Remote control systems that can distinguish stray light sources

• US 20080284724A1
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Alten, Brett G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,102,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/02 Improving the quality of display appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/006 Electronic inspection or testing of displays and display drivers, e.g. of LED or LCD displays testing individual LED's G01R31/2635; testing lamps G01R31/44; testing of optical features of LCD displays G02F1/1309
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters

Abstract

Remote control systems that can distinguish predetermined light sources from stray light sources, e.g., environmental light sources and/or reflections are provided. The predetermined light sources can be disposed in asymmetric substantially linear or two-dimensional patterns. The predetermined light sources also can be configured to exhibit signature characteristics. The predetermined light sources also can output light at different signature wavelengths. The predetermined light sources also can emit light polarized in one or more predetermined polarization axes. Remote control systems of the present invention also can include methods for adjusting an allocation of predetermined light sources and/or the technique used to distinguish the predetermined light sources from the stray light sources.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a display having;

a matrix of pixels disposed in the housing, the matrix of pixels having one or more signature pixels configured to exhibit one or more signature characteristics; and

a controller configured to generate first drive signals for the one or more signature pixels and second drive signals for the remaining pixels in the matrix,

wherein the first drive signals are configured to cause the one or more signature pixels to emit light in accordance with the one or more signature characteristics, and

wherein the second drive signals are configured to cause the remaining pixels in the matrix to show an image.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a screen; and

an infrared filter interposed between the matrix of pixels and the screen, wherein the infrared filter comprises one or more selective transmission features to facilitate communication of infrared light emitted by the one or more signature pixels through the infrared filter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more signature pixels comprises multiple signature pixels distributed in the matrix of pixels in a pattern that is asymmetric about at least a first axis.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a remote control having:

a photodetector that generates photodetector data representative of detected light; and

a second controller configured to identify multiple light sources from the photodetector data that exhibits the one or more signature characteristics and that forms a derivative pattern indicative of the asymmetric pattern.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first drive signals are configured to turn the one or more signature pixels ON and OFF in accordance with at least one signature characteristic.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first drive signals are configured to adjust signal strength of the emitted light in a predetermined manner in accordance with at least one signature characteristic.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more signature characteristic comprises one or more predetermined frequencies, one or more predetermined duty cycles, one or more predetermined phase shifts, one or more predetermined polarization axes, one or more predetermined intensities, one or more predetermined wavelengths, one or more predetermined shapes, or a combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote control having:

a photodetector that generates photodetector data representative of detected light; and

a second controller configured to identify at least one light source from the photodetector data that exhibits the one or more signature characteristics.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second controller is configured to identify at least one light source by demodulating the photodetector data in accordance with the at least one signature characteristic.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the photodetector comprises a two-dimensional position sensitive diode; and

the second controller is configured to identify at least one light source that exhibits at least one signature characteristic by using the two-dimensional position sensitive diode.

11. A method for distinguishing one or more signature pixels in a matrix of display pixels from stray light sources, the method comprising:

generating first drive signals for the one or more signature pixels, wherein the first drive signals are configured to cause the one or more signature pixels to emit light in accordance with one or more signature characteristics; and

generating second drive signals for the remaining pixels in the matrix, wherein the second drive signals are configured to cause the remaining pixels to show an image.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting light from light sources using a photodetector;

generating photodetector data representative of the detected light; and

identifying at least one light source from the photodetector data that exhibits the one or more signature characteristics.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more signature pixels comprises multiple signature pixels distributed in the matrix of pixels in a pattern that is asymmetric about at least a first axis, the method further comprising identifying multiple light sources from the photodetector data that form a derivative pattern indicative of the asymmetric pattern.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein generating first drive signals for the one or more signature pixels comprises generating drive signals that turn the one or more signature pixels ON and OFF in accordance with at least one signature characteristic.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein generating first drive signals for the one or more signature pixels comprises generating drive signals that adjust signal strength of the emitted light in a predetermined manner in accordance with at least one signature characteristic.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more signature characteristics comprises one or more predetermined frequencies, one or more predetermined duty cycles, one or more predetermined phase shifts, one or more predetermined polarization axes, one or more predetermined intensities, one or more predetermined wavelengths, one or more predetermined shapes, or a combination thereof.

17. A method for determining an allocation of one or more signature pixels in a matrix of display pixels, the method comprising:

accepting data indicative of one or more conditions under which a photodetector is detecting light emitted from the one or more signature pixels; and

identifying a first subset of one or more pixels in the matrix to serve as the one or more signature pixels,

wherein the first subset is identified based on the data, and

wherein the one or more signature pixels exhibit one or more signature characteristics that distinguish the one or more signature pixels from other light sources.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

identifying a second subset of one or more pixels in the matrix to serve as the one or more signature pixels, wherein the second subset comprises a default allocation of one or more pixels; and

adjusting the allocation of one or more signature pixels from the second subset to the first subset.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

generating first drive signals for instructing the one or more signature pixels to emit light in accordance with the one or more signature characteristics; and

generating second drive signals for instructing the remaining pixels in the matrix to show an image.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the data comprises ambient light data, data indicative of the proximity of the one or more signature pixels to the photodetector, data indicative of an image being shown by the remaining pixels in the matrix, data indicative of a signal-to-noise ratio, data from a user indicative of a user-preferred allocation of signature pixels, or any combination thereof.

21. A system comprising:

one or more predetermined light sources configured to emit light polarized in one or more predetermined polarization axes;

a photodetector for detecting light from light sources, wherein the photodetector is configured to generate photodetector data;

one or more polarizing filters disposed to accept light from the light sources before the light is detected by the photodetector, wherein the one or more polarizing filters are configured in one or more predetermined polarization axes; and

a controller configured to distinguish the one or more predetermined light sources from other light sources based on the photodetector data.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more predetermined light sources comprise multiple predetermined light sources disposed in a pattern that is asymmetric about at least a first axis.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the controller is configured to identify multiple light sources from the photodetector data that form a derivative pattern indicative of the asymmetric pattern.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the one or more predetermined light sources comprise multiple predetermined light sources; and

the controller is configured to identify multiple light sources from the photodetector data that exhibit expected relative intensities.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the photodetector, one or more polarizing filters, and controller are disposed in a remote control.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more predetermined light sources are disposed in a remote control.

27. A method for distinguishing multiple predetermined light sources from stray light sources, the method comprising:

emitting polarized light from the multiple predetermined light sources at one or more predetermined intensities, wherein the polarized light is polarized in one or more predetermined polarization axes;

filtering light from light sources using one or more polarizing filters;

detecting light from the light sources using a photodetector after the light is filtered by the polarizing filter;

generating photodetector data representative of the detected light; and

identifying multiple light sources from the photodetector data that exhibit expected relative intensities.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the multiple predetermined light sources is disposed in a pattern that is asymmetric about at least a first axis, the method further comprising identifying multiple light sources from the photodetector data that form a derivative pattern indicative of the asymmetric pattern.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the photodetector and polarizing filter are disposed in a remote control, the method further comprising generating signals responsive to user actuation of a user input component of the remote control.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more predetermined light sources are disposed in a remote control, the method further comprising generating signals responsive to user actuation of a user input component of the remote control.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein emitting polarized light from the multiple predetermined light sources comprises emitting polarized light from multiple coherent light sources.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein emitting polarized light from the multiple predetermined light sources comprises emitting polarized light through one or more polarizing filters.

33. A method for identifying a technique for distinguishing one or more predetermined light sources from other light sources, the method comprising:

accepting data indicative of one or more conditions under which a photodetector is detecting light emitted from the one or more predetermined light sources; and

identifying a first technique for distinguishing the one or more predetermined light sources from the other light sources based on the data.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising initiating the first technique by generating signals for controlling hardware associated with the first technique.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

identifying a second technique for distinguishing the one or more predetermined light sources from the other light sources, wherein the second technique comprises a default technique; and

changing from the second technique to the first technique to distinguish the one or more predetermined light sources from the other light sources.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the data comprises ambient light data, data indicative of the proximity of the one or more predetermined light sources to the photodetector, data indicative of an image being shown by a display associated with the one or more predetermined light sources, data indicative of a signal-to-noise ratio, data from a user indicative of a user-preferred technique, or any combination thereof.