Abstract:
A mini remote control is provided. The mini remote control comprises a casing, a signal transmission unit, a control unit and a power supply. The size of the casing matches the specification of a small memory card and is suitable for inserting into a memory card slot. The user can use the mini remote control to see movies, browse pictures or play music. After viewing or playing, the user can simply insert the remote control into the memory card slot of a portable electronic device to prevent the remote control from getting lost or being misplaced somewhere else.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan applications serial no. 93124513, filed Aug. 16, 2004, and serial no. 93124512, filed Aug. 16, 2004.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a remote control. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mini remote control having a specification compatible to the memory card of a portable electronic device.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     With the coming high-tech information age, large quantities of data are both transmitted and received every day. To facilitate interpersonal communication, the size of personal computers (PCs) has shrunk to increase portability and small portable electronic devices such as notebook computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs) have replaced PCs and become popular. To be portable, a PDA must be slim, light, small, and compact so it can be operated at anyplace and anytime. Similarly, because a notebook computer has powerful functions and is easy to carry and operate, it is a very attractive device for people on the move, office workers and students. Manufacturers, noticing the popularity of these portable devices, have also developed a large variety of peripheral products to enhance the applications of the notebook computers.  
         [0006]     For visual-audio entertainment, a notebook computer often includes a variety of multi-media entertainment, a digital information transmission center and a place for storing important data. A student, for example, may use a notebook computer to browse photos or play music or movies. The most useful device when watching a movie is a remote control because the remote control enables the user to change functions at a distance away from the notebook computer. With the remote control at hand, there is no need to press the keys on the computer for triggering any multi-media playing function. However, the conventional remote control is a separate device entirely detached from the notebook computer. Moreover, because of the large size of a remote control, it can only be kept in a box separately from the notebook computer. If the user forgets to bring the box, it will be very inconvenient for the user to make a presentation or briefing without a remote control. The conventional remote control is not designed for housing with the notebook computer, thus it gets lost easily and is inconvenient for storage.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Accordingly, at least one objective of the present invention is to provide a mini remote control having a specification that meets the specification of at least one type of memory card slots. Accordingly, the mini remote control can insert into the memory card slot to minimize the risk of losing the remote control and resolve the problem of storage as well.  
         [0008]     To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a mini remote control. The mini remote control mainly comprises a casing, a signal transmission unit, a control unit and a power supply. The casing has a partial dimensional compatible to specification of at least one of the following small memory cards: a flash memory card, a mini hard disk and a pluggable storage media. The signal transmission unit is located on the casing for transmitting a wireless signal. The control unit includes a plurality of buttons disposed on the casing for executing instructions. The power supply is disposed inside the casing for providing a source of power.  
         [0009]     According to the mini remote control in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power supply further includes a charging connector and a rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery is disposed inside the casing and the rechargeable battery is charged through the charging connector.  
         [0010]     According to the mini remote control in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mini remote control may further include a light source and a switching device. The light source and the switching device are disposed on the casing such that the light source can be turned on through the switching device to project a light beam. The light source is a laser beam, for example.  
         [0011]     According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the casing can be fabricated using a material such as plastic or metal. Furthermore, the signal transmission unit can be an infrared transmission unit or a blue tooth transmission unit. In addition, the mini remote control can operate application programs comprised in a portable electronic device such as browsing pictures, starting a slide show or playing movie or music etc.  
         [0012]     To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention also provides a portable digital device having a mini remote control. The portable digital device comprises a portable digital device casing having a first memory card slot, a second memory card slot and a signal-receiving unit. The first and the second memory card slots are compatible to at least one of the following memory cards: a flash memory card, a mini hard disk or a pluggable storage media. The mini remote control is disposed inside the first memory card slot or the second memory card slot. The mini remote control further comprises a casing, a signal transmission unit, a control unit and a power supply. The casing of the mini remote control has a partial dimensional compatible to the specification of at least one of the aforementioned small memory cards. The signal transmission unit is disposed inside the casing for transmitting a wireless signal to the signal-receiving unit. The control unit has a plurality of buttons exposed on the casing and connected to the signal transmission unit for executing an instruction to operate at least one of the application programs in the portable digital device. The power supply is disposed inside the mini remote control casing for providing a source of power.  
         [0013]     The present invention also provides a remote control suitable for making presentations in a portable computer. The casing of the portable computer has a signal-receiving unit and at least an expansion slot. The remote control for making presentations mainly comprises a casing, a signal transmission unit, an indicator, a plurality of input keys and a power source. The remote control casing has a partial of dimension that matches the specification of the expansion slot and hence suitable for inserting the casing into the expansion slot. The signal transmission unit is disposed inside the remote control casing for transmitting a wireless signal to the signal-receiving unit. The indicator is connected to the signal transmission unit and exposed outside the remote control casing for indicating the position of a cursor. The input keys are connected to the signal transmission unit and exposed outside the remote control casing for controlling the playing of the representation data. The power supply is disposed inside the remote control casing for providing a source of power.  
