Patent ID: 8334798

Claim:
A remote control unit configurable to be used to control a plurality of devices, the remote control unit comprising including: a micro-controller for controlling functions performed by the remote control unit; an IR transceiver coupled to the micro-controller for both receiving supplementary IR signals and transmitting master IR signals; a memory module coupled to the micro-controller for storing the received supplementary IR signals in a plurality of profiles; a user input interface coupled to the micro-controller for both providing instructions to the micro-controller and for allocating the received supplementary IR signals in at least one command field in each of the plurality of profiles; an illumination source coupled to the micro-controller for providing a visible indication of a location that the IR transceiver is pointed towards, the illumination source being activated when the master IR signals are transmitted; and an adjustable lens assembly for adjusting transmission of both the master IR signals and an illumination beam from the illumination source; wherein the transmission of both the master IR signals and the illumination beam is adjusted for varying a field of coverage of the master IR signals, with at least one of the plurality of devices within the field of coverage receiving the master IR signals.