Duplication method for a remote control operating in radio frequency and remote control thus obtained

The present invention relates to a method for amplifying a radio remote control operable on a radio frequency and a remote control obtained by means of said method.

[0002] In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a method for amplifying a radio frequency remote control that can remotely control an electrical device by pushing at least one key or a control button; said remote control includes at least one memory, a transceiver and a microprocessor capable of executing the program.

STAN TecHniKi [0003] As well known in this particular technical sector, a remote control is an electronic device that allows sending signals to another remotely located device that is controlled by means of these signals. The remote control is a portable object of small size, which is battery powered and made in such a way that it can be easily held and operated using one hand.

[0004] Most commonly in home applications, remote controls are used to open and close doors or gates or to control lighting systems.

[0005] The remote control can send electromagnetic signals that are received by a remotely controlled device

EP 3 089 134 B1 using a receiver intended for this purpose. In the case of remote control over short distances, infrared signals are used, while at longer distances radio waves are used, which means that in this case radio remote controls are used.

[0006] In the field of home use there are also remote controls, which are referred to as "universal", which means that they require special settings to control various electrical devices, such as a music player, a television receiver and / or other devices used in home applications.

[0007] In this field, there is often a need to quickly duplicate a remote control without having to use the services of qualified specialists.

However, for this purpose it is necessary to have a device called a frequency counter that allows counting the operating frequency of the original radio remote control, which is usually several tens or hundreds of MHz.

[0009] Once the operating frequency of the original remote control to be copied is detected, it is necessary to have a programmable universal remote control that has the same frequency and can be programmed using the same radio code.

[0010] Although the reproduction is relatively simple, it is usually left to the skilled practitioner.

[0011] However, sometimes, for security reasons, we would prefer not to outsource this service to personnel who do not belong to the persons closest to us. [0012] For this reason, there is a need to independently perform the radio reproduction activities of the remote control in an easy and quick manner.

[0013] A possible known technical solution is described in US Patent Application No. 2008/068205. However, this document only describes the radio remote control duplication mode, which, however, does not allow automatic registration of a new cloned radio remote controller in a controlled electronic device.

[0014] The technical problem underlying the present invention is the development of a method having such functional and structural features that would allow the reproduction of the original radio frequency remote control without the need for any knowledge of the frequency signal receiver. and even the transmission protocols of the original remote control, which could have been produced by an unknown company or even an enterprise that no longer operates in the industry.

[0015] It is essential that these and other objects can be obtained at significantly reduced costs and particularly simple operating modes, for example by means of a remote control having structural and functional features that enable the above-mentioned method to be carried out.

Summary of the Invention [0016] The concept of the solution that lies at the basis of the present invention is the use of a learning step during which the clone of the remote control listens on the remote control to be copied; an operating frequency and code recognition step which is sent by the original remote control to be copied, and in the case of an alternate code also a fully automatic recording control step, during which the clone of the remote control initiates the recognition and recording procedure in the electrical device to be controlled, which if allowed also saves a new remote control clone code emulating the variable code of the original remote control to be copied.

[0017] Based on the aforementioned solution concept, a technical problem is solved by a method of the type of the previously described significant application of the following steps:

- inclusion of the duplication step in the clone of the remote controller by pressing the said control button and simultaneously pressing the programming button a number of times;

EP 3 089 134 B1

- releasing said control button and programming button;

- bringing together the terminals transmitting the signals of the original remote control to be copied and the clone of the remote control which is in the copying phase;

- pressing for a predetermined time the button of the original remote control, enabling said microprocessor to receive the operating frequency via the transmitter-oDBioRNiKA and the code transmitted by the original remote control by means of the procedure of recognizing and / or emulating the transmitted code;

- pressing for a definite time the control button of the remote control clAA to which the same function is to be assigned, which is assigned to the mentioned remote control remote control A;

- saving in said memory the said operating frequency,

RECOGNITION AND DIRECTED PROJECT;

- start of the automatic recording procedure, which includes the transmission of early determined sequences of recognized or emulated circuits. For the electrical operation to be controlled, said recording procedure automatically forces the RECOVERY or emulation of the electric appliance to be controlled by generating alternate old and new CODs transmitted to the electrical device to be controlled in a predetermined recording sequence; and

- repeating said recording procedure for a plurality of writing sequences that are stored in said memory

This clone of the remote control will be repeated until said clone of the remote control is recognized by said electrical device to be controlled.

