Remote control unit with hierarchical selection
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a remote control unit or station. More particularly, this invention relates to such a unit for modifying the operating state of a selected one of a plurality of electronic or electrical operating units via wireless signal transmission. 
     Devices for the remote control of electronic or electrical equipment such as television sets, stereo systems and lighting fixtures or lamps are well known. Such remote control devices are generally portable and provided with manually actuatable keys. Inasmuch as only a relatively small surface area is available on a remote control unit, the scope of operation of the unit generally cannot be shown and explained sufficiently on the unit itself. Moreover, users are not accustomed to reading pertinent operating instructions and, in addition, the instructions are frequently not at hand in practice. 
     Because of an increasing number of channels for different operating units and a multiplicity of addresses, i.e., equipment or operating units to be addressed and controlled, a user can easily lose track of which operating unit is subject at any particular instant to control by the remote unit. 
     Conventional remote control units are generally incapable of being adapted to an increasing number of operating units for the reason that the number of operating units for the particular control unit is usually fixed. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an improved remote control unit of the above-mentioned type. 
     Another, more particular, object of the present invention is to provide such a remote control unit whose operation is simplified particularly with respect to the selection of a piece of equipment to be controlled at any particular moment. 
     Another particular object of the present invention is to provide such a remote control unit which has a minimal number of keys. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a remote control unit which is easily adapted to different numbers of operating units. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A remote control unit for a system having a multiplicity of physically spaced operating units organizable into respective groups comprises, in accordance with the present invention, a wireless transmitter for sending signals to the operating units, a keyboard with a plurality of manually actuatable control keys, and a selection device for selecting which of the operating units is to be subject to a control operation. A control component responsive to the control keys and to the selection device generates, in response to signals from the control keys, control signals for modifying the operating state of one of the operating units selected in accordance with signals from the selection device. The control component is operatively connected to the transmitter for transmitting the control signals to the selected operating unit via the transmitter. The selection device includes a sequencing key operatively coupled to the control component for calling up in a predetermined first sequence the different groups of the operating units and, alternately, in a predetermined second sequence the different operating units in a selected group of the operating units. The selection device further comprises a manually actuatable stop key operatively coupled to the control component for shifting the effect of actuating the sequencing key from the first sequence to the second sequence. 
     Pursuant to the present invention, the operating units are organized into categories of different hierarchical levels. Accordingly, groups of operating units may themselves be organized into respective supergroupings. The sequencing key of the selection device is used for calling up in a predetermined sequence in the control unit the different members of each hierarchical ordered space or category. Upon the calling up of a desired member of an ordered space or category, the stop button is pushed. At that time further actuation of the sequencing key calls up the members of the next lower hierarchical ordered space in a predetermined sequence. Upon the calling up a desired member of the second hierarchical ordered space, the stop button again pushed, whereby that desired member is selected. Further actuation of the sequencing key then calls up in another predetermined sequence the various members of the selected member of the second hierarchical space. 
     As an example, the operating units may include the controls of television sets, stereo systems, electric lights and climate regulation systems. These operating units are organized into respective groups such as the rooms in which the operating units are located. The groups, i.e.. rooms, are in turn organized into respective supergroupings such as the floors on which the rooms are located. Actuating the sequencing key initially calls up sequences the floors of the building. Upon actuation of the stop key, further actuations of the sequencing key call up the different rooms on the selected floor. When the desired floor has been called up, the stop button is again actuated. At that time further actuations of the sequencing key calls up, in a predetermined sequence, the various devices or operating units located in the selected room which are subject to control by the remote unit. 
     Preferably, the selection device of a remote control unit pursuant to the invention further includes a reset key operatively coupled to the control component for shifting the effect of actuating the sequencing key back to an uppermost hierarchical grouping. 
     The control keys of the remote unit preferably include an ON key and an OFF key, as well as one or more keys for modifying an operational parameter of the operating units. Such a key may, for example, serve to dim a light or to turn up the volume of a stereo system. 
     The remote control unit advantageously includes a display component coupled to the control component for displaying the operating state of an operating unit identified by the selection device. To this end, the remote unit includes a receiver component for receiving state messages from the operating units via a wireless medium. The visual display of the operating states of the operating units is advantageous particularly if the operating states of the operating units are not determinable upon visual inspection, e.g., if the operating devices themselves are not within visual range of an operator. 
     If the remote control unit can process specific signals which identify ordered spaces, the manual operations for the selection of an operating unit to be controlled can be simplified. For example, if a person equipped with the remote control unit enters a given space such as a room, the control component of the remote control unit would then assume that only the operating units within the particular room are available for selection without a separate preselection operation. Otherwise, especially if a visual inspection is impossible, and if a suitable transmission medium or a transmission chain is being used, first a particular building and then a given floor and finally certain rooms on that floor can be selected and identified on the display of the remote control unit. 
