Processing systems such as the ubiquitous PC and home entertainment systems convert data into one or more human-perceptible outputs. Human-perceptible outputs can comprise a visual display and/or audible sounds among others. While processing systems come in many configurations a continuing need exists for controlling such processing systems to benefit a user.
The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components wherever feasible.
a-4b illustrate an exemplary processing system in accordance with one embodiment.
a-5b illustrate an exemplary processing system in accordance with one embodiment.
a illustrates a remote control device in accordance with one embodiment.
b is block diagram that illustrates various components of an exemplary remote control device in accordance with one embodiment.
Overview
The following relates to processing systems which generate human perceptible outputs such as sound and/or visual images. A processing system can comprise a single device employing a processor, or multiple coupled devices at least one of which contains a processor. The processor(s) can process data and cause human perceptible output to be generated based on the processed data. Examples of processing systems can include a personal computer or PC and a home entertainment system, among others. Some of the described embodiments can control the processing system by sensing a presence or absence of a human proximate the processing system and controlling one or more functions of the processing system based on the sensing.
Interfaces 124 provide a mechanism for various components of the processing system to communicate with other components of the processing system. In some embodiments interfaces 124 can allow processing device 100 to communicate with other devices and/or systems. Interfaces 124 can allow user input to be received by processor 120 from user input devices 114.
In this embodiment display device 112 comprises a monitor that includes a housing 130, a display means or screen 132, a display controller 134 and one or more sensors 136. Screen 132 can comprise an analog device such as a cathode ray tube or a digital device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD).
Display controller 134 can be implemented as hardware such as a processor in the form of a chip, software, firmware, or any combination thereof to process image data for display on screen 132. Display device 112 is configured to generate a visual display which can be viewable or discernable by a user in a user region proximate the display device as will be described in more detail below in relation to
Sensor 136 can be mounted on housing 130 and is configured to detect the presence of a user in a sensed region proximate the processing system as will be described in more detail below. Sensor 136 can comprise any suitable type of sensor including, but not limited to, infrared (IR) sensors, sonar sensors, and motion sensors.
User input devices 114 may comprise among others, a keyboard 150, a mouse 152, a pointing device(s) 154, and/or other mechanisms to interact with, and to input information to processing system 100.
While user 200 works at personal computer 100a, the status signal indicating the user's presence causes the personal computer to operate as would be expected of a personal computer. In such a circumstance personal computer 100a operates at a ‘standard operating mode’ with the tower's processor, shown in
If user 200 stops working at personal computer 100a and leaves sensed region 204, sensor 136a can generate a different status signal indicating the user's absence. When the status signal indicates the user has left the sensed region, the personal computer's performance can be altered such as by changing from the standard operating mode. For example the personal computer can ‘power-down’ or go into a lower performance mode which uses less energy than the standard operating mode. Examples of such lower performance modes can include ‘stand-by’ and ‘hibernate’ among others.
In another example the processor of tower 110a can be maintained at a normal processing speed while display device 112a is turned off or otherwise affected such as by blanking screen 132a. Blanking screen 132a can result in significantly decreased energy consumption compared to a screen generating a viewable image. Further, blanking screen 132a can increase the life span of the display device 112a when compared to leaving screen 132a in a standard operating mode.
Some embodiments may incorporate a predetermined time delay when the status signal indicates that user 200 has left the sensed area before initiating any powering down of the personal computer. For example a time delay can maintain the personal computer in standard operating mode for a brief period of time such as when the user leaves the sensed area to retrieve a document from a printer associated with the personal computer. Various other embodiments also may have a scaled response when the user leaves the sensed area. For example, after one minute the screen can be dimmed and after ten minutes the personal computer can go into stand-by mode and after an hour the personal computer can go into hibernate mode.
Some embodiments may allow the user to adjust the relative position and/or size of sensed region 204. For example a particular user such as a file clerk may position an exemplary personal computer on a desk in an office which also contains file cabinets and a copy machine. This particular user frequently moves among the personal computer, the file cabinets, and the copier contained in the office. Some embodiments may allow the user to select a sensed region which is large enough to include a portion of the office where the file cabinets and copier are located in addition to the region from which the screen is viewable. In another example a user having a cubicle rather than an office may want to be able to sense a smaller region to avoid neighboring workers and/or passersby from being sensed.
In some embodiments a user can select what personal computer performance measures are taken and at what time intervals based upon the status signal. Such embodiments can utilize control panel selections or some other suitable configuration to allow user selection.
If the user approaches personal computer 100a when it is in a powered-down mode, the user is sensed in sensed region 204 and the personal computer can be powered-up based on the status signal. This powering-up can be caused by the status signal indicating the presence of the user and without any affirmative action on the part of the user. Such a configuration can begin powering-up the personal computer 100a before the user physically reaches the personal computer and without the user physically engaging the personal computer. A time differential between the user entering the sensed region and physically engaging the personal computer 100a can decrease or eliminate any lag time associated with the powering-up process where the user has to wait on the personal computer to be ready for use.
