Patent Description:
Conventional IR receivers are capable of learning a new remote control by processing instructions within IR signals transmitted by these remote controls. However, these conventional IR receivers receive IR signals at a fixed-frequency which limits their flexibility because they are tuned to that single specific frequency. Such IR receivers therefore only are compatible with remote controls transmitting at that specific frequency. Accordingly, conventional IR receivers cannot be compatible with remote controls that transmit at frequencies different from the specific frequency to which the IR receivers are tuned. This constraint on conventional IR receivers is especially problematic for users having multiple remote controls for different devices and that transmit their commands at different frequencies.

<CIT> discloses an RF broadcast and cable television distribution system and two-way RF communication.

Provided herein are a system, apparatus, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for tuning a tunable narrowband IR receiver to receive signals from remote controls having different frequencies. For illustrative purposes, embodiments are described with respect to an example of a tunable narrowband IR receiver in a media streaming environment. However, this disclosure is not limited to these example embodiments. Instead, the functions and structures described herein are applicable to a tunable narrowband IR receiver in any environment or application.

An embodiment is directed to a system, apparatus, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for tuning a tunable narrowband IR receiver so that it is capable of receiving signals having different frequencies. In a non-limiting embodiment, the apparatus is a tunable narrowband IR receiver that may include an IR diode configured to receive an IR signal and a frequency mixer that is configured to receive the IR signal from the IR diode and receive a local oscillator signal wherein the local oscillator signal is associated with a frequency band. The frequency mixer may then be configured to combine the IR signal and the local oscillator signal to produce a shifted signal within the frequency band. The tunable narrowband IR receiver may also include a bandpass filter configured to filter the shifted signal by removing, from the shifted signal, signals that are outside of the frequency band to produce a filtered signal.

Another embodiment is directed to a method that includes steps for tuning a tunable narrow IR receiver. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving a command to initiate tuning of the narrowband IR receiver and initiating, based on the command, a scan across an entire frequency band. The method may further include detecting, based on the scan, an IR signal from a remote control, wherein the IR signal comprises a remote control code associated with the remote control. In order to produce a shifted signal within a frequency band, the method may include combining the IR signal and a local oscillator signal to produce a shifted signal within the frequency band. The method also may include filtering the shifted signal by removing, from the shifted signal, signals that are outside of the frequency band to produce a filtered signal and processing the filtered signal to detect the remote control code associated with the remote control.

Another embodiment is directed to a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a tunable narrowband IR receiver, causes the tunable narrowband IR receiver to perform operations for initiating tuning. The operations may include steps of receiving a command to initiate tuning of the narrowband IR receiver and initiating, based on the command, a scan across an entire frequency band. The operations may further include processing of an IR signal including detecting, based on the scan, the IR signal from a remote control and combining the IR signal and a local oscillator signal to produce a shifted signal within the frequency band. The operations may also include filtering the shifted signal by removing, from the shifted signal, signals that are outside of the frequency band to produce a filtered signal and processing the filtered signal to detect the remote control code associated with the remote control.

Conventional IR receivers are narrowband receivers which limit the number of frequency bands with which the receivers are compatible. Previous attempts to overcome this fixed frequency constraint of conventional IR receivers include implementing a wideband IR receiver. Such an implementation allows a receiver to scan across a wider range of frequencies but at the cost of significantly decreasing the range of the IR receiver when compared to narrowband IR receivers. Sending signals to a wideband IR receiver required the remote control to be within a certain distance of the receiver which limited the effectiveness and functionality of this implementation. The present disclosure combines the range advantage of narrowband receivers with the variable frequency flexibility of wideband receivers.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of a multimedia environment <NUM>, according to some embodiments. In a non-limiting example, multimedia environment <NUM> is directed to playing content, such as video content (having associated audio) and/or audio content, on a media system <NUM>.

