Graphical power meter for consumer televisions

• US 8,970,705 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Baronas, Jean, Blanchard, Robert N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hussain, Imad
• Application Number:
  US12/408,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20100238293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,174 Days
• Field of Search: 348/61, 348/189, 348/380, 348/596, 348/725, 348/730, 348/790, 348/794, 348/160, 345/63, 345/156, 345/212, 713/300, 713/320, 702/61, 702/62, 340/636.1, 340/870.02, 340/870.4, 700/295
• US Class Current: 348/160
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 1/00 Measuring arrangements giving results other than momentary value of variable, of general application G01D3/00 takes precedence; in tariff metering apparatus G01D4/00; transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable G01D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 15/00 Component parts of recorders for measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/025 concerning dedicated user interfaces, e.g. GUI, or dedicated keyboards G01R31/31912 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A graphical power meter involving a device for measuring, in real time, an internal power consumption value corresponding to power being consumed by an electronic device; and a device for displaying a graphical representation of the real-time internal power consumption value from the measuring device to a consumer.

Claims

1. A graphical power meter comprising:

a circuitry for measuring, in real time, an internal power consumption value of an electronic device by statistically sampling one or more aspects of power consumption of the electronic device, wherein the one or more aspects comprise one or more of;

a low power level, a mid-range power level and a high power level; and

a display for displaying a graphical representation of the real-time internal power consumption value from the circuitry to one or more consumers,

wherein the display comprises a graphic user interface,

wherein the graphic user interface comprises one or more input features and one or more output features,

wherein the one or more input features comprises one or more of;

a window for facilitating entry of user-preset parameters and one or more slider features,

wherein the one or more output features, which facilitate adjusting of the internal power consumption using one or more consumer preferences, comprise a visual indication, an audible indication, and a scent indication,

wherein the visual indication comprises one or more of;

a dial, a numerical dial, a dial coupled with units of measure, a bar-graph, a bar-graph coupled with numerical data, a bar-graph coupled with units of measure, a dual-axis graph, and a triple-axis graph,

wherein the audible indication comprises one or more of;

a speech output and an adjustable sound adaptable for the hearing-impaired,

wherein the scent indication comprises one or more of;

a pleasant natural scent, a “

green”

scent, a pleasant scent, and a consumer-selected scent,

wherein the one or more consumer preferences comprise one or more of;

a brightness level, a contrast level, a color level, a saturation level, a backlight level, a video rendering style, and an audio playback level,

wherein the circuitry is disposed on one of;

a primary side of a power supply and a secondary side of the power supply,

wherein a current sensing circuitry switches-off the power supply when a secondary load exceeds a predetermined threshold,

wherein the display further comprises a feature for facilitating selection of one or more energy-saving preferences, and

wherein the one or more energy-saving preferences are a function of one or more of;

a user'"'"'s actively-selected preference, a user'"'"'s need, a user'"'"'s budget, a setting inherent to the electronic device, and a viewing environment.

2. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises one or both of:

an audio feature and a visual feature.

3. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a television.

4. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a set-top box.

5. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the audible indication further comprises one or more of:

a beeping sound, a sound being in conformance with a hearing assistive technology, and a sound in conformance with one or more federally-regulated telecommunication and rehabilitation requirements.

6. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the speech output comprises one or more informational elements, wherein the one or more informational elements comprise a real-time internal energy consumption value and setup information.

7. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the video rendering style comprises one or more of:

a vivid display, a cinema display, and a standard display.

8. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the graphical power meter is used in an in-store demonstration of the electronic device.

9. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1,

wherein the circuitry is applied to one or more outputs on the secondary side, a summation of the power supplied by the one or more outputs determining a total output power, the summation being made by one or both of:

the current sensing circuit and a processing unit monitor, the total output power being further determined by an input power consumption level, and the input power consumption level being determined by a power conversion efficiency of the power supply.

10. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the display comprises an on-screen display.

11. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the display further comprises a feature for facilitating selection of a visual indication feature.

12. A graphical power meter, as recited in claim 1,

wherein the one or more consumers are encouraged to operate the electronic device in an environmentally-conscious energy-saving manner, and

wherein the one or more consumers participate in an overall management of a carbon footprint of the electronic device.

