Abstract:
A system and apparatus for controlling a television. Various embodiments of the apparatus have various components providing compatibility with most brands and types of televisions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority from and is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/230,172 (“the &#39;172 application”), filed on Aug. 28, 2002 and entitled “Television Control Device.” The &#39;172 application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/315,448, filed on Aug. 28, 2001 and entitled “Control Device for a Hospital Television.” The present application incorporates by reference in their entireties both of the aforementioned patent applications. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a device for controlling one or more televisions.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Television receivers in the individual rooms of healthcare facilities such as hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, and other healthcare concerns have become data-capable. The data-capability of each television provides interactive functionality for the pendant control, or pillow speaker, which a user typically operates to control the television. A pillow speaker is a data input device for controlling a television receiver. Upon input from the user, the pillow speaker typically generates an encoded signal that is transmitted to the television to trigger a function such as powering on the television or switching channels.  
         [0004]     A pillow speaker is typically hardwired to a television using, for example, a three wire interface through a manufacturer-supplied input receptacle, located on the back of the set. The three wire interface typically consists of (1) the receiving line on which the pillow speaker transmits a control code (“the DATA line”), (2) the line on which the television sends the audio signal to the speaker located on the pillow speaker (“the AUDIO line”), and (3) the line which the DATA and AUDIO lines are referenced to electrically (“the COM line”).  
         [0005]     In some pillow speakers, the audio is routed from the television over the AUDIO line to the pillow speaker at a fixed, maximum level. To achieve a change in speaker volume, the user physically manipulates a mechanical potentiometer such as a potentiometer wiper or varying tap provided on the pillow speaker. Enhanced or digital pillow speakers may send data codes to the television causing the television to raise or lower the audio level on the AUDIO line.  
         [0006]     Most pillow speaker are either enhanced (digital) or non-enhanced (analog). The difference between enhanced and non-enhanced pillow speakers is the complexity of the code sent over the DATA line and hence the functionality of the pillow speaker.  
         [0007]     Non-enhanced pillow speakers typically have only three control features: incremental channel control, volume control, and power on/off. The channel control and power on/off functions are implemented with a single switch that is normally open. When there is no power to the television, a button on the pillow speaker can be pressed, causing the switch to close and the television to power up. Each subsequent switch closure will cause an incremental change in the channel being received by the television until the “power off” channel is reached, at which point the television will power down.  
         [0008]     An enhanced pillow speaker transmits a mid-frequency modulated signal or code to the data-capable television receiver over the DATA line. The code is specific to a desired television function and may allow for more interactivity.  
         [0009]     A pillow speaker is typically manufactured to specifications specifically compatible with the television to which the pillow speaker is connected. These specifications vary across types and brands of television/pillow speaker combinations. Upon input from the user, a typical enhanced or digital pillow speaker is capable of generating a brand-specific encoded signal, which the appropriate television is capable of interpreting and thereafter performing the responsive function. The control codes are typically unique to each brand or type of television. Further, a typical pillow speaker is designed to be specifically compatible with the polarity and magnitude of the steady state bias measured between the DATA and COM lines for a particular brand of television. These voltage polarities and voltage magnitudes also vary significantly across brands of televisions. Further, given the polarity variability, the ability to derive power solely from the television is manufacturer-specific as well.  
         [0010]     One problem with pillow speakers currently on the market is the lack of interchangeability. Given the specific and varied requirements across television manufacturers related to voltage polarities, voltage magnitudes, and control codes, consumers have been forced to purchase only those pillow speakers designed specifically for use with available television units.  
         [0011]     Another problem relates to volume control. The mechanical potentiometer required to adjust the volume on a typical pillow speaker requires an invasive opening in the pillow speaker housing. This opening is typically the primary entry point for damaging moisture, contaminants, and gases.  
         [0012]     Thus there exists a need for an improved pillow speaker.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The present invention, in one embodiment, is an apparatus for controlling a television. The apparatus includes a housing electrically coupled to a television, a power supply that derives power from electrical power from the television, and a microprocessor that transmits encoded signals to the television. The power supply can receive any polarity of the electrical current from the television and outputs an appropriate polarity of electrical power to the apparatus. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing electrically coupled to a television, a microprocessor that transmits encoded signals to the television, and a bilateral switch that allows the microprocessor to transmit encoded signals to the television by making compatible any voltage polarity of the electrical current from the television.  
         [0014]     The present invention, in another embodiment, includes a housing coupled to a television, a sensor circuit that senses information generated by the television, and a microprocessor that receives the information from the sensor circuit, identifies the television based on the information, and transmits only compatible encoded signals to the television.  