Multimedia environment <NUM> may include one or more media systems <NUM>. In an embodiment, media system <NUM> includes a display device <NUM>, media device <NUM>, audio/visual device <NUM>, a first remote control <NUM>, and a second remote control <NUM>. Although only a single device representing each of display device <NUM>, media device <NUM>, and A/V device <NUM> is illustrated within media system <NUM>, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that media system <NUM> may comprise any number of these devices. Similarly, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the media system <NUM> is not limited to the specific number of remote controls and may comprise more or less than the number shown in <FIG>.

Display device <NUM> may be implemented as, for example, a monitor, television, computer, smart phone, tablet, and/or projector, to name just some examples. Display device <NUM> may support <NUM> or <NUM> HDR, for example, or any other resolution. Display device <NUM> may include any number and type of ports for receiving video content. Depending on the type and/or age of display device <NUM>, these ports may be implemented as different HDMI ports such as an HDMI <NUM> port, an HDMI <NUM> port, HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) port, an HDML Mobile High-Definition Link port, or an HDML Digital Video In (DVI) port, to name just a few examples.

Display device <NUM> also may include tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> which receives IR signals from first remote control <NUM> and second remote control <NUM>. First remote control <NUM> includes IR transmitter <NUM> and second remote control <NUM> includes IR transmitter <NUM>. In an embodiment, IR transmitter <NUM> may transmit an IR signal having a first frequency within a first frequency band and IR transmitter <NUM> may transmit an IR signal having a second frequency within a second frequency band. In an embodiment, the first frequency is different from the second frequency. In an embodiment, the first frequency band may be different from, the same as, or overlap the second frequency band. As noted above, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that media system <NUM> is not limited to two remote controls but may include any number of remote controls that transmit IR signals at varying frequencies.

Media device <NUM> may be implemented as, for example, a streaming media device, DVD device, audio/video playback device, cable box, a video game console, a Blu-ray disc player, and/or digital video recording device, to name just some examples. Media device <NUM> may include any number and type of ports for outputting video content. Depending on the type and/or age of media device <NUM>, these ports may also be implemented as different HDMI ports as described above with regard to display device <NUM>. In some embodiments, the media device <NUM> can be a part of, integrated with, operatively coupled to, and/or connected to display device <NUM>.

Media device <NUM> also may include tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> which receives IR signals from first remote control <NUM> and/or second remote control <NUM>. In an embodiment, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may operate in the same manner as tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> as described above. For example, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may receive an IR signal having a first frequency from IR transmitter <NUM> of first remote control <NUM>, and another IR signal having a second frequency from IR transmitter <NUM> of second remote control <NUM>.

A/V device <NUM> may be implemented within media system <NUM> for connecting to display device <NUM> and/or media device <NUM>. In an embodiment, A/V device <NUM> In an embodiment, A/V device <NUM> may be a speaker or other device that provides and receives audio/visual information from devices within media system <NUM>. More than one media device <NUM> may be included in media system <NUM>, and A/V device <NUM> may serve as a hub for receiving audio and video signals from multiple sources within media system <NUM>. For example, A/V device <NUM> may be connected to display device <NUM> and the media device <NUM> within media system <NUM>.

Similar to A/V device <NUM> display device <NUM> and media device <NUM>, A/V device <NUM> may also include tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> which receives IR signals from first remote control <NUM> and/or second remote control <NUM>. In an embodiment, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may operate in the same manner as tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> and/or tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> as described above. For example, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may receive an IR signal having a first frequency from IR transmitter <NUM> of first remote control <NUM> and another IR signal having a second frequency from IR transmitter <NUM> of second remote control <NUM>.

In an embodiment, interaction with display device <NUM>, media device <NUM>, and/or A/V device <NUM> may be via first remote control <NUM> and second remote control <NUM>. First remote control <NUM> and second remote control <NUM> may be any component, part, apparatus or method for controlling media device <NUM> and/or display device <NUM>, such as a remote control, a tablet, laptop computer, smartphone, on-screen controls, integrated control buttons, or any combination thereof.

