Abstract:
A universal remote control apparatus that is programmable with software supplied by manufacturers of controllable devices so that a single remote control apparatus has a broad spectrum application capable of operating many different controllable devices. The remote control apparatus is based in a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) having sufficient memory to store the requisite software from a multitude of controllable devices and is operable to send or receive signals to the controllable devices by radio signal or by infra red beam. The remote control apparatus can be coupled to a personal computer to download the requisite software into the memory of the PDA, which can come via software supplied with the controllable device or by accessing the manufacturer&#39;s web site and downloading the necessary software therefrom. The display screen of the PDA can then be customized to replicate any control functions with a touch screen actuation control buttons.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to remote control devices for controlling electrical or electronic devices, such as televisions, stereos, light switches and hot tubs and, more particularly, to a universal remote control apparatus that is programmable through the downloading of software from the computer or from the Internet to permit the remote control apparatus to control any controllable device.  
           [0002]    Remote controls are operable through either radio frequency or an infra red link to transmit control signals to the device to be controlled. Each manufacturer of a controllable device provides its own remote control apparatus for the device to be controlled. Many electrical or electronic devices are capable of being controlled remotely, including televisions and stereos, but also light systems, hot tubs, ceiling fans and home entertainment centers. Accordingly, it would not be unusual for a household to have multiple remote control devices each one being operable to provide a remote control of a different device. The proliferation of remote controls further complicates their usage as the homeowner becomes confused as to how each remote control device operates or how the control device is to be programmed.  
           [0003]    Some manufacturers provide a universal remote control device that is operable to control the operation of more than one electrical or electronic device. By properly programming such a universal remote control device, the remote control can provide different control frequencies or provide the proper control signals via an infra red beam to effect the remote control of at least two devices, however, all such devices will be operated by radio frequency or by infra red. Furthermore, universal remote control devices are known to be difficult to program and to utilize  
           [0004]    Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a remote control device that is truly universal in that the remote control device would be operable to control every controllable device whether operable by radio signal or infra red beam.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is an object of this invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art by providing a universal remote control apparatus that is programmable by downloading software from a computer or Internet site.  
           [0006]    It is another object of this invention to provide a remote control apparatus that is universal in operation by being capable of sending control signals by radio or by infra red.  
           [0007]    It is a feature of this invention that the remote control apparatus has a memory that can store the control programming for many different controllable devices.  
           [0008]    It is an advantage of this invention that the remote control apparatus is connectable to a computer to receive software downloaded therefrom.  
           [0009]    It is another advantage of this invention that the remote control apparatus will be able to replace all other remote control devices.  
           [0010]    It is another feature of this invention that the remote control apparatus has a display screen for which control buttons can be displayed for each controllable device for which remote control is desired.  
           [0011]    It is still another advantage of this invention that the display screen can be customized by downloadable programming to mimic the manufacturer&#39;s remote control apparatus.  
           [0012]    It is still another object of this invention to provide a remote control apparatus that can receive and store software defining the control function of multiple controllable devices.  
           [0013]    It is still another feature of this invention that the remote control apparatus can learn control signals from a conventional infra red remote control apparatus.  
           [0014]    It is yet another feature of this invention that the remote control apparatus can provide confirmation of the implementation of the control command that has been issued by receiving a response code from the controllable device.  
           [0015]    It is still another advantage of this invention that the software loaded into the remote control apparatus can be edited to permit the information to be tailored to the specific needs of the operator.  
           [0016]    It is yet another feature of this invention that the downloading of software into the remote control apparatus from a computer can be utilized to display identical information on the screen of the computer as on the display screen of the remote control apparatus to allow testing and verification of the final programming into the remote control apparatus.  
           [0017]    It is a further feature of this invention that a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) serves as the host for the remote control apparatus.  
           [0018]    It is a further object of this invention to provide a remote control apparatus based on the architecture of a Personal Digital Assistant with a broad spectrum application in both infra red and radio signal to provide a universally utilizable remote control functions.  
           [0019]    It is yet another advantage of this invention that the remote control apparatus can have a sealed housing that can be attached to a flotational device to allow the remote control apparatus to float on the surface of water, such as in a hot tub.  
           [0020]    It is still a further advantage of this invention that the remote control apparatus can receive programming from software loaded through a computer, by connecting the remote control apparatus to the manufacturer&#39;s web site to download the requisite software into the remote control apparatus, or by receiving control signals from a conventional infra red remote control apparatus in a learn mode of operation.  
           [0021]    It is yet a further object of this invention that the remote control apparatus has the ability to both send and receive multiple frequencies via radio signal, as well as by infra red beam.  
           [0022]    It is yet another object of this invention to provide a remote control apparatus that is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simple and effective in use.  
