WO1997019431A1

WO1997019431A1 - Remote control transmitter and case for the same

Info

Publication number: WO1997019431A1
Application number: PCT/DK1996/000487
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anne Kristine Henckel
Original assignee: Anne Kristine Henckel
Priority date: 1995-11-23
Filing date: 1996-11-22
Publication date: 1997-05-29
Also published as: AU7621396A

Abstract

A transmitter device (remote control unit) (1) for sending light or sound signals for remote control of an apparatus, where the remote control unit has a form clearly indicating in which direction the remote control unit is to be oriented during use. The remote control unit is preferably designed with carrying or suspending means such as a strap (5), or means such as through holes (2) for fastening thereof. The remote control unit may be provided with means for securing or fastening of the unit to a piece of furniture or the like. The remote control unit (1) may furthermore be designed with several sets of control buttons (8, 9) on different sides of the remote control unit, and a switching device effecting that only one set of control buttons is functional at a time. The invention also comprises a sheath intended to sheath an existing remote control, such that this remote control sheathed by the sheath has the same properties and advantages as the remote control unit according to the invention.

Description

REMOTE CONTROL TRANSMITTER AND CASE FOR THE SAME

The present invention relates to a transmitter device for sending signals, such as light and sound signals for remote control of an apparatus, such as a television set or a video tape recorder. Such a trans- mitter device is generally called a "remote control". In the following is used the term "remote control unit" .

Remote control units for sending signals for remote control of a television set or a video tape recorder has usually an oblong, rectangular form. The indication of which end to direct towards the apparatus to be operated by remote control is mostly implicit, eg. by the facing of the inscription or the text. The remote control unit has as a rule a dark pane or the like in the end to be directed against the apparatus to be operated by remote control, however, this pane is generally "hidden" in the design of the unit so that it does not contribute to the indication of the trans¬ mission direction of the unit. It is a disadvantage of such generally known remote control units that they often cause problems to technically unskilled, senile, retarded or weak-sighted persons when operating television sets or video tape recorders by remote control . Especially for senile persons, it may be difficult to find out which end of the remote control unit is to be directed against the apparatus to be operated by remote control, and these persons might not straight away turn the remote control unit over if the desired change in the function of the apparatus does not occur, but instead merely try to operate the remote control unit repeatedly while it points in the wrong direction, perhaps trouble any possible nursing staff or even give up using the unit. For the said persons, it is a further disadvantage by such remote control units that they are relatively small objects which may be mislaid by distraction or absent-mindedness .

Furthermore, these persons may have difficulties in seeing and/or surveying several control buttons on the same remote control unit. As television sets and video tape recorders with remote control are common today in residential homes and similar institutions, there is a need for a remote control unit which may be operated securely by these institutions' residents with the stated handicaps.

Also by subdued light or in the dark, as it is often the case during use of television sets and video tape recorders, it may be a problem to direct the remote control unit correctly. It is not unlikely that by first attempt, a user of a remote control unit directs it wrongly.

It is further a disadvantage by the known remote control units that they may be difficult to operate for persons with reduced mobility or motor function in hands and fingers.

Finally, it is a disadvantage by the known remote control units that when operating several different apparatus by remote control, it is necessary either to use one remote control unit per apparatus to be opera- ted, or to use a remote control unit with different sets of control buttons. In the latter case, the different sets of control buttons are often placed closely to each other with a resulting large number of the control buttons, or the different sets of control buttons overlap completely or partially in that certain buttons have several functions. This may seem incompre¬ hensible, especially to users with said handicaps.

From the manual for the televison sets of the types KV-C2909E and others, manufacture SONY^® Corpor- ation, Tokyo (JP) , among others, is known a remote control unit marked RM-833 with buttons on two opposite sides, of which one side is by choice turned upwards during use. The remote control unit comes with a sheath which is sheathed over the unit and which covers the buttons on one side of the unit in such a way that these buttons cannot be operated or actuated. The sheath may either be turned so that it covers the buttons on one side of the unit, or be turned so that it covers the buttons on the other side of the unit. On one side of this known remote control unit there is a complete set of control buttons, and on the other side of the unit there is a selection of the most frequently used buttons. In this way, the known remote control unit may by affixing of the associated sheath be adjusted either to have a complete set of buttons or merely to have a selection of the most used buttons. On this remote control unit, the said selection of most used buttons includes choice of the receiving channel of the television set, adjustment of sound volume and enabling or disabling of teletext, whereas the remain¬ ing buttons include, among other, control of a possible connected video tape recorder.