As will be discussed in more detail with respect to <FIG>, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>, and/or tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may include components for receiving and processing IR signals across an increased range of frequencies when compared to conventional narrowband fixed frequency IR receivers. In the following discussion, features of tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> will be discussed but such features also apply to tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> and tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>.

Tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may employ two different modes for receiving IR signals. In an embodiment, a first mode is a learning mode and a second mode is a command mode. In the learning mode, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may learn configuration information regarding a new remote control, such as first remote control <NUM> and/or second remote control <NUM>. The learned configuration information enables tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> to be compatible with the new remote control by, for example, receiving and processing subsequent commands from the new remote control.

In an embodiment, the learning mode may be initiated by a command received from display device <NUM>, media device <NUM>, and/or A/V device <NUM>. For example, display device <NUM> and/or media device <NUM> may display a selectable menu option associated with the learning mode on a graphical user interface. Selection of the selectable menu option may result in transmitting a command to initiate the learning mode on tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>. In an embodiment, the command may be received directly from an interface (not shown) such as button or touch inputs located or otherwise displayed on an exterior of display device <NUM>, media device <NUM>, and/or A/V device <NUM>.

Upon initiating learning mode, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> and/or tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may scan across multiple different frequency bands to detect any signals transmitted by a new remote control. In an embodiment, the frequency bands include but are not limited to <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> and/or tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may determine a signal is transmitted by a remote control based on specific codes within the signal. In an embodiment, the determination of whether a signal was transmitted by a remote control may include tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> and/or tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> extracting codes from received signals and comparing the extracted codes with stored codes (e.g., stored in a memory (not shown) of display device <NUM> and/or media device <NUM>). Certain stored codes are associated with remote controls. In an embodiment, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> and/or tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may discard or ignore signals that do not include codes associated with remote controls.

In command mode, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may receive IR signals across multiple different frequency bands and determine whether the received IR signals are transmitted from a known remote control. In an embodiment, remote controls become known during the learning mode described above. If IR signals are received from a known remote control, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> processes the IR signal and detects the command or commands within the IR signal for execution. In an embodiment, command mode is the default mode for tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>. In an embodiment, tunable narrowband IR receiver transitions from command mode to learning mode when receiving the command to initiate learning mode.

In both learning and command mode, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may combine a received IR signal with a local oscillator signal provided by a processor (not shown) of tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>. In an embodiment, the received IR signal is a low frequency data signal. In an embodiment, combining the received IR signal with the local oscillator signal shifts the frequency of the received IR signal to a higher frequency that is centered on the frequency of the bandpass filter. In an embodiment, the local oscillator signal is a digital signal provided by the processor of tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>. In this manner, the processor may shift the frequency of the received IR signal to another frequency (or frequency band) by adjusting the frequency of the local oscillator signal. This shifted frequency may be considered a frequency of interest; a frequency band may be considered a band of interest. In an embodiment, the frequency of interest is determined based on the frequency of a bandpass filter within tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>; this feature is discussed further with respect to <FIG>.

In an embodiment, first remote control <NUM> and/or second remote control <NUM> may transmit over a frequency within a number of frequencies such as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In order to set the frequency of the local oscillator signal, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> determines the frequency of the signal transmitted by first remote control <NUM> and/or second remote control <NUM>. The frequency of the local oscillator signal may be based on the frequency of the signal from the remote control and a frequency of the bandpass filter.

Tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may then filter any signals within the shifted signal that are outside of the frequency or band of interest. In an embodiment, this results in removing noise including but not limited to environmental noise and signals from other devices operating on different frequencies. As noted above, the frequency or band of interest is based on or centered on the frequency of the bandpass filter. After filtering the shifted IR signal, tunable narrowband IR receiver may then amplify the resulting filtered IR signal to increase (or decrease) the filtered IR signal so that it can be further processed. Further processing may include detecting commands and/or control codes within the filtered IR signal to determine commands to be executed and/or the identity of the remote control sending the IR signal.

