Power-saving wireless input device and system

• US 8,120,487 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xueshan Technologies Inc. (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MStar Semiconductor Incorporated (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Wei, Chen, Chien-Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Obiniyi, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/341,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20090179761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340 101- 106, 3405721-5729, 235375-385
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A power-saving wireless input device and an associated system are included. The wireless input device comprises an antenna, an RFID transponder, an energy-storing unit, and a sensing unit. The RFID transponder receives an AC signal via the antenna, and converts the AC signal into a DC signal. The energy-storing unit receives the DC signal for charging. The sensing unit, which is powered by the energy-storing unit, generates an input signal to the RFID transponder. The RFID transponder demodulates the AC signal to generate a request signal, and performs load modulation according to the input signal to generate a reply signal in response to the request signal. The reply signal is then transmitted via the antenna.

Claims

1. A wireless input device, comprising:

an antenna;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder, for receiving an AC signal via the antenna;

a first power supply unit, coupled to the RFID transponder;

a sensing unit, powered by the first power supply unit only, for generating an input signal to the RFID transponder;

wherein, the RFID transponder, which is powered only by the AC signal in a first mode and powered by the AC signal and the first power supply unit in a second mode, demodulates the AC signal to generate a request signal, and performs load modulation according to the input signal to generate a reply signal in response to the request signal, followed by transmitting the reply signal via the antenna, and

a second power supply unit, coupled to the RFID transponder and the sensing unit, receiving no power from the AC signal in the first mode and the second mode, wherein the RFID transponder and the sensing unit are powered by the AC signal, the first power supply unit and the second power unit in a third mode, wherein energy of the first power supply is consumed before energy of the second power supply in the third mode.

2. The wireless input device according to claim 1, wherein the input signal is an input signal from a mouse device, an input signal from a keyboard, or a sensing signal from a sensing device.

3. The wireless input device according to claim 1, wherein the second power supply unit is a battery.

4. The wireless input device according to claim 1, wherein the RFID transponder comprises a rectifier circuit for converting the AC signal to a DC voltage, and the first power supply unit is an energy-storing unit for receiving the DC voltage for charging.

5. The wireless input device according to claim 4, wherein the energy-storing unit comprises a chargeable battery.

6. The wireless input device according to claim 1, wherein the first power supply unit is a rectifier energy-storing unit, which receives the AC signal via the antenna and converts the AC signal to a DC voltage for charging.

7. The wireless input device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a battery for providing electric energy to the RFID transponder and the sensing unit.

8. The wireless input device according to claim 1, wherein the RFID transponder comprises:

a demodulation circuit for demodulating the AC signal to generate the request signal;

a control circuit, receiving the request signal, for converting the input signal to input data, and for generating a corresponding control signal according to the input data; and

a modulation circuit for performing load modulation according to the control signal to generate the reply signal.

9. The wireless input device according to claim 8, wherein the RFID transponder further comprises:

a memory unit coupled to the control circuit and for storing the input data.