Infrared signal communication system and method including transmission means having automatic gain control

• US 20030128988A1
• Filed: 01/22/2003
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IXYS Intl Limited (Littelfuse Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ZiLOG Incorporated (Littelfuse Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hamilton, T. Allan
• Granted Patent: US 7,123,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/120
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission

Abstract

An Improved Infrared Signal Communication System and Method Including Transmission Means Having Automatic Gain Control is disclosed. Also disclosed is system and method that adjusts signal transmission power in response to incident signal power amplitude. The preferred system includes a control signal loop within the signal receiving system, and the system further includes a signal transmitting system that is responsive to the control signal loop. The preferred system includes manual, semi-automatic and automatic modes of operation. Still further, the preferred method includes at least two Ir-enabled appliances “stepping” each other “down” in transmit power in response to directives issued by the other Ir-enabled appliance.

Claims

1. An improved infrared signal transmission system for electronic appliances having at least one signal receiving means for receiving incident Ir signals, comprising:

signal transmitting means for adjusting transmit power responsive to received signal strength.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal transmitting means further includes a transmit driver device, said device being responsive to the power amplitude of said incident Ir signals.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

said signal receiving means further includes a control signal loop, responsive to the power amplitude of said received incident signals; and

said signal transmitting means is responsive to the output of said control signal loop.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said responsiveness of said signal transmitting means is automatic in response to the power amplitude of said received Ir signals.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said responsiveness of said signal transmitting means requires user input.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said responsiveness of said signal transmitting means includes:

automatic mode for automatically responding to the power amplitude of said received Ir signals; and

manual mode for responding to user input.

7. A method for power-efficient infrared communication between a first and a second electronic appliance, comprising the steps of:

first transmitting by said first appliance, the power amplitude of said first transmitting at a default transmit power amplitude;

second transmitting by said second appliance responsive to said first transmitting;

third transmitting by said first appliance, the power amplitude of said third transmitting at a reduced transmit power, said reduced transmit power amplitude being set responsive to said second transmitting, to an amplitude that is less than said default transmit power amplitude.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said power amplitude of said third transmitting is automatically responsive to said second transmitting.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said power amplitude of said third transmitting is responsive to user input.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said power amplitude is selectively:

responsive to user input; and

automatically responsive to said second transmitting.