In an embodiment, further processing may include extracting the low frequency data signal from the amplified filtered IR signal. In an embodiment, the extracted low frequency signal may be converted into a digital signal. In an embodiment, the amplitude of the extracted low frequency data signal may be monitored and a varying analog signal that is proportional to the monitored amplitude is generated. In an embodiment, the monitored amplitude represents the peak amplitude of the extracted low frequency data signal. The varying analog signal may then be utilized to adjust the amplification of the filtered IR signal to achieve a desired target amplitude for the amplified filtered IR signal.

In an embodiment, the processor of tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may process the digital signal in order to determine the commands and/or control codes to be executed. In an embodiment, processor also may process the varying analog signal in order to adjust amplification settings for achieving a desired range of amplification for the amplified filtered IR signal.

Additional details of these features are discussed with respect to <FIG> which illustrates a block diagram of tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>, according to some embodiments. In an embodiment, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may include IR receiver <NUM>, tunable component <NUM>, programmable gain amplifier <NUM>, detector <NUM>, comparator <NUM>, peak detector <NUM>, and processor <NUM>. In an embodiment, tunable component <NUM> may include frequency mixer <NUM> and bandpass filter <NUM>. The following discussion of tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> will refer to devices of <FIG> for non-limiting, illustrative purposes. In an embodiment, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may be representative of tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>, and/or tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, first remote control <NUM> and/or second remote control <NUM> transmits commands (or other signals) for controlling or otherwise interacting with a controllable device in media system <NUM> that includes tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> such as display device <NUM>, media device <NUM>, and/or A/V device <NUM>. The commands may be associated with controlling different settings of the device such as playback settings of content such as selecting or playing content or settings of the controllable device such as volume or picture settings.

IR receiver <NUM> receives an IR signal from a remote control such as first remote control <NUM> and/or second remote control <NUM>. In an embodiment, the IR signal is a low frequency data signal. IR receiver <NUM> then passes the received IR signal to tunable component <NUM> which is responsible for shifting the frequency of the received IR signal to a different frequency that can be processed by subsequent components within tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>. Tunable component <NUM> may also perform filtering of the shifted IR signal in order to remove any noise. As noted above, in an embodiment, tunable component <NUM> may include frequency mixer <NUM> and bandpass filter <NUM> to perform these functions.

Frequency mixer <NUM> receives the IR signal and combines the IR signal with a local oscillator signal <NUM> provided by processor <NUM>. In an embodiment, local oscillator signal <NUM> is a digital signal. In an embodiment, local oscillator signal <NUM> is produced by peripheral block <NUM> of processor <NUM>.

The frequency of local oscillator signal <NUM> is modifiable by processor <NUM> and may be modified to a specific frequency to shift the frequency of the received IR signal to a desired frequency (e.g., a frequency of interest) or within a desired frequency band (e.g., band of interest). This desired frequency is obtained based on the frequency of local oscillator signal <NUM> that is set by processor <NUM>. In an embodiment, shifting the frequency of the received IR signal results in shifting the frequency to a higher or lower frequency that is centered on the frequency of local oscillator signal <NUM>. In the embodiment where the received IR signal is a low frequency IR signal, frequency mixer <NUM> shifts the received IR signal to a higher frequency based on the frequency of local oscillator signal <NUM>. Modifying the frequency of local oscillator signal <NUM> allows processor <NUM> to tune the frequencies received by tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> in order to process a greater number of frequency bands beyond conventional narrowband IR receivers.

Bandpass filter <NUM> receives the shifted IR signal from frequency mixer <NUM> and filters any signals outside of a band of interest. Examples of such signals include environmental noise or signals of other remote controllers operating on different frequencies. In an embodiment, output from the bandpass filter <NUM> is a filtered IR signal. In an embodiment, the specific band of interest is based on the specific characteristics of the bandpass filter <NUM>.

