US4959810A — Universal remote control device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 97 words

In a universal remote control system having input means for inputting commands, signal output means for supplying an infrared signal to a controlled device and a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, the improvement residing in said system comprising no ROM, a single non-volatile, read-write RAM coupled to said central processing unit and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to the CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and the CPU.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 97 words

In a universal remote control system having input means for inputting commands, signal output means for supplying an infrared signal to a controlled device and a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, the improvement residing in said system comprising no ROM, a single non-volatile, read-write RAM coupled to said central processing unit and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to the CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and the CPU.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system of claim 1 further including a latch coupled between said RAM and said CPU.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 59 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said input means includes a keyboard having a set of keys coupled to said CPU and CPU wake-up circuit means coupled to said CPU and including circuit means in said keyboard for causing, by depression of any key on said keyboard, operation of said wake-up circuit to wake up (power up) said CPU.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system of claim 1 further including RAM writeprotect circuit means coupled between said RAM and said CPU and having means for enabling writing in said RAM only when certain conditions have been met.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 1 including a multicolor light indicating means for presenting codes to a user comprising light blinks of different colors, number of blinks, and sequence of blinks.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 98 words

A microprocessor system for use in a universal remote control device having command inputs and infrared code outputs, said system comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a single non-volatile, read-write random access memory (RAM) coupled to said CPU, no read only memory (ROM), first and second coupling means for coupling said system to the command inputs and to the code outputs, respectively, and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to said CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 98 words

A microprocessor system for use in a universal remote control device having command inputs and infrared code outputs, said system comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a single non-volatile, read-write random access memory (RAM) coupled to said CPU, no read only memory (ROM), first and second coupling means for coupling said system to the command inputs and to the code outputs, respectively, and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to said CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system of claim 6 further including a latch coupled between said RAM and said CPU.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 7 including a plurality of lower bit address lines coupled between said latch and said CPU and a plurality of multiplex lines equal in number to said address lines coupled, respectively, between said address lines and said RAM.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 8 including a plurality of upper bit address lines coupled between said CPU and said RAM.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 50 words

The system of claim 6 including an OR gate having an output coupled to said RAM, an instruction fetch enable line coupled between said CPU and an input of said OR gate and a RAM data read enable line coupled between said CPU and an input of said OR gate.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 59 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said command inputs include a keyboard having a set of keys coupled to said CPU and CPu wake-up circuit means coupled to said CPU and including circuit means in said keyboard for causing, by depression of any key on said keyboard, operation of said wake-up circuit to wake up (power up) said CPU.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 104 words

The system of claim 11 wherein said keyboard includes a plurality of conductor row lines coupled to inputs of said CPU, a plurality of conductor column lines extending across said row lines, each row line being connected through a current directing diode to one of said column lines and said column lines being coupled through impedance means to a power source, and a plurality of conductive members each connected to one of said keys and positioned adjacent an intersection of a row line with a column line and operable on depression of a key to electrically connect a row line to a column line.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 60 words

The system of claim 11 wherein said wakeup circuit includes wakeup electronic switch means which are turned on when a key is depressed to supply power to said CPU and circuit means coupled between said wakeup electronic switch means and said CPU for maintaining said wakeup electronic switch means turned on until a HALT signal is generated by said CPU.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system of claim 6 further including RAM write-protect circuit means coupled between said RAM and said CPU and having means for enabling writing in said RM only when certain conditions have been met.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 72 words

The system of claim 19 wherein said write protect circuit includes write protect electronic switch means for coupling a write enable input to said RAM with a write enable line coupled to said CPU, said write protect electronic switch means being turned on when voltage is supplied to said CPU and such voltage is above a predetermined value so that said write protect circuit also serves as a low battery indicating circuit.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said code outputs include output means comprising infrared light generating means and driver circuit means coupled between said CPU and said light generating means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 6 including a multicolor light indicating means for presenting codes to a user comprising light blinks of different color, number of blinks, and sequence of blinks.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 44 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said terminal means include three serial ports coupled to said CPU, one port being coupled to ground, one port being coupled to an input to said CPU and one port being coupled to an output of said CPU.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 49 words

The system of claim 18 including signal conversion and coupling means for coupling interface means of a computer operating at a given voltage to said three serial ports operating at a different voltage, said signal conversion and coupling means including signal receiving circuit means and signal transmitting circuit means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said command inputs include input means comprising keyboard circuit means coupled to said CPU and including a keyboard including a plurality of keys comprising mode keys, function keys, and at least one key for making a command.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 20 wherein said plurality of keys further includes a set of number keys and a set of auxiliary function keys.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 21 wherein said set of auxiliary keys include keys lettered A to H.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 126 words

A universal remote control system comprising data processing means, input means including a keyboard and keyboard circuit means coupled to said data processing means, signal output means including means for generating infrared light codes coupled to said data processing means, memory means including a battery backed, non-volatile, read-write RAM coupled to said data processing means for storing (a) a set of instructions and (b) a library of code data for enabling said infrared light generating means to generate specific infrared codes, said RAM being coupled to said data processing means, and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to said CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 126 words

