Patent Publication Number: US-2004052531-A1

Title: Data to infrared isolated interface device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention is directed to converting any non-hospital-ready electronic device to a hospital-ready device. The term “hospital-ready” does not in any way limit the application of this invention to just electronic devices used in hospitals. This invention can be used in any environment, including and not limited to hospitals, nursing homes, homes, apartments, prisons, offices, stores, restaurants, or any other possible environment that electronic devices are used.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] It is well known that electronic devices like televisions, computers and radios can be controlled by remote control devices that transmit infrared (“IR”) signals. In many cases, such electronic devices and remote control units are used by everyday consumers. These devices, however, cannot be used in all environments because there are some environments that should be free of IR signals being transmitted across a room (“IR Free Environments”). Reasons for having IR Free Environments include and are not limited to: the IR signal could be deleterious to (1) the user of the remote control unit, (2) other individuals in the room or nearby rooms, and (3) the proper operation of equipment located in the room or nearby rooms.  
       [0003] Some manufacturers have recognized this problem and manufacture electronic devices having a pillow speaker adaptation. These devices are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,178 to Russe et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,179 to Steadarde, U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,159 to Marwa et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,441 to den Hollander; U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,631 to Gertz; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,301 to Mudra, which are all hereby incorporated by reference.  
       [0004] In particular, Mudra discloses that hospital-ready devices “are wired, i.e. connected by a multi wire cable, to a remotely located control unit that generally incorporates a small so-called pillow speaker. The most rudimentary systems involve three interconnecting wires [data wire, ground wire and audio wire] and include a simple push button (key closure) for stepping the television receiver tuner sequentially through a plurality of television channels with one of the channel positions constituting an on/off position for the television receiver. The pillow speaker usually includes a simple variable resistor for controlling the volume of the sound produced. Such systems consist essentially of a push button switch and an audio volume control. More elaborate systems may incorporate a greater number of wires, generally five, and may provide for channel up, channel down and separate on/off controls. They also have push button key closures for operating the channel controller and include a volume controllable pillow speaker.” When such electronic devices are able to be wired directly to a pillow speaker, they are referred to as hospital-ready devices.  
       [0005] With a conventional pillow speaker, the user presses a button to, for example, change the television channel, radio station, web site page, or the volume of the device. Once the desired button is depressed, the conventional pillow speaker transmits a data signal through the data wire that is directly connected to the television. The television is then controlled by not transmitting an IR signal across the room. As for the volume, the television transmits the sound through the audio wire to the speaker in the pillow speaker.  
       [0006] Unfortunately, some manufacturers have not made such adaptations and such electronic devices are known as non-hospital-ready devices. Some electronic devices can be operated manually and/or through conventional IR receiver components, which are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For the remainder of this application the term “non-hospital-ready device” refers to electronic devices having IR receiving components. In some instances, non-hospital-ready devices provide superior properties, i.e., sound, graphics, visual and/or size dimensions (flat screen televisions for example), that are desired for IR-free environments. Accordingly, there is a need to convert non-hospital-ready devices into hospital-ready devices for IR-free environments.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] The present invention is directed to converting a non-hospital-ready electronic device into a hospital-ready electronic device. The invention requires (1) a non-hospital-ready electronic device having an infrared remote control system that receives an infrared signal through a window; (2) a pillow speaker that generates in response to a user&#39;s input a first data signal to alter the operation of the non-hospital-ready electronic device; and (3) a data to infrared isolated interface device. The interface device receives the first data signal, and isolates the non-hospital-ready electronic device from the pillow speaker through a photodiode and a photosensitive transistor. The photosensitive transistor generates a second data signal that corresponds to the first data signal and is generated in response to the first data signal contacting the photodiode. The second data signal is directed to an infrared emitter that is positioned near the window and generates an infrared signal that corresponds to the second data signal. The infrared signal is transmitted into the window which allows the non-hospital-ready electronic device to be controlled by the user through the pillow speaker. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES  
     [0008]FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of the present invention.  
     [0009]FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of placing the infrared emitter near the infrared window.  
     [0010]FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
     [0011] The present invention  10  is directed to converting a non-hospital-ready device for at least an IR-free environment through a data to IR isolated interface device (“DIRD”)  50 .  
     [0012] Applicant admits that a non-hospital-ready device  12  and a conventional pillow speaker  20  are prior art, and are not claiming any rights to such devices.  
     [0013] Applicant, however, will describe the critical elements of the non-hospital-ready device  12  and the coa range of 1-3 hours. By means of conducting heat treatment, it is possible to produce an α″ crystalline phase (Fe 16 N 2 ) and to further increase the saturation.  
     [0014] By providing a layered structure of α-Fe and iron nitride in the magnetic thin film in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to reduce the coercive force.  