Besides, there are known remote control units, among other of the manufacture "One for All", the types "Big Easy" and "Lite" which are intended for use with television sets of different manufactures and provided with particularly large and clearly formed control buttons. These units differ apart from this not from the generally known and used remote control units. The object of the invention is to procure a remote control unit of the initially stated kind which is particularly suited for operation by senile, retarded or technically unskilled persons and which may advan- tageously be used by other users needing or wishing a remote control unit which is particularly comprehensive and simple to operate.

In order to fulfil this object, a remote control unit according to the invention is characterized in that the part of the remote control unit which is to be directed towards the apparatus to be operated by remote control has an easily recognisable form such as an arrow-shaped point. It is thus obtained that all users may use the remote control unit in a reliable and sure way as they by intuition will orientate the unit correctly.

In one embodiment, the remote control unit may be provided with a carrying or suspending means or means for fastening thereof . The carrying or suspending means is preferably a carrying brace or strap being prefer¬ ably positioned at the end of the remote control unit facing away from the remote-controlled apparatus.

The placement of the carrying brace or the strap, respectively, at a part of the remote control unit facing away from the remote-controlled apparatus, ie . opposite the easily recognisable form (eg. the arrow- shaped point) supports the effect obtained by the easily recognisable form as, deliberately or not, the user will direct the brace or strap against himself during use of the unit. If the user has the brace around his neck, the brace will automatically contri¬ bute to the correct orientation of the unit when the user grasps it .

In addition, a carrying or suspending means helps avoiding problems of mislaying the remote control unit as this may now be fastened to or suspended in a convenient place. The remote control unit may thus eg. hang around the neck of senile or retarded persons or the carrying brace may be tied around a piece of furniture or the like.

In a second embodiment, the remote control unit may be provided with means for temporary securing of the unit to a piece of furniture or the like. Thereby it is obtained that a user with reduced mobility or motor function may have the unit temporarily secured during use. The temporary securing may be effected by eg. a magnet if the furniture is of iron or by hook- and-loop tape (Velcro^® Tape) .

In a third embodiment, the remote control unit may be provided with means for fastening the unit to a piece of furniture or the like. Corresponding advan¬ tages are thus obtained. These means may eg. be a band to be fixed around an arm rest or a clip or a screw clamp to be fastened at a table edge. For persons confined to their bed or users of wheel chairs, the remote control unit may be fastened to the bed or the wheel chair, respectively. This is also a relief for such persons as they are usually not able to pick up the unit if it is dropped on the floor. For a further fulfilment of the object of the invention, the remote control unit according to the invention may be provided with several sets of control buttons placed on different sides of the unit together with a switching device controlling the functionality of the button sets in dependence of the orientation of the remote control unit in relation to vertical, in such a way that only one set of control buttons is functional at a time.

Consequently, a confusing number of buttons on the same side of the remote control unit is avoided whereby the remote control unit becomes more simple, and thus the use thereof facilitated. The user does not have to use one out of several sets of control buttons on the same side of the remote control unit and does not have to activate a control button for change between activa¬ tion of several button sets.

This effect supports the two earlier mentioned effects as the operation of interconnected television set and video tape recorder is further facilitated for persons with said handicaps.

In a preferred embodiment, the remote control unit comprises just two sets of control buttons placed on opposite sides of the remote control unit. The switch¬ ing device is preferably intended to effect activation of the control buttons on the side of the remote control unit facing upwards . The unit is merely turned with the desired set of control buttons facing upwards, whereby only this button set is operative. The two sets of control buttons are preferably adapted for remote control of a television set and a video tape recorder, respectively.

Furthermore, the remote control unit according to the invention may be designed with relatively large and relatively few control buttons which entails a further facilitation of the operation, the individual buttons being easier to locate and to operate.

Leaving out control buttons for eg. selection of channels, activation of teletext and adjustment of picture parameters (brightness, contrast etc.) prevents the user from unintentionally changing the adjustment of the apparatus and from otherwise operating the apparatus in an unintentional or inappropiate way.

