Good idea! Some wireless mouses already has some sort of charge station, but I never heard about this for remote controls, I'm you can make monye ith selling this.

I like this idea. Good thinking.

This is one of these 'why doesn't it exist already?' ideas. You could produce a rechargeable battery pack for existing remotes, but it would probably be easier to produce one of those universal remotes and have it plug in to a base station or charger like a mobile phone. Good idea!

From a consumer perspective, I see this as one more thing adding clutter to my living room. Why not just use rechargeable batteries? I find we only change batteries in our remote every couple of years, so it's not really a problem.

United States Patent 6489746 Rechargeable remote control
Google, I didn't know the number by heart.
Tommy

Not really talking about an after market product, but more for the tv manufacturers to start producing rechargeable remotes. I guess that ends up just being an idea to sell to one or the other for a product edge.

Agree with noniesaft's remark. I personally wouldn't place the remote into the docking station after every use. (instead just drop it somewhere and later search for it when it is lost). So my docking station would be used only when the batteries are empty. (my experience with the wireless mouse). Most digital cameras use the same batteries so it would be easiest to use rechargeable batteries.

Not to say this product wouldn't sell. Some people like to have a fixed place for their remote and don't want to bother with emtpy batteries. Another aspect is compatibility. Given the many forms and shapes of remotes it would be difficult to design a charger that fits many different remotes. So scalability is a ?. It is then left to the producers to add that feature (see KRT's remark). Slightly different approach for the producer could be to add solar cells which recharge the batteries using daylight - assuming they create enough power. This removes the need for a docking station.

It does exist already I'm afraid:
http://www.logitech....es/372&cl=us,en

Much easier method of doing things... it doesn't take much of a solar cell to keep AA batteries charged. So the sellable item would be a universal remote which charges at all times via the solar cells.

Wow, are your batteries really running out that often? Maybe I'm not channel surfing fast enough....

yeah, I don't want to watch what is on tv, I want to watch "what else" in on tv! - Chronic Surfer :)

The idea isn't bad, but not something to be sold separately. By selling the remote with the system it is more likely to catch on, because unless you are constantly using the remote the batteries should last for quite a while.

I think this is over engineering of a product... how often do you change the batteries in your remote? I change them every 8+ months... why would I spend $30 for a charger?

with Logitech Harmony remotes http://www.logitech....motes/&cl=ca,en they are a huge computer remote and have a charging station. So normal remotes do not need them and huge remotes already have them.

Would need to be a wireless, and fairly long range, charger for it to be useful to me (too lazy to "plug in" stuff more than absolutely necessary)... hard to find money in the cost budget of your average remote control even for the rechargeable cells (think sub $3 for the whole thing.) Could get it into those "premium all in one" remotes - or any other $35+ low energy product for that matter (think: wireless mice / keyboards, toys, maybe clocks)

First, it has already been patented. Second, people would rather use rechargeable batteries than have to walk over and plug in their remote every night. The batteries last a long time too.

See Logitech's Harmony Remote. Harmony 880 and 1000 comes with charger.

Also Phillip's Pronto Remote series have charger as well.

What happens if you forget to connect your remote to the power supply, just as it happens to the your cell phone sometimes. It there a back up plan, maybe a backup batery just in case that happens!?

I don't know! It would make very mad if I can't flip the channels.

huhummm

i used my spare rechargable 3as 800amps for my mini 4wd TAMIYA instead....plenty in the market...

This is a pretty good idea, would get us away from wasting batteries in remotes.

The idea of rechargeable solar cells is especially appealing in tropical markets where there is lots of sunshine all year round. In Africa, where electricity is mainly generated via hydroelectric power stations the use of solar energy which is readily available 365 days a year presents quite an opportunity

Remotes dont really use that much power up. I always end up taking the old batteries out of my cameras and flashlights and stuff and I put them in my remote because there is always enough life lef tin them to make the remote work for quite a while.

OH just to let you know, you can actually buy a battery charger that you just put your old AA's in and it juices them back up. Why not just buy that and reuse your battery's for EVERYTHING?

Or use rechargeable batteries that all ready exist.

maybe united states? but what about CANADA?

a better battery charger would be great. our digital camera burns through batteries.

Perhaps if you made the requirements for your idea slightly more narrow, such as having the charger directly "attached" (or part of) the side of the TV or stereo unit, you may be able to redefine the patent on something like this. This is definitely a "why don't we already have this?" type of product. Nice idea.

I agree with several of the commentaries that suggest it be easier to get a battery charger and always have batteries ready should the ones in the remote run out. I have had the (4) remotes to my system now for three years and have yet to replace any batteries. Your plug in charger would also have to be close to an electrical outlet or have a long enough cord to reach one. That placement may not be convenient to having ready access to the remote when you need it. One comment above indicated that a US patent already exists for such a system. You might try finding out if it got off the ground as a consumer item and if so what the sales levels have been.