A universal remote control system comprising data processing means, input means including a keyboard and keyboard circuit means coupled to said data processing means, signal output means including means for generating infrared light codes coupled to said data processing means, memory means including a battery backed, non-volatile, read-write RAM coupled to said data processing means for storing (a) a set of instructions and (b) a library of code data for enabling said infrared light generating means to generate specific infrared codes, said RAM being coupled to said data processing means, and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to said CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 54 words

The system of claim 23 including an OR gate having an output coupled to said memory means, an instruction fetch enable line coupled between said data processing means and an input of said OR gate and a data read enable line coupled between said data processing means and another input of said OR gate.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 59 words

The system of claim 23 wherein said keyboard includes a set of keys coupled to said data processing means and system wake-up circuit means coupled to said data processing means and including circuit means in said keyboard for causing, by depression of any key on said keyboard, operation of said wakeup circuit to wake up (power up) said system.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 106 words

The system of claim 25 wherein said keyboard includes a plurality of conductor row lines coupled to inputs of said data processing means, a plurality of conductor column lines extending across said row lines, each row line being connected through a current directing diode to one of said column lines and said column lines being coupled through impedance means to a power source, and a plurality of conductive members each connected to one of said keys and positioned adjacent an intersection of a row line with a column line and operable on depression of a key to electrically connect a row line to a column line.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 68 words

The system of claim 26 wherein said wakeup circuit means includes wakeup electronic switch means which are turned on a when a key is depressed to supply power to said data processing means and circuit means coupled between said wakeup electronic switch means and said data processing means for maintaining said wakeup electronic switch means turned on until a HALT signal is generated by said data processing means.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 23 further including write-protect circuit means coupled between said memory means and said data processing means and having means for enabling writing in said memory means only when certain conditions have been met.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 76 words

The system of claim 28 wherein said write-protect circuit includes write protect electronic switch means for coupling a write enable input to said memory means with a write enable line coupled to said data processing means, said write protect electronic switch means being turned on when voltage is supplied to said data processing means and such voltage is above a predetermined value so that said write protect circuit also serves as a low battery indicating circuit.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 23 including a multicolor light indicating means for presenting codes to a user comprising light blinks of different colors, number of blinks, and sequence of blinks.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 50 words

The system of claim 23 wherein said terminal means include three serial ports coupled to said data processing means, one port being coupled to ground, one port being coupled to an input to said data processing means and one port being coupled to an output of said data processing means.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 49 words

The system of claim 31 including signal conversion and coupling means for coupling interface means of a computer operating at a given voltage to said three serial ports operating at a different voltage, said signal conversion and coupling means including signal receiving circuit means and signal transmitting circuit means.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 23 wherein said keyboard includes a plurality of keys comprising mode keys, function keys, and at least one key for making a command.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 33 wherein said plurality of keys further includes a set of number keys and a set of auxiliary function keys.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 34 wherein said set of auxiliary keys include keys lettered A to H.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 96 words

In a universal remote control system having input means for inputting commands, infrared signal output means for supplying an infrared signal to a control device and a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, the improvement residing in said system comprising a single, non-volatile, read-write RAM coupled to said central processing unit and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to the CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 96 words

In a universal remote control system having input means for inputting commands, infrared signal output means for supplying an infrared signal to a control device and a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, the improvement residing in said system comprising a single, non-volatile, read-write RAM coupled to said central processing unit and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to the CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 92 words

A microprocessor system for use in a universal remote control device having command inputs and infrared code outputs and comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a single non-volatile, read-write random access memory (RAM) coupled to said CPU, first and second coupling means for connecting said system to the command inputs and to the code outputs, respectively, and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to said CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 92 words

A microprocessor system for use in a universal remote control device having command inputs and infrared code outputs and comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a single non-volatile, read-write random access memory (RAM) coupled to said CPU, first and second coupling means for connecting said system to the command inputs and to the code outputs, respectively, and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to said CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 125 words

A universal remote control system comprising data processing means, input means including a keyboard and keyboard circuit means coupled to said data processing means, signal output means including means for generating infrared light codes coupled to said data processing means, and memory means including a battery backed, non-volatile, read-write RAM only and no ROM for storing (a) a set of instructions and (b) a library of code data for enabling said infrared light generating means to generate specific infrared codes, said RAM being coupled to said data processing means, and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to said CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 125 words

A universal remote control system comprising data processing means, input means including a keyboard and keyboard circuit means coupled to said data processing means, signal output means including means for generating infrared light codes coupled to said data processing means, and memory means including a battery backed, non-volatile, read-write RAM only and no ROM for storing (a) a set of instructions and (b) a library of code data for enabling said infrared light generating means to generate specific infrared codes, said RAM being coupled to said data processing means, and data coupling means including terminal means coupled to said CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, said RAM through said terminal means and said CPU.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-09-24	1994-03-26	1994-09-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-09-24	1998-03-26	1998-09-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-09-24	2002-03-26	2002-09-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Universal remote control device

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