Steering mirror for TV receiving high frequency wireless video

• US 8,264,548 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hardacker, Robert, Milne, James R., Unger, Robert Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Painter, Brandon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Plummer, Elizabeth A
• Application Number:
  US12/489,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20100325680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 348/E5.128, 348/14.02, 348/E3.009, 348/203
• US Class Current: 348/203
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114

Abstract

In a home system in which a TV receives video from various sources over directional wireless links such as 60 GHz links, a mirror apparatus is provided that can be configured to physically steer a signal toward a receiver on the TV to optimize received signal strength. In this way, RF energy that otherwise would be radiated in non-productive directions away from the receiver is reflected toward the receiver.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

TV chassis;

TV display supported on the chassis;

TV tuner receiving video signals;

TV processor communicating with the tuner and display to cause the video signals from the tuner to be presented on the display;

wireless data receiver receiving wireless video signals from a network; and

reflector assembly positioned to redirect, to the wireless data receiver, wireless video signals that otherwise would be at least partially blocked from the wireless data receiver by the chassis, wherein the reflector assembly is movable on the chassis, wherein a control processor controls position of the reflector assembly, wherein the control processor controls position of the reflector assembly to establish an index of adequate signal at the receiver at least to satisfy a threshold, the index of adequate signal being communicated on a backchannel different than a main channel over which the wireless video signals are transmitted.

2. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector assembly is supported on the chassis in line of sight with the wireless data receiver.

3. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless data receiver does not communicate with the TV tuner.

4. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control processor is established by one or more of the TV processor, and a processor associated with the wireless data receiver on a transmitter sending information to the TV.

5. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector assembly is established by a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) assembly comprising at least a digital micromirror device (DMD).

6. Device, comprising:

video display supported by a chassis;

antenna receiving directional wireless signals;

processor receiving the signals for presentation on the display; and

mirror assembly on the chassis and reflecting the signals toward the antenna, the mirror assembly being steerable on the chassis to establish a reception metric to at least satisfy a threshold metric.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

a TV tuner receiving video signals;

a TV processor communicating with the tuner and display to cause the video signals from the tuner to be presented on the display; and

the antenna being implemented in a wireless data receiver receiving the directional wireless signals from a component.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the mirror assembly is supported on the chassis in line of sight with the wireless data receiver.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein a control processor controls position of the mirror assembly.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the control processor controls position of the mirror assembly to establish an index of adequate signal at the receiver at least to satisfy a threshold.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the control processor is established by one or more of a TV processor, and a processor associated with the antenna.

12. The device of claim 6, wherein the mirror assembly is established by a digital micromirror device (DMD).