     Advantageously, the control component of the remote unit processes signals for the identification of the ordered spaces not only to the end of determining the states of the operating units but also to simplify the commands for modifying the operating states of the operating units in a given ordered space. For example, if only one addressable operating unit is present in a given room of a building, that operating unit (e.g., a lighting fixture) can be controlled in the respective room directly by the remote unit without a preceding selection operation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a remote control unit in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the remote control unit of FIG. 1 and of an assemblage of operating units controllable by the remote control unit. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A remote control unit or station 1 pursuant to the invention can be constructed as a portable transmitter or as a wired unit housed in a concealed box in a building. Remote control unit 1 has a programmable control component 11 (FIG. 2) which is operatively connected to a visually readable display 2 via driving circuits 12. The remote unit is provided with a keyboard 14 including a sequencing or &#34;continue&#34; key 3, a &#34;stop&#34; key 4 and a reset key 5. As shown in FIG. 2, keyboard 14 is operatively connected to control component 11 via a decoder 16. 
     As depicted in FIG. 2, a multiplicity of operating units to be operated by the remote control unit 1 are organized into respective groups 18a, 18b, 18c, 20a, 20b, 20c, 22a and 22b. The groups of operating units are in turn organize respective supergroupings 18, 20 and 22. Each operating unit represents exemplarily a modifiable control parameter of an electrical or electronic device. Accordingly, operating units 17 may include the volume control of a stereo system, the color control of a television set, and the brightness control of a light fixture. 
     Each group 18a, 18b, 18c, 20a, 20b, 20c, 22a and 22b of operating units 17 may be provided with a respective local control 24 which is connected wirelessly or via input and output leads to the respective operating units 17. The local controls in any supergrouping 18, 20 and 22 are also connected to a respective transceiver device 18d, 20d and 22c acting as a relay transmitting to a transmitter/receiver 26 in remote unit 1 signals coding the operating states of the respective operating units 17. Transceivers 18d, 20d and 22c also receive command signals from control component 11 via a buffer 28 and transmitter/receiver 26 and relay those command signals to the various operating units 17 via local controls 24. 
     An initial actuation of sequencing key 3 calls up via control component 11 a first member of an uppermost hierarchical grouping or ordered space of operating units 17. Further actuation of sequencing key 3 calls up, in a predetermined sequence, the other members of the uppermost hierarchical grouping. Actuation of stop key 4 effects a selection of the member of the uppermost hierarchical grouping shown on display 2 at the instant stop key 4 is actuated. At that point, continued operation of the sequencing key calls up in another predetermined sequence the members of the selected grouping, that grouping representing a next lower hierarchical category or ordered space. 
     By way of example, an initial actuation of sequencing key 3 calls up a first supergrouping 18, while a second actuation calls up supergrouping 20. If stop key 4 is then actuated, subsequent actuations of sequencing key 3 results in a calling up of groups 20a, 20b and 20c in that predetermined order. If, however, stop key 4 is pressed immediately after the calling up of group 20a and prior to the calling up of group 20b, a subsequent actuation of key 3 results in the sequential calling up and concomitant display of the identities of the operating units within group 20a. 
     The groups of operating units may correspond to respective rooms on a floor of a given building, while the supergroupings of the groups in turn represent different floors in that building. A person using a remote control unit pursuant to the present invention first calls up the different floors in the building, then the different rooms on a selected floor and finally the different controllable devices within a selected room. 
     Actuation of reset key 5 (FIG. 1) results in a return of the addressing operation to the first member of the uppermost hierarchical grouping or space. 
     Upon the selection of an operating unit or device via keys 3 and 4, an operator may turn the selected device on by depressing a control pushbutton or key 6. Similarly, a device may be switched off by depressing another control pushbutton or key 7. Two further keys 8 and 9 are provided for respectively increasing or decreasing a control parameter of the selected operating device. 
     Display 2 identifies the operating unit called up by the actuation of keys 3 and 4 (see FIG. 1) and also indicates the operating state of the addressed device. If, for example, a staircase light has been selected for control, the words &#34;stairs light&#34; or other similar appellation appears on display 2. Upon an actuation of key 6, the word &#34;on&#34; also appears on the display. The brightness of the staircase light can be increased by pushing key 8 and decreased by pushing key 9. 
     A structured hierarchical grouping of the various operating units is advantageous but not necessary. Accordingly, the operating units 17 can be called up in a single sequence. 
     The use of a remote control unit in accordance with the present invention enables a retrofit, i.e., an accommodation of the control unit to include further operating devices or to omit other devices. The adaptability of the remote control unit is based in part on the programmable nature of control component 11. A hard-wired remote unit would result in redundancy and non-utilized channels. In such a hard-wired control device, expansion, i.e., an attempt to accomodate further operating units, generally interferes with the completed structure because insufficient free function keys are provided. 
     Signals are transmitted between transmitter/receiver 26 and transceiver relays 18b, 20d and 22c via electromagnetic waves or another wireless medium. Radio or infrared wavelengths may be particularly advantageous. 
     It is to be noted that the grouping of operating units illustrated in FIG. 2 and the chains of relay stations is exemplary of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope of the claims herein. Other structures or arrangements such as direct communication between control unit 1 and operating units 17 are possible.