13. A graphical power meter comprising:

circuitry for measuring, in real time, an internal power consumption value corresponding to power being consumed by an electronic device under at least one operational mode; and

a display for displaying a graphical representation of the real-time internal power consumption value from the circuitry to at least one consumer,

wherein the graphical representation comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a dial, a numerical dial, a dial coupled with units of measure, a bar-graph, a bar-graph coupled with numerical data, a bar-graph coupled with units of measure, a dual-axis graph, and a triple-axis graph,

wherein the electronic device comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of an audio feature and a visual feature,

wherein the electronic device comprises a television,

wherein the circuitry comprises a measurement device adapted for use with a measurement technique,

wherein the measurement technique is adapted for use with a set-top box,

wherein the display comprises a graphic user interface,

wherein the graphic user interface comprises;

at least one input feature; and

at least one output feature,

wherein the at least one input feature comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a window for facilitating entry of user-preset parameters and at least one slider feature,

wherein the at least one output feature comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a visual indication, an audible indication, and a scent indication,

wherein the visual indication comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a dial, a numerical dial, a dial coupled with units of measure, a bar-graph, a bar-graph coupled with numerical data, a bar-graph coupled with units of measure, a dual-axis graph, and a triple-axis graph,

wherein the audible indication comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a beeping sound, a speech output, an adjustable sound adaptable for the hearing-impaired, a sound being in conformance with a hearing-assistive technology, and a sound in conformance with at least one federally-regulated telecommunication and rehabilitation requirement,

wherein the speech output comprises at least one informational element selected from a group consisting essentially of a real-time internal energy consumption value and setup information,

wherein the scent indication comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a pleasant natural scent, a “

green”

scent, a pleasant scent, and a consumer-selected scent,

wherein the at least one output feature facilitates adjusting the internal power consumption using at least one consumer preference,

wherein the at least one consumer preference comprises at least one parameter selected from a group consisting essentially of brightness, contrast, color, saturation level, a backlight level, video rendering style, and audio playback levels,

wherein the video rendering style comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a vivid display, a cinema display, and a standard display,

wherein the electronic device undergoes an in-store demonstration,

wherein the circuitry is disposed in a manner selected from a group consisting essentially of a primary side of a power supply and a secondary side of a power supply,

wherein a current sensing circuitry switches-off the power supply if a secondary load exceeds a predetermined threshold,

wherein a current sensing circuitry is applied to at least one output on the secondary side, a summation of the power supplied by the at least one output determining a total output power, the summation being made by at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a circuit and a processing unit monitor, the total output power being further determined by an input power consumption level, and the input power consumption level being determined by a power conversion efficiency of the power supply,

wherein the display comprises an on-screen display,

wherein the display further includes at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a feature for facilitating selection of a visual indication feature and a feature for facilitating selection of at least one energy-saving preference,

wherein the at least one consumer is encouraged to operate the electronic device in an environmentally-conscious energy-saving manner,

wherein the at least one consumer participates in an overall management of a carbon footprint of the electronic device, and

wherein the at least one energy-saving preference is a function of at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a user'"'"'s actively-selected preference, a user'"'"'s need, a user'"'"'s budget, a setting inherent to the electronic device, and a viewing environment.

14. A method of measuring and graphically displaying power consumption, the method comprising:

measuring, in real time, an internal power consumption value of an electronic device by statistically sampling one or more aspects of the power consumption of the electronic device, wherein the one or more aspects comprise one or more of;

a low power level, a mid-range power level and a high power level; and

displaying, on a display, a graphical representation of the real-time internal power consumption value to one or more consumers,

wherein the display comprises a graphic user interface,

wherein the graphic user interface comprises one or more input features and one or more output features,

wherein the one or more input features comprises one or more of a window for facilitating entry of user-preset parameters and one or more slider features,

wherein the one or more output features, which facilitate adjusting of the internal power consumption using one or more consumer preference, comprise a visual indication, an audible indication, and a scent indication,

wherein the visual indication comprises one or more of;

a dial, a numerical dial, a dial coupled with units of measure, a bar-graph, a bar-graph coupled with numerical data, a bar-graph coupled with units of measure, a dual-axis graph, and a triple-axis graph,

wherein the audible indication comprises one or more of;

a speech output and an adjustable sound adaptable for the hearing-impaired,

wherein the scent indication comprises one or more of;

a pleasant natural scent, a “

green”

scent, a pleasant scent, and a consumer-selected scent, and

wherein the one or more consumer preferences comprises one or more of;

a brightness level, a contrast level, a color level, a saturation level, a backlight level, a video rendering style, and an audio playback level.