A pile of various remote controls

A remote control is an electronic device used for the remote operation of a machine. Remote control may refer saeveral concepts, which includes the following: Main a remote control is a electronic device used for the remote operation of a machine. ... General info: Television remote control Size: 6769 bytes Dimension: 200x159 pixels Source: Image taken by Dori License: PD This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 630 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1415 × 1347 pixel, file size: 181 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 630 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1415 × 1347 pixel, file size: 181 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... This article is about the engineering discipline. ... This article is about devices that perform tasks. ...

The term remote control can be also referred to as "remote" or "controller" when abbreviated. It is known by many other names as well, such as the "clicker", "channel-changer", "selector", "splat", "magic hand", etc. Commonly, remote controls are used to issue commands from a distance to televisions or other consumer electronics such as stereo systems and DVD players. Remote controls for these devices are usually small wireless handheld objects with an array of buttons for adjusting various settings such as television channel, track number, and volume. In fact, for the majority of modern devices with this kind of control, the remote contains all the function controls while the controlled device itself only has a handful of essential primary controls. Most of these remotes communicate to their respective devices via infrared (IR) signals and a few via radio signals. They are usually powered by small AAA or AA size batteries. Consumer electronics is a term used to describe the category of electronic equipment intended for everyday use by people, the consumers. ... Label for 2. ... DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ... The term television channel generally refers to either a television station or its cable/satellite counterpart (both outlined below). ... For other uses, see Volume (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Infrared (disambiguation). ... This radio control airplane is carrying a scale model of X-33 and is taking part in NASA research. ... An AAA battery is 44. ... ‹ The template below (Expand) is being considered for deletion. ... For other uses, see Battery. ...

History

One of the earliest examples of remote control was developed in 1893 by Nikola Tesla, and described in his patent, U.S. Patent 613,809 , named Method of an Apparatus for Controlling Mechanism of Moving Vehicle or Vehicles. Nikola Tesla (1856-1943)[1] was a world-renowned Serbian inventor, physicist, mechanical engineer and electrical engineer. ... Below is a list of Tesla patents. ...

In 1903, Leonardo Torres Quevedo presented the Telekino at the Paris Academy of Science, accompanied by a brief, and making an experimental demonstration. In the same year, he obtained a patent in France, Spain, Great Britain, and the United States. The Telekino consisted of a robot that executed commands transmitted by electromagnetic waves. It constituted the world's first apparatus for radio control and was a pioneer in the field of remote control. In 1906, in the presence of the king and before a great crowd, Torres successfully demonstrated the invention in the port of Bilbao, guiding a boat from the shore. Later, he would try to apply the Telekino to projectiles and torpedoes, but had to abandon the project for lack of financing. Year 1903 (MCMIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... Leonardo Torres y Quevedo (28 December 1852 – 18 December 1936), usually Leonardo Torres Quevedo in Spanish-speaking countries, was a Spanish engineer and mathematician of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. ... For other uses, see robot (disambiguation). ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... General Information Founded June 15, 1300 Coordinates  - Latitude  - Longitude 43º 22 43 N 03º 04 57 W Area  - Land  - Water 313 has. ...

The first remote-controlled model aeroplane flew in 1932, and the use of remote control technology for military purposes was worked intensively during the Second World War, one result of this being the German Wasserfall missile. Hermes-A1 (American Copy of the Wasserfall-missile) Wasserfall (German for waterfall) was a German surface-to-air missile developed during World War II. It never reached operational status although it was well developed and likely ready for operation, and the project was cancelled in February 1945. ...

By the late 1930s, several radio manufacturers offered remote controls for some of their higher-end models. Most of these were connected to the set being controlled by wires, but the Philco Mystery Control (1939) was a battery-operated low-frequency radio transmitter ^[1], thus making it the first wireless remote control for a consumer electronics device. A Philco 90 cathedral style radio from 1931. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Television Remote Controls

There are 11 various remote controls for TV-, VHS- and DVD-devices shown here

The first remote intended to control a television was developed by Zenith Radio Corporation in 1950. The remote — officially called "Lazy Bones" was connected to the television set by a wire. To improve the cumbersome setup, a wireless remote control called "Flashmatic" was developed in 1955 which worked by shining a beam of light onto a photoelectric cell. Unfortunately, the cells did not distinguish between light from the remote and light from other sources and the Flashmatic also required that the remote control be pointed very accurately at the receiver.^[2] See TV (disambiguation) for other uses and Television (band) for the rock band European networks National In much of Europe television broadcasting has historically been state dominated, rather than commercially organised, although commercial stations have grown in number recently. ... Bottom view of VHS cassette with magnetic tape exposed Top view of VHS cassette with front casing removed The Video Home System, better known by its abbreviation VHS, is a recording and playing standard. ... DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ... Zenith Electronics Corporation is a manufacturer of televisions in the USA. It was the inventor of the modern remote control, and it introduced HDTV in North America. ... A solar cell, made from a monocrystalline silicon wafer A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device that converts light energy into electrical energy. ...

