13
2004-08-03
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
C340S005230, C340S538000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06771182
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for the application of wireless remote controller for using a learning infrared frequency transmitter and a plurality of infrared frequency receivers so as to control lighting/electrical appliances connected directly to the receivers; and also take over direct control of any home equipment by learning the codes from the original infrared remote controllers.
The present invention provides the capability of controlling light intensity, 24-hour programmable daily timer, a set of selectable sleep timer of 30-minute, 60, minute, 90-minute or 120-minute and ON/OFF switching for the lighting/electrical appliances connected to the receivers. Lighting and electrical appliances connected to the receivers will also benefit from the invention's energy saving interval timer. A 1/5 interval timer means that the timer has a one-minute ON time and 5-minute OFF time. Many setting can be chosen by the user on the X/Y interval timer (X=ON time and Y=OFF time). Both X and Y starts from 1-to-99 minute. This interval time will repeat every X+Y minutes. This feature is very useful for energy savings for heating and ventilation especially for a smoking room and also for working people who wants to return home to a comfortable, cool, well circulated and refreshed house.
The present invention also provides the capability of learning, memorizing and unifying all the infrared remote for home comfort and entertainment equipment into one master remote controller to take over direct control of the following equipment, comprising: Television, Air Conditioning Unit, Compact Disk Player (VCD), Video Cassette Recorder (VCR), Satellite, Digital Compact Disc (DVD), Karaoke and Hi-Fi Home Audio System.
Another capability provided by the present invention is that the main ON/OFF switch connected to the receiver can regain direct ON/OFF control of the lighting/electrical/appliances or equipment by performing the following successive sequences: ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON from the main switch of the receiver. The receiver will activate an electronic self-bypass upon detecting this sequence from the main switch. The lighting/electrical appliances will now function as normal (ON/OFF control by the main switch) thus bypassing the receiver. This feature is especially useful if the user loses or misplaces the hand held transmitter. In tandem, within 5 seconds after the receiver detects the successive ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON sequence from the main switch, besides bypassing the receiver, the user has the option of having the receiver memorize any key from any other infrared remote to take over the control of the lighting/electrical appliances. If the user chooses this option, the control of the lighting or electrical appliances will be directly transferred to that key on that infrared remote.
A mechanical safety bypass switch is also included in the event the receiver malfunctions due to unforeseen circumstances.
Currently, to control lighting, a fan, equipment or any electrical appliances using Alternating Current power supply in the house or factory (e.g., AC 110-Volts or AC 220-Volts) requires a person to manually toggle ON or to manually toggle OFF the mechanical switches that are wired and attached to the wall.
Devices like the household air conditioner, television or audio/video equipment also utilize coded infrared frequencies to control the functional operation of the equipment on the condition that the main power switch connected to these equipment are already manually switched to the ON position. These remote controls are restricted in application since they are built-in for that particular equipment only and cannot be used for lighting, ventilator, fan control or other electrical appliances if and when necessary. Thus, it s confusing and also an inconvenience to have so many remote controls.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,333 (Schwarbach et al November 1983), U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,924 (Conil et al November 1992) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,862 (Campbell et al April 1980) disclose methods of controlling appliances within a building with central control unit and a plurality of slave units. These slave units receive their addresses from a central unit that is coupled to and transmits the code through the main power line. Some disadvantages noted in these patents are that coupled signals can be received through the power line by neighboring buildings' equipment, programming of many electrical addresses at the central unit and slave units, and the appliances can be controlled only through a central transmitter or where extra transmitters are installed.
The inadequacies of the inventions disclosed by prior art are evident. Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a remote control system to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the limitations of the related art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the invention relates to a system for the application of wireless remote control using infrared frequency transmitter and a plurality of infrared frequency receivers so as to control connected lighting/electrical appliances in tandem with:
1. 24-hour programmable daily timers;
2. Sleep timers of 30-minute, 60-minute, 90-minute, 120-minute,
3. Energy saving interval timer. A 1/5 interval timer means that 1-minute ON time and five-minute OFF time. Many settings can be chosen by the user on the X/Y interval timer (X=ON time and Y=OFF time). Both X and Y starts from 1-to-99 minutes. This interval timer will repeat every X+Y minutes.
4. Main ON/OFF switch connected to the receiver can regain direct ON/OFF control by performing the following successive sequence ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON (the receiver will activate an electronic self bypass upon detecting this sequence from the main switch). This feature is especially useful if the user loses or misplaced the hand held transmitter.
5. In tandem, within five seconds after the receiver detects the successive ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON sequence from the main switch, besides bypassing the receiver, the user has the option to memorize any key from any other infrared remote to control the lighting/electrical appliances while he searches for the master remote controller that was misplaced. By pressing any key from any other infrared remote controller within five seconds upon detecting the self bypass sequence, the receiver will memorize the code from that remote control. If the user chooses this option, the control is directly transferred to that key of that infrared remote controller.
6. As a safety measure, a mechanical bypass switch is also included in the event the receiver malfunctions due to unforeseen circumstances.
7. Master remote controller capabilities of learning, memorizing and unifying all the infrared remote controllers for home comfort and entertainment equipment into one master remote controller.
8. Flexible selectable code for easy installation of multiple adjacent ON/OFF receivers.
9. Fix code for light intensity control receiver.
10. Simple and reliable AC-to-DC power conversion for the receiver. A fuse is also added as a further safety measure.
11. Sensor control back lit keypad which will light up during any key press. To conserve energy, a light sensor will only enable the lighting of the keypad at low ambience light levels, for example in the evening or during nighttime when the lights are OFF.
In one embodiment, the invention comprises of an electronic means whereby a transmitter transmits an infrared coded signal which is captured by an infrared receiver and decoded by a microprocessor prior to taking actions on the electrical appliances which are connected to the receiver either for light intensity control or ON/OFF applications. The advantage of infrared frequency transmission is line of sight control, therefore electrical appliances or lighting in nearby rooms or building installed with the same apparatus will not be affected and will n
Lim Hong Keng
Loh Kuam Hong
Sankar Suresh Kumar
Horabik Michael
Intelligent Control Technology (M) SDN BHD
Nguyen Nam
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