System and method for remote control of a television with a manually actuatable element

• US 8,373,805 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Limited
• Inventors: Carlsgaard, Eric Stephen, Mears, Mark Gilmore, Tenbarge, James Duane
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US12/529,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20100118211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,121 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/725, 340/1.1, 340 1222- 1224, 340/12.3, 340/12.54
• US Class Current: 348/734
• 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 21/42215 by measuring the time interval during which a key is pressed, e.g. for inputting sequences of digits when selecting a television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for remote control of a television with a manually actuatable control element. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a remote control for a television with a manually actuatable control element. The remote control may comprise a manually actuatable control element configured to generate a signal in response to an activation of the control element by a user, wherein the signal is generated at one of a plurality of different levels based on a characteristic of the activation, and a control system configured to receive the signal and to produce one of a plurality of television commands in response to the signal, wherein the command produced corresponds to the level of the signal.

Claims

1. A remote control for a television, the remote control, comprising:

a manually actuatable control element configured to generate a signal in response to a linear activation of the control element by a user, wherein the signal is generated at one of a plurality of different levels based on a magnitude of the linear activation; and

a control system configured to receive the signal and to produce one of a plurality of television commands in response to the level of the signal.

2. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to produce a volume change command that instructs a television to increase or decrease volume at a speed based on the level of the signal.

3. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to produce a menu navigation command that instructs a television to pass through menu selections at a speed based on the level of the signal.

4. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to produce a channel scan command that instructs a television to pass through channel selections at a speed based on the level of the signal.

5. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the television is configured to control all operational features except for power-on and power-off features based on actuation of the control element.

6. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the manually actuatable control element comprises a joystick.

7. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the manually actuatable control element comprises a tilt disk.

8. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the manually actuatable control element comprises a tiltable scroll wheel.

9. A television system, comprising:

a television; and

a remote control configured to communicate with the television, the remote control comprising;

a manually actuatable control element configured to generate a signal in response to a rotational activation of the control element by a user, wherein the signal is generated at one of a plurality of different levels based on a speed of the rotational activation; and

a control system configured to receive the signal and to produce one of a plurality of television commands in response to the level of the signal.

10. The television system of claim 9, wherein the control system is configured to produce a volume change command that instructs a television to increase or decrease volume at a speed based on the level of the signal.

11. The television system of claim 9, wherein the control system is configured to produce a menu navigation command that instructs a television to pass through menu selections at a speed based on the level of the signal.

12. The television system of claim 9, wherein the control system is configured to produce a channel scan command that instructs the television to pass through channel selections at a speed based on the level of the signal.

13. The television system of claim 9, wherein the television is configured to control all operational features except for power-on and power-off features based on actuation of the control element.

14. A method, comprising:

generating a signal in response to a single activation of a manually actuatable control element, wherein the signal is generated at one of a plurality of different levels based on a duration of the single activation; and

receiving the signal at a control system and producing one of a plurality of television commands in response to the level of the signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the control system is configured to produce a volume change command that instructs a television to increase or decrease volume at a speed based on the level of the signal.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of television commands comprise all operational features of a television except for power-on and power-off features based on actuation of the control element.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the control system is configured to produce a menu navigation command that instructs a television to pass through menu selections at a speed based on the level of the signal.

18. The method of claim 14, comprising producing a channel scan command that instructs a television to pass through channel selections at a speed based on the level of the signal.