         [0014]     Accordingly, because the mini remote control of the present invention has an external dimension that matches the specification of the memory card slot, the remote control can be hold in the memory card slot. With the aforementioned characteristics, a user can simply pull out the remote control from the slot of the portable electronic device to play a movie or music. At the end of the movie playing or music listening, the remote control can once again be attached to the memory slot of the portable electronic device. The design aims to solve the problems that a remote control gets lost easily and is inconvenient to keep. Hence, the chance of losing the remote control due to dropping it off somewhere and then forgetting its whereabouts is significantly reduced. In addition, the remote control will not affect the outward appearance of the portable electronic device or occupy any additional space of the portable electronic device.  
         [0015]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mini remote control inserted into a portable electronic device (having a memory card slot) according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the circuit control in a mini remote control according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing control flow of a mini remote control controlling a notebook computer according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a sketch showing the outward appearance of a mini remote control according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a sketch showing the outward appearance of another mini remote control according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a remote control for making presentations inserted into a portable computer (having an expansion slot) according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a sketch showing the outward appearance of a remote control for making presentations according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mini remote control inserted into a portable electronic device (having a memory card slot) according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. Note that the portable electronic device  200  is not limited to the notebook computer shown in  FIG. 1 . The portable electronic device  200  can be a digital camera, a digital video recorder or a personal digital assistant, for example. Furthermore, the portable electronic device  200  has a signal-receiving unit  212  and a plurality of memory card slots  204  and  206  compatible to at least one of the following memory cards: a flash memory card, a mini hard disk or a pluggable storage media.  
         [0026]     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the portable electronic device  200  is a notebook computer (the portable electronic device  200  in  FIG. 1 ). The bottom  202  (or the side) of the portable electronic device  200  has memory card slots  204 , for example. The memory card slots  204  can accommodate at least one of the following memory cards: a CF card, an MS card, an SD card or an MMC card. The mini remote control  100  is suitable for controlling the portable electronic device  200 . Moreover, the mini remote control  100  has a size compatible to a conventional memory card so that the mini remote control  100  can be inserted into any one of the memory card slots such as the CF slot of the portable electronic device  200 . Hence, the mini remote control  100  can be stored within the portable electronic device  200 .  
         [0027]     Since each of the aforementioned memory cards has a different dimension and is incompatible to each other, most portable electronic devices will include a multiple of memory card slots such as the CF card slot and the MS card slot. In  FIG. 1 , the portable electronic device  100  has two memory card slots  204  and  206  to facilitate selection. For a user using a memory card of one particular specification such as the slot  206 , the other memory card slot  204  is empty and hence can be used to store the mini remote control  100 .  
         [0028]     According to the layout shown in  FIG. 1 , the remote control  100  can be retrieved from the slot  204  of the portable electronic device  200  and triggered to start playing a movie if the user needs to watch a movie, for example. At the end of the show, the remote control  100  can be inserted back to the memory card slot  204  of the portable electronic device  200 . Hence, the portable electronic device is able to provide a storing space for the remote control so that the chance of losing the remote control due to misplacement is reduced. Besides, the remote control does not occupy any additional space of the portable electronic device and has the same outward appearance.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the circuit control in a mini remote control according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The remote control  100  has a signal transmission unit  120  and a control unit  130 . The control unit  130  has a plurality of digit keys  134  and a plurality of function keys  132  both electrically connected to an identification circuit  136 , for example. The identification circuit  136  can identify a pressed digit key  134  or function key  132  and transmit a instruction from a key to the signal transmission unit  120 . The signal transmission unit  120  then generates a signal  160  and transmits the signal  160  to a signal-receiving unit  212  of the portable electronic device  200  for controlling at least one of the application programs in the portable electronic device  200 . The signal transmission unit  120  can be an infrared transmission unit or a blue tooth transmission unit for transmitting a wireless signal  160  to the signal-receiving unit  212 , for example.  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a power supply  150  is embedded inside the mini remote control  100 . The power supply  150  is disposed within a casing  110  for providing a source of power. The power supply  150  may include, for example, a rechargeable battery  154  and a charging connector  156 . When the remote control  100  has used up all its internal power, the remote control  100  can be plugged into the memory card slot  204  of the portable electronic device  200 . The memory card slot  204  of the portable electronic device  200  does not only provide a storage space for the remote control  100 , but also provide a power source (not shown) for the mini remote control  100  via interconnecting the charging connector  156  and the memory card slot  204  and charging the rechargeable battery  154  through the charging circuit  152 . However, power for driving the mini remote controller  100  is not limited to the rechargeable battery  154 . Other types of battery such as a lithium (Li-ion) battery or other methods of providing power to the remote control  100  may be used.  