System and method for integrating infrared remote controls of home appliances

Abstract

A system for integrating infrared remote controls of home appliances includes a smart electronic device, a transmission device and multiple conversion devices. The smart electronic device is collaborated with the transmission device to transmit a wireless control signal. The multiple conversion devices are respectively mounted on multiple home appliances. After receiving the wireless control signal, a selected conversion device converts the wireless control signal into an infrared remote control code that is further transmitted to a corresponding home appliance for remote control. Because of transmission using radio signals between the transmission device and the multiple conversion devices, there is no concern for communication failure arising from obstruction, limited distance and high directivity demanding to be within a receiving angle upon remote control. As only one remote control is used, operational convenience increases. Additionally, some home appliances can be jointly controlled according to a configured situation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention[0001]The present invention relates to a system and a method for integrating infrared remote controls of home appliances and, more particularly, to a system and a method using a smart electronic device to remotely control multiple home appliances with infrared control.2. Description of the Related Art[0002]Currently, home appliances usually have a corresponding remote control, such as remote controls for a TV (Television), a set-top box, a DVD (Digital Video Disc) player, a stereo system and the like. To easily control any home appliance, a corresponding remote control for the home appliance must be located first. More and more different types of home appliances are added to the household environment of everyone because of continuous technological advancement. It ends up with a plentiful of remote controls at home and consumes more time in search of a remote control to be located before a corresponding home appliance can be control...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention aims to provide a system and method for integrating infrared remote controls of home appliances to increase convenience and reduce communication failure. This is achieved through a smart electronic device that selects a conversion device to connect with, inputs the control command and infrared remote control code through the user interface, and transmits the wireless control signal to the selected conversion device for conversion into the corresponding infrared remote control code. The generated wireless control signal is then transmitted to the corresponding home appliance for complete remote control. The use of radio signals between the transmission device and conversion devices eliminates communication failure due to obstruction, limited distance, and high directivity demanding to be within a receiving angle upon remote control. This integrated remote control system simplifies equipment requirements, increases operational convenience, and reduces user inconvenience of searching for all infrared remote controls.

Problems solved by technology

It ends up with a plentiful of remote controls at home and consumes more time in search of a remote control to be located before a corresponding home appliance can be controlled.

However, obstruction occurring between a remote control and a corresponding home appliance causes failure of transmission for control signals between the remote control and the corresponding home appliance.

Meanwhile, as each infrared receiver has its unique acceptance angle and distance range, infrared control signals beyond the acceptance angle or the distance range fail to be received by a corresponding home appliance.

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