Sensed condition responsive wireless remote control device using inter-message duration to indicate sensor reading

Abstract

A disclosed wireless remote control apparatus includes a sensor, such as a capacitive sensing plate, and measurement circuitry coupled to the sensor. The measurement circuitry takes real time measurements of an electrical parameter from the sensor. The parameter, such as a capacitance or charge on the plate that relates to an electrical field in the vicinity of the sensor, represents a detection of position or movement of a member within a substantially continuous range in proximity to the sensor. In an example of a ring embodiment of the remote control device, the sensor detects position and/or movements in relation to the operator's finger. The remote control apparatus includes a wireless transmitter for wireless transmission of encoded messages and a controller. The controller controls the transmitter, to set durations of intervals between the message transmissions as a function of the measurements of the electrical parameter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present teachings, by way of example only, not by way of limitation. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1 shows an exterior view of wearable ring, as an example, of the remote control device.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section showing the relative positions of the internal components of the remote control device.

FIG. 3 illustrates an end-to-end system for controlling one or more connected audio effects devices, where such system involves the remote control device, an intermediate receiving (base) unit, and audio effects devices.

FIG. 4 a and FIG. 4b show examples of how the remote control apparatus may be worn and used with an exemplary performing accessory, such as a guitar. FIG. 4a shows an open (extended) finger position, while FIG. 4b shows a closed (flexed) finger position.

FIG. 5 provides a high-level functional architecture of the remote control apparatus.

FIG. 6 a provides a high-level circuit diagram of all the electronic systems in the remote control apparatus.

FIG. 6 b provides a diagram of state control of a loop structure assembly of the remote control apparatus via a microcontroller.

FIG. 6 c provides another example of a circuit embodiment.

FIG. 6 d provides a diagram of states of operation of the circuit of FIG. 6c.

FIG. 7 a illustrates the field lines of an exemplary capacitive sensing field, generated and sensed by the remote control apparatus. The field lines between the center conductor and outer (shield) conductor are not shown.

FIG. 7 b illustrates the field lines of the exemplary capacitive sensing field, in an embodiment that employs a capacitive shield to eliminate stray capacitance between the sensor plate and the other parts of the remote control apparatus.

FIG. 8 a shows a front view of the loop structure assembly within the remote control apparatus, which is used for both the capacitive sensing system and the antenna for transmitting control signals.

FIG. 8 b shows a crosscut section of the loop structure.

FIG. 9 a illustrates the active components on the underside of the ring's band, where the finger passes through.

FIG. 9 b and FIG. 9c illustrate the position of the sensor plate, in an example.

FIG. 10 a illustrates the digital messaging scheme used to transmit information from the remote control apparatus to the base unit.

FIG. 10 b illustrates the messaging scheme used to communicate semantic bit patterns to the base unit.

FIG. 10 c illustrates the pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme used to encode data bits.

FIG. 11 a illustrates the sampling of a waveform by the base (receive) unit, using a power correlation technique.

FIG. 11 b illustrates the sampling of multiple simultaneously transmitted control signals by the base (receive) unit, and the resulting derivation of multiple messages from a combined waveform.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary apparatus that may be used to recharge the remote control apparatus.

FIG. 13 illustrates a charge-based method for establishing a communications link with the internal microprocessor logic.

FIG. 14 a illustrates details of the inner band assembly.

FIG. 14 b is a schematic diagram of the grounding scheme, including aspects of the battery, circuit boards, and inner band.

FIG. 14 c is a diagram of an inner band configuration example.

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary base unit.

FIG. 16 is a high-level diagram of the components and functional subsystems of an exemplary receive (base) unit.

FIG. 17 is a high-level block diagram of an exemplary reception process for the Base (Receive) Unit.

Claims

1. A wireless remote control apparatus, comprising: a sensor;measurement circuitry for taking real time measurements of an electrical parameter from the sensor related to position or movement of a member within a substantially continuous range in proximity to the sensor;a wireless transmitter for wireless transmission of encoded messages; anda controller coupled to the measurement circuitry and the wireless transmitter, for controlling the message transmissions from the wireless transmitter to set durations of intervals between the message transmissions as a function of measurements of the electrical parameter by the measurement circuitry.

2. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the message transmissions from the transmitter in such a manner that the durations of the intervals between the message transmissions correspond to times required to complete respective measurements of the electrical parameter by the measurement circuitry.

3. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the message transmissions from the transmitter in such a manner that the durations of the intervals between the message transmissions correspond to respective measurements of the electrical parameter by the measurement circuitry.

4. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 1, wherein: each of the transmissions of an encoded message from the wireless transmitter comprises a signal pulse modulated with data;the data in one or more of the messages includes at least a tag identifying the wireless remote control apparatus.

5. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 4, wherein the transmissions from the wireless transmitter are pulse width modulated with the data.

6. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the sensor comprises a plate for projecting an electrical field; andthe measurement circuitry is configured for taking real time measurements of capacitance at the sensor plate.

7. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 6, wherein the measurement circuitry comprises a capacitance measurement circuit responsive to charge transferred from the sensor plate.

8. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller controls the message transmissions from the transmitter in such a manner that respective durations of the intervals between the message transmissions correspond to respective times required to complete respective measurements of the capacitance by the capacitance measurement circuit.

9. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller controls the message transmissions from the transmitter in such a manner that respective durations of the intervals between the message transmissions correspond to respective measurements of the capacitance at the sensor plate.

10. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a ground plate connected to the measurement circuit.

11. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 10, wherein: the apparatus has a form factor of a ring sized for wearing on a finger of a hand of an operator;the apparatus further comprises a transmit antenna coupled to the wireless transmitter; andthe sensor plate, the transmit antenna and the ground plate are incorporated in a band portion of the ring form factor.

12. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a lead through at least a portion of the band connecting the sensor plate to the capacitance measurement circuit, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is coaxial with a surrounds the lead; anda dielectric material disposed between the lead and said at least a portion of the antenna.

13. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter consumes substantially less power during the intervals between the message transmissions than it consumers during the message transmissions.

14. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the controller monitors the measurements of the electrical parameter over time; andthe controller transitions the wireless remote control apparatus from an operational state to a low-power sleep mode, upon determining from the measurements that there has been no use of the wireless remote control apparatus for a period of time.

15. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 1, in combination with a base unit configured to receive the encoded messages wirelessly transmitted by the wireless remote control apparatus and to produce a control signal output responsive to the durations of intervals between receptions of the received encoded messages.

16. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising another sensor for detecting a condition and supplying a condition responsive signal to the circuitry.

17. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 16, wherein the other sensor comprises a temperature sensor for detecting temperature in relation to a battery of the remote control apparatus or a voltage detector for detecting voltage of the battery.

18. The wireless remote control apparatus of claim 16, wherein the other sensor comprises a sensor of a type selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a photo sensor, a Hall Effect detector, a piezo sensor, and a pressure sensor.

19. A base station for a wireless remote control system, comprising: an antenna and receiver for wireless reception of encoded messages from a wireless remote control apparatus;a processor for detecting data in the encoded messages and comparing at least some of the data to an identification tag of the wireless remote control messages to determine that received encoded messages are from the wireless remote control apparatus;an output interface for producing an output signal to control a device,wherein the processor detects durations of intervals between received encoded messages determined to have been received from the wireless remote control apparatus and controls the output interface to produce the output signal as a function of the detected durations between received encoded messages received from the wireless remote control apparatus.

20. The base station of claim 19, wherein the output interface is configured for providing a standard signal for control of an audio effects device.

21. The base station of claim 20, wherein the output interface comprises at least one interface selected from the group consisting of: a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) type output interface;an expression pedal output interface; andan emulated footswitch relay.

22. The base station of claim 19, wherein: the processor is a programmable processor, andthe base station further comprises: (a) memory for storing programming for the processor; and(b) an input interface coupled to the processor, for receiving programming for the processor for loading into the memory.

23. The base station of claim 19, further comprising one or more input or output elements coupled to the processor forming a control plane for a local user interface to the base station.

24. A method, comprising steps of: taking real time measurements of an electrical parameter from a sensor related to position or movement of a member within a substantially continuous range in proximity to the sensor;wirelessly transmitting encoded messages; andcontrolling the message transmissions to set durations of intervals between the message transmissions as a function of the measurements of the electrical parameter.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the durations of the intervals between the message transmissions correspond to times required to complete respective measurements of the electrical parameter.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the durations of the intervals between the message transmissions correspond to respective measurements of the electrical parameter.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein: each of the transmissions of an encoded message comprises a signal pulse modulated with data;the data in one or more of the messages includes at least a tag identifying a wireless remote control apparatus performing the measurements and transmissions.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the transmissions are pulse width modulated with the data.