The invention also relates to a sheath or a similar device for a complete or partial sheathing of a remote control unit of a generally known type, which sheath is characterized in that it may be placed on or around the remote control unit and that the sheath has an easily recognisable form which indicates the trans¬ mission direction of the remote control unit when the sheath is placed around it. The sheath may thus eg. be provided with an arrow-shaped point which is to point towards the apparatus to be operated by remote control . Corresponding advantages as described above are thus obtained. The sheath may be adapted to be carried or to be suspended as it may be designed with carrying or suspending means or with means for placement of such carrying or suspending means . Corresponding advantages as described above are thus also obtained. The sheath may have means for temporary securing or for fastening the sheath with the remote control unit to a piece of furniture or the like. These means may be of a similar type as mentioned above. Also in this sheath, corresponding advantages as described above are thus obtained.

In a preferred embodiment of the sheath, it may cover some of the control buttons of the remote control unit such that only the remaining control buttons of the remote control unit are accessible. Also here, corresponding advantages as described above are thus obtained.

The invention will be explained in detail in the following description of examples of embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a remote control unit according to the invention, seen from the top side,

Fig. 2 shows the remote control unit in Fig. 1 seen from the opposite side, Fig. 3 is a side view of an embodiment where two sides of the remote control unit are provided with control buttons,

Fig. 4 shows an example of a remote control unit of a known type, and

Fig. 5 shows a sheath according to the invention intended to envelop the known remote control unit shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 1 shows a remote control unit where the part to be directed towards the apparatus to be operated by remote control, here a television set, has an easily recognisable form clearly indicating that this is the part of the unit to be directed towards the television set. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the recog- nisable form is an arrow-shaped point 4, however, the recognisability may according to the invention be obtained in any suitable way, eg. in that the part in question of the remote control unit is enlarged, given a diverging colour, dome-shaped or provided with a diverging, eg. granulated, surface structure.

The remote control unit 1 has control buttons 3, out of which a number are used for channel selec¬ tion, two buttons are used for adjusting the sound volume and one for switching on and off the apparatus. The number of control buttons 3 may vary, and perhaps the control buttons for adjusting the sound volume may be left out as the volume may be fixed. Control buttons for further adjustment of eg. receiving channel and contrast of the picture are left out. A simplification of the remote control unit 1 is thus obtained in the way that it only have the commonly most used control buttons whereby the unit 1 is more easy to operate than generally known remote control units. Further adjustment of the apparatus operated by remote control may be effected by eg. nursing staff by means of a remote control supplied with the apparatus or on the apparatus itself.

The remote control unit 1 has preferably carry¬ ing or suspending means . In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the part of the remote control unit 1 placed opposite the end with the easily recognisable form 4 is thus provided with two through holes 2 through which a strap or cord may be drawn.

Fig. 2 shows the remote control unit 1 of Fig. 1 seen from the opposite side, and here is shown that such a cord 5 is drawn through the holes 2. The ends of the cord may appropriately be fastened to each other by binding or melting together or be joined by a crimp bushing as indicated by 6. The remote control unit 1 may be provided with the said carrying or suspending means when manufac¬ tured. Instead of the said cord or strap 5 drawn through one or more holes 2 in the remote control unit 1, the means may eg. be constituted by a band fastened to buttons on the remote control unit 1 or a brace or strap fastened between the parts of the remote control unit 1 such as housing top and bottom part when assembling the unit.

In Fig. 2 is further seen a cover 7 giving access to a room for batteries powering the unit 1.

While a remote control unit 1 may easily be placed on a table or an arm rest or be held in the hand when operated by fully mobile users, such a simple act as holding the unit steady during operation may cause great difficulties to users with the initially described handicaps. These difficulties may to some extend be relieved by tying the remote control unit by means of said cord 5, however, the unit may according to the invention in an advantageous way be provided with special means for fastening or temporary securing of the remote control unit.

In a not shown embodiment, the remote control unit has one or more magnets on its underside so that it may rest stably on a basis of iron, eg. a part of a piece of hospital furniture. Such magnets may also be used for "parking" the unit in a certain, visible place when not used. A similar effected may according to the invention be obtained by providing the remote control unit with a band of hook tape (Velcro^® Tape) on its underside and tying a corresponding band of loop tape or band on the furniture.

In an alternative, likewise not shown embodiment, the remote control unit according to the invention has proper fastening means on its underside. These means may eg. be a spring-loaded clip or a screw clamp designed to be fastened or clamped, respectively, on a table edge or the like. The clip or the screw clamp may in a manner known per se be placed in a removable way on the remote control unit, eg. so that a cam or rail on the clip or screw clamp is slided into a T-shaped slot on the underside of the unit . Advantageously, the remote control unit may be delivered with a magnet, a clip and a screw clamp for alternative placement on the underside of the unit, whereby the unit may be fastened as it is most practical, or as it is wished by the user or perhaps the nursing staff.

