SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING A LOW BATTERY DETECTION THRESHOLD OF A REMOTE CONTROL

• US 20090262254A1
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Reams, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,009,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895

Abstract

Various embodiments of systems, methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting a low battery detection threshold in a remote control. An embodiment of a method includes determining a type of a battery powering a remote control of an entertainment device and determining a first low battery threshold for the battery based on the type of the battery. The first low battery threshold indicates a low battery condition of the remote control. Responsive to measuring a voltage of the battery, a determination is made regarding whether the voltage of the battery is below the low battery threshold. Responsive to determining that the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold, a low battery message is transmitted to an entertainment device. The entertainment device utilizes the message to present an indicator to a user regarding the low battery condition of the remote control.

Claims

1. A remote control of an entertainment device comprising:

a battery connector that connects to a battery powering the remote control;

a low battery detection module coupled to the battery connector that determines a type of the battery connected to the battery connector, that determines a first low battery threshold for the battery based on the type of the battery, the first low battery threshold indicating a low battery condition of the remote control, and that measures a voltage of the battery to determine whether the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold; and

a transmitter coupled to the low battery detection module that transmits a low battery message to the entertainment device responsive to the low battery detection module determining that the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold, wherein the entertainment device utilizes the low battery message to present an indicator to a user regarding the low battery condition.

2. The remote control of claim 1, further comprising:

an input module that receives user input, wherein processing of the user input involves the input module performing a specified function;

the low battery detection module determining a second low battery threshold, the second low battery threshold indicating when the input module is to refrain from performing the specified function, and further determining whether the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold; and

the input module refraining from performing the specified function during processing of the user input responsive to the low battery detection module determining;

that the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold.

3. The remote control of claim 2, wherein the specified function comprises writing to a non-volatile memory of the remote control.

4. The remote control of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver that receives data from the entertainment device;

the low battery detection module determining a second low battery threshold, the second low battery threshold indicating when the input module is to refrain from performing the specified function, and further determining whether the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold; and

the input module refraining from performing the specified function during processing of data received from the entertainment device responsive to the low battery detection module determining that the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold.

5. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the second low battery threshold is less than the first low battery threshold.

6. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the low battery detection module measures an initial voltage of the battery when the battery is connected to the battery connector, and compares the initial voltage of the battery to a battery type threshold to determine the type of the battery.

7. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the low battery detection module comprises a switch, the switch having a plurality of positions, each position corresponding with a particular battery type, the low battery detection module determining the type of the battery based on a selected one of the plurality of positions of the remote control.

8. The remote control of claim 1, wherein:

the low battery detection module detects that a replacement battery has been connected to the battery connector;

the transmitter transmits a battery replacement message to the entertainment device, wherein the entertainment device presents a menu to the user regarding the replacement of the battery;

an input module of the remote control receives user input indicating the type of the replacement battery powering the remote control; and

the low battery detection module determines the first low battery threshold based on the user input.

9. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits the low battery message with the control command.

10. A system comprising:

an entertainment device including;

an output interface that outputs a presentation stream for presentation on a presentation device; and

a wireless receiver;

a remote control including;

a battery connector that connects to a battery powering the remote control;

a low battery detection module coupled to the battery connector that determines a type of the battery connected to the battery connector and that determines a first low battery threshold for the battery based on the type of the battery, the first low battery threshold indicating a low battery condition of the remote control;

an input module that receives user input indicating a change to the output of the presentation stream by the entertainment device and that generates a control command based on the user input; and

a transmitter coupled to the input module that transmits the control command to the receiver of the entertainment device;

the low battery detection module measuring the voltage of the battery during processing of the user input by the input module to determine whether the voltage is below the first low battery threshold, the transmitter transmitting a low battery message to the receiver responsive to the low battery detection module determining that the voltage is below the first low battery threshold;

the output interface outputting an indicator in the presentation stream regarding the low battery condition responsive to the low battery message.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the low battery detection module determines a second low battery threshold, the second low battery threshold indicating when the input module is to refrain from writing to the non-volatile memory, and that determines whether the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold; and

the input module processing the user input without writing to the non-volatile memory responsive to the low battery detection module determining that the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the low battery detection module measures an initial voltage of the battery when the battery is connected to the battery connector, and compares the initial voltage of the battery to a battery type threshold to determine the type of the battery.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the low battery detection module comprises a switch, the switch having a plurality of positions, each position corresponding with a particular battery type, the low battery detection module determining the type of the battery based on a selected one of the plurality of positions of the remote control.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the low battery detection module detects that a replacement battery has been connected to the battery connector;

the transmitter transmits a battery replacement message to the entertainment device, wherein the entertainment device presents a menu to the user regarding the replacement of the battery;

an input module of the remote control receives user input indicating the type of the replacement battery powering the remote control; and

the low battery detection module determines the first low battery threshold based on the user input.

15. A method of indicating a low battery condition for a remote control, the method comprising:

determining a type of a battery powering a remote control of an entertainment device;

determining a first low battery threshold for the battery based on the type of the battery, the first low battery threshold indicating a low battery condition of the remote control;

measuring a voltage of the battery;

determining whether the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold; and

transmitting a low battery message to the entertainment device responsive to determining that the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold, wherein the entertainment device utilizes the message to present an indicator to a user regarding the low battery condition of the remote control.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining a second low battery threshold, the second low battery threshold indicating when the remote control is to refrain from performing a specified function;

receiving user input, wherein processing of the user input involves the remote control performing the specified function;

determining whether the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold; and

processing the user input without performing the specified function responsive to determining that the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the specified function comprises writing to a non-volatile memory.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the type of the battery powering the remote control further comprises:

measuring an initial voltage of the battery when the battery is placed into the remote control; and

determining the type of the battery based on the initial voltage.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the type of the battery powering the remote control further comprises:

providing a switch on the remote control, the switch having a plurality of positions, each position corresponding with a particular battery type; and

determining the type of the battery based on a selected one of the plurality of positions of the remote control.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the type of the battery powering the remote control further comprises:

detecting that the battery powering the remote control has been replaced;

transmitting a battery replacement message to the entertainment device, wherein the entertainment device presents a menu to the user regarding the replacement of the battery;

receiving user input indicating the type of the battery powering the remote control; and

determining the first low battery threshold based on the user input.