Rechargeable universal remote control assembly

Abstract

A rechargeable universal remote control assembly for providing a multi-function multipurpose remote control with a base charger, remote control finder, and other functional features includes a remote control and a base unit. The remote control is recharged using the base unit. The base unit also includes a button operationally coupled to a transmitter for sending a locate signal to the remote control. The remote control includes a receiver for receiving the locate signal. In response to the locate signal, the remote control provides audio and visual signals to assist a user in finding the remote control unit. The remote control has capability to operate multiple devices including TVs, VCRs, satellite receivers, audio and visual receivers, stereo equipment, and the like.

1. A universal remote control and remote control finding system comprising:
 a base unit having a charging port; 
 a remote control unit having a battery, said remote control unit being positionable on said base unit such that said remote control unit operationally engages said charging port whereby said base unit charges said battery of said remote control unit; 
 a transmitter positioned in said base unit for transmitting a locate signal; 
 a receiver positioned in said remote control unit for receiving said locate signal from said transmitter; 
 a microprocessor positioned in said remote control unit, said receiver being operationally coupled to said microprocessor; 
 a speaker operationally coupled to said microprocessor for producing an audio signal from said remote control unit when said receiver receives said locate signal from said transmitter; 
 a light source operationally coupled to said microprocessor for illuminating when said receiver receivers receives said locate signal from said transmitter; and 
 wherein said light source is a tubular light extending around a perimeter of said remote control unit to illuminate an area around said remote control unit. 
 
     
     
       2. The universal remote control and remote control finding system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an infrared transmitter operationally coupled to said microprocessor for sending operational commands from said remote control. 
 
     
     
       3. The universal remote control and remote control finding system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of indicator lights on said base unit, one of said plurality of indicator lights being a positive charging light, said charging light illuminating when said remote control unit engages said charging port of said base unit to successfully charge said battery of said remote control unit. 
 
     
     
       4. The universal remote control and remote control finding system of  claim 3  wherein a second one of said plurality of indicator lights is a negative charging light, said negative charging light illuminating when said remote control unit is disengaged from said charging port of said base unit. 
     
     
       5. The universal remote control and remote control finding system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said remote control unit including a plurality of operational keys, each of said operational keys being operationally coupled to said microprocessor for sending a selectable operational command from said remote control using said operational keys. 
 
     
     
       6. The universal remote control and remote control finding system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said remote control unit having a plurality of battery charge indicators operationally coupled to said battery for indicating a charge level of said battery. 
 
     
     
       7. The universal remote control and remote control finding system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 said plurality of battery charge indicators being aligned next to each other and illuminating in sequence such that a number of illuminated battery charge indicators indicates a degree to which said battery is charged. 
 
     
     
       8. The universal remote control and remote control finding system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said remote control unit having a housing, said housing having a bulbous forward portion, a neck portion, and a rear portion; and 
 said base unit having a depression for receiving said remote control unit, said depression having a complementary shape to said remote control unit to prevent movement of said remote control unit within said depression and to insure proper alignment of said remote control unit in said depression of said base unit for proper charging of said battery of said remote control unit. 
 
     
     
       9. A universal remote control and remote control finding system comprising:
 a base unit having a charging port; 
 a remote control unit having a battery, said remote control unit being positionable on said base unit such that said remote control unit operationally engages said charging port whereby said base unit charges said battery of said remote control unit; 
 a transmitter positioned in said base unit for transmitting a locate signal; 
 a receiver positioned in said remote control unit for receiving said locate signal from said transmitter; 
 a microprocessor positioned in said remote control unit, said receiver being operationally coupled to said microprocessor; 
 a speaker operationally coupled to said microprocessor for producing an audio signal from said remote control unit when said receiver receives said locate signal from said transmitter; 
 a light source operationally coupled to said microprocessor for illuminating when said receiver receivers receives said locate signal from said transmitter; 
 wherein said light source is a tubular light extending around a perimeter of said remote control unit; 
 an infrared transmitter operationally coupled to said microprocessor for sending operational commands from said remote control; 
 a plurality of indicator lights on said base unit, one of said plurality of indicator lights being a positive charging light, said charging light illuminating when said remote control unit engages said charging port of said base unit to successfully charge said battery of said remote control unit; 
 wherein a second one of said plurality of indicator lights is a negative charging light, said negative charging light illuminating when said remote control unit is disengaged from said charging port of said base unit; 
 said remote control unit including a plurality of operational keys, each of said operational keys being operationally coupled to said microprocessor for sending a selectable operational command from said remote control using said operational keys; 
 said remote control unit having a plurality of battery charge indicators operationally coupled to said battery for indicating a charge level of said battery; 
 said plurality of battery charge indicators being aligned next to each other and illuminating in sequence such to that a number of illuminated battery charge indicators indicates a degree to which said battery is charged; 
 said remote control unit having a housing, said housing having a bulbous forward portion, a neck portion, and a rear portion; and 
 said base unit having a depression for receiving said remote control unit, said depression having a complementary shape to said remote control unit to prevent of said remote control unit within said depression. 
 
     
     
       10. A rechargeable remote control and remote control finding system comprising:
 a base unit having a charging port;   a remote control unit having a battery, the remote control unit being positionable on the base unit such that the remote control unit operationally engages the charging port whereby the base unit charges the battery of the remote control unit; a transmitter positioned in the base unit for transmitting a locate signal; a receiver positioned in the remote control unit for receiving the locate signal from the transmitter; and   a light source positioned in the remote control unit for producing a findable visual signal to assist a user in finding the remote control unit when the receiver receives the locate signal from the transmitter, the light source being distributed over the remote control unit so as to make the visual signal less likely to be obscured.   
     
     
       11. The rechargeable remote control and remote control finding system of claim 10, further comprising a speaker for producing a findable audio signal to assist a user in finding the remote control unit when the receiver receives the locate signal from the transmitter. 
     
     
       12. The rechargeable remote control and remote control finding system of claim 10, wherein the light source extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the remote control unit. 
     
     
       13. The rechargeable remote control and remote control finding system of claim 10 wherein the light source is a tubular light. 
     
     
       14. The rechargeable remote control and remote control finding system of claim 10, wherein the remote control unit is a universal remote control. 
     
     
       15. The rechargeable remote control and remote control finding system of claim 10, wherein a microprocessor is positioned in the remote control unit and the receiver is operationally coupled to the microprocessor. 
     
     
       16. The rechargeable remote control and remote control finding system of claim 15, wherein an infrared transmitter is positioned in the remote control and is operationally coupled to the microprocessor for sending operational commands from the remote control. 
     
     
       17. The rechargeable remote control and remote control finding system of claim 10, wherein the base unit includes at least one charging indicator light for indicating the charging status of the unit. 
     
     
       18. The rechargeable remote control and remote control finding system of claim 17, wherein the at least one charging indicator light included in the base unit is a positive charging light, the positive charging light illuminating when the remote control unit engages the charging port of the base unit to successfully charge the battery of the remote control unit. 
     
     
       19. The rechargeable remote control and remote control finding system of claim 17, wherein the at least one charging indicator light included in the base, unit is a negative charging light, the negative charging light illuminating when the remote control unit is disengaged from the charging port of the base unit. 
     
     
       20. The rechargeable remote control and remote control finding system of claim 10, wherein the remote control includes at least one battery charge indicator that is operationally coupled to the battery for indicating them charge level of the battery. 
     
     
       21. The rechargeable remote control and remote control finding system of claim 10, wherein the light source is distributed over the remote control unit so as to be substantially situated at least at two corners of the remote control unit.