The Zenith Space Commander 600 remote control

In 1956 Robert Adler developed "Zenith Space Command", a wireless remote.^[3] It was mechanical and used ultrasound to change the channel and volume. When the user pushed a button on the remote control it clicked and struck a bar, hence the term "clicker". Each bar emitted a different frequency and circuits in the television detected this noise. The invention of the transistor made possible cheaper electronic remotes that contained a piezoelectric crystal that was fed by an oscillating electric current at a frequency near or above the upper threshold of human hearing, though still audible to dogs. The receiver contained a microphone attached to a circuit that was tuned to the same frequency. Some problems with this method were that the receiver could be triggered accidentally by naturally occurring noises, and some people, especially young women, could hear the piercing ultrasonic signals. There was even a noted incident in which a toy xylophone changed the channels on these types of TVs since some of the overtones from the xylophone matched the remote's ultrasonic frequency. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Robert Adler Robert Adler (December 4, 1913 - February 15, 2007) was an Austrian-American inventor who held numerous patents. ... Assorted discrete transistors A transistor is a semiconductor device, commonly used as an amplifier or an electrically controlled switch. ... Piezoelectricity is the ability of some materials (notably crystals and certain ceramics) to generate an electric potential[1] in response to applied mechanical stress. ... Oscillation is the variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium) or between two or more different states. ... For other uses, see Frequency (disambiguation). ... Hearing (or audition) is one of the traditional five senses, and refers to the ability to detect sound. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... Microphones redirects here. ... Kulintang a Kayo, a Philippine xylophone The xylophone (from the Greek meaning wooden sound) is a musical instrument in the percussion family which probably originated in Indonesia. ... Approximate harmonic overtones on a string An overtone is a natural resonance or vibration frequency of a system. ...

Jerrold remote control by General Instrument from the late 1970s

The impetus for a more complex type of television remote control came in the late 1970s with the development of the Ceefax teletext service by the BBC. Most commercial remote controls at that time had a limited number of functions, sometimes as few as three: next channel, previous channel, and volume/off. This type of control did not meet the needs of teletext sets where pages were identified with three-digit numbers. A remote control to select teletext pages would need buttons for each number from zero to nine, as well as other control functions, such as switching from text to picture, and the normal television controls of volume, station, brightness, colour intensity and so on. Early teletext sets used wired remote controls to select pages but the continuous use of the remote control required for teletext quickly indicated the need for a wireless device. So BBC engineers began talks with one or two television manufacturers which led to early prototypes in around 1977-78 that could control a much larger number of functions. ITT was one of the companies and later gave its name to the ITT protocol of infrared communication. ^[4] A BBC Ceefax page from 10 September 1999 Ceefax (phonetic for See Facts) is the BBCs teletext information service. ... A BBC Ceefax page from January 9, 2007. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Social Effects of the Early Television Remote Control

In the 1950’s remotes were extra upgrades options to T.V. sets. As previously mentioned, Zenith was ready to change the lives of "lazy" people for good.^[5] The initial purpose to the T.V. remote was to turn off the T.V. set from afar, and to change the channels or mute commercials. People were told that the remote could turn off the T.V. while they were still laying in their LaZBoy and thus could drift off to sleep without interruption. A common complaint was that people tripped on the cable that was attached to the first remotes. It was not until 1955 that Zenith created the “Flash-matic” or their first wireless remote. While it helped keep the flow of traffic without tipping people along the way, the “Flash-matic” was not flawless. It frustrated people when the sun would hit the T.V. set, thus changing the channel.

