System and methods for enhanced remote control functionality

• US 8,803,655 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hatambeiki, Arsham, Kohanek, Jeffrey, Busek, Naimisaranya D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barakat, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US12/849,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20110279223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 340/12.22, 340/815.6, 340/4.11, 341/156, 341/176, 345/173
• US Class Current: 340/4.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• 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 21/42222 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 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control

Abstract

A hand-held device having a touch sensitive surface uses a relative distance from an origin location to each of a plurality of touch zones of the touch sensitive surface activated by a user to select a one of the plurality of touch zones as being intended for activation by the user.

Claims

1. A hand-held, controlling device, comprising:

a housing having a touch sensitive surface, the touch sensitive surface having defined thereon a plurality of touch zones each of which is activable to cause the hand-held, controlling device to transmit commands for controlling an operational function of one or more external devices;

a processing device having associated programming that uses a relative distance from an origin location to each of the plurality of touch zones of the touch sensitive surface activated by a user to select a one of the plurality of touch zones as being intended for activation by the user; and

an accelerometer in communication with the processing device;

wherein the accelerometer generates a signal indicative of an operating orientation for the hand-held, controlling device and wherein the processing device uses the signal generated by the accelerometer to automatically establish the origin location.

2. The hand-held, controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein select ones of the plurality of touch zones of the touch sensitive surface are provided with a priority and wherein the processing device and associated programming additionally considers the priority of each of the select ones of the plurality of touch zones of the touch sensitive surface activated by the user to select the one of the plurality of touch zones as being intended for activation by the user.

3. The hand-held, controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the origin location is established during a configuration process.

4. A hand-held, controlling device, comprising:

a housing having a touch sensitive surface, the touch sensitive surface having defined thereon a plurality of touch zones each of which is activable to cause the hand-held, controlling device to transmit commands for controlling an operational function of one or more external devices;

a processing device having associated programming that uses a priority provided to each of the plurality of touch zones of the touch sensitive surface activated by a user to select a one of the plurality of touch zones as being intended for activation by the user wherein the priorities are established considering an origin location of a user'"'"'s reach across the touch sensitive surface; and

an accelerometer in communication with the processing device;

wherein the accelerometer generates a signal indicative of an operating orientation for the hand-held, controlling device and wherein the processing device uses the signal generated by the accelerometer to automatically establish the origin location.

5. The hand-held, controlling device as recited in claim 4, wherein the priorities are user adjustable.

6. The hand-held, controlling device as recited in claim 4, wherein the origin location is established during a configuration process.