Current generating system for remote control devices

A hand held remote controller for operating an electronic device from a distance having its own self-contained source of electric current. The remote controller has a mechanical energy source for operating an a.c. voltage generator, a d.c. voltage converter to rectify a.c. voltage to d.c. voltage and doubling it. A regulator controls the d.c. voltage sent to the remote controller. The mechanical energy source is a spring motor in one embodiment, or a spring biased depressible handle attached to a rack and pinion motor in another embodiment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to remote controllers for operating electronic 
equipment, such as television sets, and, in particular, to a remote 
controller with its own current generating system for operating it. 
In the past, remote controllers have used several "AAA" or "AA" batteries 
as the source of electrical power. However, if the remote controller is 
used to operate several electronic devices, it does not take long before 
the batteries have to be replaced. Since dry cell batteries when used in 
series, tend to drain about the same rate, all of the batteries must be 
replaced. The expense and inconvenience of having to change batteries can 
become a burden. While it is possible to use rechargeable batteries, the 
fact that the remote controller has to be out of commission and the 
electronic devices are not functional is an inconvenience. Most electronic 
devices are designed to operate by a remote controller, and to manually 
operate them is slow and awkward. 
The best solution is to have a universal remote controller which generates 
it own electrical current. There have been various small electrical 
devices patented which generate a direct current for operating said 
devices; however, there has not been a self contained remote controller 
for operating electronic devices. The most common patented electrical 
device which generates a direct current (d.c.) is the flashlight where a 
mechanical energy rotates a generator rotor in a stator to produce a 
current. The mechanical energy is either in the form of a spring motor as 
in U.S. Pat. No. 2,277,897, issued to Alexander; a reciprocating rack and 
pinion connected to a gear motor as in U.S. Pat. No. 1,411,615, issued to 
Evans, of a hand held crank gear motor as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,393,813, 
issued to Roggan. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,003, issued to Tu et al, a spring operated generator 
produces alternating current (a.c.) which is converted to d.c. voltage to 
operate electronic timepieces, cameras or radio receivers. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
A remote controller is provided for controlling electronic devices at a 
distance using a mechanical energy source to drive a rotary electric 
energy generator to produce a current to operate the remote controller. 
The generator produces a.c. voltage which is converted by an electric 
circuitry to d.c. voltage used by the remote controller to send a signal 
to an electronic device. 
The mechanical energy source may be a spring driven motor having a windup 
key and gear system; or a depressible handle drive connected to a rack and 
pinion to operate a gear system. In each case a gear system rotates a 
rotor in a stator to produce a.c. voltage. A rectifier circuit and 
capacitors converts the a.c. voltage to d.c. voltage and doubles it to 
increase the voltage. A regulator controls the voltage output sent to a 
signal circuit. The mechanically operated generator and circuitry replaces 
the dry cell batteries in a remote controller.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown in FIG. 1 a remote controller 10 
having a series of push buttons 12, controls for sending a command to an 
electronic device, not shown. The controller 10 has a housing 14 with a 
lower generator compartment 16 which protrudes from the controller. A 
wind-up key 18 extends from the generator compartment 16. Key 18 is 
connected by a shaft 20 to a spring motor 22, having a gear system 24 for 
rotating a rotor 26 of a generator 28, FIG. 5. 
In a second embodiment, FIGS. 3 and 4, a housing 12' has a depressible hand 
30 pivotal to one side. The handle 30 is a spring biased metal which 
resists depression. Handle 30 is connected to a reciprocating gear rack 32 
that in turn meshes with the gear teeth of pinion gear 34. A generator 
rotor 26' is rotated by the reciprocating mechanical action of gear rack 
32 to cause generator 28 to produce a.c. voltage. 
FIG. 5 shows a typical generator and rectifier-doubler circuitry 40 for 
converting a.c. voltage to d.c. voltage and doubling it. Generator 28 
produces a voltage by the mechanical energy sources of FIGS. 1 and 2, or 3 
and 4. The produced a.c. voltage is rectified by diodes 42 and 44 and 
doubled by fixed capacitors 46 and 46'. The result is that five volts of 
a.c. voltage is rectified and doubled to 10 volts of d.c. voltage. A 
regulator 50 limits the output of voltage to three volts d.c. which is 
needed to operate the remote controller. The generator 28 and circuitry 
are wired in the battery compartment, not shown, of remote controller 10 
or 10'. 
In use in either remote controller 10 or 10', a gear system, not shown, is 
operated by a mechanical spring energy system, FIGS. 1 and 2, or a 
mechanical spring biased depressible handle energy system, FIGS. 3 and 4, 
to rotate a rotor 26 or 26' to cause generator 28 to produce a.c. voltage 
that is converted by rectifier-doubler circuitry 40 into usable d.c. 
voltage. 
While only two embodiments have been shown, it is understood that other 
embodiments may be realized, therefore one should study the drawings, 
description and claims for a complete understanding of the invention.