Programmable gain amplifier <NUM> is an amplifier whose gain is programmable by processor <NUM> through a gain adjustment signal <NUM>. Programmable gain amplifier <NUM> receives the filtered IR signal from tunable component <NUM> and may either increase or decrease the amplitude of filtered IR signal to ensure that it has an expected signal level that can be processed by detector <NUM>. Examples of expected signal levels for detector <NUM> include levels in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> volts peak. In an embodiment, output of programmable gain amplifier <NUM> is an amplified signal that has a signal level appropriate for detector <NUM>.

Detector <NUM> receives the amplified IR signal from programmable gain amplifier <NUM> and extracts or detects the original received IR signal from the amplified IR signal. In the embodiment where the received IR signal is a low frequency IR signal, detector <NUM> detects the low frequency IR signal from the higher frequency amplified IR signal. As noted above, amplified IR signal has a higher frequency or is otherwise within a higher band of interest based on processing by tunable component <NUM> in order to prepare the received IR signal for processing by subsequent components such as programmable gain amplifier <NUM> and detector <NUM>. In an embodiment, output of detector <NUM> is the extracted IR signal.

In an embodiment, comparator <NUM> receives the extracted IR signal from detector <NUM> and converts the signal into a digital signal that can be processed by processor <NUM>. In an embodiment, the digital signal includes the commands and/or instructions from the IR signal received by IR receiver <NUM>. Output from the comparator is the digital signal that is the result of converting the extracted IR signal.

Peak detector <NUM> receives the extracted IR signal from detector <NUM> and monitors the amplitude levels of the extracted IR signal. Based on this monitoring, peak detector <NUM> may generate a varying analog signal that is proportional to a peak amplitude of the extracted IR signal. The varying analog signal varies in real time based on the extracted IR signal. In an embodiment, peak detector <NUM> provides the varying analog signal to analog-to-digital converter (ADC) <NUM> within processor <NUM>. ADC <NUM> then converts the varying analog signal to a digital signal which is processed by processor <NUM> for determining an adjustment to the setting of programmable gain amplifier <NUM>. This adjustment is included in the gain adjustment signal <NUM> which is provided by processor <NUM> to programmable gain amplifier <NUM> to achieve a desired target amplitude for amplifying the filtered IR signal that is received from tunable component <NUM> to produce an amplified IR signal for processing by detector <NUM>.

Processor <NUM> receives information from comparator <NUM> and peak detector <NUM>. In an embodiment, processor <NUM> receives the digital signal from comparator <NUM> and the varying analog signal from peak detector <NUM>. In an embodiment, processor <NUM> processes the digital signal to determine which command(s) or information was included in the IR signal received by IR receiver <NUM>. In an embodiment when tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> is in learning mode, processor <NUM> processes the digital signal for specific codes associated with identifying a device as a remote control. In other words, in learning mode, processor <NUM> is looking for codes from remote controls that are attempting to configure itself for communications with tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>. In an embodiment when tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> is in command mode, processor <NUM> processes the digital signal for specific codes associated with commands or instructions to be performed by a device, such as display device <NUM>, media device <NUM>, or A/V device <NUM>, in which tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may be implemented.

In an embodiment, information received from peak detector <NUM> includes a varying analog signal. Processor <NUM> also may monitor a signal amplitude of the varying analog signal and transmits a gain adjustment signal to programmable gain amplifier <NUM> based on the monitored signal amplitude. The gain adjustment signal adjusts the setting of programmable gain amplifier <NUM> so that it amplifies the filtered IR signal to an amplitude within a specified range as discussed above. This function is a software automatic gain control (AGC) loop function performed by processor <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart for processing an IR signal in a tunable narrowband IR receiver according to some embodiments. As a non-limiting example with regard to <FIG>, the steps of method <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be performed by tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> to process an IR signal within any frequency band. In such an embodiment, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may execute code in a memory to perform method <NUM> of <FIG>.

