OPTICAL REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20130021237A1
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Kao, Ming-Tsan, Ko, Yi-Hsien, Huang, Chao-Chien, Liang, Chia-Cheun
• Granted Patent: US 9,148,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0325 using a plurality of light emitters or reflectors or a plurality of detectors forming a reference frame from which to derive the orientation of the object, e.g. by triangulation or on the basis of reference deformation in the picked up image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• 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

Abstract

An optical remote control system includes a home appliance and a remote controller. The home appliance operates according to a user command and its housing includes an opening. A status indicator light and a reference light are disposed within the opening. The status indicator light includes a visible light source, and the reference light includes a plurality of infrared light sources. The visible light source and the infrared light sources are disposed in a predetermined pattern. The remote controller includes an optical sensor configured to detect optical signals from the infrared light sources, thereby generating the user command accordingly.

Claims

1. An optical remote control system, comprising:

a home appliance configured to operate according to a user command and comprising;

a housing including a first opening;

a status indicator light disposed in the first opening and including a first light source; and

a first reference light disposed in the first opening and including a second light source; and

a remote controller including an optical sensor configured to detect optical signals from the second light source for issuing the user command.

2. The optical remote control system of claim 1, wherein the first reference light further includes a plurality of second light sources disposed in the first opening and arranged in a first pattern.

3. The optical remote control system of claim 2, wherein:

the optical sensor is further configured to detect optical signals from the plurality of second light sources for acquiring a first optical pattern associated with the first pattern; and

the optical remote control system further comprises a judging device configured to determine a location or an angle of the remote controller when issuing the user command according to the first optical pattern.

4. The optical remote control system of claim 3, wherein the judging device is configured to generate the user command according to a location and/or a shape of the first optical pattern.

5. The optical remote control system of claim 3, wherein the judging device is integrated within the remote controller.

6. The optical remote control system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of second light sources are arranged in the first pattern which is asymmetric in a horizontal direction, asymmetric in a vertical direction, or points a specific direction.

7. The optical remote control system of claim 1, wherein the first light source is a visible light source and the second light source is an infrared light source.

8. The optical remote control system of claim 1, wherein the status indicator light is a power status indicator light, a working status indicator light, or an illumination button of the home appliance.

9. The optical remote control system of claim 1, wherein:

the housing further includes a second opening as a sound hole of an acoustic device;

the optical remote control system further includes a second reference light disposed within the housing at a location corresponding to the second opening and including a third light source; and

the optical sensor is further configured to detect optical signals from the second and third light sources for issuing the user command.

10. The optical remote control system of claim 9, wherein:

the second reference light includes a plurality of third light sources disposed in the second opening and arranged in a second pattern;

the optical sensor is further configured to detect optical signals from the plurality of second light sources for acquiring a second optical pattern associated with the second pattern; and

the optical remote control system further comprises a judging device configured to determine a location or an angle of the remote controller when issuing the user command according to the second optical pattern.

11. The optical remote control system of claim 9 wherein the first light source is a visible light source and the second and third light sources are infrared light sources.

12. The optical remote control system of claim 1, wherein:

the housing further includes a second opening as a vent of a heat-dissipating device;

the optical remote control system further includes a second reference light disposed within the housing at a location corresponding to the second opening and including a third light source; and

the optical sensor is further configured to detect optical signals from the second and third light sources for issuing the user command.

13. The optical remote control system of claim 12, wherein:

the second reference light includes a plurality of third light sources disposed in the second opening and arranged in a second pattern;

the optical sensor is further configured to detect optical signals from the plurality of second light sources for acquiring a second optical pattern associated with the second pattern; and

the optical remote control system further comprises a judging device configured to determine a location or an angle of the remote controller when issuing the user command according to the second optical pattern.

14. The optical remote control system of claim 12 wherein the first light source is a visible light source and the second and third light sources are infrared light sources.

15. The optical remote control system of claim 1, further comprising:

an acoustic device disposed at a side of the home appliance and including a sound box with a second opening; and

a second reference light disposed in the second opening and including a third light source;

wherein

the optical sensor is further configured to detect optical signals from the second and third light sources for issuing the user command.

16. The optical remote control system of claim 15, wherein:

the second reference light includes a plurality of third light sources disposed in the second opening and arranged in a second pattern;

the optical sensor is further configured to detect optical signals from the plurality of second light sources for acquiring a second optical pattern associated with the second pattern; and

the optical remote control system further comprises a judging device configured to determine a location or an angle of the remote controller when issuing the user command according to the second optical pattern.

17. The optical remote control system of claim 15 wherein the first light source is a visible light source and the second and third light sources are infrared light sources.

18. An optical remote control system, comprising:

a display device configured to operate according to a user command;

an acoustic device including a sound hole and configured to broadcast sound when the display device is operating;

a reference light disposed in the sound hole and including alight source; and

a remote controller including an optical sensor configured to detect optical signals from the light source for issuing the user command.

19. The optical remote control system of claim 18, wherein the reference light further includes a plurality of light sources disposed in the sound hole and arranged in a specific pattern.

20. The optical remote control system of claim 19, wherein:

the optical sensor is further configured to detect optical signals from the plurality of light sources for acquiring an optical pattern associated with the specific pattern; and

the optical remote control system further comprises a judging device configured to determine an orientation of the remote controller when issuing the user command according to the optical pattern.

21. The optical remote control system of claim 18, wherein the light source is an infrared light source.

22. The optical remote control system of claim 18, wherein the acoustic device is disposed at a side of the display device or in a housing of the display device.

23. An optical remote control system, comprising:

a home appliance configured to operate according to a user command and comprising;

a housing including an opening;

a heat-dissipating device configured to conduct a heat generated by the home appliance out of the housing via the opening;

a reference light disposed in the opening and including a light source; and

a remote controller including an optical sensor configured to detect optical signals from the light source for issuing the user command.

24. The optical remote control system of claim 23, wherein the reference light further includes a plurality of light sources disposed in the opening and arranged in a specific pattern.

25. The optical remote control system of claim 23, wherein:

the optical sensor is further configured to detect optical signals from the plurality of light sources for acquiring an optical pattern associated with the specific pattern; and

the optical remote control system further comprises a judging device configured to determine an orientation of the remote controller when issuing the user command according to the optical pattern.

26. The optical remote control system of claim 23, wherein the light source is an infrared light source.