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the mini remote control  100  may include a light source  112  and a switching device  114 . Hence, the remote control  100  may serve as a laser pen. The laser pen may have a laser light source so that a laser beam can be projected, for example. When the switching device  114  on the remote control  100  is switched to ‘ON’, the light source  112  on the mini remote control  100  will project a beam to whatever position the user points to. In this way, the user is able to move the remote control  100  around and control the movement of the projected light beam when explaining particular content of a presentation.  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing control flow of a mini remote control controlling a notebook computer according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. As a continuation of the control flow in  FIG. 2 , when the signal-receiving unit  212  of the portable electronic device  200  receives the signal  160 , the signal  160  will be transferred to a processing unit  210  of the portable electronic device  200 . The processing unit  210  includes the signal-receiving unit  212 , a central processing unit (CPU)  214  and a display device  216 . When one of the digital keys  134  or the function keys  132  on the mini remote control  100  is pressed, the signal transmission unit  120  within the mini remote control  100  will generate a signal  160  according to the command input by the user. After the signal  160  is received by the signal-receiving unit  212  and processed by the central processing unit (CPU)  214 , the current functional state (the currently executed command, for example, “previous page”, “next page” or “stop”) will be displayed on the screen of the portable electronic device  200 . Furthermore, the mini remote control  100  may operate other application programs in the portable electronic device  200  such as picture pre-viewing, slide show or movie and music playback and so on.  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a sketch showing the outward appearance of a mini remote control according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the mini remote control  100  mainly comprises a casing  110  fabricated to fit the dimensional specification of a memory card slot. Hence, the remote control  100  can be easily inserted into the memory card slot for easy storage. The casing  110  is fabricated using plastic or metal. Furthermore, the casing  110  may include a light source  112 , a switching device  114 , a signal transmission unit  120  and a control unit  130 .  
         [0034]     The control unit  130  has a plurality of digit keys  134  and a plurality of function keys  132 . The function keys  132  include a play/pause key  132   a , a next skip key  132   b , a previous skip key  132   c , a fast reverse key  132   d , a fast forward key  132   e  and a stop key  132   f . These function keys are used to control the playback of music or audio-visual software in a portable electronic device including, for example, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a notebook computer.  
         [0035]     The aforementioned play/pause key  132   a  can start or pause the playing of a current musical title or movie chapter; the next skip key  132   b  or the previous skip key  132   c  can jump to the next or the previous musical title or movie chapter; the fast reverse key  132   d  or the fast forward key  132   e  can make a fast reverse or a fast forward of the playing musical title or movie chapter; and the stop key  132   f  can stop the currently playing musical title or movie.  
         [0036]      FIG. 5  is a sketch showing the outward appearance of another mini remote control according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the mini remote control  110  not only has function keys  132  for playing musical or audio-visual software, but also has other function keys  142  for operating a digital camera or a digital camcorder. The additional functional keys include a power key  142   a , a shutter key  142   b , a delay key  142   c , a flashlight key  142   d , a zoom-in key  142   e  and a zoom-out key  142   f.    
         [0037]     The power key  142   a  can switch on or off the power to the digital camera or the digital camcorder; the shutter key  142   b  can trigger the digital camera or the digital camcorder to take a picture or start a recording session; the delay key  142   c  can provide a delay period to the digital camera or the digital camcorder before starting the picture-taking or camcorder recording operation; the flashlight key  142   d  can control the on or off of a flashlight when the digital camera takes pictures; the zoom-in key  142   e  can reduce the focus of the digital camera or the digital camcorder; and, the zoom-out key  142   f  can increase the focus of the digital camera or the digital camcorder.  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the digit keys  134  on the mini remote control  100  including the digits 0˜9 and the Enter key (the input key) are function keys correspondingly for controlling the playback of musical software, the previewing pictures or movie in a portable electronic device such as a digital camera, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a notebook computer. First, one of the digit keys 0˜9 is pressed to choose the number of a particular music title or movie chapter for the playback. Next, the Enter key is pressed to confirm the command. The musical playback software of the portable electronic device  200 , such as a personal digital assistant, will play the input musical title. If the portable electronic device  200  is a digital camera or a digital camcorder, the picture or movie previewing software in the digital camera or the digital camcorder will display the picture or movie on a liquid crystal display screen according to the input photo or movie chapter number.  