Method <NUM> can be performed by processing logic that can include hardware (e.g., circuitry, dedicated logic, programmable logic, microcode, etc.), software (e.g., instructions executing on a processing device), or a combination thereof. It is to be appreciated that not all steps may be needed to perform the disclosure provided herein. Further, some of the steps may be performed simultaneously or in a different order than shown in <FIG>, as will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. Method <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. For example, method <NUM> may be executed by tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> within display device <NUM>. However, method <NUM> is not limited to that example embodiment.

In step <NUM>, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may receive an IR signal. In an embodiment, the IR signal is a low frequency data signal in a low frequency band. In an embodiment, IR signal is an analog data signal. The IR signal may be transmitted by a remote control, such as first remote control <NUM> or second remote control <NUM>. In an embodiment, the IR signal includes codes identifying the device that transmitted the IR signal and/or command or commands for execution by tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> and display device <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may combine the received IR signal with a local oscillator signal. In an embodiment, tunable component <NUM> in tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> performs this combination step. The local oscillator signal may be provided by processor <NUM> to tunable component <NUM> of tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may filter the signal that results from combining the received IR signal and the local oscillator signal. In an embodiment, filtering the signal requires removing any signals that are outside of the band of interest. The band of interest represents the frequency band within which received IR signals need to be shifted to be further processed by tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may increase or decrease the amplitude of the filtered combined IR signal to arrive at a target amplitude that is established through a gain adjustment signal. In an embodiment, programmable gain amplifier <NUM> may perform this step. The target amplitude is programmable by processor <NUM> through the gain adjustment signal and represents the amplitude that can be processed by detector <NUM>. Programmable gain amplifier <NUM> may shift the amplitude of the filtered combined IR signal to the target amplitude.

In step <NUM>, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may extract or detect, from the amplified IR signal, the original IR signal received by tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM>. In an embodiment, the original IR signal is an analog data signal. In an embodiment, the original IR signal is a low frequency data signal and the amplified IR signal is a high frequency carrier signal.

In step <NUM>, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may convert the extracted IR signal into a digital signal. In an embodiment, the digital signal includes a code that identifies a remote control that transmitted the original IR signal. In an embodiment, the digital signal includes a command or commands from a remote control to be executed by the display device <NUM> in which tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> is implemented.

In step <NUM>, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> may generate a varying analog signal that is proportional to the peak amplitude of the extracted IR signal. In an embodiment, tunable narrowband IR receiver monitors an amplitude of the extracted IR signal and determines the peak amplitude based on the monitored amplitude. The varying analog signal may then be used to adjust the target amplitude of the filtered combined IR signal as described in step <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, tunable narrowband IR receiver may generate a gain amplitude signal based on monitoring the amplitude of the varying analog signal. The gain amplitude signal may then be utilized to adjust the value of the target amplitude at which the filtered combined IR signal is shifted by programmable gain amplifier <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the digital signal may be processed based on whether tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> is in command or learning mode. As noted above, in an embodiment, learning mode may be initiated by a signal that is received by tunable narrowband IR receiver. The signal may be initiated from an interface (not shown) such as button or touch inputs located or otherwise displayed on display device <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> is in learning mode (as established in <NUM>) and determines if the digital signal includes a code identifying a remote control. In an embodiment, certain codes are associated with remote controls and tunable narrow IR receiver <NUM> compares codes included with the digital signal with codes stored in an accessible memory. In an embodiment, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> extracts the code from the digital signal and provides it to another component in display device <NUM> for further processing.

In step <NUM>, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> is in command mode (as established in <NUM>) and determines if the digital signal includes a command or commands for execution by the device in which tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> is implemented. In an embodiment, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> extracts and executes the command or commands from the digital signal. In an embodiment, tunable narrowband IR receiver <NUM> extracts the command or commands and provides it to another component in display device <NUM> for further execution.

