Remote Control Location via RF Wake-Up and Radar Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of locating television remote controls in a timely and efficient manner, as they often get lost in various locations, leading to user frustration.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where a media device, such as a television, transmits an encoded radio frequency or radar signal to wake up and locate a proximate remote control, providing visual or aural indicators to assist the user in finding it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional remote control locating methods are used, then the user must manually search for the remote, but this leads to significant time loss and user frustration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical searching with automated electronic detection systems. The media device uses radio frequency transmission to wake up the remote control and activate location indicators, substituting the mechanical action of hand-searching with an electronic field-based detection and indication system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication system between the media device and remote control. The media device transmits encoded radio frequency signals that act as intermediaries to wake up the remote control and trigger its location indicators, facilitating indirect communication and control.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the remote control remains in sleep mode to conserve battery, then energy is saved, but the remote cannot be located when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the media device transmit the wake-up signal before the user needs to locate the remote. The encoded radio frequency signal is sent in advance to activate the remote control's location indicators, ensuring the remote is detectable exactly when needed without requiring continuous power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic action through the media device transmitting wake-up signals at appropriate intervals or on-demand. The remote control periodically checks for such signals and activates its location indicators only when triggered, creating a periodic wake-sleep cycle that balances energy conservation with detectability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces the time and effort required to locate remote controls, enhancing user convenience and reducing frustration by providing clear indicators of the remote's location.
Implementation Method 1
a radar transceiver, located within a media device, such as a television, transmitting a high frequency radar signal to a radar transponder circuit within a remote control
Implementation Method 2
a passive circuit integrated within the remote control receives the transmitted encoded radio frequency signal and powers on the remote control
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product aspects, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for locating a remote control. An example aspect operates by transmitting an encoded radio frequency to wake-up a proximate television remote and initiate a “find my remote” process. A passive circuit integrated within the television remote receives the transmitted encoded radio frequency signal. Once awake, the television remote may provide an indicator of location to a proximate user. Another example aspect operates by transmitting high frequency radar to a radar transponder circuit within the television remote so that it becomes visible to the radar. Once the transponder is activated, the radar may locate the television remote relative to the television and display the location of the television remote on-screen, on a mobile device screen, or other locator indicator constructs.