This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 103101444 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Jan. 15, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The disclosure relates to a remote control system for electric devices, a signal conversion device, and a control method for signal conversion devices, more particularly to a remote control system for electric devices, a signal conversion device, and a control method for signal conversion devices, all of which are capable of performing peer to peer (P2P) control on all electric devices.
Recently, most household electric devices supporting remote control (e.g. air conditioners and televisions) usually perform remote control process with infrared ray signals. For different types of electric devices, remote control signals generated by remote controllers are usually encoded in different ways.
When a user intends to control the operation of a certain electric device, the user has to search for a proper remote controller out of many remote controllers, resulting in inconvenient operational experiences. To solve this problem, relative manufacturers nowadays propose remote controllers with a learning model capable of memorizing coding schemes of different remote controllers, or propose application programs to be installed in mobile devices to control different types of electric devices.
For the remote controllers with a learning model, the cost is higher. Also, since the human machine interface for such remote controllers have been defined and been constant, users can not define the control functions or procedures according to their preference. Sometimes there are more than two electric devices having the same coding scheme for remote control signals or having the same type in a house. In this case, whenever a user intends to control one of these electric devices, other one of these electric devices may easily be controlled accidentally. Alternately, sometimes there is a plurality of different types of electric devices in a house. In this case, since there may be one or more electric devices using the same coding scheme in these electric devices, the above mentioned accidental control may easily occur.
According to one or more embodiments, the disclosure provides a remote control system. In one embodiment, the remote control system may include a remote electric device and at least one signal conversion device. The remote electric device may send out a remote control signal carrying an identification code and a control command. The at least one signal conversion device may include a wireless receiving module, a control module, and a wireless transmission module. The wireless receiving module may receive the remote control signal. The control module may electrically connect to the wireless receiving module and determine whether the identification code matches a default identification code stored in the at least one signal conversion device, to decide whether to convert the control command into a control signal. The wireless transmission module may electrically connect to the control module and send the control signal to an electric device. Therefore, the electric device may operate according to the control signal.
According to one or more embodiments, the disclosure provides a signal conversion device. In one embodiment, the signal conversion device may control an electric device according to a remote control signal including an identification code and a control command, and include a wireless receiving module, a control module, and a wireless transmission module. The wireless receiving module may receive the remote control signal. The control module may electrically connect to the wireless receiving module and determine whether the identification code matches a default identification code stored in the signal conversion device, to decide whether to convert the control command to a control signal. The wireless transmission module may electrically connect to the control module and send the control signal to the electric device. Therefore, the electric device may operate according to the control signal.
According to one or more embodiments, the disclosure provides a control method for controlling an electric device via at least one signal conversion device. In one embodiment, the control method may include the following steps. First, receive a remote control signal carrying an identification code and a control command. Then, determine whether the identification code matches a default identification code stored in the at least one signal conversion device, to decide whether to convert the control command to a control signal. Finally, send the control signal to the electric device. Therefore, the electric device may operate according to the control signal.
The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only and thus does not limit the present disclosure, wherein:
In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawings.
The signal conversion device 1 may include a wireless receiving module 100, a control module 102, a wireless transmission module 104, a storage module 106, and a power storage module 108. The control module 102 may electrically connect to the wireless receiving module 100, the wireless transmission module 104, the storage module 106, and the power storage module 108.
The remote electric device 2 may include an input module 200, a control module 202, and a wireless communication module 204, and the control module 202 may electrically connect to the input module 200 and the wireless communication module 204. The remote electric device 2 may be an electric device capable of remote control, so that the remote electric device 2 may send the signal conversion device 1a remote control signal. In one or more embodiments, the remote electric device 2 may be a remote controller for the exclusive use of the signal conversion device 1, or be a mobile device e.g. a smart phone or a tablet computer, which is installed with a mobile application (or called App) to control the signal conversion device 1, but the disclosure will not be limited thereto. The detailed operation of each module in the remote electric device 2 is illustrated below.
The input module 200 may allow users to input an identification code (ID code) and a control command. The identification code may be used for enabling the wireless transmission module 104 in the signal conversion device 1, and the control command may define the operation of the electric device 3. Take a television as an example of the electric device 3. In this case, the control command may be an on/off command, a channel selection command, or an output volume setting command to control the television. Take an air conditioner as an example of the electric device 3. In this case, the control command may be an on/off command, a temperature setting command, a fan speed setting command, or a clock setting command to control the air conditioner. For example, the input module 200 may be a control knob, buttons, or a touch panel for users to manually input the identification code and the control command. Moreover, the input module 200 may be a microphone allowing users to input the identification code and the control command with voices.
The control module 202 may combine and encode the above identification code and the above control command to generate the above remote control signal. The wireless communication module 204 may send out the remote control signal by a wireless communication protocol. This wireless communication protocol for the wireless communication module 204 may be an infrared ray (IR) protocol, a Bluetooth protocol, a Zigbee protocol, a WiFi protocol, or a 2.4G radio frequency (RF) protocol, but the disclosure will not be limited thereto.
