Methods and systems for power-controlling display devices

• US 8,165,724 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kerofsky, Louis Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Decady, Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, DOUGLAS S
• Application Number:
  US12/486,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20100321574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 700295-296, 700/291, 705/7.38, 705/412, 340/870.02, 340/870.11, 348/730
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0646 Modulation of illumination source brightness and image signal correlated to each other
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for controlling power consumption with a power controlling display device. Some aspects relate to a power controlling display device that receives power cost data and user preferences and generates a power consumption schedule that may control internal display components as well as connected power consuming devices. Some aspects relate to methods and systems for automatically compensating a displayed image when display backlight levels are modified due to power regulation.

Claims

1. A method for regulating power consumption with a master power control and display device, said method comprising:

a) receiving a power cost schedule at said master power control and display device (MPCDD), wherein said MPCDD comprises a processor and a memory;

b) prompting a user for user preference data related to power consumption by displaying a prompt on a display of said MPCDD;

c) receiving user preference data related to power consumption at said MPCDD, wherein said user preference data specifies a plurality of specific devices, in communication with said MPCDD;

d) determining a device control schedule, comprising device control data, for said plurality of specific devices based on said power cost schedule and said user preference data; and

e) sending said device control data to said plurality of specific devices, wherein said device control data causes said plurality of specific devices to cooperatively modify their power consumption based on said device control data such that power consumption by one device is prioritized over power consumption of a second device.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said receiving a power cost schedule occurs over a wireless network connection.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said receiving a power cost schedule occurs over an RF television channel.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said receiving a power cost schedule occurs over a cable television channel.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said power cost schedule is received from a power supplier.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said power cost schedule comprises a beginning time and an ending time for a peak demand period and accompanying peak demand power cost data.

7. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said power cost schedule comprises a beginning and ending times for a plurality of time periods and power cost data for each of said plurality of time periods.

8. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said power cost schedule comprises a plurality of optional power consumption schedules that may be selected by a user with said user preference data.

9. A method as described in claim 5 further comprising sending a user power rate selection from said MPCDD to said power supplier, wherein said power rate selection identifies a selection of an optional power rate parameter.

10. A method as described in claim 9 wherein said optional power rate parameter defines an optional power rate plan selection whereby a user commits to comply with power consumption limits in exchange for specified power pricing.

11. A method for regulating power consumption with a power-controlled display device, said method comprising:

a) receiving a power cost schedule at said power-controlled display device (PCDD), wherein said PCDD comprises a processor, a display, a remote control interface and a memory, and where said power cost schedule is received in a data stream that includes a television signal;

b) prompting a user for user preference data related to power consumption by displaying a prompt on a display of said PCDD;

c) receiving user preference data related to power consumption at said PCDD via a remote control device that controls said PCDD;

d) determining a display control schedule, comprising device control data, for said PCDD, said display control schedule being based on said power cost schedule and said user preference data; and

e) controlling a backlight of said PCDD according to said display control schedule.

12. A method as described in claim 11 further comprising receiving a television programming schedule at said PCDD and wherein said user preference data further comprises television programming preferences.

13. A method as described in claim 11 further comprising compensating an image to compensate for a reduced backlight level resulting from said controlling a backlight.

14. A method as described in claim 13 wherein said compensating an image comprises applying a tonescale adjustment curve to a low-pass version of said image.

15. A method as described in claim 13 wherein said compensating an image comprises applying a tonescale adjustment curve to a low-pass version of said image and applying a constant gain multiplier to a high-pass version of said image.

16. A method as described in claim 13 wherein said compensating an image comprises an analysis of image distortion at a plurality of backlight levels.

17. A method as described in claim 11 wherein said receiving a power cost schedule occurs over an RF television channel.

18. A method as described in claim 11 wherein said receiving a power cost schedule occurs over a cable television channel.

19. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said receiving a television programming schedule occurs over an RF television channel.

20. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said receiving a television programming schedule occurs over a cable television channel.