Remote control systems that can distinguish stray light sources

• US 8,102,365 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Alten, Brett G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRIS, DOROTHY H
• Application Number:
  US11/803,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,716 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/02 Improving the quality of display appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/006 Electronic inspection or testing of displays and display drivers, e.g. of LED or LCD displays testing individual LED's G01R31/2635; testing lamps G01R31/44; testing of optical features of LCD displays G02F1/1309
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters

Abstract

Remote control systems that can distinguish predetermined light sources from stray light sources, e.g., environmental light sources and/or reflections are provided. The predetermined light sources can be disposed in asymmetric substantially linear or two-dimensional patterns. The predetermined light sources also can be configured to exhibit signature characteristics. The predetermined light sources also can output light at different signature wavelengths. The predetermined light sources also can emit light polarized in one or more predetermined polarization axes. Remote control systems of the present invention also can include methods for adjusting an allocation of predetermined light sources and/or the technique used to distinguish the predetermined light sources from the stray light sources.

Claims

1. A method for determining an allocation of one or more signature pixels in a matrix of display pixels, the method comprising:

accepting data indicative of one or more conditions under which a photodetector is detecting light emitted from the one or more signature pixels; and

identifying a first subset of one or more pixels in the matrix to serve as the one or more signature pixels,

wherein the first subset is identified based on the data, and

wherein the one or more signature pixels exhibit one or more signature characteristics that distinguish the one or more signature pixels from other light sources.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a second subset of one or more pixels in the matrix to serve as the one or more signature pixels, wherein the second subset comprises a default allocation of one or more pixels; and

adjusting the allocation of one or more signature pixels from the second subset to the first subset.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating first drive signals for instructing the one or more signature pixels to emit light in accordance with the one or more signature characteristics; and

generating second drive signals for instructing the remaining pixels in the matrix to show an image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises ambient light data, data indicative of the proximity of the one or more signature pixels to the photodetector, data indicative of an image being shown by the remaining pixels in the matrix, data indicative of a signal-to-noise ratio, data from a user indicative of a user-preferred allocation of signature pixels, or any combination thereof.

5. A system comprising:

a display having;

a matrix of pixels disposed in the housing, the matrix of pixels having one or more signature pixels configured to exhibit one or more signature characteristics; and

a controller configured to;

accept data indicative of one or more conditions under which a photodetector is detecting light emitted from the one or more signature pixels;

identify a first subset of pixels in the matrix to serve as the one or more signature pixels based on the data; and

generate first drive signals for the first subset of pixels and second drive signals for a second subset of pixels in the matrix,

wherein the first drive signals are configured to cause the first subset of pixels to emit light in accordance with the one or more signature characteristics, and

wherein the second drive signals are configured to cause the second subset of pixels to show an image.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to:

accept updated data indicative of the one or more conditions under which the photodetector is detecting light emitted from the one or more signature pixels;

identify an updated first subset of pixels to serve as the one or more signature pixels based on the data; and

generate the first drive signals for the updated first subset of pixels and the second drive signals for an updated second subset of pixels in the matrix.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine if at least one predetermined event has occurred; and

in response to determining that the at least one predetermined event has occurred, accept the updated data indicative of the one or more conditions under which the photodetector is detecting light emitted from the one or more signature pixels.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured accept the updated data at predetermined intervals.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to accept the updated data continuously.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine if the updated data indicates that the signal-to-noise ratio is low; and

in response to determining that the updated data indicates that the signal-to-noise ratio is low, add at least a portion of pixels from the second subset of pixels to the first subset of pixels to generate the updated first subset of pixels.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein in response to determining that the updated data indicates that the signal-to-noise ratio is high, the controller is further configured to add at least a portion of the first subset of pixels to the second subset of pixels to generate the updated second subset of pixels.