Motion-activated remote control backlight

• US 8,593,262 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2013
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Hsu, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US13/873,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20130234838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 211 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.13, 340/4.11, 340/12.22, 340/539.14, 702/104, 345/161
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus for performing remote control operations is provided. A remote control detects a particular movement, and performs operations based on the detected movement.

Claims

1. A remote control, comprising:

a signal generator;

a plurality of motion detection sensors;

a motion detection logic coupled to a processor and the plurality of motion detection sensors, configured to receive movement sensory information from any of the plurality of motion detection sensors, and detect, based at least in part on movement sensory information, one or more particular movements that have been applied to any of the plurality of motion detection sensors;

a control logic coupled to the motion detection logic, configured to perform, upon detection of the one or more particular movements, at least one of;

activate a light that is electrically coupled to the control logic;

activate the signal generator;

or

establish a new configuration associated with the motion detection logic;

a first motion detection sensor of the plurality of motion detection sensors comprising;

a stationary sensor member; and

a flexible sensor member, such that a base portion of the flexible sensor member is within a particular distance to the stationary sensor member and that the flexible sensor member is configured to make contact with the stationary sensor member upon movement of the first motion detection sensor.

2. The remote control of claim 1, wherein a second motion detection sensor of the plurality of motion detection sensors is a same type of sensor as the first motion detection sensor.

3. The remote control of claim 2, wherein the first motion detection sensor and the second motion detection sensor, of the plurality of motion detection sensors, are set at different sensitivity levels.

4. The remote control of claim 1, wherein a second motion detection sensor, of the plurality of motion detection sensors, is another type of motion detection sensor than the first motion detection sensor.

5. The remote control of claim 4, wherein the first motion detection sensor and the second motion detection sensor, of the plurality of motion detection sensors, are set at different sensitivity levels.

6. The remote control of claim 1 comprising:

a mechanism, wherein movement of the mechanism causes the particular distance between the stationary sensor member and the base portion, of the flexible sensor member, to increase or decrease.

7. The remote control of claim 6 wherein the mechanism is a dial.

8. The remote control of claim 1 comprising:

one or more motion sensors, of the plurality of motion detection sensors, comprise a mechanism;

wherein movement of the mechanism in a sensor adjusts sensitivity of the sensor.

9. The remote control of claim 8 wherein the mechanism is a dial.

10. A remote control, comprising:

a signal generator;

a motion detection sensor, the motion detection sensor comprises;

a stationary sensor member; and

a flexible sensor member, such that a base portion of the flexible sensor member is within a particular distance to the stationary sensor member and that the flexible sensor member is configured to make contact with the stationary sensor member upon movement of the motion detection sensor;

a mechanism to adjust the particular distance between the stationary sensor member and the base portion of the flexible sensor, such that the sensitivity of the motion detection sensor increases or decreases;

a motion detection logic coupled to a processor and the motion detection sensor, configured to receive movement sensory information from the motion detection sensor, and detect, based at least in part on movement sensory information, one or more particular movements that have been applied to the motion detection sensor;

a control logic coupled to the motion detection logic, configured to perform, upon detection of the one or more particular movements, at least one of;

activate a light that is electrically coupled to the control logic;

activate the signal generator;

or

establish a new configuration associated with the motion detection logic.

11. The remote control of claim 10, wherein the mechanism is a dial.