Motion-activated remote control backlight

• US 8,791,797 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• 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:
  US14/089,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20140085062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: 340/12.22, 340/4.11
• 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 processor;

a motion detection sensor;

a motion detection logic coupled to the processor and the motion detection sensor, configured to receive movement sensory information from the motion detection sensor, and detect movement that has been applied to the motion detection sensor;

a control logic coupled to the motion detection logic, configured to activate a light that is electrically coupled to the control logic upon detecting movement; and

the motion detection sensor 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 motion detection sensor.

2. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the light is a backlight.

3. The remote control of claim 1, comprising:

the stationary sensor member comprising a plurality of portions;

the motion detection sensor configured to detect a particular movement when the flexible sensor member is in contact with a particular portion of the plurality of portions of the stationary sensor member; and

the control logic configured to activate the light that is electrically coupled to the control logic upon detecting the particular movement.

4. The remote control of claim 1, comprising:

the flexible sensor member comprising a plurality of portions;

the motion detection sensor configured to detect a particular movement when the stationary sensor member is in contact with a particular portion of the plurality of portions of the flexible sensor member; and

the control logic configured to activate the light that is electrically coupled to the control logic upon detecting the particular movement.

5. The remote control of claim 1, comprising:

the motion detection sensor configured to detect a particular movement when the stationary sensor member and the flexible sensor member are in contact with one another for an amount of time that falls within a particular threshold; and

the control logic configured to activate the light that is electrically coupled to the control logic upon detecting the particular movement.

6. The remote of claim 1, comprising a mechanism to adjust the particular distance between the stationary sensor member and the base portion of the flexible sensor member, such that sensitivity of the motion detection sensor increases or decreases.

7. A remote control, comprising:

a processor;

a signal generator;

a motion detection sensor;

a motion detection logic coupled to the processor and the motion detection sensor, configured to receive movement sensory information from the motion detection sensor, and detect movement that has been applied to the motion detection sensor;

a control logic coupled to the motion detection logic, configured to activate the signal generator upon detecting movement;

the motion detection sensor 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 motion detection sensor.

8. The remote control of claim 7, wherein the signal generator comprising is an infra-red signal generator, comprising:

the control logic coupled to the motion detection logic, further configured to send one or more infra-red signals.

9. The remote control of claim 7, wherein the signal generator is an infra-red signal generator, comprising:

the control logic further configured to;

match one or more particular movements with one or more particular stored operations;

match the one or more particular stored operations with one or more particular infra-red signals;

cause the signal generator to send a first signal of the one or more particular infra-red signals.

10. The remote control of claim 7, wherein the signal generator is a radio frequency signal generator, comprising:

the control logic coupled to the motion detection logic, further configured to send one or more radio frequency signals.

11. The remote control of claim 7, wherein the signal generator is a radio frequency signal generator, comprising:

the control logic further configured to;

match one or more particular movements with one or more particular stored operations;

match the one or more particular stored operations with one or more particular radio frequency signals;

cause the signal generator to send a first signal of the one or more particular radio frequency signals.

12. The remote control of claim 7, comprising:

the stationary sensor member comprising a plurality of portions;

the motion detection sensor configured to detect a particular movement when the flexible sensor member is in contact with a particular portion of the plurality of portions of the stationary sensor member; and

the control logic configured to activate the signal generator upon detecting the particular movement.

13. The remote control of claim 7, comprising:

the flexible sensor member comprising a plurality of portions;

the motion detection sensor configured to detect a particular movement when the stationary sensor member is in contact with a particular portion of the plurality of portions of the flexible sensor member; and

the control logic configured to activate the signal generator upon detecting the particular movement.

14. The remote control of claim 7, comprising:

the motion detection sensor configured to detect a particular movement when the stationary sensor member and the flexible sensor member are in contact with one another for an amount of time that falls within a particular threshold; and

the control logic configured to activate the signal generator upon detecting the particular movement.

15. The remote of claim 7, comprising a mechanism to adjust the particular distance between the stationary sensor member and the base portion of the flexible sensor member, such that sensitivity of the motion detection sensor increases or decreases.

16. A remote control, comprising:

a processor;

a signal generator;

a motion detection sensor;

a motion detection logic coupled to the processor and the motion detection sensor, configured to receive movement sensory information from the motion detection sensor, and detect movement that has been applied to the motion detection sensor;

a control logic coupled to the motion detection logic, configured to establish a new configuration associated with the motion detection logic upon detecting movement;

the motion detection sensor 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 motion detection sensor.

17. The remote control of claim 16, comprising:

the stationary sensor member comprising a plurality of portions;

the motion detection sensor configured to detect a particular movement when the flexible sensor member is in contact with a particular portion of the plurality of portions of the stationary sensor member; and

the control logic configured to establish the new configuration associated with the motion detection logic upon detecting the particular movement.

18. The remote control of claim 16, comprising:

the flexible sensor member comprising a plurality of portions;

the motion detection sensor configured to detect a particular movement when the stationary sensor member is in contact with a particular portion of the plurality of portions of the flexible sensor member; and

the control logic configured to establish the new configuration associated with the motion detection logic upon detecting the particular movement.

19. The remote control of claim 16, comprising:

the motion detection sensor configured to detect a particular movement when the stationary sensor member and the flexible sensor member are in contact with one another for an amount of time that falls within a particular threshold; and

the control logic configured to establish the new configuration associated with the motion detection logic upon detecting the particular movement.

20. The remote of claim 16, comprising a mechanism to adjust the particular distance between the stationary sensor member and the base portion of the flexible sensor member, such that sensitivity of the motion detection sensor increases or decreases.