Power management for wireless peripheral device with force feedback

• US 8,005,454 B1
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Wegmuller, David Ernest, Loughnane, Patrick Paul, Schmid, Eric, Favey, Hugues Michel, Lavelle, Mark Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): SOBUTKA, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US12/018,002
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/343.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless human interface device configured to establish a link with a host, wherein the device includes a transceiver for transmitting data to and receiving data from a host transceiver unit, wherein the host transceiver unit is connected with the host; a processor connected with the transceiver and configured to process data from the host and the human interface device, and a power circuit connected with the processor and configured to regulate the power usage of the human interface device, wherein the power circuit includes a battery, a computer readable media having instructions thereon, wherein the instructions include routines for monitoring the operational state of the human interface device, and routines for controlling the operation of the human interface device using the operational state of the human interface device to maximize the useful life of the batteries.

Claims

1. A wireless peripheral input device configured to establish a link with a host, said device comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting data to and receiving data from a host transceiver unit, wherein said host transceiver unit is connected with said host;

a processor connected with said transceiver and configured to process data from said host and said input device, and

a power circuit connected with said processor and configured to regulate the power usage of said input device, wherein said power circuit comprises;

a battery,

a computer readable media having instructions thereon, wherein said instructions comprise

routines for monitoring the operational state of said input device, and

routines for controlling the operation of said input device using said operational state of said input device,

wherein the peripheral input device is configured primarily to input control information to an application being run by said host.

2. A wireless human interface device configured to establish a link with a host, said wireless device being configured to primarily input control information to said host, so that said host may run an application program running in said host according to said control information, said device comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting data to and receiving data from a host transceiver unit, wherein said host transceiver unit is connected with said host;

a processor connected with said transceiver and configured to process data from said host and said human interface device;

a power circuit connected with said processor and configured to regulate the power usage of said human interface device, wherein said power circuit comprises;

a battery,

routines for monitoring the operational state of said human interface device, and

a computer readable media having instructions thereon, wherein said instructions comprise

routines for controlling the operation of said human interface device using said operational state of said human interface device, wherein said routines for controlling the operation of said human interface device comprise a routine for adjusting the rate of data exchange between said device and said host transceiver unit to a higher rate when said device is transmitting data to said host transceiver unit, from a lower rate used for maintaining a synchronized link with said host transceiver unit.

3. A wireless gaming input device configured to establish a link with a remote host, the input device being configured to input control information used to run a game application on the host, said device comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting data to and receiving data from a host transceiver unit, wherein said host transceiver unit is connected with said host;

a processor connected with said transceiver and configured to process data from said host and said human interface device;

a power circuit connected with said processor and configured to regulate the power usage of said human interface device, wherein said power circuit comprises;

a battery,

a computer readable media having instructions thereon, wherein said instructions comprise

routines for monitoring the operational state of said human interface device, and

routines for controlling the operation of said human interface device using said operational state of said human interface device, wherein said routines for controlling the operation of said human interface device comprise a routine for powering down the transceiver and said processor if the device remains in an idle state for more than a predetermined time period,

wherein said host runs said application according to inputs received via said input device.

4. A wireless input device configured to input control information to a remote host, said device comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting data to and receiving data from a host transceiver unit, wherein said host transceiver unit is connected with said host;

a processor connected with said transceiver and configured to process data from said host and said human interface device;

a power circuit connected with said processor and configured to regulate the power usage of said human interface device, wherein said power circuit comprises;

a battery,

a computer readable media having instructions thereon, wherein said instructions comprise

routines for monitoring the operational state of said human interface device, and

routines for controlling the operation of said human interface device using said operational state of said human interface device, wherein said routines for controlling the operation of said human interface device further comprise a routine for monitoring the battery voltage, and scaling the drive to said motor as a function of said battery voltage to provide a substantially constant motor output force regardless of the battery voltage,

wherein said device is a mouse, gamepad, or joystick.

5. A wireless human interface device configured primarily to be an input device of a remote host, said device comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting data to and receiving data from a host transceiver unit, wherein said host transceiver unit is connected with said host;

a processor connected with said transceiver and configured to process data from said host and said human interface device;

a power circuit connected with said processor and configured to regulate the power usage of said human interface device, wherein said power circuit comprises;

a battery,

a computer readable media having instructions thereon, wherein said instructions comprise;

routines for monitoring the operational state of said human interface device, and

routines for controlling the operation of said human interface device using said operational state of said human interface device, wherein said routines for controlling the operation of said human interface device further comprise a routine for reducing the power delivered to said motor when said battery'"'"'s voltage level is below a first threshold, and indicating the battery level to an operator of said device.