Gun shaped remote control unit for a television

A universal remote control unit for changing television channels is shaped like a gun to allow a viewer to point the gun at a television set, and shoot the channel to change the program. The unit is gun shaped having a barrel with a muzzle end containing an infrared beam emitter to produce a signal beam to engage an infrared beam receiver of a television set and provide channel selection. A hand grip portion has a trigger which operates a channel selection switch to produce a signal beam from the infrared emitter to change the channel. A channel direction switch selects whether the channel change should be up or down, and a power source is provided for powering the controls and the light beam emitter. In another embodiment a light beam emitter and a sound effect emitter are included in the gun.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to a remote control device for operation of a 
television. More specifically the present invention provides a universal 
remote control unit which is gun shaped and is operated like a gun to 
eliminate a viewed program by changing channels on a television set. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Remote control units for televisions are used to control all operations of 
a television and a VCR. The units are made so that they are universal and 
can be programmed for the majority of televisions available on the market 
today. The operation is by sending an infrared signal from the control 
unit to an infrared receiver on the television or VCR. Remote control are 
used to change channels, volume control, on/off control and many other 
features that different televisions are equipped with today. 
It is known to provide a gun shaped control device for playing television 
games. In some cases the device projects a beam of light to locate a spot 
on a television, in other cases the unit produces an infrared signal 
similar to that used by a remote control for a television but the signal 
cooperates with specific hardware positioned adjacent to the television. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a gun shaped remote 
control unit that allows a television watcher to point the gun at the 
television and pull the trigger so that the channel changes to a higher or 
lower channel. Thus the present invention does not provide a game, but a 
remote control unit which operates a television. By pointing the gun at 
the television, one is able to better direct an infrared beam to engage an 
infrared beam receiver on a television set. The unit also has the feature 
of allowing a television watcher to "shoot" the television set in order to 
change the program being watched. 
In other features of the invention the remote control unit may be fitted 
with a light beam which directs a beam of light onto the television screen 
and also have sound effects which are activated by pulling the trigger. 
The present invention provides a remote control unit for operating 
television channel selection in association with a television set having 
an infrared beam receiver means comprising: simulated hand gun having a 
barrel shaped portion with a muzzle end and a hand grip portion with a 
trigger means, infrared beam emitter means located at the muzzle end for 
producing a signal beam to engage the infrared beam receiver of the 
television set and provide channel selection, channel selection switch in 
the unit connected to the trigger means, such that depression of the 
trigger means produces the signal beam from the infrared beam emitter 
means to change a television channel, channel direction switch means in 
the unit connected with the channel selection switch to select between the 
signal beam changing the television channel up and changing the television 
channel down, and power source in the unit for control means to produce 
the signal beam.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a gun shaped remote control unit shaped like 
a automatic pistol. The unit is made in two halves with casing 10 that are 
held together by means of screws 12. The unit has a barrel shaped portion 
14 extending to a muzzle end 16 and a hand shaped portion 18 extending 
down and having a trigger 20 inside a trigger guard 22. On one side of the 
hand grip 18 is a control pad 24 with numerous push buttons 26 numbered 
one to zero for selecting a three digit code for adapting the universal 
remote control unit to a specific television set. Most television sets 
today can be operated by a universal remote control unit after the unit is 
programmed to match the infrared beam receiver. In some units, the push 
buttons 26 are then used for channel selections. A volume control two way 
switch 28, selection switches for TV and VCR 31, a mute button 30, and an 
enter push button 29 for entering the three digit code or entering a 
channel number are also shown on the control pad 24. The control pad 24 is 
shown on the right hand side of the hand grip 18, but is preferred to be 
on the left hand side when the gun is held in a person's right hand s it 
is easily visible. 
The muzzle end 16 of the barrel 10 has two infrared emitters 32 which are 
adapted to cooperate with an infrared beam receiver (not shown) on a 
television set. An on/off switch 34 is located where the hammer of a real 
pistol would be. This is a momentary switch used to turn the TV or VCR on 
or off and light in the form of a red visible LED 36 is mounted on the 
side of the gun to indicate when an infrared signal beam is being 
transmitted from one or both of the infrared emitters 32. 
A channel direction switch 38 is provided on a protrusion 40 beneath the 
on/off switch 34. The channel direction switch 38 has two positions to 
control whether the channel change is channel up or channel down when the 
trigger 20 is depressed. 
The inside of the gun shaped unit is shown in FIG. 2. The trigger 20 is 
connected to a channel select switch 42 so that when the trigger is 
depressed, the channel select switch 42 produces a signal which through a 
central processing unit is changed to an infrared signal beam from the 
emitters 32 to either change the channel number upwards or downwards 
depending upon the position of the channel direction switch 38. Four 
batteries 44 are shown positioned in the barrel position 14. The batteries 
44 are inserted through an entry slot 46 in a manner somewhat similarly to 
bullets in a gun. A cover is provided over the entry slot 46. 
