Battery-powered remote control devices are often used for operating electronic devices. For example, typical home theater equipment such as televisions, stereo receivers, video game consoles, cable and satellite receivers, video recorders, compact and video disc players, and other equipment, often have a remote control for using and controlling the equipment. Other battery powered peripheral devices, such as game controllers or three-dimensional (3D) viewing glasses might also be used. Remote control units typically transmit wireless signals to the devices they control, for example by infrared or radio frequency signals. Remote control units typically are also powered by one or more removable batteries. Often, remote control units have a battery compartment where non-rechargeable batteries might be replaced as they wear down with use and/or age.
More recently, mobile devices, and some remote control units, employ rechargeable batteries that might be charged by plugging the device into a charger (such as shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2012/0069294 to Ohno et al.), plugging the device into a charging station (such as shown in U.S. Design Pat. No. D501,200 to Tsai et al.), resting the device on an inductive charging pad (such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,906,936 to Azancot et al.), or plugging the device directly into a wall socket (such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,489,746 to Pettinato). Some proposed charging systems describe placing the remote control unit in a charging station located on the equipment for which the remote control is used (for example a television having a charging station as shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0055372 to Jackson, and a television having corded or wireless chargers as shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2011/0255160 to Lee et al.).
Further, typical home theater equipment might continue to power various circuits within the equipment itself, even if the equipment is not in use or is otherwise “turned off”. For example, a typical high-definition television might draw power in “standby mode” when the screen is off in order to respond quickly to remote control commands to turn on. Similarly, a typical video game console might continually draw power even when switched “off” or in “standby mode”. Thus, an improved system for recharging remote controls and reducing power consumption of electronic devices is needed.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Described embodiments provide a local electronic device having a power supply coupled to a power main in wireless communication, via a wireless transceiver, to a remote device. The local electronic device includes a charging station to recharge a rechargeable power supply of the remote devices. The local electronic device detects when at least one remote device is being recharged by the charging station. Based on the detection, the local electronic device selectively enters a low-power mode by disabling one or more circuits to reduce power consumption.
Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements.
Described embodiments provide a local electronic device having a power supply coupled to a power main in wireless communication, via a wireless transceiver, to a remote peripheral device. The local electronic device includes a charging station to recharge a rechargeable power supply of the remote peripheral devices. The local electronic device detects when at least one remote peripheral device is being recharged by the charging station. Based on the detection, the local electronic device selectively enters a low-power mode by disabling one or more circuits to reduce power consumption.
Table 1 defines a list of acronyms employed throughout this specification as an aid to understanding the described embodiments of the present invention:
Each of components 110 and TV 102 might be remote controlled, either with corresponding specific remote control devices, or together with a single universal remote control, shown generally as remote control 108. Each of components 110 might further be operated with one or more keypads, joysticks and game or other controllers, shown generally as controller 106. Remote controls 108 and controllers 106 might typically communicate wirelessly with their corresponding master devices 102 and 110, for example, via infrared (IR) signals or radio frequency (RF) signals. For example, in some embodiments, wireless communication might be performed in any corresponding radio bands from 5 MHz to 140 GHz (above 140 GHz might be considered optical range). Thus, remote controls 108 and controllers 106 might also typically include one or more batteries to provide power to the wireless transmitters and various other active components (e.g., indicator lights, etc.). Each master device 102 and 110 might typically be powered from the electrical mains of the building in which theater system 100 is located (e.g., 120V or 230V AC), either directly by a cord or through a plug-in power adapter (not shown). Even in the “off” state, various of TV 102 and devices 110 might still consume power from the mains to power various circuit components.
TV 102 might typically include various processors, shown generally as A/V processing module 212 and control processing module 210. A/V processing module 212 might typically decode A/V data received via interface 206 for output as audio via speakers 204 and video via display 214. For example, A/V processing module 212 might be implemented as an FLI7540 system-on-chip (SoC) manufactured by ST Microelectronics of Geneva, Switzerland, or any other suitable A/V processor. Although shown as a separate module, A/V processing module 212 might include the functionality of one or more of A/V interface 206, I/O interface 208 and control processing module 210. A/V processing module 212 might also include a tuner for selecting one or more channels for viewing, although tuning functionality might be implemented by a separate tuner (not shown). A/V processing module 212 might include control circuitry for display 214 (e.g., to control the LCD display and LED backlighting), or the display-specific control might be implemented by a separate display controller (not shown). Data from I/O interfaces 208 might typically be provided to one or both of A/V processing module 212 and control processing module 210 depending on the type of data received. TV 102 includes display 214 for providing video output. For example, display 214 might be implemented using a cathode-ray tube (CRT) screen, a rear projection screen, flat panel plasma screen, flat panel liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) screen, LED projector, Lamp Projector or any other similar display technology.