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0015] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
     [0016]FIG. 1 is a graph showing the relationship between the X-ray diffraction pattern of the iron nitride thin film after film formation, and the flow rate ratio of the N 2  gas during film formation.  
     [0017]FIG. 2 is a graph showing the X-ray diffraction pattern of the iron nitride thin film after heat treatment.  
     [0018]FIG. 3 is a graph showing the changes in the X-ray diffraction pattern of the iron nitride thin film immediately after film formation and after heat treatment.  
     [0019]FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of N contained in the α″ and α′ phases, and the flow rate ratio of the N 2  gas during film formation.  
     [0020] Corresponding reference characters indin appropriate attendant. In addition, when a user operates the controls  22 , the pillow speaker  20  through conventional switches and relays generates a data signal. The data signal is transmitted through a data wire  26 , found in a conduit  30 . The conduit  30  also contains an audio wire  28  and, optionally, a ground wire  27 . The audio wire  28  normally carries an audio signal from the hospital-ready device to a speaker  29  in the pillow speaker  20 , which operates as set forth above.  
     [0021] The present invention  10 , however, is directed to converting a non-hospital-ready device  12  into a hospital ready device through the DIRD  50 . The DIRD  50  is an apparatus that is positioned between the non-hospital-ready device  12  and the pillow speaker  20 . In one preferred embodiment, the DIRD  50  is positioned on the side of the device  12  opposite the window  14 .  
     [0022] In particular, the DIRD  50  receives the conduit  30 , which includes the data wire  26  and the audio wire  28 . The data wire  26  has a terminal end  52  within the DIRD  50  that contacts a photodiode  54 . The photodiode  54  emits a light signal after the user initiates the pillow speaker  20  to transmit a data signal through the data wire  26 .  
     [0023] The DIRD  50  also has a photosensitive transistor  56  that corresponds with the photodiode  54 . When the photodiode  54  emits the light signal, the transistor  56  reads the light signal and generates a second data signal, which corresponds with the data signal. The transistor  56  and the photodiode  54  can be obtained in a pre-packaged unit  57 . The second data signal is transmitted through an operation wire  60  which has a terminal end connected to a LED device  62 .  
     [0024] When the second data signal contacts the LED device  62 , the LED device  62  generates an IR signal. The IR signal corresponds with the user input of the pillow speaker  20 , i.e., alter the display or volume of the non-hospital-ready device  12 .  
     [0025] The LED device  62  is positioned at least in close proximity to the device  12 , to allow the IR signal to be transmitted, over a very short distance (an optical isolation), and directed into the IR receiver window  14 . Once the signal is through the window  14 , the device  12  operates as intended and designed, as set forth above.  
     [0026] Preferably, the LED device  62  is attached to the device  12  and positioned over the window  14 . In one embodiment, an adhesive, a hook and loop system, screws, bolts, and any other conventional attachment system (shown in FIG. 2 as element  76 ) attaches the LED device  62  directly to the device  12 . In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, a container  70  is attached to the device  10  in the same manner as set forth above, has at least one open end  73  that is positioned over the window  14  and receives the LED device  62  so the LED device  62  is positioned over the window  14 .  
     [0027] Extending from the audio output  18  is an output wire  70  that transmits the audio signal from the device  12  to the DIRD  50 . Within the DIRD  50 , the audio signal is sent through a transformer isolator  80  to the audio wire  28  wherein the audio signal is amplified in the DIRD  50  and then forwarded to the speaker  29 .  
     [0028] In each instance, the device  12  and the pillow speaker  20  are isolated from each other.  
     [0029] By using the DIRD  50 , the device  12  becomes a hospital-ready device.  
     [0030] Alternatively, the DIRD  50  can be used with a plurality of electronic devices. The electronic devices can be televisions, radios, computers, web site management, VCRs, DVDS, video games, cable set top boxes and combinations thereof.  
     [0031] In addition, the DIRD  50  can be adapted to control two or more electronic devices, which can be the same devices (for example two televisions) or different devices, as shown in FIG. 3. Initially, the pillow speaker  20  would have controls to operate both electronic devices, for example a DVD and a television. As set forth above, the signal would be transmitted to corresponds to the first data signal generated by the pillow speaker  20  for a particular electrical device  12   a ,  12   b , is transmitted through at least first and/or second operation wires  60   a ,  60   b . The operation wires  60   a ,  60   b  each has a terminal end connected to a LED device  62   a ,  62   b . The LED devices  62   a ,  62   b  operate with corresponding windows  14   a ,  14   b  of electronic devices  12   a ,  12   b , in the same manner as the LED device  62  with the receiver window  14 . That way, the pillow speaker  20  can control multiple, two or more, electronic devices at the same time.  
     [0032] Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the invention defined by the claims.  
     [0033] The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: