Method for displaying state of remote controller battery on a television set

• US 5,583,491 A
• Filed: 11/30/1994
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Soon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/351,094
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/660, 340/663, 348/734, 348/569
• US Class Current: 340/13.31
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration

Abstract

When the remote controller battery is exhausted to a low state, the state is detected and displayed on a display device located at the apparatus which is controlled by the commands from the remote controller. The voltage state of the battery is detected upon the actuation of a key of the remote controller. If a low state is detected, a low battery data code is added to the command code generated as a result of actuation of the key, and both kinds of data are transmitted to the controlled electronic device. The transmitted data is received at the controlled electronic device. The low battery data is detected and displayed on a display device of the remotely controlled electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for displaying the state of a remote controller battery, comprising the steps of:

detecting the battery exhaustion state upon an entered key;

mixing the battery exhaustion data with the inputted key data and transmitting them, upon determining that the battery of the remote controller is exhausted to below a predetermined level; and

receiving said remote controller data to decode it, and displaying after or before a key function through a display device of a set portion, upon finding a battery data in said received remote controller data.

2. The method for displaying the state of a remote controller battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitting step is performed with a data format decided by a protocol between a transmitting part and the receiving part.

3. The method for displaying the state of a remote controller battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote controller data receiving step is composed to display a battery exhaustion state in the form of an on-screen display by character display by letters.

4. The method for displaying the state of a remote controller battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote controller data receiving step is displayed through a light emitting diode which has been installed on said set portion.

5. The method for displaying the state of a remote controller battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote controller data receiving step is displayed through a liquid crystal display installed on said set portion.

6. In a remote control system of the type including a remote controller powered by a battery and having keys which are depressed to result in command data codes being transmitted to a controlled electronic device, said electronic device carrying out the command designated by said command data codes, a method of displaying a low battery state of said battery, comprising the steps of:

detecting at said remote controller the condition that said battery is providing power at a voltage level below a predetermined minimum level;

providing low battery data representing the detection of said last mentioned condition;

transmitting said low battery data to said controlled electronic device;

detecting said low battery data at said controlled electronic device; and

displaying at said controlled electronic device, in response to a detection of said low battery data, an indication that said battery is at a voltage level below said predetermined level.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting said low battery data in combination with said command data codes.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of detecting said battery condition comprises, sensing the actuation of any of said keys of said remote controller, and monitoring the voltage level of said battery each time actuation of a key is sensed.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of detecting said battery condition comprises, sensing the actuation of any of said keys of said remote controller, and monitoring the voltage level of said battery each time actuation of a key is sensed.

10. In a remote control system of the type including a remote controller powered by a battery and having keys which are depressed to result in command data codes being transmitted to a controlled electronic device, said electronic device carrying out the command designated by said command data codes, apparatus for displaying a low battery state of said battery, comprising:

detecting means at said remote controller for detecting the condition that said battery is providing power at a voltage level below a predetermined minimum level;

a microprocessor for providing low battery data representing the detection of said last mentioned condition;

a transmitter for transmitting said low battery data to said controlled electronic device;

a receiver at said controlled electronic device for receiving data transmitted by said remote controller;

a detector at said controlled electronic device for detecting said low battery data in the data received by said receiver; and

a display device at said controlled electronic device for displaying, in response to a detection of said low battery data, an indication that said battery is at a voltage level below said predetermined level.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said microprocessor comprises means for adding said low battery data to said command data codes for combined transmission by said transmitter to said controlled electronic device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said display device is a CRT.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said controlled electronic device is a television receiver and said display device is the video display screen of said television receiver.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said display device is an LED display device.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said display device is an LCD display device.