US5850304A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optically programmable controller
Assignee: Scottsdale Tech Inc
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Filing: 1997-01-08
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Granted: 1998-12-15
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Expires: 2017-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A programmable controller includes a photodetector for receiving data as pulses light from a video display and infra-red emitting diodes for transmitting pulses of light in a format recognized by the device to be controlled. The light from the video display is produced by generating a series of vertically displaced, horizontal lines on the screen of the display. Each line corresponds to a pulse of light and to one bit of information and one or more bytes are displayed per frame on the display. The display produces two initial lines that define a timing window for receiving the remaining data and produces a terminal line that toggles for error detection. The controller produces pulses in the format required by the controlled device by executing a sub-set of primitives from a set stored in the controller. The primitives are executed in a sequence determined by the data from the video display.
Inventors
- 👤 Miles Martin Elmers
- 👤 Michael Andrew Wood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:37
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/11; H04B10/114; H04B1/00; H04B1/06; H04B1/16; H04B1/20; H04B1/202; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
38 words
An optically programmable controller comprising: first means for receiving data transmitted in a first format as pulses of light; and second means, coupled to said first means, for transmitting data in a second format as pulses of light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optically programmable controller comprising: first means for receiving data transmitted in a first format as pulses of light; and second means, coupled to said first means, for transmitting data in a second format as pulses of light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The optically programmable controller as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first means is sensitive primarily to visible light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optically programmable controller as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second means emits predominantly infra-red radiation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optically programmable controller as set forth in claim 1 and further including timing means for causing said second means to transmit data a predetermined time after the reception of data by said first means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optically programmable controller as set forth in claim 1 and further including timing means for causing said second means to transmit data at predetermined times after the reception of data by said first means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The optically programmable controller as set forth in claim 1 and further including: a battery for supplying power for said controller; and means for detecting a low voltage condition in said battery and for providing an indication of the low voltage condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optically programmable controller as set forth in claim 1 and further including means for indicating the reception of data by said first means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optically programmable controller as set forth in claim 1 and further including means for indicating the transmission of data by said second means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optically programmable controller as set forth in claim 1 and further including means for indicating an error in the reception of data by said first means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
The optically programmable controller as set forth in claim 1 and further including: a battery for supplying power to said programmable controller; and a microcontroller coupled to said battery and to said first means, said microcontroller having a sleep mode; wherein said first means is powered by said microcontroller when the microcontroller is not in said sleep mode, thereby reducing power drain on said battery.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The optically programmable controller as set forth in claim 1 and further including: a battery for supplying power to said programmable controller; a microcontroller coupled to said second means and to said battery; wherein said second means includes a plurality of transistors that are non-conducting absent a signal from said microcontroller, thereby reducing power drain on said battery.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The optically programmable controller as set forth in claim 1 and further including a programmed microcontroller interconnecting said first means and said second means, wherein the microcontroller derives the data transmitted by said second means from the data received by said first means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The optically programmable controller as set forth in claim 12 and further including a memory for storing a set of primitives, wherein said microcontroller derives the data for transmission by said second means by executing a sub-set of said primitives in a sequence determined by the data received by said first means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for operating a remotely controlled device responsive to infra-red signals transmitted in a particular format, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting command data to a programmable controller as a plurality of pulses of light from the video display by producing a series of vertically displaced, horizontal lines on the video display; converting the command data into a command sequence in said format; and transmitting the command sequence to the device as a plurality of pulses of light.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for operating a remotely controlled device responsive to infra-red signals transmitted in a particular format, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting command data to a programmable controller as a plurality of pulses of light from the video display by producing a series of vertically displaced, horizontal lines on the video display; converting the command data into a command sequence in said format; and transmitting the command sequence to the device as a plurality of pulses of light.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein each pulse of light is made by the steps of producing a plurality of adjacent, luminous traces followed by a plurality of adjacent, non-luminous traces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as set forth in claim 14 and further including the step of: producing two initial pulses to provide timing data followed by pulses representing command data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the two initial pulses are produced each video frame.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as set forth in claim 16 and further including the steps of: using the timing data for receiving the command data by defining a window for each pulse of command data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as set forth in claim 14 and further including the step of toggling the last bit in each video frame.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said transmitting step is preceded by the step of waiting a predetermined time after the reception of command data before transmitting the command sequence.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as set forth in claim 20 and further including the steps of: waiting a predetermined time after transmitting the command sequence; and transmitting an additional command sequence.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the steps of claim 20 are repeated.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for optically transmitting data, said method comprising the steps of: producing a series of vertically displaced, horizontal lines on a display, wherein the first two lines on the display provide timing information for receiving the data; and transmitting data as the presence or absence of a luminous line at a location corresponding to the timing information given by the first two lines.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for optically transmitting data, said method comprising the steps of: producing a series of vertically displaced, horizontal lines on a display, wherein the first two lines on the display provide timing information for receiving the data; and transmitting data as the presence or absence of a luminous line at a location corresponding to the timing information given by the first two lines.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as set forth in claim 23 wherein said producing step includes the step of: generating each luminous line as a plurality of adjacent traces.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as set forth in claim 23 wherein said producing step includes the step of: generating each luminous line as three adjacent traces.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as set forth in claim 23 wherein said transmitting step includes the step of: toggling the last line of data in each video frame.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for optically transmitting data, said method comprising the steps of: producing a series of vertically displaced, horizontal lines on a video display, wherein the first two lines on the video display provide timing information for receiving the data; and transmitting data as the width of a line at a location corresponding to the timing information given by the first two lines.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for optically transmitting data, said method comprising the steps of: producing a series of vertically displaced, horizontal lines on a video display, wherein the first two lines on the video display provide timing information for receiving the data; and transmitting data as the width of a line at a location corresponding to the timing information given by the first two lines.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as set forth in claim 27 wherein said producing step includes the step of: generating each line as a plurality of adjacent traces.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as set forth in claim 27 wherein said producing step includes the step of: generating each line as a minimum of three adjacent traces.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as set forth in claim 27 wherein said transmitting step includes the step of: toggling the last line of data in each video frame between a first width and a second width.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
75 words
An optically programmable controller comprising: a photodetector for converting pulses of light into electrical pulses; a photoemitter for producing pulses of light; a microcontroller interconnecting said photodetector and said photoemitter, said microcontroller being programmed to convert said electrical pulses into command data; a memory coupled to said microcontroller for storing a set of primitives and said command data; wherein said microcontroller executes a sub-set of said primitives in a sequence determined by said command data.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
75 words
An optically programmable controller comprising: a photodetector for converting pulses of light into electrical pulses; a photoemitter for producing pulses of light; a microcontroller interconnecting said photodetector and said photoemitter, said microcontroller being programmed to convert said electrical pulses into command data; a memory coupled to said microcontroller for storing a set of primitives and said command data; wherein said microcontroller executes a sub-set of said primitives in a sequence determined by said command data.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
44 words
The optically programmable controller as set forth in claim 31 wherein said microcontroller executes a sub-set of said primitives in a sequence determined by said command data to cause said photoemitter to produce pulses of light in a format required by a controlled device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-14 | 2002-06-15 | 2002-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-14 | 2006-06-15 | 2006-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-14 | 2010-06-15 | 2010-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |