Reduction of power consumption in remote control electronics
First Claim
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1. A remote control device, comprising:
- a housing;
a power source;
a transmitter that outputs control signals for remotely controlling an electronic device, the transmitter being operable to selectively output the control signals at a first communication frequency and at a second communication frequency;
a sensor coupled to the housing, the sensor being configured to sense whether a user is holding the housing and output a sense signal indicating whether the user is holding the housing; and
a processor coupled to the power source, the transmitter and the sensor, the processor being configured to initiate a low power mode when the sense signal indicates the user is not holding the housing, and to cause the transmitter to output the control signals at the second communication frequency in the low power mode, wherein the second communication frequency is a lower frequency than the first communication frequency.
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Abstract
A remote controlling device is disclosed that includes one or more motion sensors configured to sense a motion of the device. The remote control further includes a capacitive sensor and a power source. The capacitive sensor selectively couples the power source to the one or more motion sensors.
114 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A remote control device, comprising:
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a housing; a power source; a transmitter that outputs control signals for remotely controlling an electronic device, the transmitter being operable to selectively output the control signals at a first communication frequency and at a second communication frequency; a sensor coupled to the housing, the sensor being configured to sense whether a user is holding the housing and output a sense signal indicating whether the user is holding the housing; and a processor coupled to the power source, the transmitter and the sensor, the processor being configured to initiate a low power mode when the sense signal indicates the user is not holding the housing, and to cause the transmitter to output the control signals at the second communication frequency in the low power mode, wherein the second communication frequency is a lower frequency than the first communication frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
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sensing, by a sensor in a remote control device, whether a user is holding the remote control device; generating, by the sensor, a sense signal indicating whether the user is holding the remote control device; initiating a low power mode, by a processor of the remote control device, based on the sense signal; and adjusting, by the processor, a communication frequency of a transmitter/receiver module in the remote control device in the low power mode. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method comprising:
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sensing, by a sensor in a remote control device, whether a user is holding the remote control device, wherein sensing whether the user is holding the remote control device includes detecting a capacitance by the sensor; and comparing the capacitance to a threshold capacitances; generating, by the sensor, a sense signal indicating whether the user is holding the remote control device; initiating a low power mode, by a processor of the remote control device, based on the sense signal; adjusting, by the processor, a communication frequency of a transmitter/receiver module in the remote control device in the low power mode; and decoupling power from the power source to an electronic component in the remote control device in the low power mode.
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12. A method of comprising:
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sensing, by a sensor in a remote control device, whether a user is holding the remote control device;
wherein the sensing whether a user is holding the remote control device includesdetecting a capacitance by the sensor; and comparing the capacitance to a threshold capacitance; generating, by the sensor, a sense signal indicating whether the user is holding the remote control device, wherein generating the sense signal includes generating a sense signal indicating that the user is holding the remote control device if the detected capacitance exceeds the predetermined threshold capacitance; initiating a low power mode, by a processor of the remote control device, based on the sense signal; adjusting, by the processor, a communication frequency of a transmitter/receiver module in the remote control device in the low power mode; and decoupling power from the power source to an electronic component in the remote control device in the low power mode.
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13. A system, comprising:
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a set top box; and a remote control device configured to remotely control the set top box, the remote control device including; a power source; a processor coupled to the power source; and a sensor configured to sense whether a user is holding the remote control device and to output to the processor a signal indicating whether the user is holding the remote control device, wherein the processor is configured to initiate a low power mode when the signal indicates the user is not holding the remote control device, and to adjust a frequency of communication between the remote control device and the set top box in the low power mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification