Preamble

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

1. Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to directionally adjustable infra red blaster having individually adjustable infrared transmitters for transmitting infrared signal to the line of sight of the receiving devices based on their location and placement that provides liberty to the user for placing the receiving devices inside the room or premises as per his/her choice while providing broader area of coverage.

2. Background of the invention

An infrared blaster (or IR blaster) is a device that emulates an infrared remote control to autonomously control a number of devices that are normally controlled only by individual pre-configured remote controls. The user can control all the electronic devices such as TV, Home theatre, DVD Player, Air conditioner in an enclosed area using the universal remote control that replaces separate remote controls for each device.

The problems with existing infrared blasters are their size, complexity of installation and inability to transmit infrared signal to remote devices which are to be controlled using universal remote control. Moreover, none of the prior arts provide a solution to manually adjust the direction of individual infrared LEDs to the line of sight of the remote devices inside a room. For example, a room may have a television, a home theatre system, an air conditioner installed at a height slightly lower than the ceiling, an infrared controlled lighting/fan switch, where all these equipments are controlled by an infrared remote control. The conventional infrared blasters normally have a flat panel having unidirectional infrared LEDs mounted on them that can receive and transmit signals in a pre defined direction only. Such infrared blasters have to be installed or mounted, keeping in view the location of devices inside the room which limits the placement of the devices to a specific narrow region into which infrared signals are being transmitted. Such devices are set up either permanently at one location and are not easily adaptable to the additional devices as they either have to be reinstalled based on the locating of the additional device or the additional device has to be placed in the line of sight of the infrared blaster.

There are infrared blasters in the prior art that includes the invention disclosed in US Patent no 4850040.

This invention provides an infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operation
of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the substantially same enclosed space, for example, a hotel room. The console includes several simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters, the transmitters being aimed in different directions. Remote devices respond to respective codes, but some also retransmit received radiation so that the console can gain access even to remote devices which are not along a line of sight. This system though effectively overcoming the problem of providing a broader coverage area but fails to provide individually adjustable infrared transmitters that can adapt to various devices located at different lines of sight.

Hence it would be highly desirable to have an infra red blaster which is easily adjustable to the line of sight of the receiving device and covers a broader area for infra red signal transmission inside an enclosed area. Such type of infrared blaster would substantially reduce the problems of poor coverage of devices that fall out of the line of sight of the infrared signal.

3. Summary of the invention

The present invention provides directionally adjustable infra red blaster having individually adjustable infrared transmitters for transmitting infrared signal to the line of sight of the receiving devices based on their location and placement that provides liberty to the user for placing the receiving devices inside the room or premises as per his/her choice while providing broader area of coverage.

One object of the invention is to provide an infrared blaster that can transmit infrared signals in multiple directions covering devices located at variable heights and places inside a room.

One more object of the invention is to provide an adjustable infrared blaster that allows user to adjust various infrared LEDs individually according to the position or placement of various devices inside a room or premises for better coverage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of infrared transmitting elements on an infrared blaster wherein the transmitting elements are mounted at a suitable angle to provide wider area coverage.

To achieve these and other objectives, the present invention provides directionally adjustable infrared blaster. In most preferred embodiment, the directionally adjustable infrared blaster comprises plurality of rotatable members wherein at least one transmitting element is secured inside each of the rotatable members to transmit signals to the line of sight of the remote devices. The rotatable members are cylindrical, spherical or oval in shape.The transmitting elements are individually adjustable by rotating the rotatable members.

In one embodiment, the directionally adjustable infrared blaster also includes connecting means for rotatably holding and connecting the rotatable members to the infrared blaster. The connecting means allow the rotatable members rotate to an angle of at least 60 degree about longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the transmitting elements comprise infrared light emitting diodes.

In one embodiment the transmitting elements may be mounted perpendicular or at an angle of at least 30 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable member.

In one more embodiment, the rotatable members in the directionally adjustable infrared blaster have infrared transmitters that may be rotated individually in any direction to facilitate transmission of infrared signal to the line of sight of the receiving devices whereby providing liberty to the user for placing the receiving devices inside the room or premises as per his/her choice while providing broader area of coverage.

One of the main advantages of the invention is that the user can individually adjust the transmitting elements to the line of sight of various receiving devices by rotating the rotatable members. The arrangement of the rotatable member on respective axis of rotation provides the transmitting elements with unlimited transmission capabilities and allow a much wider area of coverage having varied heights and places as compared to prior art. The rotational angle of the rotatable members along with added a wide beam angle of the infrared transmitters provides a wide coverage areas to the receiving device and gives greater liberty to the user to place the receiving devices as per his/her choice. The present device is designed to be aesthetically appealing and portable that can be either mounted vertically on a wall or may be mounted horizontally on a ceiling depending upon the requirement. The infrared blaster may be used for a plurality of receiving devices inside a room or premises and provides a much broader coverage to a larger number of devices while providing facility to adjust the receiving device as per user's convenience.
4. Brief description of the drawings:

FIG 1 shows an isometric view of the front side of the directionally adjustable infrared blaster according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG 2 shows an isometric view of the back side of the directionally adjustable infrared blaster according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG 3 shows an orthogonal front view of the directionally adjustable infrared blaster according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG 4 shows an orthogonal side view of the directionally adjustable infrared blaster according to one embodiment of the invention.

5. Detailed description of the invention:

Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the present subject matter, one or more examples of which are shown in figures. Each example is provided to explain the subject matter and not a limitation. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention.

Referring now to FIG 1, that shows an isometric view of the front side of the directionally adjustable infrared blaster according to one embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the directionally adjustable infrared blaster (100) comprises plurality of rotatable members (101, 102, 103) rotatable in first axis. As shown in the figure, the rotatable members (101, 102, 103) in this embodiment are preferably cylindrical in shape but may be of any shape such as spherical or oval to facilitate rotation along the first axis. In preferred embodiments, the first axis may be the longitudinal axis of the rotatable member (101, 102, 103) wherein each of the rotatable members (101, 102, 103) may be rotated forward or backward along the longitudinal axis so as to position it to the line of sight of various receiving devices located at different heights inside a room or premises.

Inside each of the rotatable members (101, 102, 103) is coupled at least one transmitting element (111, 112,113) that transmit and receive infrared signals to and from various receiving devices inside a room or premises. The infrared transmitting elements (111, 112, 113) simultaneously receive signals from a centralized remote control device and transmit infrared signals to the coupled receiving device. The transmitting elements (111, 112, 113) are preferably infrared LED (Light emitting Diodes) suitably mounted on printed circuit board (PCB) (108,109,110) inside each of the rotatable members (101, 102, 103). The PCB (108, 109, 110) having transmitting elements (111, 112,113) is coupled inside each of the rotatable members (101,102,103) in such as way that the PCB (108,109,110) also rotates as any of the respective rotatable members (101, 102, 103) is rotated individually in a particular direction. Hence the user can individually adjust the transmitting elements (111, 112, 113) to the line of sight of various receiving devices by rotating the rotatable members (101,102,103).

The rotatable members (101, 102, 103) is made of a transparent or semi transparent plastic or polymer that allows transmission of infrared signal to and from the transmitting elements (111, 112,113). The transmitting elements (111, 112,113) are connected electrically to the electrical circuit inside the infrared blaster (100). In preferred embodiments, the transmitting elements (112) mounted at the centre most portion of the rotatable member (102) are mounted preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable members (101, 102, 103) as shown in the figure whereas the transmitting elements (111 and 113) mounted on both the extreme ends of the blaster (100) are oriented at a suitable angle with respect to the PCB (108 and 110) respectively. In preferred embodiments, the angle of inclination may be 30
degree or any suitable angle that may be required for complete coverage of the receiving device. The infrared light beams will be emitted in a direction determined by the orientation of the transmitting elements (111,112,113).

The infrared blaster (100) also includes connecting means (114, 104, 105, 115) on both sides of each of the rotatable members (101,102,103) to rotatably hold them and also allow the rotatable members (101,102,103) to rotate to at least 60 degree about the first axis so that the transmitting elements (111, 112, 113) may be adjusted individually according to the line of sight of various receiving devices.
Referring now to FIG 2, that shows an isometric view of the back side of the directionally adjustable infrared blaster according to one embodiment of the invention. To provide the capability to easily adjust the rotatable members (101,102, 103) along the line of sight of the receiving devices, the rotatable members (101,102, 103) are disposed preferably at the top most portion or the bottom most portion of the infrared blaster (100) wherein the rotatable members (101,102, 103) are disposed partially on the front side and partially disposed on the back side of the infrared blaster (100). The user can rotate each of the rotatable members (101,102, 103) in forward or backward direction easily by holding and rotating them in desired direction by using two fingers or in any suitable manner. The arrangement of the rotatable member (101, 102, 103) on respective axis of rotation provides the transmitting elements (111, 112, 113) coupled to each rotatable member (101, 102, 103) with unlimited transmission capabilities and allow a much wider area of coverage having varied heights and places as compared to prior art.