The remote gave viewers an opportunity to “arm” themselves. Viewers no longer watched a show because they did not want to get up to turn the channel. ^[6]

Audiences were “armed” with the ability to change their minds about what they were watching. It allowed audiences, for the first time, to interact with their T.V.. The remote’s technology and buzz started something the first of its kind for the everyday T.V. viewer: the Joystick.^[7] The Joystick allowed people to interact with their T.V., liberating the kinds of interaction they had with their television. Pong- the game in which people first used joysticks- was a basic game that was based on ping-pong. This new technology gave the average T.V. owner the ability to manipulate his or her own pixel on the T.V. screen for the first time.^[8]

The invention of the remote control has led to several different changes in television programming. One thing that the remote control led to was the creation of split screen credits. According to James Gleick, an NBC research team discovered that when the credits started rolling after a program, 25% of its viewers would change the channel before it was over. Because of this, the NBC 2000 unit invented the “squeeze and tease” which squeezed the credits onto one third of the screen while the final minutes of the broadcast aired simultaneously.^[9]

The remote control also led to an adjustment in commercial airings. Networks began to feel that they could not afford to have commercials between programs because it would detract viewers from staying tuned in on their channel. Programmers decided to place commercials in the middle of programs in order to transition into the next show directly.^[10]

With networks keeping in mind that people were equipped with remotes, thirty-second advertisement spots were cut down into segments of eight seconds or less. MTV was made up of this high-speed and broken cutting style, which aired music videos that were around three-minutes and each shot no more than two or three seconds. But MTV felt that even these three-minute segments were too long, so they created an animated series called Beavis and Butthead, to keep their viewer’s attention. ^[11] In the show, they would show segments of music videos and then switch back to the characters and offer dialogue and action while the music video played in the background. ^[12] Beavis and Butthead was purposefully stagnant, with slow dialogue and depending on reaction shots, but animation takes the most management and the pacing is everything. The last fraction of a second of sound track overlaid with the first fraction of a second of the visual track for the next scene.^[13]

Other Remote Controls

In the 1980s Steve Wozniak of Apple, started a company named CL 9. The purpose of this company was to create a remote control which could operate multiple electronic devices. The CORE unit as it was named (Controller Of Remote Equipment) was introduced in the fall of 1987. The advantage to this remote controller was that it could “learn” remote signals from other different devices. It also had the ability to perform specific or multiple functions at various times with its built in clock. It was also the first remote control which could be linked to a computer and loaded with updated software code as needed. The CORE unit never made a huge impact of the market. It was much too cumbersome for the average user to program, but it received rave reviews from those who could figure out how to program it. These obstacles eventually lead to the demise of CL 9, but one of its employees continued the business under the name Celadon. This was one of the first computer controlled learning remote controls on the market. ^[14] The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... Stephan Gary Woz Wozniak (born August 11, 1950 in San Jose, California) is an American computer engineer and the co-founder of Apple Computer (now Apple Inc. ... Apple Inc. ... CL 9 was a universal remote control company started by Steve Wozniak, the inventor of the Apple II. The company was in business for three years, from 1985 to 1988, coming out with the 6502-based CL9 CORE remote control in 1987, the first universal programmable remote control. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

By the early 2000s, the number of consumer electronic devices in most homes greatly increased. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, an average American home has four remotes. To operate a home theater as many as five or six remotes may be required, including one for cable or satellite receiver, VCR or digital video recorder, DVD player, TV and audio amplifier. Several of these remotes may need to be used sequentially, but, as there are no accepted interface guidelines, the process is increasingly cumbersome. Many specialists, including Jakob Nielsen ^[15], a renowned usability specialist and Robert Adler, the inventor of the modern remote, note how confusing, unwieldy and frustrating the multiplying remotes have become. This article is about the decade of 2000-2009. ... The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the trade organization for the consumer electronics industry in the United States. ... Home cinema, also called Home theater, seeks to reproduce cinema quality video and audio in the home. ... The video cassette recorder (or VCR, less popularly video tape recorder) is a type of video tape recorder that uses removable cassettes containing magnetic tape to record audio and video from a television broadcast so it can be played back later. ... Foxtel IQ, a digital video recorder and a satellite cable set-top box. ... TV redirects here. ... Jakob Nielsen useit. ... Robert Adler Robert Adler (December 4, 1913 - February 15, 2007) was an Austrian-American inventor who held numerous patents. ...

Technique

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2008)

The emission spectrum of a typical sound system remote control is in the near infrared.

The modulation of the IR diode varies by button.

Most control remotes for electronic appliances use a near infrared diode to emit a beam of light that reaches the device. A 940 nm wavelength LED is typical. This infrared light is invisible to the human eye but carries signals that are detected by the appliance, as well as by the sensor of a digital camera. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x900, 12 KB) Summary emission spectrum of the control remote of a Yamaha sound system, measured with an Ocean Optics spectrometer Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x900, 12 KB) Summary emission spectrum of the control remote of a Yamaha sound system, measured with an Ocean Optics spectrometer Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Remote_control_infrared_animated. ... Image File history File links Remote_control_infrared_animated. ... For other uses, see Infrared (disambiguation). ... External links LEd Category: TeX ... A nanometre (American spelling: nanometer, symbol nm) (Greek: νάνος, nanos, dwarf; μετρώ, metrό, count) is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one billionth of a metre (or one millionth of a millimetre), which is the current SI base unit of length. ...

With a single channel (single-function, one-button) remote control the presence of a carrier signal can be used to trigger a function. For multi-channel (normal multi-function) remote controls more sophisticated procedures are necessary: one consists of modulating the carrier with signals of different frequency. After the demodulation of the received signal, the appropriate frequency filters are applied to separate the respective signals. Nowadays digital procedures are more commonly used. One can often hear the signals being modulated on the infrared carrier by operating a remote control in very close proximity to an AM radio not tuned to a station. Mediumwave radio transmissions (sometimes called Medium frequency or MF) are those between the frequencies of 300 kHz and 3000 kHz. ...

Some remotes use radio frequency signals.

Usage

Industry

Remote control is used for controlling substations, pump storage power stations and HVDC-plants. For these systems often PLC-systems working in the longwave range are used. HVDC or high-voltage, direct current electric power transmission systems contrast with the more common alternating current systems as a means for the bulk transmission of electrical power. ...

Emergency

Remotely controlled machinery is used in radioactive or toxic environments to avoid human casualties and to prevent damage to human health. For example, remotely controlled robots were used during liquidation of circumstances of Chernobyl disaster. Chernobyl reactor number four after the disaster, showing the extensive damage to the main reactor hall (image center) and turbine building (image lower left) The Chernobyl disaster, reactor accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, or simply Chernobyl, was the worst nuclear power plant accident in history and the only...

Military

In World War I the Imperial German Navy employed FL-boats (Fernlenkbootes) against coastal shipping. These were driven by internal combustion engines, and controlled remotely from a shore station through several miles of wire wound on a spool on the boat. An aircraft was used to signal directions to the shore station. EMBs carried a high explosive charge in the bow and traveled at speeds of thirty knots.^[16] “The Great War ” redirects here. ... The Kaiserliche Marine or Imperial Navy was the German Navy created by Kaiser Wilhelm II between 1871 and 1919; it grew out of the Prussian Navy. ... An internal combustion engine is an engine that is powered by the expansion of hot combustion products of fuel directly acting within an engine. ...

The Soviet Red Army used remotely controlled teletanks during 1930s in the Winter War against Finland and the early stages of the Great Patriotic War. A teletank is controlled by radio from a control tank at a distance of 500–1,500 meters, the two constituting a telemechanical group. The Red Army fielded at least two teletank battalions at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. There were also remotely controlled cutters and experimental remotely controlled planes in the Red Army. For other organizations known as the Red Army, see Red Army (disambiguation). ... TT-26 teletank A teletank is a remotely controlled unmanned tank used in combat to minimize human casualties. ... Combatants Finland Soviet Union Commanders Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim Kliment Voroshilov Semyon Timoshenko Strength 250,000 men 30 tanks 130 aircraft[1][2] 1,000,000 men 6,541 tanks [3] 3,800 aircraft[4][5] Casualties 26,662 dead 39,886 wounded 1,000 captured[6] 126,875 dead... The Eastern Front1 was the theatre of combat between Nazi Germany and its allies against the Soviet Union during World War II. It was somewhat separate from the other theatres of the war, not only geographically, but also for its scale and ferocity. ... The Eastern Front1 was the theatre of combat between Nazi Germany and its allies against the Soviet Union during World War II. It was somewhat separate from the other theatres of the war, not only geographically, but also for its scale and ferocity. ...

Space

Remote control technology is also used in space travel, for instance the Russian Lunokhod vehicles were remote-controlled from the ground. Direct remote control of space vehicles at greater distances from the earth is not practical due to increasing signal delay times. Lunokhod series Soviet Moon exploration robot vehicle A panorama shot from Lunokhod 1 Lunokhod (Russian for Moon walker) 1 and 2 were a pair of unmanned lunar rovers landed on the Moon by the Soviet Union. ...

Video games

Video game consoles had not used wireless controllers until recently, mainly because of the difficulty involved in playing the game while keeping the infrared transmitter pointed at the console. Early wireless controlers were cumbersome and when powered on alkaline batteries, lasted only a few hours before they needed replacement. Some wireless controllers were produced by third parties, in most cases using a radio link instead of infrared. Even these were very inconsistent, and in some cases, had transmission delays, making them virtually useless. The first official wireless controller made by a first party manufacturer was the WaveBird for Nintendo Gamecube. The Wavebird changed the face of wireless technology in video game consoles. In the current generation of gaming consoles, wireless controllers have become the standard. The Nintendo GameCube is an example of a popular video game console. ... WaveBird controller The WaveBird Wireless Controller is an RF-based wireless controller manufactured by Nintendo for the GameCube video game console. ... The Nintendo GameCube (GCN) is Nintendos fourth home video game console, belonging to the sixth generation era. ... In the history of computer and video games, the seventh generation began on November 21, 2004 with the North American release of the Nintendo DS, followed by the PlayStation Portable on December 12, 2004. ...

