Systems, methods and apparatus for adjusting a low battery detection threshold of a remote control

• US 8,009,054 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Reams, William R
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob; Sisay
• Application Number:
  US12/104,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20090262254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636.15, 340/636.1, 340/635, 340/691.1, 34063611-63613, 324 7611-157, 324/426, 324/433, 324/437, 320/116, 320/134, 320/136, 320/132, 320148-152, 320/157, 320/159, 348/734, 348/E5.095, 702 63- 65, 429 90- 92
• US Class Current: 340/636.15
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895

Abstract

Various embodiments of systems, methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting a low battery detection threshold in a remote control. An embodiment of a method includes determining a type of a battery powering a remote control of an entertainment device and determining a first low battery threshold for the battery based on the type of the battery. The first low battery threshold indicates a low battery condition of the remote control. Responsive to measuring a voltage of the battery, a determination is made regarding whether the voltage of the battery is below the low battery threshold. Responsive to determining that the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold, a low battery message is transmitted to an entertainment device. The entertainment device utilizes the message to present an indicator to a user regarding the low battery condition of the remote control.

Claims

1. A remote control of an entertainment device comprising:

a battery connector that connects to a battery powering the remote control;

a low battery detection module, coupled to the battery connector, that measures an initial voltage of the battery when the battery is connected to the battery connector and compares the initial voltage of the battery to at least one battery type threshold voltage to determine a type of the battery connected to the battery connector, that determines a first low battery threshold voltage for the battery based on the type of the battery, the first low battery threshold voltage indicating a low battery condition of the remote control, and that measures a voltage of the battery to determine whether the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold voltage; and

a transmitter coupled to the low battery detection module that transmits a low battery message to the entertainment device responsive to the low battery detection module determining that the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold voltage, wherein the entertainment device utilizes the low battery message to present an indicator to a user regarding the low battery condition; and

an input module that receives user input, wherein processing of the user input involves the input module performing a specified function;

the low battery detection module determining a second low battery threshold voltage, the second low battery threshold voltage indicating when the input module is to refrain from performing the specified function, and further determining whether the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold voltage; and

the input module refraining from performing the specified function during processing of the user input responsive to the low battery detection module determining that the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold voltage;

wherein the specified function comprises writing to a non-volatile memory of the remote control.

2. The remote control of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver that receives data from the entertainment device;

an input module that receives a user input, wherein processing of the user input involves the input module performing a specified function;

the low battery detection module determining a second low battery threshold voltage, the second low battery threshold voltage indicating when the input module is to refrain from performing the specified function, and further determining whether the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold voltage; and

the input module refraining from performing the specified function during processing of data received from the entertainment device responsive to the low battery detection module determining that the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold voltage.

3. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the second low battery threshold voltage is less than the first low battery threshold voltage.

4. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits the low battery message with a control command.

10. The remote control of claim 1, wherein determining the type of the battery comprises selecting, based on the initial voltage, the type of the battery from a plurality of different battery types, the plurality of different battery types corresponding to at least two different initial voltages.

11. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the first low battery threshold voltage is selected from a plurality of low battery threshold voltages corresponding to a plurality of different battery types.

5. A system comprising:

an entertainment device including;

an output interface that outputs a presentation stream for presentation on a presentation device; and

a wireless receiver; and

a remote control including;

a battery connector that connects to a battery powering the remote control;

a low battery detection module coupled to the battery connector that detects replacement of the battery with a replacement battery;

a transmitter coupled to the low battery detection module that, upon the low battery detection module detecting the replacement of the battery, transmits a battery replaced message to the entertainment device, wherein the entertainment device presents a menu to a user regarding the replacement of the battery;

an input module of the remote control, coupled to the low battery detection module and the transmitter, that receives a first user input indicating the type of the replacement battery powering the remote control;

the low battery detection module determining a first low battery threshold voltage for the replacement battery based on the type of the replacement battery indicated in the first user input, the first low battery threshold voltage indicating a low battery condition of the remote control;

the input, module receiving a second user input indicating a change to the output of the presentation stream by the entertainment device and generating a control command based on the second user input; and