In other embodiments the infrared transmitters may be mounted at the tip of a flexible wire connected to the body of the infrared blaster (100) wherein the transmitting elements (111, 112,113) may be adjusted to the line of sight of the receiving device by rotating the tip in desired direction.

Referring now to FIG 3, that shows an orthogonal front view of the directionally adjustable infrared blaster according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown in the figure, each of the rotatable members (101, 102, 103) is rotatably mounted in between at least two connecting means. For example, the rotatable member (101) is rotatably mounted in between first connecting means (114) and second connecting means (104). Similarly, the rotatable member (102) is rotatably mounted in between second connecting means (104) and third connecting means (105). The rotatable member (103) is rotatably mounted in between third connecting means (105) and the fourth connecting means (115). The connecting means (114,104,105,115) may form a portion of the housing (107) of the infrared blaster (100). The connecting means (114, 104, 105, 115) hold the rotatable members (101, 102, 103) and allow them to rotate while allowing user to rotate the rotatable members (101, 102, 103) to a predefined angle.

Referring now to FIG 4, that shows an orthogonal side view of the directionally adjustable infrared blaster according to one embodiment of the invention. Based on the requirements, a suitable rotational angle up to which the rotatable members (101, 102, 103) may be rotated, is constructed. In exemplary embodiments, the rotatable members (101, 102, 103) may be rotated to up to 60 degrees along the longitudinal axis. The rotational angle of the rotatable members (101,102,103) along with added a wide beam angle of the infrared transmitters (111, 112, 113) provides a wide coverage areas to the receiving device and gives greater liberty to the user to place the receiving devices as per his/her choice.
In operation, whenever it is desired by the user to alter the direction of individual infrared transmitters (111, 112,113) in an infrared blaster (100), to be in line with the receiving device which is unable to receive the infrared signal properly, the user just needs to rotate a suitable rotatable member (101, 102, 103) in the desired direction without altering the location or position of the receiving device. The present device is designed to be aesthetically appealing and portable that can be either mounted vertically on a wall or may be mounted horizontally on a ceiling depending upon the requirement.

All the exemplary embodiments described above are provided with only three rotatable members (101, 102, 103) with one transmitting element (111, 112, 113) mounted inside each of them. In other embodiments the infrared blaster (100) may have more than three rotatable members (101, 102, 103) in case a much broader coverage and individual control for various devices is required in large room or large premises. The infrared blaster (100) may be used for a plurality of receiving devices inside a room or premises and provides a much broader coverage to a larger number of devices while providing facility to adjust the receiving device as per user's convenience.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore the presently discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather that the foregoing description and all changes which cone within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

6. Claims
We claim:

1. A directionally adjustable infrared blaster comprising:

a) plurality of rotatable members;

b) at least one transmitting element secured inside each of said rotatable members to transmit signals to the line of sight of the remote devices, said transmitting elements being individually adjustable by rotating said rotatable members;

c) connecting means for rotatably holding and connecting said rotatable members to said infrared blaster, said connecting means allowing said rotatable members rotate to an angle of at least 60 degree about longitudinal axis.

2. The infrared blaster as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transmitting elements comprise infrared light emitting diodes.

3. The infrared blaster as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotatable members are cylindrical, spherical or oval in shape.

4. The infrared blaster as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotatable members having infrared transmitters may be rotated individually in any direction to facilitate transmission of infrared signal to the line of sight of the receiving devices whereby providing liberty to the user for placing the receiving devices inside the room or premises as per his/her choice while providing broader area of coverage.

5. The infrared blaster as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transmitting elements are mounted perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said rotatable member.

6. The infrared blaster as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transmitting elements are mounted at an angle of at least 30 degrees to the longitudinal axis of said rotatable member.