         [0015]     In a further embodiment, the present invention is an apparatus including a housing coupled to a television, a user interface that allows transmission of signals to control volume, and a volume control circuit having a plurality of audio output channels that are selectively enabled by the signals from the user interface.  
         [0016]     In another embodiment, the present invention is a communication system. The communication system includes a central station, a nurse call system, a remote apparatus, and a television. The nurse call system sends signals to the central station and receives signals from the central station. The remote apparatus includes a power supply that derives power for the remote apparatus from incoming electrical current, receives any polarity from the electrical current, and outputs an appropriate polarity of the electrical power to the apparatus, and a microprocessor that transmits encoded signals to the central station. The television transmits electrical current to the remote apparatus and receives encoded signals from the remote apparatus through the nurse call system.  
         [0017]     While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. As will be apparent, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a television control system, according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a pillow speaker, according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of a television control system, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a television control system in which a television  1  is connected to a pillow speaker  16 . That is, the television  1  is connected to a central station  5 , which in turn is connected to the pillow speaker  16 . Alternatively, the television  1  may be connected directly to the pillow speaker  16 . A nurse call system  2  is also connected to the central station  5 . Power is provided to the pillow speaker  16  by the television  1 . Since the pillow speaker  16  is compatible with any television  1  produced by any major manufacturer, the television  1  can be of any type or brand. Alternatively, the pillow speaker  16  can be connected to and operate a plurality of televisions (not shown) of different types and brands.  
         [0022]     The communication system of  FIG. 1  allows communications from the nurse call system  2  to the pillow speaker  16 . For example, the pillow speaker  16  may receive intercom audio or pages from the nurse call system  2 . Thus, the connection to the pillow speaker  16  from the central station  5  may include wiring from the television  1  and wiring from the nurse call system  2 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a pillow speaker  16  according to one aspect of the present invention. The pillow speaker  16  is hermetically sealed to prevent exposure to atmospheric contaminants. That is, none of the components of the pillow speaker  16  are exposed to atmospheric contaminants. The hermetically sealed pillow speaker  16  allows functions to be inputted via membrane switches  26  without the need for an exposed, mechanically actuated control. Each membrane switch  26  has a membrane covering the switch that seals the switch from atmospheric contaminants and the switch  26  can be actuated through the membrane. Thus, the membrane switches  26  provide a significant advantage over mechanical controls, because the mechanical controls require invasive openings into the pillow speaker that allow entrance of atmospheric contaminants, while no such opening is required for the membrane switches  26 . As an example, one approach to sealing a pillow speaker from contaminants is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/609,503, filed Jul. 3, 2000, entitled “Hermetically Sealed Communication Device,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of a pillow speaker  16 . The pillow speaker  16  of one embodiment has a power supply  7  that accommodates either polarity of the incoming direct current (“DC”), outputting a polarity compatible with the pillow speaker  16 . The pillow speaker  16  can also include a user interface  13  for user input and a microprocessor  11  for processing information and generating encoded signals. According to another aspect of the invention, the pillow speaker has a power booster  10  to increase voltage levels and a bilateral electronic switch  8  to accommodate any polarity differential in the incoming electrical current. Audio signals from the television  1  are converted into sound by the internal speaker  15  through the use of the analog switches  12  in the pillow speaker  16 .  
         [0025]     The pillow speaker  16  in one embodiment derives its power solely from the television  1 . The DC voltage polarity from the integrated television  1  can vary according to the type or brand of television  1 . Some televisions may have a negative voltage output, while others may have a positive voltage output. The power supply  7  addresses the polarity variability. Regardless of the polarity of the voltage output from the television  1 , the power supply  7  outputs voltage to the pillow speaker  16  of the polarity appropriate to power the pillow speaker  16 . The power from the television  1  is transferred to the power supply  7  via the DATA line  18  and COM line  19 .  
         [0026]     To provide a power output having a particular polarity, regardless of the polarity of the incoming supply, the power supply  7  includes a diode bridge  17 . The DC voltage supplied from the television  1  may have either polarity and the power supply  7  produces a power supply of, for example, +5 voltage DC. In one embodiment, the materials and components used in the power supply  7  minimize the amount of power loss during the polarity correcting process. The present invention further encompasses any other component or components known to convert or pass an incoming DC current to a compatible polarity for an electronic device.  
         [0027]     A user operates the television  1  by transmitting encoded signals to the television  1  via the pillow speaker  16 . According to one aspect of the invention, the pillow speaker  16  allows user input through a user interface  13 . When a membrane switch  26  on the user interface  13  is pressed, a circuit is closed, causing a low power microcontroller or microprocessor  11  to generate the appropriate encoded signal that corresponds to the function desired and is compatible with the type or brand of television  1  to which it is connected. The appropriate encoded signal is subsequently transmitted to the television  1 . The microprocessor  11  can be any such microcontroller or microprocessor generally used in electronic devices. For example, the microprocessor  11  could be a PIC16C505 manufactured by Microchip.  
         [0028]     According to one aspect of the present invention, the pillow speaker  16 , as a result of programming, supplies only the data codes required for the specific television  1  being used with the pillow speaker  16 . Alternatively, the pillow speaker  16  supplies a plurality of different codes required for a plurality of different televisions regardless of what the pillow speaker  16  is actually connected to.  
         [0029]     In one embodiment, the pillow speaker  16  may be capable of supplying data codes appropriate for the television  1  connected to the pillow speaker  16 . To provide only the necessary data codes, the pillow speaker  16  may have a circuit or memory capable of storing various tables of code sets; one for each of the televisions available for use. By simply inputting information into the pillow speaker  16  prior to use, the pillow speaker  16  can be programmed to generate the code set appropriate for the desired television  1 . The information can be inputted into the pillow speaker  16  via the user interface  13 . Alternatively, the information is inputted into the pillow speaker  16  through a setup routine, via either hardwire switching or software, that allows the pillow speaker  16  to be programmed to generate any of the code sets in memory.  
         [0030]     The programming related to the television-specific code sets can be stored in non-volatile memory so that the code set compatible with the television  1  is retained even after periods in which no power is provided to the pillow speaker  16 . This allows the pillow speaker  16  to be unplugged and reconnected at a later time with no loss of programming. For example, the data codes and setup routines may be stored in non-volatile memory in the microprocessor  11 . The current mode setting can be stored in the microprocessor  11  in non-volatile random access memory (“NVRAM”) or, alternatively, external to the microprocessor  11 . Once the programming has been completed, when a membrane switch  26  on the user interface  13  is pressed, the microprocessor  11  first reads the NVRAM to determine the appropriate mode setting or encoded signal, then transmits that signal to the television  1 .  
         [0031]     In one aspect of the invention, the mode setting can also be changed via the user interface  13 . When the appropriate membrane switches  26  on the user interface  13  are pressed, the microprocessor  11  writes a new mode setting into the NVRAM.  
         [0032]     Alternatively, the pillow speaker  16  identifies the type or brand of television  1  connected to the pillow speaker  16  and sends only the control code specific to the television  1  in use. A sensor circuit  22  in the pillow speaker  16  may electronically sense the voltage and polarity of the DATA wire  18  with reference to the COM wire  19  and provide the information to the microprocessor  11 . As each brand of television is unique in this regard, the information is sufficient to identify the television  1 . The sensor circuit  22  may be placed across the DATA wire  18  and the COM wire  19 . The microprocessor  11  uses the information to identify the brand or type of television  1  in use and sends only the data codes for the specific television  1 . If unconventional wiring is present in the television control system, the programming can be manually reconfigured or overriden in order to send the appropriate control code. The identification of the television  1  can be accomplished using voltage divider, reference, and comparator circuitry. Further, any other commonly-known methods of sensing voltage levels and polarity may be used.  
         [0033]     In one embodiment, the DATA wire  18  and COM wire  19 , i.e., the same pair of wires that receive power from the television  1 , are used as a serial data bus across which the encoded signal is sent to the television  1  from the pillow speaker  16 . As discussed above, the DC voltage polarity created by the television  1  across the DATA wire  18  and COM wire  19  varies according to the type or brand of television  1 . Given this variable voltage polarity across the data bus, any device used to transmit information via the DATA wire  18  and COM wire  19  must be polarity neutral. A bilateral electronic switch  8  is placed across the data bus to make compatible or accommodate any polarity. Alternatively, the bilateral switch  8  can be integrated into the power supply  7 . For example, a switch such as a field effect transistor (FET)  21  can be placed between the diode bridge  17  and the other components of the power supply  7  as an alternative to the analog switch  8 .  
         [0034]     The bilateral electronic switch  8  may be a low power analog switch. For example, the bilateral electronic switch  8  could be could be chosen from switches designated DG418 or DG412, both of which are manufactured by Maxim. Other commonly known switches could also be used. Alternatively, the voltage polarity can be made compatible with a transistor or other similar solid state device that is isolated with diodes from the polarity fluctuations and power supply circuit.  