the transmitter transmitting the control command to the receiver of the entertainment device;

the low battery detection module measuring a voltage of the replacement battery during processing of the second user input by the input module to determine whether the voltage is below the first low battery threshold voltage, the transmitter transmitting a low battery message to the receiver responsive to the low battery detection module determining that the voltage is below the first low battery threshold voltage;

the output interface of the entertainment device outputting an indicator in the presentation stream regarding the low battery condition responsive to the low battery message;

the low battery detection module determining a second low battery threshold voltage, the second low battery threshold voltage indicating when the input module is to refrain from writing to the non-volatile memory, and that determines whether the voltage of the replacement battery is below the second low battery threshold voltage; and

the input module processing the second user input without writing to the non-volatile memory responsive to the low battery detection module determining that the voltage of the replacement battery is below the second low battery threshold voltage.

6. A method of indicating a low battery condition for a remote control, the method comprising:

determining a type of a battery powering a remote control of an entertainment device;

selecting, based on the determined type of the battery, a first low battery threshold voltage for the battery from a plurality of low battery threshold voltages corresponding to at least two different types of batteries, the first low battery threshold voltage indicating a low battery condition of the remote control;

determining a second low battery threshold voltage for the battery based on the determined type of the battery, the second low battery threshold voltage indicating when the remote control is to refrain from writing to a non-volatile memory;

measuring a voltage of the battery;

determining whether the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold voltage; and

transmitting a low battery message to the entertainment device responsive to determining that the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold voltage, wherein the entertainment device utilizes the message to present an indicator to a user regarding the low battery condition of the remote control;

receiving an input at the remote control, wherein processing of the input involves the remote control writing to the non-volatile memory;

determining, at the remote control, whether the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold voltage; and

processing, at the remote control, the input without writing to the non-volatile memory responsive to determining that the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold voltage.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the type of the battery powering the remote control further comprises:

measuring an initial voltage of the battery when the battery is placed into the remote control; and

selecting the type of the battery from a plurality of different battery types based on the initial voltage, wherein the plurality of different battery types correspond to at least two different initial voltages.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the type of the battery powering the remote control further comprises:

providing a switch on the remote control, the switch having a plurality of positions, each position corresponding with a particular battery type and each particular battery type corresponding to one of at least two different low battery threshold voltages; and

determining the type of the battery based on a selected one of the plurality of positions of the remote control.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the type of the battery powering the remote control further comprises:

detecting that the battery powering the remote control has been replaced;

transmitting a battery replacement message to the entertainment device, wherein the entertainment device presents a menu to the user regarding thc replacement of thc battery;

receiving user input indicating a selection of the type of the battery powering the remote control from a plurality of battery types; and

determining the first low battery threshold voltage based on the user input, wherein the plurality of battery types correspond to at least two different low battery threshold voltages.

12. A remote control of an entertainment device comprising:

a battery connector that connects to a battery powering the remote control;

a low battery detection module, coupled to the battery connector, that measures an initial voltage of the battery when the battery is connected to the battery connector and compares the initial voltage of the battery to at least one battery type threshold voltage to determine a type of the battery connected to the battery connector, that determines a first low battery threshold voltage for the battery based on the type of the battery, the first low battery threshold voltage indicating a low battery condition of the remote control, and that measures a voltage of the battery to determine whether the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold voltage; and

a transmitter coupled to the low battery detection module that transmits a low battery message to the entertainment device responsive to the low battery detection module determining that the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold voltage, wherein the entertainment device utilizes the low battery message to present an indicator to a user regarding the low battery condition;

wherein the low battery detection module is configured. to query the entertainment device for the first low battery threshold voltage based on the type of the battery.

