Power management for electronic devices

• US 7,786,623 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman Professional, Inc. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Amx LLC (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Farmer, Michael Scott, Ellis, Vincent William, Carpenter, Kenneth Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): RUTLAND WALLIS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/516,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20070054651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 307/117
• US Class Current: 307/117
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1615 Switching on; Switching off, e.g. remotely battery saving circuits associated with selective call operation H04W52/00; details of power consumption reduction in a PLL, H03L7/0802, H03L7/14, H03L2207/08, H03L2207/18; muting amplifiers by gain control see H03G3/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A cordless electronic device with power management system and method is provided that includes an outer surface, a power consumption circuit operable to consume power and for use in a cordless electronic device, a power supply circuit operable to regulate the power from a power source used to power the power consumption circuit of the cordless electronic device, a power control circuit operable to receive an input signal and to place the power consumption circuit in a lower or higher power state upon receipt of the input signal, a presence sensor operable to detect the presence of a user and to provide a presence sensor input signal to the power control circuit to place the power consumption circuit in the higher power state.

Claims

1. A cordless electronic device with power management, comprising:

an outer surface;

a power consumption circuit operable to consume power and for use in the cordless electronic device;

a power supply circuit operable to regulate the power from a power source used to power the power consumption circuit;

a power control circuit operable to receive an input signal and to place the power consumption circuit in a lower or higher power state upon receipt of the input signal;

a presence sensor operable to detect the presence of a user and to provide a presence sensor input signal to the power control circuit to place the power consumption circuit in the higher power state upon detection of the presence of the user; and

a motion sensor operable to detect motion of the cordless electronic device, and to provide a motion sensor input signal to the power control circuit to place the power consumption circuit in the higher power state upon the motion detection, wherein the motion sensor is configured to provide the motion sensor input signal to the power control circuit only if the presence sensor detects the user touching the outer surface.

2. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, wherein the presence sensor is a touch sensor operable to detect the user touching at least a portion of the outer surface.

3. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, wherein the presence sensor is a proximity sensor operable to detect the user in a close proximity to the cordless electronic device.

4. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter or transceiver operable to generate and transmit an electromagnetic signal; and

a keypad with a plurality of buttons positioned adjacent the outer surface and operable to be selected by the user, wherein the transmitter generates a specified electromagnetic signal upon selection of one or more of the plurality of buttons.

5. The cordless electronic device of claim 4, wherein the cordless electronic device comprises a remote control device.

6. The cordless electronic device of claim 4, wherein the keypad is operable to provide a keypad input signal to the power control circuit to place the power consumption circuit in the higher power state upon selection of one or more of the plurality of buttons by the user.

7. The cordless electronic device of claim 4, wherein the keypad is operable to provide a keypad input signal to the power control circuit to place the power consumption circuit in the lower power state if one of the plurality of buttons is continuously selected for a specified period.

8. The cordless electronic device of claim 4, wherein the keypad is operable to provide a keypad input signal to the power control circuit to place the power consumption circuit in the lower power state if two or more of the plurality of buttons are selected substantially simultaneously.

9. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a sleep timer operable to be activated for an elapsed period, and to provide a sleep timer input signal to the power control circuit to place the power consumption circuit in the lower power state after the sleep timer has been activated for the elapsed period.

10. The cordless electronic device of claim 4, further comprising a sleep timer operable to be activated for an elapsed period, and to provide a sleep timer input signal to the power control circuit to place the power consumption circuit in the lower power state after the sleep timer has been activated for the elapsed period.

11. The cordless electronic device of claim 9, wherein the elapsed period is reset upon receipt of at least one of the presence sensor input signal and the motion sensor input signal.

12. The cordless electronic device of claim 10, wherein the elapsed period is reset upon receipt of the keypad input signal.

13. The cordless electronic device of claim 9, wherein the elapsed period is reset upon the substantially simultaneous receipt of the presence sensor input signal and the motion sensor input signal.

14. The cordless electronic device of claim 10, wherein the elapsed period is reset upon the substantially simultaneous receipt of the presence sensor input signal and the keypad input signal.

15. The cordless electronic device of claim 4, wherein the keypad is configured to provide the keypad input signal to the power control circuit only if the presence sensor detects the user touching the outer surface.

16. The cordless electronic device of claim 4, wherein the power control circuit is configured to ignore the keypad input signal unless the power control circuit receives the presence sensor input signal within a predetermined interval.

17. The cordless electronic device of claim 4, wherein the electromagnetic signal is an infrared signal.

18. The cordless electronic device of claim 4, wherein the electromagnetic signal is a radio-frequency signal.

19. The cordless electronic device of claim 4, wherein the power consumption circuit is a light operable to illuminate one or more of the buttons of the keypad.

20. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power consumption circuit is a microprocessor.

21. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power consumption circuit is an electronic display operable to display at least one of text and graphics.

22. The cordless electronic device of claim 21, wherein the electronic display is a liquid crystal type display.

23. The cordless electronic device of claim 21, wherein the electronic display is an organic LED type display.

24. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power supply circuit includes DC to DC converters.

25. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, wherein the presence sensor includes a conductive piece, and wherein the presence sensor detects the presence of the user when the user touches the conductive piece.

26. The cordless electronic device of claim 25, wherein the conductive piece comprises a side railing.

27. The cordless electronic device of claim 25, wherein the conductive piece comprises two side railings.

28. The cordless electronic device of claim 27, wherein the presence sensor detects the presence of the user when both of the side railings are touched by the user.

29. The cordless electronic device of claim 27, wherein the presence sensor detects the presence of the user when one of the two side railings is touched by the user.

30. The cordless electronic device of claim 25, wherein the presence sensor detects the presence of the user upon detection of a changed resistance resulting from the user touching the conductive piece.

31. The cordless electronic device of claim 25, wherein the presence sensor detects the presence of the user upon detection of a changed capacitance resulting from the user touching the conductive piece.

32. The cordless electronic device of claim 4, wherein the power consumption circuit is a backlight operable to illuminate one or more of the buttons of the keypad.

33. The cordless electronic device of claim 25, wherein the presence sensor detects the presence of the user upon detection of a AC power carrier frequency in the user resulting from the user touching the conductive piece.

34. The cordless electronic device of claim 33, wherein the AC power carrier frequency is 60 Hz.

35. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is an accelerometer.

36. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is a tilt sensor.

37. The cordless electronic device of claim 36, wherein the motion sensor detects motion upon detection of an orientation angle of at least 20 degrees from horizontal of the cordless electronic device.

38. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is a ball bearing switch.

39. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is an optical/mechanical sensor.

40. The cordless electronic device of claim 9, wherein the sleep timer is implemented using a microprocessor.

41. The cordless electronic device of claim 4, wherein the power consumption circuit is an electroluminescent light operable to illuminate one or more of the buttons of the keypad.

42. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, wherein the presence sensor is further operable to provide a presence sensor input signal to the power control circuit to place the power consumption circuit in the lower power state if the presence of a user is not detected.

43. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is further operable to detect a horizontal orientation of the cordless electronic device and to provide a motion sensor input signal to the power control circuit to place the power consumption circuit in the lower power state upon detection of the horizontal orientation.

44. The cordless electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power control circuit is further operable to place the power consumption circuit in a plurality of lower or higher power states upon receipt of the input signal.

