Device that manages power provided to an object sensor

• US 8,717,295 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Gates, Stephen Brian, Black, Jeremy K.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, DUC Q
• Application Number:
  US13/097,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20110205159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345163-169
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3259 Power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/63 Redundant transmissions

Abstract

A hand-held device with a sensor for providing a signal indicative of a position of the hand-held device relative to an object surface enables power to the sensor at a first time interval when the hand-held device is indicated to be in a position that is stationary and adjacent relative to the object surface, enables power to the sensor at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval when the hand-held device is indicated to be in a position that is moving and adjacent relative to the object surface, and enables power to the sensor at a third time interval when the hand-held device is determined to be in a position that is removed relative to the object surface.

Claims

1. A hand-held device, comprising:

a touch sensitive surface providing at least one input element;

a processing device in communication with the touch sensitive surface having associated instructions; and

a sensor for providing to the processing device a signal indicative of a removal of the hand-held device from an object surface;

wherein the instructions associated with the processing device use the signal indicative of the removal of the hand-held portable device from the object surface to cause the processing device to enable the at least one input element provided by the touch sensitive surface, enable power provided to the sensor at a first time interval, and to place the hand-held portable device into a first operational mode from a second operational mode in which the hand-held device responds to user interaction with the enabled at least one input element while continuing to enable power provided to the sensor at the first time interval;

and wherein the processing device enables power provided to the sensor at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval in the second operational mode.

2. The hand-held portable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one input element comprises an icon displayed in the touch sensitive surface.

3. The hand-held portable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the second operational mode comprises a mode in which the hand-held portable device is placed upon the object surface and the processing device causes the hand-held portable device to transmit commands to control movement of a displayed element in response to the hand-held portable device being moved upon the object surface.

4. The hand-held portable device as recited in claim 3, wherein the processing device causes the hand-held portable device to transmit commands to control functional operations of one or more appliances in response to user interactions with the enabled at least one input element when the hand-held device is in the first operational mode.

5. The hand-held portable device as recited in claim 4, wherein the commands to control functional operations of the one or more appliances are transmitted using an infrared communications protocol.

6. The hand-held portable device as recited in claim 1, wherein sensor generates a signal indicative of a distance between the hand-held portable device and the object surface.

7. The hand-held portable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing device causes the hand-held portable device to transmit commands to control functional operations of one or more appliances in response to user interactions with the enabled at least one input element when the hand-held device is in the first operational mode.

8. The hand-held portable device as recited in claim 7, wherein the commands to control functional operations of the one or more appliances are transmitted using an infrared communications protocol.