         [0035]     The pillow speaker  16  may also have a power booster  10  that is capable of providing increased voltage. As discussed above, the amount of power available from a television  1  varies by brand and can extend, for example, as high as 12 volts DC. To properly operate the bilateral switch  8  and thus have the capability of sending an encoded signal to the television  1 , the pillow speaker  16  must have a voltage source capable of exceeding this DC bias. That is, the pillow speaker  16  requires an internal component capable of supplying voltage greater than the DC bias created by the television  1  in use. The power booster  10  of the pillow speaker  16  in one embodiment is a capacitor charge pump  10 . The capacitor charge pump  10  is a positive and negative source that boosts the power supply of the pillow speaker  16  beyond any DC bias created by any television  1 . That is, the capacitor charge pump  10  can generate either positive or negative voltage depending on the type of television  1 . The capacitor charge pump  10  can be any such charge pump commonly known, such as the Maxim MAX1720.  
         [0036]     Alternatively, the power booster  10  can also be a voltage multiplier circuit. Each multiplier circuit can be a diode and capacitor network. The voltage multiplier circuit can increase the voltage for example as much as four times the amount provided by the power supply  7  or more. For example, the voltage multiplier circuit in one aspect of the invention is a doubler circuit. In other embodiments, the multiplier circuit is a triple or quadruple circuit. The power booster  10  encompasses any commonly known voltage multiplier circuit. In a further aspect of the invention, the power booster  10  has both a capacitor charge pump and a voltage multiplier circuit.  
         [0037]     The television  1  transmits an audio signal to the pillow speaker  16  over the AUDIO line  20 . An internal speaker  15 , using power generated by the power booster  10 , converts the signal into sound. The volume of the sound coming from the internal speaker  15  is controlled along an electronic volume control circuit  23 .  
         [0038]     In one embodiment, the volume control circuit  23  comprises multi-legged audio channels in series with the AUDIO line  20  and the internal speaker  15 . The volume of the sound coming from the internal speaker  15  is controlled by the multi-legged audio channels  24 . Each leg or pathway  24  is selectable, either alone or in conjunction with one or more of the other legs, and each is designed with a pre-determined in-line resistance, the result of which is the application of various levels of attenuation to the audio signal.  
         [0039]     The multi-legged audio channels  24 , in one aspect of the invention, comprise a series of analog switches  12  and resistors  25 . In operation, audio coming from the television  20  is applied to the series of analog switches  12 . The volume of the sound produced by the pillow speaker  16  is controlled by user input at the user interface  13 . The input is fed as an electronic signal to the microprocessor  11 , which generates an appropriate signal to be transmitted to the analog switches  12 . Alternatively, the electronic signal can be transmitted from the microprocessor  11  to a binary counter circuit (not shown), which in turn can provide a binary word as an input to the analog switches  12 .  
         [0040]     The binary switches  12  can be controlled by the signal from the microprocessor  11 . Depending on the signal, none, one, all, or some of the binary switches  12  will close. Thus, depending on the signal, the incoming audio will be routed along the multi-legged audio channels  24  over none, one, all, or some of the resistors  25  on the output channels  24 . The resistors  25  on each output channel  24  provide a predetermined in-line resistance that may vary across resistors  25 , and the outputs of all of the output channels  24  are coupled together to form the controlled audio feed to the speaker  15 . The degree of audio energy allowed to reach the speaker  15  is dependent upon which channels  24  are enabled and the resulting cumulative attenuation in the circuit  23 .  
         [0041]     The binary switches  12  in one embodiment are operated with power supplied by the power booster  10 . To function, the binary switches  12  require a power source capable of producing enough voltage to stay within a voltage range having a minimum and maximum level. For example, the minimum level of voltage can be as large as 15 volts. The power booster  10  provides the appropriate level of voltage.  
         [0042]     In another aspect of the invention, the voltage level can be controlled with the assistance of an electronic input clamp  9 . The electronic clamp  9  can be placed on the volume control circuit  23 . The electronic input clamp  9  ensures that the incoming audio level remains within the minimum and maximum voltage levels of the DC voltage supply. The electronic input clamp  9  can be any commonly-known clamp. For example, the clamp  9  can be a series Zener diode.  
         [0043]     In a further embodiment, an electronic output clamp  14  similar to the input clamp  9  is placed on the volume control circuit  23  near the speaker  15 . The electronic output clamp  14  can ensure that the outgoing audio level remains within the minimum and maximum voltage levels.  
         [0044]     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.