SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSERVING POWER FOR DEVICES

• US 20120319503A1
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital CE Patent Holdings SAS (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Johnson, Ronald Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 9,380,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/119
• 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 21/42222 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 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers

Abstract

A power conservation circuit for a hand-held motion-sensing device and a method for conserving power on such devices are provided. The present disclosure provides for sensing the movement of device by a sensor and outputting a sense signal in response to the movement, processing the sense signal output of the sensor by a processing circuit, selectively enabling and disabling power to the processing circuit (404) by a power management circuit and providing a signal by a motion detect circuit to the power management circuit for enabling power to the processing circuit based on the sense signal from the sensor. The motion detect circuit differentiates the sense signal from the sensor and provides a power enable signal to the power management circuit if the differentiated sense signal exceeds a signal threshold.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a sensor that senses the movement of the device and outputting a sense signal in response to the movement;

a processing circuit coupled to the sensor the processing circuit processing the sense signal output of the sensor;

a power management circuit coupled to the processing circuit, the power management circuit selectively enabling and disabling power to the processing circuit; and

a motion detect circuit coupled to the output of the sensor and to an input of the power management circuit, the motion detect circuit providing a signal to the power management circuit for enabling power to the processing circuit based on the sense signal from the sensor.

2. The device as in claim 1, wherein the motion detect circuit differentiates the sense signal from the sensor.

3. The device as in claim 2, wherein the motion detect circuit provides a power enable signal to the power management circuit if the differentiated sense signal exceeds a signal threshold.

4. The device as in claim 3, wherein the power management circuit disables power to the processing circuit if motion is not detected for a predetermined period of time.

5. The device as in claim 3, wherein the processing circuit provides a power disable signal to the power management circuit if motion is not detected for a predetermined period of time.

6. The device as in claim 1, wherein the sensor is a 3-axis motion sensing device.

7. The device as in claim 6, wherein the motion detect circuit is configured to detect an absolute value of the change in acceleration of at least one of the 3 axes.

8. The device as in claim 7, wherein the motion detect circuit provides a power enable signal to the power management circuit if the absolute value signal exceeds a signal threshold.

9. The device as in claim 6, wherein the motion detect circuit includes an operational amplifier differentiator to detect an absolute value of the change in acceleration of at least one of the 3 axes.

10. The device as in claim 9, wherein a gain of the differentiator is adjustable to set a signal threshold and wherein the motion detect circuit provides a power enable signal to the power management circuit if the absolute value signal exceeds the signal threshold.

11. A method for conserving power in a wireless hand-held motion-sensing controller, the method comprising:

sensing the motion of the controller by a sensor and outputting a sense signal in response to the motion ;

processing the sense signal output of the sensor by a processing circuit;

determining if the motion of the controller exceeds a threshold amount based on the sense signal from the sensor; and

enabling power to the processing circuit when the motion exceeds the threshold amount.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein the determining step includes differentiating the sense signal from the sensor.

13. The method as in claim 12, wherein the determining step further includes determining if the differentiated sense signal exceeds a signal threshold.

14. The method as in claim 13, further comprising disabling power to the processing circuit if motion is not detected for a predetermined period of time.

15. The method as in claim 13, further comprising providing a power disable signal to the processing circuit if motion is not detected for a predetermined period of time.

16. The method as in claim 11, wherein the sensor is a 3-axis motion sensing device.

17. The method as in claim 16, wherein the determining step includes determining an absolute value of the change in acceleration of at least one of the 3 axes.

18. The method as in claim 17, wherein the determining step further includes determining if the absolute value signal exceeds a signal threshold.

19. The method as in claim 18, wherein the signal threshold is adjustable.

20. A device comprising:

a means for sensing the motion of the device and outputting a sense signal in response to the motion;

a means for processing the sense signal output of the sensing means;

a means for determining if the motion of the controller exceeds a threshold amount based on the sense signal from the sensing means; and

a means for enabling power to the processing means when the motion exceeds the threshold amount.