Systems and Apparatus for Battery Replacement Detection and Reduced Battery Status Transmission in a Remote Control
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a wireless remote control that includes;
a battery connector with terminals that connect to a battery powering the remote control;
a battery measurement module coupled to the battery connector that measures a first battery terminal voltage at the terminals and that identifies a low battery condition corresponding to the battery based on the measured first battery terminal voltage; and
a transmitter coupled to the input module that transmits control commands to a controlled device and that transmits a low battery status message to the controlled device, wherein the remote control refrains from transmitting a subsequent low battery status message to the controlled device after the low battery status message is transmitted until a battery replacement is detected at the remote control;
the battery measurement module measures a second battery terminal voltage at the terminals and identifies that the battery has been replaced based on the measured second battery terminal voltage;
the transmitter transmits a battery replaced status message to the controlled device;
the controlled device, which includes;
a receiving interface that receives the control commands and the low battery status message from the remote control;
a processor that processes the low battery status message to identify the low battery condition of the remote control;
a presentation interface that presents an indicator to a user regarding the low battery condition of the remote control;
the input interface receives a second battery status message from the remote control;
the processor processes the second battery status message to identify a battery replaced condition of the remote control; and
the presentation interface terminates presentation of the indicator to the user regarding the low battery condition of the remote control.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various mechanisms are described for indicating to a user a low battery condition of a remote control for a controlled device. More particularly, a remote control detects a low battery condition as well as the replacement of batteries in the remote control. The remote control transmits a low battery message to a controlled device responsive to detecting a low battery condition. The remote control refrains from transmitting one or more subsequent low battery messages to the controlled device prior to detection of replacement of batteries. The remote control transmits a battery status message to the controlled device responsive to detecting the replacement of batteries in the remote control. The controlled device utilizes the low battery message and the battery status message to determine whether to present a low battery indicator to a user regarding a low battery condition of the remote control.
110 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a wireless remote control that includes; a battery connector with terminals that connect to a battery powering the remote control; a battery measurement module coupled to the battery connector that measures a first battery terminal voltage at the terminals and that identifies a low battery condition corresponding to the battery based on the measured first battery terminal voltage; and a transmitter coupled to the input module that transmits control commands to a controlled device and that transmits a low battery status message to the controlled device, wherein the remote control refrains from transmitting a subsequent low battery status message to the controlled device after the low battery status message is transmitted until a battery replacement is detected at the remote control; the battery measurement module measures a second battery terminal voltage at the terminals and identifies that the battery has been replaced based on the measured second battery terminal voltage; the transmitter transmits a battery replaced status message to the controlled device; the controlled device, which includes; a receiving interface that receives the control commands and the low battery status message from the remote control; a processor that processes the low battery status message to identify the low battery condition of the remote control; a presentation interface that presents an indicator to a user regarding the low battery condition of the remote control; the input interface receives a second battery status message from the remote control; the processor processes the second battery status message to identify a battery replaced condition of the remote control; and the presentation interface terminates presentation of the indicator to the user regarding the low battery condition of the remote control. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus, comprising:
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a receiving interface that receives a first battery status message from a wireless remote control; a processor that processes the first battery status message to identify a low battery condition of the remote control; a transmitter that transmits a first acknowledgment message to the remote control, the acknowledgment message indicating that the first battery status message was received at the apparatus; and a presentation interface that presents an indicator to a user regarding the low battery condition of the remote control when the processor has identified the low battery condition of the remote control; the input interface receives a second battery status message from the remote control; the processor processes the second battery status message to identify a battery replaced condition of the remote control; and the presentation interface terminates presentation of the indicator to the user regarding the low battery condition of the remote control responsive to the processor identifying the battery replaced condition of the remote control. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A remote control comprising:
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a battery connector including terminals that connect to a battery powering the remote control; a battery measurement module coupled to the battery connector that measures a first battery terminal voltage at the terminals and that identifies a low battery condition; a transmitter coupled to the battery measurement module that transmits one or more low battery status message to a controlled device responsive to the battery measurement module identifying the low battery condition, wherein the controlled device presents a low battery indicator upon receipt of the low battery status message, and the remote control refrains from transmitting subsequent low battery status messages to the controlled device until a battery replacement is detected; the battery measurement module measures a second terminal voltage at the terminals and identifies that the battery has been replaced based on the measured second terminal voltage; and the transmitter transmits a battery replaced status message to the controlled device responsive to the battery measurement module identifying the battery replacement, wherein the controlled device ceases presentation of the low battery indicator. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification