GRAPHICAL POWER METER FOR CONSUMER TELEVISIONS

• US 20100238293A1
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Baronas, Jean, Blanchard, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,970,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/160
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 1/00 Measuring arrangements giving results other than momentary value of variable, of general application G01D3/00 takes precedence; in tariff metering apparatus G01D4/00; transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable G01D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 15/00 Component parts of recorders for measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/025 concerning dedicated user interfaces, e.g. GUI, or dedicated keyboards G01R31/31912 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A graphical power meter involving a device for measuring, in real time, an internal power consumption value corresponding to power being consumed by an electronic device; and a device for displaying a graphical representation of the real-time internal power consumption value from the measuring device to a consumer.

Claims

1. A graphical power meter, comprising:

means for measuring, in real time, an internal power consumption value corresponding to power being consumed by an electronic device under at least one operational mode; and

means for displaying a graphical representation of the real-time internal power consumption value from the measuring means to at least one consumer.

2. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of an audio feature and a visual feature.

3. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a television.

4. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the measurement technique is adapted for use with a set-top box.

5. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the displaying means comprises a graphic user interface.

6. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 5, wherein the graphic user interface comprises:

at least one input feature; and

at least one output feature.

7. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 6,

wherein the at least one input feature comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a window for facilitating entry of user-preset parameters and at least one slider feature, and

wherein the at least one output feature comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a visual indication, an audible indication, and an olfactory-perceivable indication.

8. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 7, wherein the visual indication comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a dial, a numerical dial, a dial coupled with units of measure, a bar-graph, a bar-graph coupled with numerical data, a bar-graph coupled with units of measure, a dual-axis graph, and a triple-axis graph.

9. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 7, wherein the audible indication comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a beeping sound, a speech output, an adjustable sound adaptable for the hearing-impaired, a sound being in conformance with a hearing-assistive technology, a sound in conformance with at least one federally-regulated telecommunication and rehabilitation requirement.

10. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 9, wherein the speech output comprises at least one informational element selected from a group consisting essentially of a real-time internal energy consumption value and setup information.

11. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 7, wherein the olfactory-perceivable indication comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a pleasant natural scent, a “

green”

scent, a pleasant scent, and a consumer-selected scent.

12. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 6, wherein the at least one output feature facilitates adjusting an internal power consumption using at least one consumer preference.

13. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one consumer preference comprises at least one parameter selected from a group consisting essentially of a brightness level, a contrast level, a color level, a saturation level, a backlight level, a video rendering style, and an audio playback level.

14. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 13, wherein the video rendering style comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a vivid display, a cinema display, and a standard display.

15. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device undergoes an in-store demonstration.

16. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1,

wherein the measuring means is disposed in a manner selected from a group consisting essentially of a primary side of a power supply and a secondary side of a power supply,

wherein a current sensing circuitry switches-off the power supply if a secondary load exceeds a predetermined threshold, and

wherein a current sensing circuitry is applied to at least one output on the secondary side, a summation of the power supplied by the at least one output determining a total output power, the summation being made by at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a circuit and a processing unit monitor, the total output power being further determined by an input power consumption level, and the input power consumption level being determined by a power conversion efficiency of the power supply.

17. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein displaying means comprises an on-screen display.

18. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 17, wherein the displaying means further includes at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a feature for facilitating selection of a visual indication feature and a feature for facilitating selection of at least one energy-saving preference.

19. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1,

wherein the at least one consumer is encouraged to operate the electronic device in an environmentally-conscious energy-saving manner, and

wherein the at least one consumer participates in an overall management of a carbon footprint of the electronic device.

20. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one energy-saving preference is a function of at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a user'"'"'s actively-selected preference, a user'"'"'s need, a user'"'"'s budget, a setting inherent to the electronic device, and a viewing environment.

21. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1,

wherein the electronic device comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of an audio feature and a visual feature,

wherein the electronic device comprises a television,

wherein the measuring means comprises a measurement device adapted for use with a measurement technique,

wherein the measurement technique is adapted for use with a set-top box,

wherein the displaying means comprises a graphic user interface,

wherein the graphic user interface comprises:

at least one input feature; and

at least one output feature,

wherein the at least one input feature comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a window for facilitating entry of user-preset parameters and at least one slider feature,

wherein the at least one output feature comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a visual indication, an audible indication, and an olfactory-perceivable indication,

wherein the visual indication comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a dial, a numerical dial, a dial coupled with units of measure, a bar-graph, a bar-graph coupled with numerical data, a bar-graph coupled with units of measure, a dual-axis graph, and a triple-axis graph,

wherein the audible indication comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a beeping sound, a speech output, an adjustable sound adaptable for the hearing-impaired, a sound being in conformance with a hearing-assistive technology, a sound in conformance with at least one federally-regulated telecommunication and rehabilitation requirement,

wherein the speech output comprises at least one informational element selected from a group consisting essentially of a real-time internal energy consumption value and setup information,

wherein the olfactory-perceivable indication comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a pleasant natural scent, a “

green”

scent, a pleasant scent, a consumer-selected scent,

wherein the at least one output feature facilitates adjusting the internal power consumption using at least one consumer preference,

wherein the at least one consumer preference comprises at least one parameter selected from a group consisting essentially of brightness, contrast, color, saturation level, a backlight level, video rendering style, and audio playback levels,

wherein the video rendering style comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a vivid display, a cinema display, and a standard display,

wherein the electronic device undergoes an in-store demonstration,

wherein the measuring means is disposed in a manner selected from a group consisting essentially of a primary side of a power supply and a secondary side of a power supply,

wherein a current sensing circuitry switches-off the power supply if a secondary load exceeds a predetermined threshold,

wherein a current sensing circuitry is applied to at least one output on the secondary side, a summation of the power supplied by the at least one output determining a total output power, the summation being made by at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a circuit and a processing unit monitor, the total output power being further determined by an input power consumption level, and the input power consumption level being determined by a power conversion efficiency of the power supply,

wherein displaying means comprises an on-screen display,

wherein the displaying means further includes at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a feature for facilitating selection of a visual indication feature and a feature for facilitating selection of at least one energy-saving preference,

wherein the at least one consumer is encouraged to operate the electronic device in an environmentally-conscious energy-saving manner,

wherein the at least one consumer participates in an overall management of a carbon footprint of the electronic device, and

wherein the at least one energy-saving preference is a function of at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a user'"'"'s actively-selected preference, a user'"'"'s need, a user'"'"'s budget, a setting inherent to the electronic device, and a viewing environment.

22. A method of fabricating a graphical power meter, comprising the steps of:

providing means for measuring, in real time, an internal power consumption value corresponding to power being consumed by an electronic device under at least one operational mode; and

providing means for displaying a graphical representation of the real-time internal power consumption value from the measuring means to at least one consumer.

23. A method of measuring and graphically displaying power consumption by way of a graphical power meter, comprising the steps of:

providing means for measuring, in real time, an internal power consumption value corresponding to power being consumed by an electronic device under at least one operational mode;

providing means for displaying a graphical representation of the real-time internal power consumption value from the measuring means to at least one consumer;

perceiving the graphical representation by the at least one consumer; and

adjusting at least one parameter of the electronic device, wherein the adjusting step is performed in a manner selected from a group consisting essentially of a manual adjustment by the at least one consumer and an automatic adjustment.