Patent Application
20060026656
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to audio/video players, and particularly to an audio/video player with a remote-control unit.
2. General Background
Over the past several decades there has been widespread adoption by consumers of various types of audio/video players. Devices such as digital versatile disk (DVD) players, compact disk (CD) players, televisions (TVs), set-top boxes, radio receivers, videocassette recorders (VCRs), and other similar audio/video players have become commonplace in many households. Many of these audio/video players are designed to be operable by built-in control panels, which allow users to control different functions such as adjusting the sound volume, stopping a tape, rewinding the tape, fast forwarding the tape, etc. However, the built-in control panel is inconvenient when a user needs to perform specific functions frequently. In view of this disadvantage, wireless remote-control units have been extensively developed. Using a wireless remote-control unit that transmits control instructions to receiver units via infra-red (IR) signals, a user can perform a variety of operations such as switching to a different track on a DVD playing in a DVD player, or changing the volume or channel of a television, all from a convenient location a distance away from the audio/video player.
However, traditional audio/video players still have a built-in control panel for satisfying some specific needs of users, in addition to a separate remote-control unit. In general, the built-in control panel increases the cost, size and complexity of the audio/video player. Further, a problem with having a separate remote-control unit is that it is liable to be dropped or even lost by careless users.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
A video/audio player includes a main body, a lid, and a remote-control unit. The main body includes a first recessed portion. The lid is pivotally connected to the main body. The remote-control unit is detachably received in the first recessed portion.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:
Referring to
The main body 10 is substantially rectangular, and has a top surface 16. On the top surface 16, a first tray 12 is formed for receiving a disc (not shown) therein so as to form means to generate multimedia signals, and a first recessed portion 14 is formed for receiving the wireless remote-control unit 30 therein. The remote-control unit 30 can be rectangular, elliptical or have any other desired shape. The first recessed portion 14 is substantially configured to have the same shape as the remote-control unit 30. When the remote-control unit 30 is received in the first recessed portion 14, a top surface of the remote-control unit 30 is substantially flush with the top surface 16 of the main body 10. In another exemplary embodiment, the first recessed portion 14 can also have a larger size than the remote-control unit 30. In such case, the top surface of the remote-control unit 30 may be lower than the top surface 16 of the main body 10 when the remote-control unit 30 is received in the first recessed portion 14.
The first recessed portion 14 has a front wall 142, a back wall 144 opposite to the front wall, and a sidewall 146 interconnecting the front wall 142 and the back wall 144. A first transceiver 140 is arranged in the front wall 142. The first transceiver 140 is generally a wireless signal receiving unit, such as an infra-red (IR) signal receiving unit, a Bluetooth signal receiving unit, a Wi-Fi signal receiving unit, or the like. In other embodiments, the first transceiver 140 can be arranged in the back wall 144, the side wall 146, or in a bottom wall of the first recessed portion 14.
In the illustrated embodiment, a second transceiver which is similar to the first transceiver 140 is arranged at an outside surface of the video/audio player 100, such as in a second sidewall 28 of the lid 20.
The lid 20 is configured to correspond to a shape of the main body 10. When the lid 20 is in a closed position, the lid 20 completely covers the main body 10. The lid 20 has a first sidewall 26 and the second sidewall 28, which are respectively at two opposite lateral sides of the lid 20. The lid 20 defines a second recessed portion 22. A key module 25 is disposed in the second recessed portion 22.
Referring also to
To place the remote-control unit 30 in the first recessed portion 14, firstly, the lid 20 is rotated up to an open position. The remote-control unit 30 is placed in the first recessed portion 14, and the lid 20 is rotated down to a closed position. The remote-control unit 30 is thus covered by the lid 20 (see
When the remote-control unit 30 is detached from the main body 10 and serves as a separate remote-control unit, a user can select a specific function by directly pressing an associated key on the remote-control unit 30. A control signal is generated and transmitted from the remote-control unit 30 to the second transceiver 24 by pressing the associated key.
In this embodiment, the remote-control unit 30 can be placed in the first recessed portion 14 without using any securing mechanism. However, if desired, a securing mechanism can be employed in order to ensure securing of the remote-control unit 30 in the first recessed portion 14. The securing mechanism can include, but is not limited to, a pair of grooves defined in the front wall 142 and the back wall 144 of the first recessed portion 14, or a hook (not shown) formed at the bottom wall of the first recessed portion 14.
Referring to
That is, the lid 20′ only partially covers the main body 10′. The first recessed portion 14′ is exposed to an exterior of the video/audio player 100′, for receiving the remote-control unit 30′ without having to open or close the lid 20′. In addition, a securing mechanism is provided, to prevent the remote-control unit 30′ from accidentally detaching from the main body 10′ when the remote-control unit 30′ is stationed in the first recessed portion 14′. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of grooves 50 are defined in a front wall 142′ and a back wall 144′ of the first recessed portion 14′ respectively. A pair of protuberances 52 is correspondingly formed at two opposite ends of the remote-control unit 30′ respectively. When the remote-control unit 30′ is not in use remotely, a user can slide the remote-control unit 30′ along the grooves 50 until the remote-control unit 30′ is fitted entirely within the first recessed portion 14′. The remote-control unit 30′ then serves as a built-in control panel. When the user needs to use the remote-control unit 30′ remotely, the user can slide the remote-control unit 30′ out from the first recessed portion 14′ until it is completely detached from the main body 10′. Whether the remote-control unit 30′ is stationed in the first recessed portion 14′ or is detached from the main body 10′, the control signals from the remote-control unit 30′ are received by a transceiver 140′ arranged in the first recessed portion 14′. In other exemplary embodiments, the securing mechanism can comprise one or more clips, wedges, blocks, or any other suitable means, which are arranged in or at the first recessed portion 14′ and/or on or at the remote-control unit 30′. Part or all of the securing mechanism can be arranged at any suitable position of the first recessed portion 14′, including the front wall 142′, the back wall 144′, and/or a sidewall 146′.
In the above-described embodiments, the first recessed portion 14, 14′ is located in a right side of the main body 10, 10′. However, the first recessed portion 14, 14′ may instead be arranged at any other desired position in the main body 10, 10′.
Further, the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Other arrangements and advantages may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The present invention should be deemed not to be limited to the above description but by the spirit and scope of the claims that follow, and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200410050973.2 | Jul 2004 | CN | national |