45. A method of managing power for a power consumption circuit operable to consume power of a cordless electronic device, the method comprising:

providing a power supply circuit operable to regulate the power from a power source used to power the power consumption circuit;

providing a power control circuit operable to receive an input signal and to place the power consumption circuit in a lower or higher power state upon receipt of the input signal;

providing a presence sensor operable to detect the presence of a user;

detecting the presence of the user;

sending a presence sensor input signal to the power control circuit upon the user detection;

placing the power consumption circuit in the higher power state upon receipt of the presence sensor input signal;

providing a motion sensor operable to detect motion of the cordless electronic device;

detecting the motion of the cordless electronic device;

sending a motion sensor input signal to the power control circuit upon the motion detection, wherein the motion sensor is configured to provide the motion sensor input signal to the power control circuit only if the presence sensor detects the user touching an outer surface of the cordless electronic device; and

placing the power consumption circuit in the higher power state upon receipt of the motion sensor input signal.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the cordless electronic device further includes a keypad with a plurality of buttons operable to be selected by the user, the method further comprising:

detecting the selection of one or more of the plurality of buttons;

sending a keypad input signal to the power control circuit upon the selection detection; and

placing the power consumption circuit in the higher power state upon receipt of the keypad input signal.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the cordless electronic device further includes a keypad with a plurality of buttons operable to be selected by the user, the method further comprising:

detecting the continuous selection of one or more of the plurality of buttons for a specified period by a user;

sending a keypad input signal to the power control circuit upon the selection detection; and

placing the power consumption circuit in the lower power state upon receipt of the keypad input signal.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

providing a sleep timer operable to be activated for an elapsed period;

detecting the transmission of input signals to the power control circuit;

activating the sleep timer when an input signal transmission is not detected;

resetting the elapsed period of the sleep timer upon detection of an input signal transmission; and

placing the power consumption circuit in the lower power state after the sleep timer has been activated for the elapsed period.

49. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

providing a sleep timer operable to be activated for an elapsed period;

detecting the transmission of input signals to the power control circuit;

activating the sleep timer when an input signal transmission is not detected;

resetting the elapsed period of the sleep timer upon detection of an input signal transmission; and

placing the power consumption circuit in the lower power state after the sleep timer has been activated for the elapsed period.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the elapsed period is reset upon receipt of at least one of the presence sensor input signal and the motion sensor input signal.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the elapsed period is reset upon receipt of the keypad input signal.

52. The method of claim 45, wherein the elapsed period is reset upon the substantially simultaneous receipt of the presence sensor input signal and the motion sensor input signal.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the elapsed period is reset upon the substantially simultaneous receipt of the presence sensor input signal and the keypad input signal.

54. A cordless electronic device with power management, comprising:

an outer surface;

a power consumption circuit operable to consume power and for use in the cordless electronic device;

a power supply circuit operable to regulate the power from a power source used to power the power consumption circuit;

a power control circuit operable to receive an input signal and to place the power consumption circuit in a lower or higher power state upon receipt of the input signal;

a presence sensor operable to detect the presence of a user and to provide a presence sensor input signal to the power control circuit to place the power consumption circuit in the higher power state upon detection of the presence of the user; and

a motion sensor operable to detect motion of the cordless electronic device, and to provide a motion sensor input signal to the power control circuit to place the power consumption circuit in the higher power state upon the motion detection, wherein the power control circuit is configured to ignore the motion sensor input signal unless the power control circuit receives the presence sensor input signal within a predetermined interval.

55. A method of managing power for a power consumption circuit operable to consume power of a cordless electronic device, the method comprising:

providing a power supply circuit operable to regulate the power from a power source used to power the power consumption circuit;

providing a power control circuit operable to receive an input signal and to place the power consumption circuit in a lower or higher power state upon receipt of the input signal;

providing a presence sensor operable to detect the presence of a user;

detecting the presence of the user;

sending a presence sensor input signal to the power control circuit upon the user detection;

placing the power consumption circuit in the higher power state upon receipt of the presence sensor input signal;

providing a motion sensor operable to detect motion of the cordless electronic device;

detecting the motion of the cordless electronic device;

sending a motion sensor input signal to the power control circuit upon the motion detection, wherein the power control circuit is configured to ignore the motion sensor input signal unless the power control circuit receives the presence sensor input signal within a predetermined interval; and

placing the power consumption circuit in the higher power state upon receipt of the motion sensor input signal.