In described embodiments, TV 102 includes peripheral device charger 216. Peripheral device charger 216 provides recharging capability to one or more peripheral devices of TV 102 (or, more generally, home theater system 100), such as remote controls 108, game controllers 106, 3D glasses 104 and any other devices, such as keyboards, mice, etc. Peripheral device charger 216 is also in communication with AN processing module 212 and control processing module 210 to enter a low-power operating mode when corresponding peripheral devices are being recharged and, thus, are not in use. As will be described herein, peripheral device charger 216 might recharge one or more peripheral devices 104, 106 and 108 via one or more sets of physical contacts, one or more inductive chargers or one or more charging cords. Peripheral device charger 216 is described in greater detail in regard to
Recharging manager 312 provides controlled recharging (e.g., constant current and constant voltage, temperature monitoring, etc.) to power storage device 310. In some embodiments, power storage device 310 might be implemented as one or more batteries such as, but not limited to, Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) batteries, Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, nickel-cadmium (Ni—Cd) batteries, and other similar rechargeable battery technologies. In other embodiments, power storage device 310 might be implemented as a “supercapacitor” (or “ultracapacitor”). For example, a typical IR transmission pulse might generally consume about 100 mW per second at 3.3V. Typical transmissions might occur in bursts lasting about 100 ms. Thus, a 10 g supercapacitor having approximately 6 kW/kg power density, such as the 10DCN2R7Q supercapacitor manufactured by Illinois Capacitor of Lincolnwood, Ill., might store enough power to allow a typical remote control to perform numerous TV commands (e.g., button presses and transmissions, for example, to turn on/off power, raise/lower volume, change channels, etc.) before needing to be recharged.
Power storage device 310 stores received power from recharging manager 312 and provides power, as necessary, to power supply 308. Power supply 308 provides one or more DC operating voltages to various elements of remote control 300. I/O interfaces 304 receive user-input commands from one or more sources, for example, buttons, switches, motion sensors, accelerometers, touchscreens, joysticks, scroll wheels, and the like. Controller 306 processes the user input received from I/O interfaces 304 and, in response to the user input, might send a signal to transmitter 302 to transmit a corresponding command to the master device (e.g., one of TV 102 and devices 110) corresponding to remote control 300. Transmitter 302 might transmit signals via an IR transmitter, such as the TSAL6200 emitter by Vishay Semiconductors of Malvern, Penn., or any other suitable IR transmitter. Alternatively, or additionally, transmitter 302 might transmit signals via an RF transmitter and antenna (not shown). In some embodiments, the RF transmitter might be implemented as an IEEE 802.15 (e.g., “Bluetootht”) transceiver such as the LMX9830 by Texas Instruments/National Semiconductor of Dallas, Tex., or any other suitable RF transmitter or other networked connection.
In some embodiments, peripheral device charger 216 might employ one or both of current detector 702 and receiver 708 to determine whether a remote device 300 is being recharged by peripheral device charger 216, and/or to identify which remote device is being recharged. Current detector 702 might be implemented, for example, by measuring a voltage across a resistor of each voltage line by employing a very low resistance resistor and an operational amplifier and/or analog-to-digital converter, by employing an optical phototransistor, by employing a current sensing integrated circuit (IC) or by employing any other suitable current sensing mechanism, such as a Rogowski coil. The current sensing and charging identification functions are described in greater detail in regard to
Although shown herein as being associated with TV 102 (e.g., in
Transceiver 810 might receive wireless communications (e.g., IR or RF) from the various remote devices 300, and might also transmit wireless communications (e.g., IR or RF) to the various master devices (e.g., one or more of TV 102 and devices 110). In some embodiments, transceiver 810 might be employed to determine the identity of devices being charged by remote charging device 602 (e.g., by receiving transmitted data from the device being recharged). Also, in some embodiments, transceiver 810 might be employed to have one or more corresponding master devices (e.g., one or more of TV 102 and devices 110) enter a low power mode, or notify a user of the recharging status of a remote device 300 (e.g., by transmitting data from remote charging device 602 to the corresponding ones of TV 102 and devices 110). The charging identification and recharging status notification functions are described in greater detail in regard to
In some embodiments, remote charging device 602 might employ one or both of current detector 804 and transceiver 810 to determine whether a remote device 300 is currently recharged by remote charging device 602, and/or to identify which remote device is being recharged. Current detector 804 might be implemented, for example, by measuring a voltage across a resistance of each voltage line, by employing an optical phototransistor, by employing a current sensing integrated circuit (IC) or by employing any other suitable current sensing mechanism, such as a Rogowski coil. The current sensing and charging identification functions are described in greater detail in regard to
As shown in
At step 908, when one or more remote control devices 300 are recharging, the master device(s) corresponding to the remote control(s) on the charger are transitioned from the normal operation mode to a low power mode. In low power mode, one or more components or sub-modules (e.g., as shown in
At step 1004, for peripheral device recharger 216, based on the ID of the device being recharged, processor 706 identifies any corresponding modules of TV 102 that can be disabled or removed from power in low power operation mode. Once the modules are identified, processor 706 sends a signal from processor 706 to the various corresponding modules to disable corresponding modules, open switches to remove power from various modules and enter low power mode. Similarly, at step 1004, for remote charging device 602, based on the ID of the device being recharged, processor 808 identifies any corresponding modules of the one or more master devices corresponding to the recharging remote that can be disabled or removed from power in low power operation mode. Once the modules are identified, processor 808 sends a signal to transceiver 810 to send a signal to each corresponding master device (e.g., at least one of TV 102 and devices 110) to disable the various corresponding modules, open switches to remove power from various corresponding modules and enter low power mode. In some embodiments, processor 808 might instead provide the signal to the recharging remote, and employ transmitter 302 of the recharging remote to send the signal to the corresponding master devices. After step 1004, processing continues to step 910.
As described herein, the one or more modules of TV 102 or other devices 110 that might be placed in a low power or no power mode are identified based on the ID of the remote device 300 being recharged. For example, if 3D glasses 104 are being recharged, it might be possible to reduce power consumption of AN processing module 212 by disabling 3D video processing. Similarly, if remote controls 106 or 108 corresponding to a given one of TV 102 or devices 110 is being recharged, it might be more likely that the corresponding one of TV 102 or devices 110 is not in use. Thus, various modules within the corresponding one of TV 102 or devices 110 could be entirely disabled or unpowered since they are not in use.
At step 1204, for peripheral device recharger 216, based on the ID of the device removed from the recharger, processor 706 identifies any corresponding modules of TV 102 that can be transitioned from low power operation mode to normal operation mode (e.g., corresponding modules are re-enabled or have switches set to restore power). Once the modules are identified, the peripheral device recharger (e.g., by processors 706 or 808) sends a signal from to the various corresponding modules to enable corresponding modules, close switches to provide power to various modules and transition from low power mode to normal operation mode. After step 1204, processing continues to step 904.
Thus, as described herein, in described embodiments provide a local electronic device having a power supply coupled to a power main in wireless communication, via a wireless transceiver, to a remote peripheral device. The local electronic device includes a charging station to recharge a rechargeable power supply of the remote peripheral devices. The local electronic device detects when at least one remote peripheral device is being recharged by the charging station. Based on the detection, the local electronic device selectively enters a low-power mode by disabling one or more circuits to reduce power consumption.
While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described with respect to processing blocks in a software program, including possible implementation as a digital signal processor, micro-controller, or general-purpose computer, the present invention is not so limited. As would be apparent to one skilled in the art, various functions of software might also be implemented as processes of circuits. Such circuits might be employed in, for example, a single integrated circuit, a multi-chip module, a single card, or a multi-card circuit pack.
The present invention can be embodied in the form of methods and apparatuses for practicing those methods. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of program code embodied in tangible media, such as magnetic recording media, optical recording media, solid state memory, floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of program code, for example, whether stored in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a machine, or transmitted over some transmission medium or carrier, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code segments combine with the processor to provide a unique device that operates analogously to specific logic circuits. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of a bitstream or other sequence of signal values electrically or optically transmitted through a medium, stored magnetic-field variations in a magnetic recording medium, etc., generated using a method and/or an apparatus of the present invention.
It should be understood that the steps of the exemplary methods set forth herein are not necessarily required to be performed in the order described, and the order of the steps of such methods should be understood to be merely exemplary. Likewise, additional steps might be included in such methods, and certain steps might be omitted or combined, in methods consistent with various embodiments of the present invention.
As used herein in reference to an element and a standard, the term “compatible” means that the element communicates with other elements in a manner wholly or partially specified by the standard, and would be recognized by other elements as sufficiently capable of communicating with the other elements in the manner specified by the standard. The compatible element does not need to operate internally in a manner specified by the standard.
Also for purposes of this description, the terms “couple,” “coupling,” “coupled,” “connect,” “connecting,” or “connected” refer to any manner known in the art or later developed in which energy is allowed to be transferred between two or more elements, and the interposition of one or more additional elements is contemplated, although not required. Conversely, the terms “directly coupled,” “directly connected,” etc., imply the absence of such additional elements. Signals and corresponding nodes or ports might be referred to by the same name and are interchangeable for purposes here.
It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts that have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention might be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.