Television control device

Abstract

A system and apparatus for controlling a television. Various embodiments of the apparatus have various components providing compatibility with most brands and types of televisions.

1 . A remote control for controlling a television comprising: 
 a housing electrically coupled to the television;    a sensor circuit disposed within the housing, the sensor circuit configured to sense information generated by the television; and    a microprocessor electrically coupled to the sensor circuit and configured to receive the information from the sensor circuit, identify the television's brand or type based on the information, and transmit only compatible encoded signals to the television.    
   
   
       2 . A remote control for controlling a television comprising: 
 a housing electrically coupled to the television via a wire extending between the housing and the television;    a sensor circuit disposed within the housing, the sensor circuit configured to sense information generated by the television; and    a microprocessor electrically coupled to the sensor circuit and configured to receive the information from the sensor circuit, identify the television based on the information, and transmit only compatible encoded signals to the television.    
   
   
       3 . A remote control for controlling a television comprising: 
 a housing electrically coupled to the television;    a sensor circuit disposed within the housing, the sensor circuit configured to sense information generated by the television; and    a microprocessor electrically coupled to the sensor circuit and configured to receive the information from the sensor circuit, identify the television based on the information, and transmit only compatible encoded signals to the television, wherein the apparatus receives its operating power from the television.    
   
   
       4 . A remote control as in any of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3 , in which the information is voltage information.  
   
   
       5 . A remote control as in any of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3 , in which the information is polarity information.  
   
   
       6 . A remote control as in any of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3 , in which the information is voltage information and polarity information.  
   
   
       7 . A remote control for controlling a television comprising: 
 a power supply that powers the apparatus and is configured to receive electrical power from the television;    a sensor circuit configured to sense the electrical power received from the television by the power supply; and    a microprocessor electrically coupled to the power supply and sensor circuit and configured to identify the television based on the electrical power sensed by the sensor circuit and transmit encoded signals to the television.    
   
   
       8 . The remote control of  claim 7 , wherein the encoded signals are all compatible with the television.  
   
   
       9 . The remote control of  claim 7 , wherein the encoded signals include signals that are compatible with the television and signals that are not compatible with the television.  
   
   
       10 . The remote control of  claim 7 , wherein the microprocessor identifying the television results in the microprocessor identifying the manufacturer or brand of the television.  
   
   
       11 . The remote control of  claim 7 , wherein the microprocessor identifying the television results in the microprocessor identifying the type of television.  
   
   
       12 . The remote control of  claim 7 , wherein the power supply includes a diode bridge.  
   
   
       13 . The remote control of  claim 7 , further comprising a bilateral electronic switch that accommodates any polarity differential in the electrical power received from the television.  
   
   
       14 . The remote control of  claim 7 , wherein the remote control is a pillow speaker.  
   
   
       15 . The remote control of  claim 7 , further comprising a hermetically sealed housing enclosing the microprocessor.  
   
   
       16 . A method of providing compatible encoded signals to a television from a remote controller, the method comprising: 
 sensing electricity received by the remote controller from the television;    identifying the television based on the received electricity; and    transmitting compatible encoded signals to the television from the remote controller.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein identification of the television is based on the polarity and/or voltage of the received electricity.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein identifying the television means identifying the manufacturer or brand of the television.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein identifying the television means identifying the type of television.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising powering components of the remote controller with the received electricity.