Remote control device, image processing apparatus having the same and method of driving the same

• US 7,504,981 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Yong-soo, Hong, Joo-sun, Han, Baik-hee
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr.; Timothy
• Application Number:
  US11/501,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20070085824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 341/176, 345/156, 345/169, 348/734
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A remote control device that can increase the convenience of a user, a display processing apparatus having the same and a method of driving the same are provided. The remote control device has a moving object and a vibration member generating a vibration. If a vibration is generated as the moving object moves, the remote control generates a signal in response to a moving path of the moving object. The remote control provides the generated signal to an electric device so as to remotely control the electric device. Accordingly, a user can operate the remote control only by moving the remote control so that the user'"'"'s convenience is increased.

Claims

1. A remote control device comprising:

a chamber;

a moving object provided in the chamber;

a sensor part to sense a vibration generated as the moving object moves and to output a sensor signal according to a path of the moving object; and

a signal generation part outputting a signal according to the sensor signal.

2. The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one vibration member provided in the chamber to generate the vibration.

3. The remote control device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a guide member provided in the chamber to guide the moving object.

4. The remote control device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the moving object is positioned in a space defined by the guide member and the vibration member,

and the guide member is distanced from the vibration member by an interval so that the moving object and the vibration member are closely contacted with each other.

5. The remote control device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sensor part is connected with the at least one vibration member, and the sensor signal is generated in response to the vibration.

6. The remote control device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one vibration member is provided in a plurality, and the plurality of vibration members are distanced from one another by an interval.

7. The remote control device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensor part outputs different sensor signals according to a position of the vibration member generating the vibration.

8. The remote control device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of vibration members comprises:

a first vibration member;

a second vibration member facing the first vibration member with the guide member disposed between the first vibration member and the second vibration member;

a third vibration member provided adjacent to the first and the second vibration members; and

a fourth vibration member facing the third vibration member with the guide member disposed between the third vibration member and the fourth vibration member.

9. The remote control device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a data storage part storing key values corresponding to the position of the vibration member which generates the vibration and a time for which the vibration is continued.

10. The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of input buttons with different key values,

wherein the signal generation part outputs the signal in response to a key value of a selected input button.

11. The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving object comprises a substantially spherical shape.

12. The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal output according to the sensor signal corresponds to a key value.

13. The remote control device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the vibration member provided in the chamber generates the vibration by a friction force against the moving object.

14. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an image process assembly having an image process part decoding an image signal to output the image signal, an image display part receiving the image signal from the image process part to display an image, and a control part receiving a signal from an outside to output a control signal controlling the image process part; and

a remote control having a chamber providing a space, a moving object provided in the chamber, a sensor part to sense a vibration generated as the moving object moves and to output a sensor signal according to a moving path of the moving object, and a signal generation part receiving the sensor signal from the sensor part and outputting a signal corresponding to the sensor signal to provide the signal to the image process assembly.

15. A method of driving a remote control device having a moving object, the method comprising:

(a) outputting a sensor signal according to a moving path of a moving object if a vibration is generated as the moving object moves;

(b) generating a key value in response to the sensor signal; and

(c) outputting a signal in response to the key value.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step (a) comprises:

(a-1) converting an input mode of the remote control into a vibration mode; and

(a-2) outputting the sensor signal in response to the vibration if a vibration is generated as the moving object moves.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the key value in response to the sensor signal is set according to a position in which the vibration is generated and a time for which the vibration is continued.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein if the vibration is generated by a friction force between the moving object and at least one vibration members disposed on the moving path of the moving object, a sensor signal corresponding to the vibration is output.