FREQUENCY-AGILE INFRARED RECEIVER

• US 20100074631A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc., Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mahowald, Peter H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,295,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/202
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission

Abstract

An infrared receiver is provided that may include an infrared sensor, a band-pass filter, and a processor. The processor may be configured to transmit a confirmation signal to the band-pass filter if the signal is distinguishable from noise.

Claims

1. A receiver comprising:

a sensor for receiving a signal;

a band-pass filter in communication with the sensor; and

a processor in communication with the band-pass filter, wherein the processor is configured to transmit a confirmation signal to the band-pass filter if the signal is distinguishable from noise.

2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the band-pass filter has a center frequency, and wherein the band-pass filter is configured to update the center frequency to an updated center frequency if the band-pass filter receives the confirmation signal.

3. The receiver of claim 2, further comprising:

a non-volatile storage for storing the updated center frequency.

4. The receiver of claim 2, wherein the signal is modulated at a carrier frequency, and wherein the center frequency is updated to a new center frequency based on the carrier frequency.

5. The receiver of claim 4, wherein the new center frequency is operationally equivalent to the carrier frequency.

6. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the signal is distinguishable from noise if the signal has a predetermined transmission format.

7. The receiver of claim 6, wherein the predetermined transmission format is an infrared transmission format.

8. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to distinguish the signal from noise if the signal has a threshold number of bytes that correspond to a predetermined transmission format.

9. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an infrared sensor.

10. A method for receiving infrared signals comprising:

receiving an infrared signal having a modulation frequency;

filtering the infrared signal based on a center frequency; and

updating the center frequency based on the modulation frequency.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising,

identifying the infrared signal based on a predetermined transmission format.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein filtering includes filtering the infrared signal based on a bandwidth.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein updating includes setting the center frequency to a value substantially equal to the modulation frequency.

14. A band-pass filter comprising:

a filter module having a center frequency;

an input module for receiving an infrared signal modulated at a carrier frequency; and

a filter processing module for updating the center frequency based on the carrier frequency if a confirmation signal is received, wherein the confirmation signal indicates the infrared signal comprises a predetermined transmission format.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the filter processing module is configured to update the center frequency to a new center frequency that is operationally equivalent to the carrier frequency.

16. A computer program product including instructions embodied on a computer readable medium for filtering a signal which, when executed by a processor, cause a processor to perform the steps of:

receiving a signal modulated at a carrier frequency; and

changing a band-pass filter setting if a confirmation signal is received.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the band-pass filter setting is a center frequency, and wherein the changing step includes changing the center frequency based on the carrier frequency.

18. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the band-pass filter setting is a bandwidth.

19. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the changing step comprises changing the band-pass filter setting in real-time.

20. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the changing step comprises changing the band-pass filter setting is automatic.