Fig. 3 shows a remote control unit 18 according to the invention with two sets of control buttons, one set on each plane side of the remote control unit 1, where one set is intended to effect transmission of signals to remote control of eg. a television set and the other set 9 is intended to effect transmission of signals for remote control of eg. a video tape recorder. Thus, the need for several remote control units for remote control of different apparatus is avoided and at the same time, the number of buttons on the face of the remote control unit is not confusingly large . As the number of control buttons 8,9 is thus relatively small, there will still be space on one of the plane sides of the remote control unit 1 for the said cover 7 of a battery compartment .

A switching device controls in a preferred embodi- ment the button sets 8,9 in dependence of the orien¬ tation of the remote control unit 18 in relation to vertical in such a way that only one set of control buttons 8,9 is functional at a time. The switching device is preferably designed such that the set of control buttons facing upwards is active whereas the other set of control buttons is inactive.

The two sides of the remote control unit may furthermore be given each their colour so that it is easier to distinguish between the two sides. The switching device is preferably a gravity sensitive switch which by means of a not shown control circuit assures that only the control buttons on one side of the remote control unit, ie . the side facing upwards, are operative and, when operated, effect transmission of signals from the unit. As the gravity sensitive switch may eg. be applied a mercury switch.

Fig. 4 shows an example of a remote control unit 10 of a known type, and Fig. 5 shows a sheath 13 according to the invention intended to be slided over and sheath the remote control unit 10 shown in Fig. 4. The known remote control unit 10 has control buttons 11 and a pane 12 in the end to be directed towards the remote-controlled apparatus.

When the sheath 13 is slided over the remote control unit 10 and thus sheaths it, the same advan- tages as already described for the remote control unit 1 according to the invention are imparted to the known remote control unit 10.

With this in view, the sheath 13 has an easily recognisable form indicating the transmission direction of the remote control unit. The sheath may eg. as shown in Fig. 5 be designed with an arrow-shaped point 16. The sheath 13 may further be designed to hide or to cover some of the control buttons 11 on the unit 10 such that the number of visible and available control buttons is reduced. The available control buttons may eg. be limited to a number of programme selection buttons, volume buttons and an on-off switch. The control buttons 11 may eg. be available through holes 14 in the upper face of the sheath 13.

Where the sheath 13 is to cover the control buttons on the remote control unit 10 which should not be available, the face of the sheath may be elev¬ ated as shown by 15. Such elevated portions 15 entails that the face of the sheath 13 does not touch the hidden control buttons when the sheath envelops the remote control unit 10. The inside of the sheath may further be designed with supporting means which have the effect that the hidden control buttons cannot be operated even when pushing down the elevated portions 15.

The sheath 13 is preferably adapted to a certain remote control unit 10 and must in that case be manu¬ factured in different forms corresponding to each respective known remote control unit.

The sheath 13 may be provided with carrying or suspending means or with means for placement hereof . The sheath 13 may eg. be designed with one or more through holes 2 through which a strap or a cord may be drawn or with buttons for fastening a brace. The sheath 13 is therefore to be designed such that the remote control unit 10 is prevented from sliding out of the sheath 13 when this is suspended. This may as a matter of course be obtained by means as eg. a suffi- ciently tight fitting between the remote control unit 10 and the sheath 13 combined with a sufficient elasticity of the sheath.

In the same way as described above as to the remote control unit 1, the sheath 13 may be designed with means for temporary securing or actual fastening of the sheath with the remote control unit to a piece of furniture or the like. The person skilled in the art will realize that the above stated or other means may be applied right away. The sheath 13 must be designed such that it does not disturb the transmission of sound or light signals from the remote control unit. Thus, it must not cover the place 12 on the remote control unit 10 where the sound and light signals are transmitted. This is obtained in the shown embodiment in the way that the part of the sheath 13 indicating the direction of the remote control unit is flush with either the top or bottom side of the sheath or consists of two separate parts which are flush with the top or bottom side, respectively, of the sheath. The person skilled in the art may assign other suitable forms of embodiment.

A sheath 13 for a given remote control unit is preferably designed with inner dimensions corresponding to the outer dimensions of the remote control unit. The openings 14 in the sheath 13 allow operation of the buttons of the remote control; which control buttons being available depend of course of the number and placement of the openings 14.