         [0039]     The aforementioned embodiment uses a notebook computer as an example. The external dimension of the mini remote control is fabricated according to the specification of a small memory card so that the remote control can be inserted into a memory card slot for easy storage. However, the spirit of the present invention should not be limited as such. The design concept of the mini remote control in the present invention can also be applied to other portable electronic devices such as a personal digital assistant. In addition, the present invention can also be applied to a portable electronic device that has a signal-receiving unit such as a digital video (DV) camera or a digital camera. The portable digital device comprises a plurality of different types of memory card slots, and at least one of which matches the external dimension of the remote control.  
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a remote control for making presentations inserted into a portable computer (having an expansion slot) according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the host  306  of the portable computer  300  has a plurality of expansion slots  302  such as the PCMCIA slots or the PCI Express slots. The remote control  400  for making presentations in the present invention has the size of a common expansion interface card and can be inserted into one of the expansion slots  302   a  and  302   b  of the notebook computer  300  for storing the remote control  400 . In addition, push buttons  304   a  and  304   b  are located near the side of the expansion slots  302   a  and  302   b . When a user needs to make a presentation, the remote control  400  can be ejected from the expansion slot  302  of the portable computer  300  by pressing the push button  304 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 7  is a sketch showing the outward appearance of a remote control for making presentations according to the present invention. The remote control  400  comprises a casing  410  fabricated to match the dimensional specification of the expansion slot so that the remote control can clip to the expansion slot. The casing  410  is fabricated using plastic or metal, for example. A signal transmission unit  420 , an indicator  430 , a plurality of input keys  440 , a light source  412  and a switching device  414  are disposed inside the casing  410 . The light source  412  is used as a pointer when explaining something in the presentation. When the user turns the switching device  414  of the remote control  400  to the ‘on’ position, the light source  412  on the remote control  400  will project a beam of light and hence the user can control the movement of the light by moving the remote control around. As described, the user can direct the light source  412  of the remote control  400  to anywhere when explaining particular content in the presentation. In addition, the beam of light can be a laser beam, for example. Furthermore, the input keys  440  include a plurality of digit keys  442  and a plurality of function keys  444 . In the remote control  400  for making presentations, the digit keys  442  include the digits 0˜9 and the Enter key (the input key) and the function keys  444  include function exchange key (Num Lock), an insert key (Ins), a delete key (Del), a page up key (PgUp), a page down key (PgDn), a home key (Home) and an end key (End).  
         [0042]     To operate presentation remote control  400 , the page number of the presentation is first input by pressing digit keys 0˜9. Then the Enter key is pressed to confirm and initiate the action. The presentation will jump to the selected page to facilitate the user make the presentation. The function keys  444  have the function of changing pages in the presentation. For example, the Num Lock key is used for exchanging digit keys with function keys; the insert key (Ins) and the delete key (Del) can be used to insert or delete data; the page up key (PgUp) and the page down key (PgDn) can be used to move up or down one page; and the home key (Home) and the end key (End) can be used to move to the first and the last page.  
         [0043]     The connection between the signal transmission unit  420 , the indicator  430  and the power supply  450  can be referred back to  FIG. 2  and its explanation. The charging connector  456  of the power supply  450  can be connected to the power supply  308  of the host  306  for charging power. The indicator  430  is used for showing the location of a cursor. The indicator  430  can be a tracker ball (not shown) or a touch control panel, for example. Using a touch control panel  430  as an example, as the fingertip moves across the touch control panel  430  of the remote control  400 , the cursor in the window will move according to the movement of the fingertip. Aside from using a touch control panel  430 , the remote control  400  may deploy a tracker ball (not shown) so that the cursor will move across the window according to the movement of the ball by the finger or palm.  
         [0044]     According to the aforementioned embodiments, major advantages of the mini remote control in the present invention at least include:  
         [0045]     1. Because the mini remote control is designed to match the dimensional specification of a memory card slot, the remote control can be conveniently stored within the memory card slot of a portable electronic device once a movie or music playback is finished. Hence, the problem of finding a storage area for holding the remote control and preventing it from getting lost due to misplacement of the remote control after use is solved.  
         [0046]     2. Because the mini remote control can be inserted into a memory card slot, there is no need to provide any device for accommodating the remote control or introduce additional manufacturing steps. In other words, the remote control will affect neither the outward appearance of the portable electronic device nor the spatial utilization inside the portable electronic device.  
         [0047]     3. Because the presentation remote control is designed to match the dimension specification of an expansion slot, the remote control can be inserted back to the expansion slot of the portable electronic device after the presentation. Hence, the problem of finding a storage area for holding the remote control and preventing it from getting lost due to misplacement after use is solved.  
         [0048]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.