[0018] Preferably, said predetermined number of times is four.

[0019] The step of storing the recognized or emulated codes in the memory is carried out in three phases:

- the first phase during which n measurements are made of the duration of transitions from high to low and from low to high through a radio signal received;

- the second stage during which said measurements are processed; and

- the third phase during which the code is sampled.

[0020] In the first measurement step, measurements are taken of the duration n of the high-low and low-high transitions of the radio signal received in order to obtain the minimum and maximum duration of these transitions. For the maximum duration of transitions, the corresponding level of the radio signal is also stored.

[0021] In the second processing step, the length of the radio signal period corresponding to the duration of the shorter transmission element is obtained, as well as the length and level of the pause corresponding to the duration and the level of the longest transition.

[0022] During the third sampling phase, the radio signal is sampled at different times, starting in the middle of the period after passing, and then continuing after each full period, until the next transition, from which the halfway counting, etc., will again occur.

[0023] It should be noted that the recognition procedure includes a subsequent initiation of the storage step in case the recognized code is a fixed code or a step of emulating a variable rolling type code,

EP 3 089 134 B1 having a serial number different from the recognized code.

[0024] Furthermore, the recording procedure comprises the initiation of a procedure that automatically forces the new emulated code to be written on the receiver of the electric appliance to be controlled, said procedure generating alternative new and old codes, transmitted in a fixed order.

[0025] The invention also relates to a remote control equipped with at least one key or control button, memory, transceiver and microprocessor capable of executing a program for implementing the previously described steps of the method.

[0026] The characteristics and advantages of the method and remote control of the present invention will be set forth in the description below of an exemplary embodiment that is not limiting and refers to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of drawings [0027]

- Fig. 1 shows a schematic and perspective view of a remote control made according to the present invention;

- Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the basic electronic wrap used in the remote control, which is shown in Fig. 1;

- Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating steps of a method according to the present invention;

- Fig. 4 shows a further block diagram illustrating further steps of the method according to the invention;

- Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a block diagram illustrating the recording phase of a specific code according to the method of the present invention.

Detailed description [0028] With reference to these drawings, in particular to the example

EP 3 089 134 B1, Fig. 1, a remote control schematically shown in its entirety as 1, which will later be referred to as a "clone", obtained according to the present invention by reproducing the original remote control piloT.

[0029] The pILOtA of DELAYeR control 1 consists of a housing 2 that is substantially parallelepiped-shaped with rounded corners and reduced thickness. The housing 2 includes and protects the electronics 3, which consists of MICROPROCESOR 4, memory 5, transmitter-oDBiomiK 6 and Para anTen 7 and 8. More specifically, the memory 5 is integrated with the MICROPROCESSOR 4.

[0030] An advantage of the double antenna is to increase the range of the radio frequency, and hence the distance at which it is possible to operate effectively with respect to the device being controlled.

[0031] All elements of the electronic system 3 are supplied from a small DC battery placed in the housing 2, which is not shown in the drawings, because it is standard.

[0032] In the visible surface 9 of BUILDING 2, KILK of buttons are provided, including: LuB control button 10 For controlling the main electrical appliance, second key or programming button 11 AND third and fourth buttons 12, 13 for optionally controlling successive electrical devices.

[0033] Each of the four keys or buttons is embossed with a corresponding Braille character, which facilitates its identification only by touch.

[0034] The LED 14 associated with the operation of the remote control 1 is also apparatused.

[0035] A remote control 1 operates on a radio frequency and for this reason in the following description will be referred to as a radio remote control.