Claims

P A T E N T C L A I M S 1. A transmitter device (1, 18) for sending signals, such as light or sound signals for remote control of an apparatus such as television set or video tape recorder, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the part of the transmitter device to be directed towards the apparatus to be operated by remote control has a clear and easily recognisable form such as an arrow- shaped point (4) .

2. A transmitter device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the transmitter device (1) is designed with a carrying or suspending means (5) such as a carrying brace or a strap.

3. A transmitter device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the carrying or suspending means (5) is fastened to the transmitter device (1) by engagement or fastening between the parts of the transmitter device when manufactured.

4. A transmitter device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the transmitter device (1) is provided with means such as buttons or through holes (2) for fastening of a carrying or suspending means (5) such as a carrying brace or a strap.

5. A transmitter device according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the transmitter device (1) has two through holes (2) through which a cord (5) may be drawn.

6. A transmitter device according to the claims 2-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the carrying or suspending means (5) , the means for fastening thereof or the two through holes (2) , respectively, are posi¬ tioned at a part of the transmitter device (1) , which part is opposite the part of the transmitter device to be directed towards the apparatus to be operated by remote control.

7. A transmitter device according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the transmitter device (1, 18) has means such as a magnet for temporary securing of the transmitter device to a piece of f rniture or the like .

8. A transmitter device according claim 7, c h a - r a c t e r i z e d in that the means for temporary securing is constituted by a face on the transmitter device (1, 18) , which face is coated with a hook-and- loop tape to interact with a corresponding hook-and- loop tape on the furniture or the like.

9. A transmitter device according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the transmitter device (1, 18) has means such as a strap for fastening of the transmitter device to a piece of furniture or the like.

10. A transmitter device according to claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the means for fastening of the transmitter device (1, 18) is consti¬ tuted by a clip or a screw clamp.

11. A transmitter device (18) for sending light or sound signals for remote control of an apparatus such as a television set or a video tape recorder, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the transmitter device (18) comprises several sets of control buttons (8, 9) placed on different sides of the transmitter device, and a switching device, preferably a gravity sensitive switch which activates the button sets (8, 9) in dependence of the orientation of the transmitter device in relation to vertical in such a way that only one set of control buttons (8, 9) is functional at a time.

12. A transmitter device according to claim 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the transmitter device (18) comprises two sets of control buttons (8, 9) positioned on opposite sides of the transmitter device, and that the switching device preferably con¬ trols the button sets such that the set of control 5 buttons facing upwards (8) is active whereas the other set of control buttons (9) is inactive.

13. A transmitter device according to claim 12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the transmitter device (18) is arranged in such a way that one set of 0 control buttons (8, 9) effects transmission of signals for remote control of a television set, and the other set of control buttons (9, 8) effects transmission of signals for remote control of a video tape recorder.

14. A transmitter device according to any of the 5 preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the transmitter device (1, 18) has relatively large and relatively few control buttons (3, 8, 9)

15. A sheath for sheathing a transmitter device (10) for sending light or sound signals for remote 0 control of an apparatus such as a television set or a video tape recorder, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the sheath (13) is adapted for fastening on or around the transmitter device (10) , and that the sheath (13) has a design (16) which indicates in a clear and easily -5 recognisable way the transmitting direction (17) of the transmitter device, when placed around it.

16. A sheath according to claim 15, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the sheath (13) at a part corresponding to the part (12) of the transmitter 0 device (10) , which during use is oriented towards the remote-controlled apparatus, has a clear and easily recognisable design such as an arrow-shaped point (16) .

17. A sheath according to claim 15 or 16, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the sheath (13) is 5 intended to be carried or suspended while it is fas- tened to the transmitter device (10) , being designed with carrying or suspending means such as a cord or a strap or with means such as buttons or holes (2) for fastening of the carrying or suspending means.

18. A sheath according to claim 17, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the carrying or suspending means or the means for fastening thereof, respectively, are positioned on the sheath (13) corresponding to a part of the transmitter device (10) , which part is placed opposite the part (12) of the transmitter device (10) which during use is oriented towards the remote-con¬ trolled apparatus.

19. A sheath according to the claims 15-18, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the sheath (13) has means for temporary securing or for fastening of the sheath (13) with the transmitting device (10) to a piece of furniture or the like.

20. A sheath according to the claims 15-19, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the sheath (13) is intended to cover certain control buttons (11) of the transmitter device (10) .