Various embodiments and/or components therein can be implemented, for example, using one or more computer systems, such as computer system <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Computer system <NUM> can be any computer or computing device capable of performing the functions described herein. For example, one or more computer systems <NUM> can be used to implement any embodiments of <FIG>, and/or any combination or sub-combination thereof.

One or more processors <NUM> can each be a graphics processing unit (GPU). In some embodiments, a GPU is a processor that is a specialized electronic circuit designed to process mathematically intensive applications. The GPU can have a parallel structure that is efficient for parallel processing of large blocks of data, such as mathematically intensive data common to computer graphics applications, images, videos, etc..

Computer system <NUM> also includes a main or primary memory <NUM>, such as random access memory (RAM). Main memory <NUM> can include one or more levels of cache. Main memory <NUM> has stored therein control logic (i.e., computer software) and/or data.

Computer system <NUM> can also include one or more secondary storage devices or memory <NUM>. Secondary memory <NUM> can include, for example, a hard disk drive <NUM> and/or a removable storage device or drive <NUM>. Removable storage drive <NUM> can be a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, a compact disk drive, an optical storage device, tape backup device, and/or any other storage device/drive.

Removable storage drive <NUM> can interact with a removable storage unit <NUM>. Removable storage unit <NUM> can be a floppy disk, magnetic tape, compact disk, DVD, optical storage disk, and/ any other computer data storage device.

According to an exemplary embodiment, secondary memory <NUM> can include other means, instrumentalities or other approaches for allowing computer programs and/or other instructions and/or data to be accessed by computer system <NUM>. Such means, instrumentalities or other approaches can include, for example, a removable storage unit <NUM> and an interface <NUM>. Examples of the removable storage unit <NUM> and the interface <NUM> can include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an EPROM or PROM) and associated socket, a memory stick and USB port, a memory card and associated memory card slot, and/or any other removable storage unit and associated interface.

Computer system <NUM> can further include a communication or network interface <NUM>. For example, communication interface <NUM> can allow computer system <NUM> to communicate with remote devices <NUM> over communications path <NUM>, which can be wired and/or wireless, and which can include any combination of LANs, WANs, the Internet, etc. Control logic and/or data can be transmitted to and from computer system <NUM> via communication path <NUM>.

In some embodiments, a tangible apparatus or article of manufacture comprising a tangible computer useable or readable medium having control logic (software) stored thereon is also referred to herein as a computer program product or program storage device. This includes, but is not limited to, computer system <NUM>, main memory <NUM>, secondary memory <NUM>, and removable storage units <NUM> and <NUM>, as well as tangible articles of manufacture embodying any combination of the foregoing. Such control logic, when executed by one or more data processing devices (such as computer system <NUM>), causes such data processing devices to operate as described herein.

The Summary and Abstract sections can set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments as contemplated by the inventors, and thus, are not intended to limit this disclosure or the appended claims in any way.

While this disclosure describes exemplary embodiments for exemplary fields and applications, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. Other embodiments and modifications thereto are possible, and are within the scope of this disclosure. For example, and without limiting the generality of this paragraph, embodiments are not limited to the software, hardware, firmware, and/or entities illustrated in the figures and/or described herein. Further, embodiments (whether or not explicitly described herein) have significant utility to fields and applications beyond the examples described herein.

Claim 1:
A tunable narrowband infrared receiver (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), comprising:
an infrared diode (<NUM>) configured to receive an infrared signal;
a frequency mixer (<NUM>) configured to:
receive the infrared signal from the infrared diode;
receive a local oscillator signal wherein the local oscillator signal is associated with a frequency band; and
combine the infrared signal and the local oscillator signal to produce a shifted signal within the frequency band;
a bandpass filter (<NUM>) configured to filter the shifted signal by removing, from the shifted signal, signals that are outside of the frequency band to produce a filtered signal; and
a processor (<NUM>) configured to:
transmit the local oscillator signal to the frequency mixer; and
detect at least one of a remote control code or a command within the infrared signal based on the filtered signal.