Abstract:
A TV remote control has a recessed keypad so that if the remote is laid face down the keys will not be activated by the weight of the remote.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to TV remote controls with recessed keypads. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Touch pad remote controls have began replacing conventional push-button remote controllers in the marketplace. These touch pad remote controllers are manipulated through a physical contact with a user without the user having to actually apply ample pressure to push a button. Light physical contact with the touch pad is sufficient for the remote control to receive an input. Thus, the touch pads being implemented in remote controls are similar in function to the touch pads that have been implemented in laptop computers and many MP3 players. 
         [0003]    However, even the slightest unintended contact with the touch pad of a remote control may be interpreted by the remote control as an intended command. Even placing a remote control with the touch pad facing down may cause an unintended command to be communicated to the system. These unintended commands may drain the battery life of the remote control and may also manipulate the system communicating with the remote control in an unintended manner. Thus, an increasing need to protect these touch pads from unintended contact has arisen. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A remote control includes a plastic housing defining a top bounding surface and a bottom surface opposite the top bounding surface. The housing also defines a control region, and the top bounding surface substantially surrounds the control region. The control region is closer to the bottom surface than the top bounding region is to the bottom surface. Plural control keys are disposed on the control region, and the top bounding region does not bear any control keys. A processor is in the housing and receives input from the control keys. Also, a wireless transmitter is supported by the housing and receives input from the processor. 
         [0005]    The preferred non-limiting control region is concave throughout its area relative to the top bounding surface. One control key may be located at the geometric center of the control region. It is to be appreciated that the top bounding surface can be laid against a support and that the control keys are recessed from the support such that the weight of the housing does not urge the keys against the support. In some embodiments the control keys are light-touch buttons arranged in a touch pad configuration that detect a direction of a finger as the finger slides over the keys. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, a TV communicates with a remote control with a user-manipulable touch pad accessible from a top surface of the remote control and recessed therefrom, such that a user can manipulate the touch pad to send wireless commands to the TV and such that the remote control can be laid on the top surface and the touch pad is not contacted by a surface of which the top surface rests. 
         [0007]    In still another aspect, a method includes providing a remote control, and configuring the remote control for wireless communication with a TV. The method also includes providing a user key array on the remote control to enable a user to manipulate the key array to send commands to the TV. The remote control is configured such that any portion of the remote control can be laid to rest on a surface without the key array touching the surface. 
         [0008]    The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the present remote control in conjunction with a TV; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view showing the remote control and corresponding GUI on the TV; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows top plan, side elevational and end elevational views of the remote control. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0012]    Beginning with  FIG. 1 , a system containing a remote control with a protected control region is shown. A television system  10  is shown, including a graphical interface  12  which is capable of displaying electronic images including, e.g., a television command menu, television subscription service guide, and other user-controlled electronic interfaces. The television system  10  also has a processor  14  capable of executing user commands and at least one data storage  16  which may store various, non-limiting types of data. The data storage  16  may hold information regarding, e.g., a user&#39;s favorite television channels or saved television programs recorded at a prior time. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  also shows a remote control  18  which is capable of electronic communication with the television system  10 . The remote control  18  has a processor  20  capable of executing user commands input through control keys (not shown) on the remote control  18 . The remote control  18  also has at least one data storage  22  which may store various, non-limiting types of data. The data storage  22  may hold information regarding, e.g., preset channel memory corresponding to particular buttons on the remote control  18 . 
         [0014]    Also shown on the remote control  18  in  FIG. 1  is a control region  24 . The control region  24  receives input from a user through a “touch pad,” which will be discussed in greater detail in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0015]    Additionally, the remote control  18  includes a wireless transmitter  25  which receives input from the processor  20 . The wireless transmitter  25  is capable of producing a non-limiting electronic signal, such as an infrared signal, which allows it to communicate with the television system  10 . In particular, the wireless transmitter  25  transmits user commands to the television system  10  that were input into the remote control  18 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  provides further illustration regarding the function of a sensitive touchpad in the control region  24 . Rather than embodying conventional, independent push buttons common on many remote controls, the control region  24  provides input to the processor  20  through a sensitive touch pad. 
         [0017]    The touch pad has one distinguishable area, with different sections of the area having light touch buttons. The light touch buttons receive their input by having slight pressure applied to the designated section of the touch pad. 
         [0018]    The control region  24  has plural buttons  26  that are intended to send different commands to the processor  20 . The direction arrows  36  further illustrate how a user may manipulate the touch pad  24 , sliding a user&#39;s finger from one section to another without an interruption of physical contact with the control region  24 . 
         [0019]    A user interface  12  that can be present, e.g., on the screen of the television set, is also shown in  FIG. 2 . A user may manipulate the control region  24  without looking at the remote, instead looking at the effect the user&#39;s contact with the remote control  18  has on the user interface  12 . Sectors  32  are shown in the user interface  12 , with the sectors  32  corresponding to respective light touch buttons  26  on the control region  24  of the remote control. Direction arrows  34  further illustrate how the manipulations of the user may be represented on the user interface  12 . Thus, a user may navigate through the user interface  12  without having to look at the remote control  18 . 
         [0020]    Moving to  FIG. 3 , details of the remove control  18  can be seen. The remote control includes a portable lightweight hand-held housing  36 . The housing  36  has a flat top bounding surface  38  and a flat bottom bounding surface  40  opposite and parallel to the top bounding surface  38 . Furthermore, the top bounding surface  38  does not bear any control keys. 
         [0021]    Plural control key sections  26  are disposed within the control region  24 , which, as shown, is recessed from the top surface  38 . The control region  24  is defined by the housing  36  with the top bounding surface  38  substantially surrounding the control region  24 . Further, the surface of the control region  24  may be recessed by virtue of being concave throughout its area relative to the top bounding surface  38 , the control region  24  thus being closer to the bottom bounding surface  40  than the top bounding surface  38  is to the bottom bounding surface  40 . 
         [0022]    The recessed design of the control region  24  thus advantageously reduces the risk of unintended physical contact with a person or other object that would reduce the battery life of the remote control  18  or cause unintended commands to the sent to the system interacting with the remote control  18 . For example, placing a remote control face down will advantageously not cause unintended contact to be interpreted by the processor  20 , nor will it cause an unintended drain on the remote control&#39;s batteries, because the control keys in the control region  24  are recessed from the top surface  38  which rests on the table or other surface. 
         [0023]    The side and bottom views also shown in  FIG. 3  further illustrate the position of the control region  24  relative to the top bounding surface  38  and bottom bounding surface  40 . While in actuality the housing would appear rectangular in shape in both the side and bottom views, the views shown in  FIG. 3  are shown partially in phantom to further illustrate the recessed disposition of the control region  24  relative to the bounding surfaces. 
         [0024]    Further still, a central control key  44  is shown in  FIG. 3 . The control key  44  is critically located at the geometric center of the control region  24 . Thus, a user may utilize sense of touch to gain orientation on the control region  24 , thereby identifying specific buttons without having to actually look at the control region  24 . 
         [0025]    While the particular REMOTE CONTROL WITH RECESSED KEYPAD is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.