Remote Control Self-Location via Audible and Visual Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
The widespread issue of lost wireless television remote controls due to their ease of misplacement, leading to a less than desirable viewing experience as users spend time searching for them instead of watching television.
Innovation Solution
A remote control equipped with a sound emitting device and/or visual indicators that can be activated by a connected device to help locate the remote control, using audio or visual cues based on queries from the device, allowing users to easily find the misplaced remote.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wireless remote control is made portable and easy to carry, then ease of operation is improved, but the remote control becomes easily misplaced and lost
Solution Approach 1:
The remote control system performs self-location identification through audible and visual indicators that activate automatically when queried by the controlled device, allowing the user to find the remote without external assistance or complex tracking infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The remote control incorporates visual indicators such as LEDs that change color or illuminate to indicate the remote's location and status, making it easily visible when lost or misplaced among other objects
2Reliability
If the remote control is activated to emit audible or visual indicators, then the remote control can be easily located, but additional energy is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The controlled device periodically queries the remote control for its location status, and the remote control activates indicators only during these query intervals rather than continuously, significantly reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining location tracking capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the controlled device queries the remote control's status and the remote responds with location information through indicators, activating energy-consuming components only when information exchange is needed
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
Enables efficient location of the remote control through audible or visual signals, reducing the time spent searching and enhancing the overall viewing experience by minimizing disruptions.
Implementation Method 1
The remote control includes a sound emitting device, such a speaker or buzzer
Implementation Method 2
The remote control may include a visual indicator, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs)
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, systems and methods are described for outputting audible or visual indicators via a remote control for a controlled device. A remote control queries an associated controlled device for information. The controlled device generates a request for the remote control to activate an audio or visual indicator. The request is integrated with a response to the query that is transmitted to the remote control. The remote control outputs an audio or visual indicator responsive to the request.