           [0023]    These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished according to the instant invention by providing a universal remote control apparatus that is programmable with software supplied by manufacturers of controllable devices so that a single remote control apparatus has a broad spectrum application capable of operating many different controllable devices. The remote control apparatus is based in a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) having sufficient memory to store the requisite software from a multitude of controllable devices and is operable to send or receive signals to the controllable devices by radio signal or by infra red beam. The remote control apparatus can be coupled to a personal computer to download the requisite software into the memory of the PDA, which can come via software supplied with the controllable device or by accessing the manufacturer&#39;s web site and downloading the necessary software therefrom. The display screen of the PDA can then be customized to replicate any control functions with a touch screen actuation control buttons. Switching from one controllable device to another is a simple matter of accessing a menu containing the list of the controllable devices for which software has been loaded. Utilizing a watertight housing for the PDA and attaching a flotational device to the housing can enable the remote control apparatus to be floated on the surface of the water in the event the remote control is to be used in a hot tub or the like.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]    The advantages of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) adapted to perform as a universal remote control apparatus incorporating the principles of the instant invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is a schematic bottom end view of the PDA depicted in FIG. 1 to show the power port and the data port;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a schematic top end view of the PDA depicted in FIG. 1 to show the light emitting diodes (LED) for transmitting and receiving information to and from a controllable device by infra red beam;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 is a schematic elevational view of a PDA universal remote control apparatus positioned in a docking cradle to receive downloadable software from a connection with a computer and to charge the batteries if rechargeable batteries are utilized in the PDA;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a PDA universal remote control apparatus demonstrating dual operation via radio signal and infra red beam;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the PDA universal remote control apparatus depicting the downloading of software from a memory storage device, such as a CDROM;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the PDA universal remote control apparatus depicting the downloading of software from a manufacturer&#39;s web site or the Internet;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of a PDA universal remote control apparatus operated in a learn mode to receive coded control signals from the infra red transmitting function of a standard infra red remote control apparatus;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 9 is a schematic side elevational view of a flotational device adapted to receive a PDA universal remote control apparatus to permit the apparatus to float on the surface of water; and  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 10 is a schematic end view of the flotational device shown in FIG. 7 with a transparent window incorporated to permit the passage of the infra red beam from the PDA universal remote control apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0035]    Referring now to FIGS.  1 - 3 , the utilization of a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) to host a universal remote control apparatus  10  can best be seen. The remote control apparatus  10  is manufactured with a casing  11  in which a display screen  15  of generally conventional construction is housed. The casing  11  also mounts control buttons  14  for directional movement of a cursor on the display screen  15  and for the entry of commands, as well as a power on/off button  14   a , all of which are well known and of conventional design and construction. One end  12  of the casing  11  includes a power port  16  and a data port  18  through which data can be transmitted via a cable  25  connected to a personal computer  30  or other data storage device. Contrary to conventional PDA design, the opposing end  13  of the casing  11  is configured with infra red diodes (LED&#39;s)  19   a ,  19   b  for the transmission and receipt of data via an infra red beam, as is known in conventional remote control apparatus. As with conventional PDA devices, the interior of the casing  11  is provided with memory storage devices (not shown) and a microprocessor (not shown) for executing software programming.  
         [0036]    As is depicted in FIG. 4, the remote control apparatus  10  can preferably be supported in a docking cradle  20  which couples with both the power port  16  and the data port  18 . The docking cradle  20  is preferably connectable to an AC electrical power supply via the power adapter and cord  22  to provide a source of electrical power to the remote control apparatus  10  connected to the docking cradle  20 . Preferably, the remote control apparatus  10  is adapted to utilize rechargeable batteries which will be recharged while connected to the docking cradle  20  plugged into AC current. The docking cradle  20  is also provided with a data transfer cable  25 , preferably having a USB connector  26  that will connect directly to a personal computer  30 . The data cable  25  could also connect directly to the data port  18  instead of through the docking cradle  20 . The docking cradle  20  would have typical power buttons and indicator LED&#39;s  23  and a button  24  for initiating the transfer of data into the PDA universal remote control apparatus  10 .  
         [0037]    Internally of the casing  11 , the remote control apparatus  10  is also provided with a radio signal transmitter (not shown) as is known in conventional remote control devices. As is depicted in FIG. 5, the remote control apparatus  10  is operable to send and receive data and commands via the infra red diodes  19   a ,  19   b , and to send and receive controller commands via radio signal at multiple frequencies at which conventional remote control devices are operable, thus providing a broad spectrum application. As is noted below, the receive LED  19   b  can be used to learn commands from a conventional remote control device  35 , or to verify on the display screen  15  that the function selected has been properly initiated via a return signal from the remote apparatus being controlled.  
         [0038]    The remote control apparatus  10  is operable to store programming in the memory storage devices. The programming defines the manner in which the remote control apparatus  10  will operate. The programming for many different remote devices that are to be controlled can be stored in the memory storage devices within the remote control apparatus  10 . The programming can be loaded into the memory storage devices in a number of different ways. As depicted in FIG. 6, one way for the programming to be loaded into the remote control apparatus  10  would be for the manufacturer of the machine or device to be controlled to provide a compact disk (CD)  27  with the proper programming stored thereof. The CD  27  could then be loaded into a personal computer  30  which is coupled via the data cable  25  to the remote control apparatus  10  either directly or via the docking cradle  20 .  