[0036] A remote control 1 may also be referred to as "universal" because it can be used with a plurality of electrical devices to be controlled, in particular in home applications. In addition, the remote control 1 can emulate the original remote controls produced by many companies, regardless of their internal construction. Preferably, according to the invention, a clone

EP 3 089 134 B1 is a remote control designed to automatically forcibly store its codes in the receiver of the main controlled electric device without directly interfering with the receiver. [0037] More specifically, the emulation of the original remote control follows the learning procedure of the original remote control code which will be referred to below as the copying procedure. [0038] There are fixed-line remote controls that transmit the same code each time the control button is pressed; in their case, emulation is done by making an exact copy of the radio source, characterized by radio signal, modulation and frequency of operation. In turn, in the case of original remote control with variable code, namely those remote controls,

[0039] The method according to the invention initially provides for the execution of a remote control in order to enable the remote control to send the same code and the same operating frequency to the remote control clone as the original remote control to be duplicated. . This replication technology is entirely innovative in relation to similar products currently available on the market and is very simple and extremely convenient for the user.

[0040] The main advantage of the method according to the present invention is that it enables work with both free hands. In fact, unlike all other solutions that are proposed in the prior art, after pressing the buttons in the exact order required for the cloning step, the user can release all the buttons Without having to hold down the "target" button, i.e. the remote control clone that will be duplicated the control function performed by the original remote control to be duplicated.

[0041] Thanks to this, it is possible to perform the multiplication operation in a much more practical manner by deciding, for example, by pressing a corresponding button at the end of the procedure under which the button of the remote control clone is to be stored the code learned during the multiplication.

[0042] According to the method that is the subject of the present invention, it is now possible to see what steps must be performed to activate the copying procedure.

[0043] First, it was decided to run the copying procedure when the user presses and holds two buttons at the same time. More precisely, by holding the upper left control button 10 on the remote control 1, press the upper right programming button 11 several times.

[0044] It has been decided that the predetermined number of times will be four, to prevent accidental start and initiation of the copying procedure. Other key combinations are used to enable more specialized copying procedures, which will be described below.

[0045] Having called up the buttons 10 and 11 and enabling the copying procedure DIoDa LED 14, the remote control 1 piLoTA will slowly flash. In this case, the transmitter end of the original remote control to be copied should be approached and the transmission end of the remote control clone according to the present invention should be approached and the desired button on the original remote control to be copied should be pressed.

[0046] During this first step, the remote controller clone searches for the frequency of the original remote control for about thirty seconds while the LED 14 slowly flashes. Once the operating frequency has been found, the code of the original remote control is saved using the code write method, which is described below; At this moment DIoDa LED 14 starts flashing quickly to indicate that the code has been learned.

[0047] Next, press the button of the remote control PIN, under which said code is to be saved. Is not

It is necessary for this button to correspond in number and sequence to the button on the original remote control.

[0048] The entire procedure is illustrated in detail in the block diagram in Fig. 3.

[0049] In some cases, the considered remote controls require different information corresponding to the next pressing of the button of the original remote control or any special button of the original remote control. In this case, the LED will blink twice to indicate the next press request.

[0050] For some original remote control with variable code, the clone of the remote control can recognize the type of the alternating code, and for such remote controls, the control PIN 1 will generate a similar code to write directly or using an automatic procedure in memory 5 associated with the receiver 6. The generation of variable codes is carried out using appropriate algorithms, specific to each type of code. In all other cases it will be a clone of an identical copy of the original code.

[0051] Now, the modes in which the method according to the present invention will be able to write the variable code obtained from the original pilot in memory 5 will be described in more detail.

[0052] This mode essentially consists of three stages.

[0053] In the first phase, n measurements of the duration of the high-low and low-high transitions in the received radio signal are performed; in the second stage, these measurements are processed, and in the third phase, the code is sampled.

[0054] In the first measurement step, measurements are taken of the duration n of the high-low and low-high transitions of the received radio signal; in this the values ​​of the minimum and maximum duration of these transitions are obtained. For the maximum duration of transitions, the corresponding level of the radio signal is also stored. [0055] In the second processing step, the length of the radio signal period corresponding to the duration of the shorter elements is obtained

EP 3 089 134 B1. In addition, a duration and a pause level are obtained, corresponding to the duration and level of the longest transition.

[0056] During the third sampling phase, the radio signal is sampled at different times, beginning in the middle of the period after passage, and then continuing after each full period, until the next transition, from which the halfway counting, etc., will again occur.