Some of the present embodiments can decrease or eliminate delays experienced by users wishing to utilize a powered-down personal computer. In addition to decreasing or eliminating delays caused by powering-up the personal computer, some of the present embodiments can allow the user to utilize the personal computer without physically engaging it. For example a user may leave his personal computer to attend a meeting. The user may want to check his email for an important message that he is expecting before attending a subsequent meeting, but may have his hands full of documents. With some of the present embodiments the personal computer senses the user's presence and powers up so he can see the image on his screen without ever physically engaging the personal computer. In this instance if the user left his computer with his inbox on the screen, the inbox image may reappear without any physical engagement of the personal computer.
As illustrated in
a-4b show another exemplary processing system 100c comprising a personal computer. Display device 112c has a display portion 402 containing screen 132c and a base portion 404. In this embodiment sensor 136c is positioned on display device 112c to sense a sensed region which generally corresponds to a user region from which images on screen 132c are discernable by a user. In
In this embodiment the sensed region continues to overlap the user region even if display portion 402 is rotated as seen in
The embodiments described above relate to processing systems. Other embodiments may comprise one or more devices comprising components of processing systems. For example a display device such as display device 112c configured with one or more sensors 136c may be utilized with an existing personal computer. The display device may be configured so that the visual output of the display device is controlled at least in part by the sensed signal. For example a consumer may purchase an exemplary display device configured to be coupled to a personal computer. Visual images created by the display device can be controlled at least in part by a sensed condition as described above. In some embodiments the display device may be configured to communicate the sensed condition to other components comprising the personal computer. In other embodiments the display device 112c may be configured so that the sensed condition only affects the display device and is not readily available to the other components.
a-5b illustrate another exemplary processing system 100d comprising a notebook computer. The embodiments described above illustrate processing devices having separate distinct components such as a display device and a tower. In this embodiment these components are integral in the notebook computer.
In this particular embodiment when the notebook computer is closed as shown in
The receiver, DVD player, VCR and television are electrically coupled via electrically conductive wires. Remote control 612 is communicably coupled to the other components via a sending unit in the remote control and receiving units in one or more of the other components. In this particular instance remote control 612 is a ‘universal remote’ configured to control each of receiver 602, DVD player 604, VCR 606, television 608, and sound output from speakers 610 via receiver 602. Other embodiments may utilize a remote control which is communicably coupled with less than all of the other components. For example some embodiments may utilize a remote control 612 which is only configured to control television 608.
a-6b show an enlarged view of remote control 612 and a block diagram of components of remote control 612 respectively. Remote control 612 comprises a housing 620 which supports user input buttons 622, a chip or processor 624, an LED or sending unit 626, and a sensor 628. User input buttons 622 create user-input signals when pressed by a user. The user-input signals are received by the chip 624. The chip can convert the user-input signals into a corresponding command signal that the chip causes to be emitted from the LED. The command signal can cause a selected component to perform a selected task. For example a user can push an input button labeled “play DVD”. Processor 624 receives a corresponding user input signal and causes a command signal to be generated by LED 626 that is detectable by DVD player 604 and causes the DVD player to begin playing a DVD.
Sensor 628 is configured to sense for a human presence in a region proximate the remote. The sensor can comprise any suitable type of sensor configurable to generate a sensed signal corresponding to the human presence or absence. Processor 624 can control one or more components of computing system 100e based, at least in part, on the sensed signal. For example processor 624 can control the visual output from TV 608 and/or the audio output from speakers 610 based on the sensed signal.
As illustrated in
Once remote control 612 is oriented as desired a specific user input button 622 can be pushed to activate sensor 628. If one of the children approaches doorway 642, the sensor can generate a sensed signal indicating a human presence. The sensed signal can cause the remote control's processor 624 to generate a control signal that affects the visual and/or audio output of home entertainment system 100e. For example the processor can cause a stop DVD control signal to be generated which can cause the DVD player to stop playing the DVD and return to a menu display. In another example processor 624 may generate a control signal which causes TV 608 to turn to a channel on which no signal is being received. In still another example the control signal may turn off the TV and may mute the audio output.
Many existing remote controls contain suitable control commands that can be utilized in suitable embodiments. The skilled artisan should recognize how to couple sensor 628 to processor 624 to cause such command signals to be generated based on the sensed signal.
A user can orient second remote control 612b to sense a desired area such as doorway 642a and to transmit a control signal to entertainment system 100f. Second remote control 612b may comprise various suitable configurations. In one embodiment second remote control may have a single user input button to control an on/off state. For example second remote control may be configured during assembly to turn off TV 608a if a human is sensed in the sensed area. Other suitable embodiments may have multiple user input buttons or other means for allowing a user to select the commands desired when a human is sensed. Some such embodiments also may allow second remote control 612b to ‘learn’ how to control various devices comprising a processing system 100f. In one such embodiment a user may be able to select ‘turn off TV’ and ‘mute audio output’. The remote control can then cause the proper commands to be generated if a sensed signal indicates a human presence.
Though the embodiments relating to
Processing systems and means for controlling processing systems are described. Some of the embodiments can sense a region proximate the processing system for a human presence or absence. A signal can be generated for controlling the processing system based at least in part on the sensed human presence or absence. Controlling can comprise in some embodiments altering a human-perceptible output of the processing system.
Although the inventive concepts have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological steps, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts in the appended claims are not limited to the specific features or steps described. Rather, the specific features and steps are disclosed as forms of implementing the inventive concepts.