         [0039]    Probably the most effective manner in which the programming can be loaded into the remote control apparatus  10  would be via a web site  33  established by the manufacturer of the machine or device to be controlled as is depicted in FIG. 7. The web site  33  would be accessible via the Internet and could be updated by the manufacturer as need arises. As with the programming loaded on the CD  27 , the download of the programming from the manufacturer&#39;s web site can be loaded into the remote control apparatus  10  via the data cable  25 . Preferably, the remote control apparatus  10  will have a broad spectrum application and will also be operable as conventional remote control devices, as is depicted in FIG. 8, to receive data or commands from a conventional remote control device  35  through the infra red receiver  19   b  so that the remote control apparatus  10  can “learn” the requisite commands from an old remote control device  35 .  
         [0040]    Once loaded, the programming will provide a control panel  50  on the display screen  15  in the form of touch screen buttons or icons  52  to provide the manufacturer&#39;s control functions for the machine or device to be controlled. The programming will also define the manner in which the remote control apparatus  10  is to communicate with the machine or device to be controlled, i.e. whether control commands are to be broadcast via radio signal, and the frequency at which the signal is to be broadcast, or whether the control commands are to be sent via an infra red beam through the transmitting diode  19   a . Preferably, the remote control apparatus  10  will have the built-in capability to allow the owner to modify the control panel  50  of touch screen buttons  52  on the display screen  15 . In this manner the remote control apparatus  10  can truly be customized at the desire of the owner.  
         [0041]    When multiple machines or devices are to be controlled through the remote control apparatus  10 , the boot-up screen to be displayed on the display screen  15  when the remote control apparatus  10  is first powered-up should be a menu of the machines or devices that can be controlled. By selecting the desired machine or device, the remote control apparatus  10  will load into operation the programming for the selected machine or device, as customized by the owner, to display the touch screen buttons or icons  52  for the functions to be controlled on that particular selected machine or device. Returning to the menu screen, other machines or devices could be selected allowing the remote control apparatus  10  to toggle from one control mode to another. For each control mode, corresponding to a particular machine or device to be controlled, the display screen  15  will provide the control panel  50  that is peculiar to the machine or device that was selected. Each control panel  50  can be completely different from each other control panel  50  to be displayed on the display screen  15 .  
         [0042]    For example, a homeowner could have electrical switches installed in his house, a hot tub, a television, a stereo and a ceiling fan, all of which are capable of having functions thereof controlled through a remote control device. The homeowner places the remote control apparatus  10  into the docking cradle  20  and connect the docking cradle  20  to his personal computer  30  on which he accesses the manufacturer of each of the above-identified devices and downloads programming for each particular device into the remote control apparatus  10 . The homeowner then takes the remote control apparatus  10  to the room in his house in which all of these devices are situated. Powering up the remote control apparatus  10  and selecting the hot tub on the menu screen, the homeowner can touch the on/off button or icon  53  on the control panel  50  displayed on the display screen  15  and turn-on the hot tub by a radio signal transmitted by the remote control apparatus  10  that communicates with the power switch on the hot tub. The homeowner can then re-access the menu screen and select the television selection which then loads the appropriate programming into the microprocessor and displays a control panel  50  for the television. Touching the proper control panel button  53  to initiate power into the television results in a command being transmitted via the infra red beam through the transmitter diode that communicates with the power switch of the television. The software programming defines the mode of the command signal to be transmitted to the remote apparatus.  
         [0043]    Similarly, the same remote control apparatus  10  can be manipulated to display a control panel  50  for the light switches to dim the lights, for example, and, on a separate display screen, to control the operating speed of a ceiling fan. For devices, such as lighting switches and ceiling fans, that do not have a large number of control buttons, the remote control apparatus  10  could be operable to display on the display screen  15  more than one control panel  50  at a time, such as on a split screen. By using the control buttons  14  on the remote control apparatus  10 , the control panels  50  and other touch screen icons  52  for different devices and different functions can be toggled through from one to another. Such a remote control apparatus  10  would be truly a universal remote control capable of controlling every remotely controlled machine or device for which the programming can be loaded into the memory storage devices and executed by the microprocessor, or which can be “taught” from a conventional infra red remote control device.  
         [0044]    As depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10, the remote control apparatus  10  is preferably manufactured with a watertight casing  11  that can be fitted to sit into a buoyancy holder  40  that will enable the remote control apparatus  10  to float on the surface of water, such as would be convenient for use in a hot tub, for example. The remote control apparatus  10  would preferably press fit into the top portion of the buoyancy holder  40  so as to fit snugly within the cavity  43  provided on the top thereof. One of the upright walls  42  of the cavity  43  is provided with a transparent window  45  which would align with the transmitter and receiver diodes  19   a ,  19   b  to enable the remote control apparatus  10  to communicate with the requisite machines or devices via an infra red beam. The remote control apparatus  10  can then be removed from the buoyancy holder  40  when use over water is not desired.  
         [0045]    It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.