After obtaining a sequence of samples, it will be possible to recognize a known code called a walking code in order to obtain a similar code, differing by a serial number, or, on the contrary, the code as it is will be recorded.

[0058] The entire procedure for recognizing and storing the duplicated code in the memory is shown in detail in the block diagram in Fig. 4. [0059] Pressing the pRoTA 10 of the remote control 1 where the duplicated radio code has been written causes its normal transmission if the pushing time is shorter than eight seconds.

[0060] If the nATomiAsT pressing time exceeds eight seconds, the remote control 1 is programmed in such a way that it is switched off if the code is of a fixed type or a variable type that does not allow automatic recording. The automatic saving procedure is performed if the code is a variable type code that can be automatically saved.

[0061] Now the procedure for automatically saving the code will be described in more detail.

[0062] In the case of a different code, the clone of the remote control 1 generates code similar to the original which is stored in the memory 5. This code must also be stored in the receiver's memory of the controlled electrical device. [0063] In fact, it is not possible to use the same code as the original remote control uses because the two remote controls would disrupt each other's work.

[0064] If a receiv- er of the controlled electric device allows this, the recording procedure may automatically force the new code to be written on the receiver, generating old and new alternatives for this purpose.

EP 3 089 134 B1

Codes transmitted in a sequence, called a recording sequence, which is exemplified in the block diagram in Fig. 5.

[0065] The use of old and new codes alternately allows the receiver to recognize that the sequence of received signals is not a normal activation command, but a sequence that is used to program and save a new variable code that is similar to the cloned code.

[0066] The write sequence is activated by pressing and pushing the eight remote control keys that are described herein. The diode starts flashing quickly, the write sequence is sent, and then the remote control is turned on.

[0067] At this point, the variable code is also stored in the oDbioRNiKu of the controlled device.

[0068] Now, returning to the code recognition procedure called the walking code, which has been described above, it should be emphasized that this is a completely automatic procedure performed by the clone of the remote control 1.

[0069] More specifically, it is a function that enables the new universal CLONDER to control and self-control all the work steps that are needed to be recognized and therefore used by the electrical devices to be controlled.

[0070] As mentioned earlier, in contrast to old and more solid devices, new generation remote controls use variable codes, and almost all remote control manufacturers use "rolling codes" which instead of repeating the same code each time a button is pressed control, they give a completely different code, generated by the algorithm pre-set in the transmitter and the corresponding receiver.

[0071] In order to be able to duplicate a remote control that operates in such modes, it is necessary to perform the recording procedure in a controlled electric device that differs from one manufacturer to another.

[0072] FROM THIS MANAGEMENT, THE REMOTE CONTROLLER according to

EP 3 089 134 B1 of the present invention is equipped with a set of algorithms that reproduce the write sequences of cloned variable codes of almost all manufacturers of remote controls. These sequences are automatically scheduled and executed whenever duplications are made to the original remote control, which it uses when transmitting variable codes.

In other words, the sequence of steps illustrated in the block diagram in Fig. 5 is repeated for a sequence of sequences stored in the remote control 1 so that pressing a button that has been programmed in advance with the method of the invention automatically activates the step that forces saving new codes, similar to the codes of the original remote control in the receiver of the controlled device.

[0074] DURABILITY of the control loop of the control 1 continuously sends information useful for its identification and subsequent use, based on the recording sequences stored in its memory and corresponding to almost all manufacturers of remote controls.

[0075] In this way, mistakes made by users are avoided, and the registration stage of the new remote control clone 1 in each electrical device to be controlled is greatly simplified.

[0076] It is evident that such a fully automatic mode allows solving a problem that is considered an obstacle when the functions of identifying a new remote control clone are used by persons who have no knowledge of the subject.

[0077] With this function, the user does not need to know or be able to correctly execute the recording procedures in the respective receiver. Until now, the difficulty was that each manufacturer used its own procedures, which always differed between particular brands. Thanks to this invention, the procedures are carried out in a perfect and completely automatic manner and autonomously by the clone of the remote control, simply by means of a single and simple long press of the respective key.

EP 3 089 134 B1