Two other separate features are provided with the gun shaped unit. A light 
beam emitter 48 is located at the muzzle end 16 adjacent the infrared 
emitters 32. The light emitter 48 has a light beam slide switch 50 
adjacent the trigger 20. When this is in the on position, and the trigger 
20 is depressed, not only is an infrared signal beam transmitted from the 
infrared emitters 32 but also a light beam is transmitted from the light 
emitter 48. Similarly a small speaker 52 or other noise emitter is 
positioned in the gun body and a sound effect slide switch 54 is provided 
just beneath the light beam slide switch 50. When the trigger 20 is 
depressed a special sound effect occurs simulating the noise of a gun or 
simulating another noise. Different sound effects may be provided from 
sound effect hardware and may be programmed into the gun to suit 
particular requirements of the user. 
In one embodiment, the sound effect slide switch 54 has a number of 
positions as shown by lines under the switch in FIG. 1. The switch may be 
set in any one of these positions which produces a different sound effect, 
i.e., machine gun, electronic sound and other sound effects that are 
appropriate. Thus a choice of sounds is provided for the operator. 
In another embodiment, the channel select switch 42 has two positions, a 
first position where the trigger 20 is moved a first amount. In this first 
position the light beam is transmitted from the light emitter 40 and/or 
the sound effect occurs from the speaker 52. The trigger 20 is then pulled 
further, so the channel select switch 42 moves to a second position which 
activates the infrared emitters 32 to produce an infrared beam to change 
the channel. 
The block diagram in FIG. 3 shows a central processing unit 60 which in the 
preferred embodiment is in the form of a small chip through which all 
switches are shown on the left and all outputs are shown on the right. The 
battery power supply 44 provides power to the central processing unit 60. 
Speaker interface hardware 62 is shown to the speaker output 52 infrared 
interface hardware 64 is shown to the infrared emitters 32 and light 
interface hardware 66 to the light emitter 48. 
In operation the on/off switch is operated by the thumb of the gun holder 
as is the channel direction switch 38. The up and down changing of 
channels is achieved by pulling the trigger 20 to activate the channel 
select switch 42. Push buttons on the control key pad 24 operate the other 
television and VCR functions. The channel direction switch 38 has two 
positions. In the up position, the channel select switch 42 changes the 
channel upwards and in the down position, the channel select switch 42 
changes the channel downwards. The infrared signal beam from the infrared 
emitters 32 either to a VCR or to a television is emitted when the trigger 
20 is depressed to activate the channel select switch 42, or by operation 
of the control pad 24. 
The channel select switch 42 operated by the trigger 20 can also operate 
the light beam from light emitter 48. By sliding the light beam switch 50 
into one of the on positions, a light beam is projected when the trigger 
20 is depressed. The light beam can be directed at a specific target on 
the television screen. Similarly a sound effect occurs when the sound 
effect slide switch 54 is in the on position. The sound effect is produced 
from the speaker 52 and the acoustic hardware 62 and may be the sound of a 
gun or other sounds as desired. Thus pressing the trigger 20 produces a 
flash of light from the light emitter 48 and the sound of a gun from the 
speaker 52. 
The on/off momentary switch 34 is used to turn the television on or off as 
desired and is located at the position where one would depress the hammer 
of a revolver or pistol. The LED light 36, preferably red, indicates when 
an infrared signal beam is being transmitted from the infrared emitters 
32. 
The batteries 44 are replaced when necessary by placing them through the 
lid 46 of the battery compartment in a similar manner as one would load 
bullets into a gun. 
In operation the gun can be used either left hand or right hand aimed at 
the television screen by a user thus a user may point the gun at a person 
or an object visible on the television screen and pull the trigger which 
will produce a beam of light to shine on the screen, a noise from the 
sound system, and at the same time change the channel either up or down 
depending upon the position of the channel direction switch 38. If one 
wishes to return to the previous channel, then it is merely necessary to 
change the direction of the channel direction switch 38 press the trigger 
again and the previous channel is returned. 
Whereas the drawings illustrate a gun shaped like an automatic pistol it 
will be apparent that the shape of the gun may be changed. A revolver, 
automatic, a gun, a rifle, or other shapes of guns that have a barrel 
shape and a trigger mechanism may be provided. The gun has a means of 
being gripped in the hand and the barrel or equivalent is provided with 
infrared emitters 32 positioned at the muzzle or end of the gun shaped 
device so that an infrared beam can be pointed at the screen. 
The materials o construction for the casing 14 may be plastic or light 
weight metal as desired. 
Various changes may be made to the embodiments shown herein without 
departing from the scope of the present invention which is limited only by 
the following claims.