Controlling transmission power in an IrDA/RC transmitter circuit
First Claim
1. A handheld infrared remote control (RC) device, the remote control device comprising:
- an infrared transmitter circuit that emits an infrared remote control signal that controls an electronic consumer device, wherein the infrared transmitter circuit transmits the remote control signal to the electronic consumer device at a plurality of transmission power settings; and
a microcontroller that determines which one of the plurality of transmission power settings will be used.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An infrared LED of an IrDA transceiver module is usable to transmit IrDA signals as well as RC control signals. When making an IrDA transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with a lower amount of current. When making an RC transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with an increased amount of current such that infrared emissions received by an RC receiver are of adequate power to be received as RC control signals. A current-limiting circuit allows more LED current to flow the longer current is allowed to flow through the IrDA LED. By controlling the durations of infrared bursts in the RC transmission, the average LED current during infrared bursts of RC transmissions is controlled. Using this technique allows the IrDA module to be used to transmit RC signals at different transmission power settings. To reduce power consumption, the minimum transmission power necessary to engage in RC communications is used.
14 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A handheld infrared remote control (RC) device, the remote control device comprising:
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an infrared transmitter circuit that emits an infrared remote control signal that controls an electronic consumer device, wherein the infrared transmitter circuit transmits the remote control signal to the electronic consumer device at a plurality of transmission power settings; and a microcontroller that determines which one of the plurality of transmission power settings will be used. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method, comprising:
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(a) transmitting an infrared remote control (RC) signal that includes a plurality of infrared bursts from an infrared light emitting diode (LED) of a remote control device during a key press condition using a first transmission power setting; and (b) determining that the key press condition has exceeded a predetermined duration, and in response to said determining changing a burst duration to change the transmission power setting to a second transmission power setting, wherein the second transmission power setting is a higher transmission power setting than the first transmission power setting. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A handheld infrared remote control device, the remote control device comprising:
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an infrared light emitting diode (LED) through which a burst of LED drive current flows; an infrared transmitter that emits an infrared remote control signal that controls an electronic consumer device, wherein the infrared transmitter transmits the remote control signal to the electronic consumer device at a plurality of transmission power settings; and a microcontroller that selects at which of the plurality of transmission power settings the remote control signal is emitted by selecting how long the burst of LED drive current flows through the infrared LED. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification