SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF A TELEVISION WITH A MANUALLY ACTUATABLE ELEMENT

• US 20100118211A1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Limited
• Inventors: Tenbarge, James Duane, Carlsgaard, Eric Stephen, Mears, Mark Gilmore
• Granted Patent: US 8,373,805 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• 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 21/42215 by measuring the time interval during which a key is pressed, e.g. for inputting sequences of digits when selecting a television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for remote control of a television with a manually actuatable control element. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a remote control for a television with a manually actuatable control element. The remote control may comprise a manually actuatable control element configured to generate a signal in response to an activation of the control element by a user, wherein the signal is generated at one of a plurality of different levels based on a characteristic of the activation, and a control system configured to receive the signal and to produce one of a plurality of television commands in response to the signal, wherein the command produced corresponds to the level of the signal.

Claims

1. A remote control for a television, the remote control, comprising:

a manually actuatable control element configured to generate a signal in response to an activation of the control element by a user, wherein the signal is generated at one of a plurality of different levels based on a characteristic of the activation; and

a control system configured to receive the signal and to produce one of a plurality of television commands in response to the signal, wherein the command produced corresponds to the level of the signal.

2. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the activation of the manually actuatable control element comprises a length of time of the activation.

3. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the characteristic comprises a relative distance moved by the manually actuatable control element as a result of the activation.

4. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to produce the one of the plurality of television commands with increased frequency when the characteristic meets a criterion.

5. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to produce a channel scan command that instructs a television to pass through channel selections at a speed based on the level of the signal.

6. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the television is configured to control all operational features except for power-on and power-off features based on actuation of the control element.

7. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the manually actuatable control element comprises a joystick.

8. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the manually actuatable control element comprises a tilt disk.

9. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the manually actuatable control element comprises a tiltable scroll wheel.

10. A television system, comprising:

a television; and

a remote control configured to communicate with the television, the remote control comprising;

a manually actuatable control element configured to generate a signal in response to an activation of the control element by a user, wherein the signal is generated at one of a plurality of different levels based on a characteristic of the activation; and

a control system configured to receive the signal and to produce one of a plurality of television commands in response to the signal, wherein the command produced corresponds to the level of the signal.

11. The television system of claim 10, wherein the characteristic of the activation of the manually actuatable control element comprises a length of time of the activation.

12. The television system of claim 10, wherein the characteristic comprises a relative distance moved by the manually actuatable control element as a result of the activation.

13. The television system of claim 10, wherein the control system is configured to produce the one of the plurality of television commands with increased frequency when the characteristic meets a criterion.

14. The television system of claim 10, wherein the control system is configured to produce a channel scan command that instructs the television to pass through channel selections at a speed based on the level of the signal.

15. The television system of claim 10, wherein the television is configured to control all operational features except for power-on and power-off features based on actuation of the control element.

16. A method, comprising:

generating a signal in response to an activation of a manually actuatable control element, wherein the signal is generated at one of a plurality of different levels based on a characteristic of the activation; and

receiving the signal at a control system and producing one of a plurality of television commands in response to the signal, wherein the command produced corresponds to the level of the signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the characteristic of the activation of the manually actuatable control element comprises a length of time of the activation or a relative distance moved by the manually actuatable control element as a result of the activation.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of television commands comprise all operational features of a television except for power-on and power-off features based on actuation of the control element.

19. The method of claim 16, comprising producing the one of the plurality of television commands with increased frequency when the characteristic meets a criterion.

20. The method of claim 16, comprising producing a channel scan command that instructs a television to pass through channel selections at a speed based on the level of the signal.