13. A system comprising:

an entertainment device including;

an output interface that outputs a presentation stream for presentation on a presentation device; and

a wireless receiver; and

a remote control including;

a battery connector that connects to a battery powering the remote control;

a low battery detection module coupled to the battery connector that detects replacement of the battery with a replacement battery;

a transmitter coupled to the low battery detection module that, upon the low battery detection module detecting the replacement of the battery, transmits a battery replaced message to the entertainment device, wherein the entertainment device presents a menu to a user regarding the replacement of the battery;

an input module of the remote control, coupled to the low battery detection module and the transmitter, that receives a first user input indicating the type of the replacement battery powering the remote control;

the low battery detection module determining a first low battery threshold voltage for the replacement battery based on the type of the replacement battery indicated in the first user input, the first low battery threshold voltage indicating a low battery condition of the remote control;

the input module receiving a second user input indicating a change to the output of the presentation stream by the entertainment device and generating a control command based on the second user input; and

the transmitter transmitting the control command to the receiver of the entertainment device;

the low battery detection module measuring a voltage of the replacement battery during processing of the second user input by the input module to determine whether the voltage is below the first low battery threshold voltage, the transmitter transmitting a low battery message to the receiver responsive to the low battery detection module determining that the voltage is below the first low battery threshold voltage;

the output interface of the entertainment device outputting an indicator in the presentation stream regarding the low battery condition responsive to the low battery message;

wherein responsive to the transmitter transmitting the battery replaced message to the entertainment device the remote control enters a user input solicitation state during which the input module is operable to receive a user input indicating the type of the replacement battery.

14. A system comprising:

an entertainment device including;

an output interface that outputs a presentation stream for presentation on a presentation device; and

a wireless receiver; and

a remote control including;

a battery connector that connects to a battery powering the remote control;

a low battery detection module coupled to the battery connector that detects replacement of the battery with a replacement battery;

a transmitter coupled to the low battery detection module that, upon the low battery detection module detecting the replacement of the battery, transmits a battery replaced message to the entertainment device, wherein the entertainment device presents a menu to a user regarding the replacement of the battery;

an input module of the remote control, coupled to the low battery detection module and the transmitter, that receives a first user input indicating the type of the replacement battery powering the remote control;

the low battery detection module determining a first low battery threshold voltage for the replacement battery based on the type of the replacement battery indicated in the first user input, the first low battery threshold voltage indicating a low battery condition of the remote control;

the input module receiving a second user input indicating a change to the output of the presentation stream by the entertainment device and generating a control command based on the second user input; and

the transmitter transmitting the control command to the receiver of the entertainment device;

the low battery detection module measuring a voltage of the replacement battery during processing of the second user input by the input module to determine whether the voltage is below the first low battery threshold voltage, the transmitter transmitting a low battery message to the receiver responsive to the low battery detection module determining that the voltage is below the first low battery threshold voltage;

the output interface of the entertainment device outputting an indicator in the presentation stream regarding the low battery condition responsive to the low battery message, the remote control further comprising a receiver configured to receive messages from the entertainment device;

the entertainment device, upon presenting the menu to the user regarding the replacement of the battery, transmitting a message to the receiver of the remote control indicating that the menu is currently-being displayed; and

the input module of the remote control configured to enter a user input solicitation state, responsive to the receiver of the remote control receiving the message, wherein the remote control is operable to receive and process a user input indicating the type of the replacement battery.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a battery connector that connects to a battery powering the apparatus;

a low battery detection module, coupled to the battery connector, that;

measures an initial voltage of the battery when the battery is initially connected to the battery connector and compares the initial voltage of the battery to at least one battery type threshold voltage to select a type of the battery connected to the battery connector from a plurality of different battery types, the plurality of different battery types corresponding to at least two different initial voltages;

selects a first low battery threshold voltage for the battery, based on the determined type of the battery, from a plurality of different low battery threshold voltages corresponding to at least two battery types, the first low battery threshold voltage indicating a low battery condition of the remote control; and

measures a voltage of the battery to determine whether the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold voltage; and

an integrated display screen of the apparatus configured to present to a user an indication of the low battery condition responsive to the low battery detection module determining that the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold voltage; and

an input module that receives user input, wherein processing of the user input involves the input module writing to a non-volatile memory of the apparatus;

the low battery detection module determining a second low battery threshold voltage, the second low battery threshold voltage indicating when the input module is to refrain from writing to the non-volatile memory, and further determining whether the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold voltage; and

the input module refraining from writing to the non-volatile memory during processing of the user input responsive to the low battery detection module determining that the voltage of the battery is below the second low battery threshold voltage.