Toys

Main article: Radio-controlled model

Remote control toys, such as racing cars, boats and even aircraft are a favorite pastime of many people. 1:10 scale radio controlled car (Saab Sonett) A radio-controlled model (or RC model) is a model that is steerable with the use of radio control. ...

Standby power

To be turned on by a wireless remote, the controlled appliance must always be partly on, consuming standby power. Studies indicate that around 5-10% of domestic electricity is consumed by appliances when they are off. In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.^[17] Standby power, also called Vampire power, refers to the electric power consumed by electronic appliances while in a standby mode. ...

See also

• Universal remote
• Channel surfing
• Radio control
• Domotics
• Audience response
• Remote keyless system
• Telecommand
• Remote-controlled animal
• Control Car Remote Control Locomotive
• Garage door opener

Harmony 670, an activity-based universal remote A universal remote is a remote control that can be programmed to operate various brands of one or more types of consumer electronics devices. ... Channel surfing is the practice of quickly scanning through different television channels or radio frequencies in order to find something interesting to watch or listen to. ... This radio control airplane is carrying a scale model of X-33 and is taking part in NASA research. ... Domotics is the application of computer and/or robotic technology to household appliances and buildings. ... Infrared audience response control Audience response is a type of interaction associated with the use of audience response systems, to create interactivity between a presenter and his audience. ... Entry remote for a Chrysler vehicle. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A remote-controlled animal is controlled via a radio link. ... Union Pacific CCRCL Y162 at Anaheim, California. ... A garage door opener is a motorized device that opens and closes garage doors. ...

Products and standards

• INSTEON
• LIRC
• X10 (industry standard)
• TV-B-Gone
• JP1 remote, a common interface that allows ad-hoc reprogramming of some remote controls

This article does not cite any references or sources. ... LIRC (Linux Infrared Remote Control) is an open source package that allows you to receive and send infrared signals with your Linux computer system. ... X10 modules (clockwise from upper left): An original BSR lamp module, a chime module, a recent lamp module, an outlet module X10 is an international and open industry standard for communication among electronic devices used for home automation, also known as domotics. ... TV-B-Gone is a type of simple but universal remote control device for turning off television sets, developed and sold by Mitch Altman. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

External links

• Description of infrared remote protocols
• Infra-red handset technical overview
• Infra-red handset signalling systems
• Infra-red Remote Control Theory
• Five Decades of Channel Surfing: History of the TV Remote Control
• New Remote's History of the Remote Control

References

1. ^ Philco Mystery Control.
2. ^ Five Decades of Channel Surfing: History of the TV Remote Control.
3. ^ Farhi, Paul. "The Inventor Who Deserves a Sitting Ovation." Washington Post. Feb. 17, 2007.
4. ^ SB-Projects: IR remote control: ITT protocol.
5. ^ http://www.zenith.com/sub_about/about_remote.html, About Zenith
6. ^ http://inventors.about.com/od/rstartinventions/a/remote_control.htm, The History of the Television Remote Control
7. ^ Rushkoff, Douglas: "Renaissance Now! Media Ecology and the New Global Narrative", page 25. Living in the Information Age, 2005.
8. ^ Kent, Steven L: "the Ultimate history of Video Games: From Pong to Pokemon--the Story behind the Craze That Touched Our Lives and Changed the World, page 27, 2001
9. ^ Gleick, James: "Prest-O! Change-O!", page 147. Living in the Information Age, 2005.
10. ^ Gleick, James: "Prest-O! Change-O!", page 148. Living in the Information Age, 2005.
11. ^ Gleick, James: "Prest-O! Change-O!", page 149. Living in the Information Age, 2005.
12. ^ http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/b/htmlb/beavisandbu.htm, Museum of Broadcast Communications: Beavis and Butthead.
13. ^ Gleick, James: "Prest-O! Change-O!", page 150. Living in the Information Age, 2005.
14. ^ [http://www.celadon.com/Profile/Profile.html Celadon Remote Control Systems Company Profile Page].
15. ^ Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox: Remote Control Anarchy.
16. ^ Lightoller, CH: "Titanic and other ships" I. Nicholson and Watson, 1935
17. ^ Home Office and Home Electronics.