In one exemplary embodiment, while the remote electric device 2 as a smart phone sends the remote control signal under the IR protocol, the wireless communication module 204 may be an external IR transmitter whose connector may be removable and disposed in an audio port (e.g. 3.5 mm audio port), an universal serial bus interface (USB) interface (e.g. a micro USB interface), or an exclusive connection interface (e.g. Lightning interface) created by Apple Inc. of the smart phone. In one exemplary embodiment, while the remote electric device 2 as a smart phone sends the remote control signal under the Zigbee protocol or 2.4G RF protocol, the wireless communication module 204 may be an external wireless signal transmitter whose connector may be removable and disposed in an exclusive connection interface created by Apple Inc. or an USB interface of the smart phone. In one exemplary embodiment, while the remote electric device 2 as a smart phone sends the remote control signal under the Bluetooth protocol or the WiFi protocol, the wireless communication module 204 may be a communication chip inbuilt in the smart phone.
The signal conversion device 1 may be a controller triggering or driving the operation of the electric device 3. In one embodiment, the signal conversion device 1 may take away from the electric device 3. For example, the signal conversion device 1 may be pasted on the casing of the electric device 3 or be disposed on the casing via a fastening structure, but the disclosure will not be limited thereto. The detailed operation of each module in the signal conversion device 1 is illustrated below.
Since the wireless receiving module 100 may be a wireless receiver whose wireless communication protocol matches the wireless communication protocol of the wireless communication module 204 in the remote electric device 2, the wireless receiving module 100 may receive the remote control signal from the wireless communication module 204. Therefore, the wireless communication protocol of the wireless receiving module 100 may be an IR protocol, a Bluetooth protocol, a Zigbee protocol, a WiFi protocol, or a 2.4G RF protocol, but the disclosure will not be limited thereto.
The control module 102 may determine whether the identification code carried by the remote control signal matches a default identification code stored in the signal conversion device 1, to decide whether to convert the control command carried by the remote control signal to a control signal. When the identification code matches the default identification code, the control module 102 may look up a suitable control signal for the electric device 3 in a lookup table according to the control command, to convert the control command to this control signal. Otherwise, when the identification code does not match the default identification code, because of determining that this remote control signal is not provided to drive or trigger the electric device 3, the control module 102 may stay in an idle state until the wireless receiving module 100 receives another remote control signal.
The wireless transmission module 104 may send the above control signal to the electric device 3 by a wireless communication protocol, whereby the electric device 3 may operate according to the control signal. The wireless communication protocol for the wireless transmission module 104 has to match the wireless communication protocol for the wireless receiver in the electric device 3. The wireless communication protocol for the wireless transmission module 104 may be an IR protocol, a Bluetooth protocol, a Zigbee protocol, a WiFi protocol, or a 2.4G RF protocol, but the disclosure will not be limited thereto. In one exemplary embodiment, if the electric device 3 is an air conditioner with an IR protocol, the wireless transmission module 104 may be an IR transmitter. In other exemplary embodiment, if the electric device 3 is a smart television with an IR protocol and a WiFi protocol, the wireless transmission module 104 may be an IR transmitter, a WiFi transmitter, or a combination thereof.
The storage module 106 may store the above default identification code and the above lookup table. The lookup table may record the relationship between a control command, which is carried by each remote control signal sent by the remote electric device 2, and a control signal sending to the electric device 3. Furthermore, the signal conversion device 1 may be capable of updating or editing one or more default identification codes and one or more lookup tables stored in the storage module 106 via the wireless receiving module 100. The storage module 106 may be one or more programmable read-only memories (PROM), one or more erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROM), one or more electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROM), one or more flash memories, or any possible non-volatile memory, but the disclosure will not be limited thereto.
The power storage module 108 may power the modules except itself in the signal conversion device 1. The power storage module 108 may be one or more primary batteries or one or more rechargeable batteries, but the disclosure will not be limited thereto. In addition, while the power storage module 108 is a rechargeable battery, the signal conversion device 1 may further include a charger module which may electrically connect to the power storage module 108 and charge the power storage module 108 with external power received from an external power source. Therefore, without removing the casing of the signal conversion device 1, the signal conversion device 1 may directly charge the power storage module 108.
In the following one or more embodiments, the detailed operation of the above remote control system in
When intending to control the electric device 3b, a user may, via the input module 200 in the remote electric device 2, input an identification code matching the second default identification code, and a control command specifying a specific action to the electric device 3b. Then, the wireless communication module 204 may send a remote control signal carrying the inputted identification code and the inputted control command to the signal conversion device 1a, the signal conversion device 1b, and the signal conversion device 1c.
Since the signal conversion device 1a and the signal conversion device 1c may determine that the identification code carried by the remote control signal does not match their default identification code (i.e. the first default identification code and the third default identification code), the signal conversion device 1a and the signal conversion device 1c may not convert the control command. In contrast, since the signal conversion device 1b may determine that the identification code matches its second default identification code (i.e. the second default identification code), the signal conversion device 1b may convert the control command to a control signal available for the wireless transmission module 104.
Finally, the wireless transmission module 104 in the signal conversion device 1b may send the electric device 3b the control signal, whereby the electric device 3b may operate according to the control signal.
In one embodiment, when there is a default identification code shared with two of the signal conversion devices 1 in the remote control system, the user may be allowed to simultaneously control two of the electric devices 3 respectively corresponding to the two signal conversion devices 1 in the remote control system.
On the other hand, since wireless signals in their transmission process may be decayed by the effect of transmission distance or be easily blocked, remote control signals may not successfully be sent from the remote electric device 2 to one or more signal conversion devices 1 which correspond to one or more electric device 3 to be controlled. Moreover, if the remote control signal sent by the remote electric device 2 is an IR signal which travels along a specific direction, the wireless communication module 204 in the remote electric device 2 needs to face the wireless receiving module 100 in the signal conversion device 1 corresponding to one electric device 3 to be controlled, resulting in being inconvenient to use.
To solve the above problems, the remote control system in one embodiment may further include a relay device, as shown in
Therefore, if the remote control signal sent by the wireless communication module 204 in the remote electric device 2 is an IR signal, and the transmission direction of this IR signal emitted by the remote electric device 2 is random, the remote electric device 2 may be able to control all of the electric devices 3 in the remote control system. In one embodiment, the relay device 4 may be disposed in a region (e.g. the ceiling) without hindrances in the remote control system. In one embodiment, the power source of the relay device 4 may be a battery, a rechargeable battery, or mains electricity by country, but the disclosure will not be limited thereto. Also, the disclosure does not have any limitation on the number of relay device 4 in the remote control system. In other words, the remote control system may use a plurality of relay devices 4 to enlarge the control region available for the remote electric device 2, and the relay device 4 may only receive the remote control signals from the remote electric device 2 and other relay devices 4.
In
Generally, the IR signal has directionality and a shorter transmission distance. In one embodiment, an opening 109 may be formed on the casing 10 and the location of the opening 109 may correspond to the wireless receiving module 100. Through the opening 109, the wireless receiving module 100 in the signal conversion device 1 may receive the remote control signal sent by the IR transmitter in the remote electric device 2. Nevertheless, the opening 109 may be unnecessarily formed. In one embodiment, the casing 10 may be made of light-transmissive material, whereby without the opening 109, the wireless receiving module 100 in the signal conversion device 1 may directly receive the remote control signal sent by the IR transmitter in the remote electric device 2 through the casing 10. Moreover, the casing 10 of the signal conversion device 1 may have a through-hole 110 whose location corresponds to the location of the IR receiver in the electric device 3, and the IR receiver in the electric device 3 may be exposed in the through-hole 110.
Referring to
In one embodiment, one or more light-transmissive films may cover on at least one surface of the casing 10 of the signal conversion device 1 whose location corresponds to the location of the through-hole 110.
In one embodiment, the signal conversion device 1 may have recorded all operation commands, which are sent by the remote controller to the one or more electric devices 3 of one or more brands, in the storage module 106 in advance. In one embodiment, the signal conversion device 1 may enter a learning model to store the one or more operation commands, which are sent by the remote controller to the electric device 3 of a certain brand, in the storage module 106. In one embodiment, users may assign the authority to control the remote electric device 2 to other remote electric devices capable of remote control, or may share one or more self-defined remote control procedures of one or more electric devices 3 with another specific user. In one embodiment, the remote electric device 2, a mobile device, may employ the wireless communication module 204 to update its own identification code and update the default identification code stored in the signal conversion device 1, or to update the version of mobile application, user interface (UI), and graphical user interface (GUI) of the remote electric device 2.
The detailed operation of the signal conversion device 1 in the above control method shown in
As shown in step S602, the signal conversion device 1 may determine whether the received identification code matches the default identification code stored in the signal conversion device 1. When the received identification code matches the default identification code, the signal conversion device 1 may convert the control command carried by the remote control signal to the control signal, as shown in step S604. Otherwise, when the received identification code does not match the default identification code, the signal conversion device 1 may send the control signal to the electric device 3 and then the electric device 3 may operate according to the control signal, as shown in S606.
In one embodiment, the signal conversion device 1 may be removable and be disposed on the electric device 3. In one embodiment, as shown in
In view of the above one or more embodiments, the disclosure may employ the signal conversion device to determine whether the identification code carried by the remote control signal matches the default identification code stored in the signal conversion device, to decide whether to convert the control command carried by the remote control signal to the control signal when the signal conversion device receives the remote control signal. Then, the signal conversion device may send the control signal to one or more electric devices, whereby the one or more electric devices may operate according to the control signal. In addition, since the control of most electric devices nowadays is based on the IR remote control, the casing of the signal conversion device in the disclosure may have a through-hole. Through the through-hole, when users intend to install the signal conversion device on the electric device, the signal conversion device may be aimed at the IR receiver of the electric device. This may increase the efficiency of installing the signal conversion device on the electric device. Moreover, since the IR receiver in the electric device may be exposed in the through-hole, users may be capable of controlling the electric device via the remote controller pertaining to the electric device.
In conclusion, even though the disclosure is applied to control a specific electric device out of many electric devices which are the same type or belong to the same brand in a certain environment, accidentally controlling another one of the other electric devices may not occur.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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103101444 | Jan 2014 | TW | national |