Method for controlling the display for an item of equipment in standby mode and associated device

• US 9,158,365 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Bertin, Jean-Pierre, Pesin, Anthony, Le Foulgoc, Jean-Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H
• Application Number:
  US13/602,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20130057524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 345/23, 345/25, 345/26, 345/204, 345/211, 345/212, 345/214, 345/215, 713/320, 713/323, 713/324, 348/734
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/04 for presentation of a single character by selection from a plurality of characters, or by composing the character by combination of individual elements, e.g. segments using a combination of such display devices for composing words, rows or the like, in a frame with fixed character positions
• 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 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Method for controlling a display device in an electronic device and associated control device. The electronic device includes a control unit and the display device comprising a plurality of display elements, a display controller and a switching circuit. The display elements have a plurality of pictograms. The display controller having a plurality of storage elements associated with the display elements. The method includes the steps of writing into the storage elements of a contents for display on the display elements, the configuration in standby mode of the electronic device making the storage elements associated with the display elements by the control unit inaccessible, the detection of an event to be indicated by display, and the control of a switching circuit to vary the active pictograms by alternately displaying the contents of at least two of the storage elements on the same display element.

Claims

1. Method for controlling a display device in an electronic device comprising a main control unit, said display device comprising at least one display element, one display controller and one switching circuit, said at least one display element comprising at least one pictogram, said display controller comprising a first memory comprising at least one storage element associated with said at least one display element and a second memory comprising at least one storage element, said method comprising:

writing, by said main control unit, of a content into said at least one storage element of said first memory and into said at least one storage element of said second memory,

configuring said electronic device in a standby mode, said configuring making said first and said second memory inaccessible for writing by said main control unit,

detecting, by a microcontroller connected to said switching circuit, an event to be indicated by display,

wherein said method further comprises, when said electronic device is in said standby mode;

controlling, by said microcontroller, said switching circuit to modify a display of said at least one display element by alternately associating it with said at least one storage element of said first memory and with said at least one storage element of said second memory.

2. Method according to claim 1 wherein the step of writing a contents into said storage elements is triggered by a detection by said main control unit of a signal for changeover to standby mode.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the detected event corresponds to a receipt of a data frame emitted by a remote control of said electronic device.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein detecting an event comprises detecting, by a microcontroller connected to said switching circuit, a variation of a signal following a pressing of a key of a keyboard of the electronic device.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein detecting an event comprises detecting, by a microcontroller connected to said switching circuit, an equality between a current time and a preprogrammed time, leading to an activation of a function of said electronic device.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said electronic device is a receiver of audiovisual programmes.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein at least one pictogram is a pictogram which activation indicates a receipt of a command emitted by a remote control of said electronic device.

8. Display device in an electronic device comprising a main control unit, said display device comprising at least one display element, a display controller and a switching circuit,

said at least one display element comprising at least one pictogram,

said display controller comprising

a first memory composed of at least one storage element associated with said at least one display element,

wherein:

said display controller further comprises a second memory,

said display device comprises a microcontroller adapted to detect an event to be indicated by display;

said main control unit is adapted to write content into said first and second memory and said electronic device is adapted to be configured in a standby mode, in which said first and second memory are inaccessible for writing by said main control unit,

said switching circuit is adapted for associating at least one display element alternately to said second memory and to said at least one storage element of said first memory, and being able to be triggered by said microcontroller when said electronic device is in said standby mode.

9. Display device according to claim 8 wherein said electronic device is a receiver of audiovisual programmes.

10. Display device according to claim 8 wherein at least one pictogram is a pictogram which activation indicates a receipt of a command emitted by a remote control of said electronic device.

11. The display device according to claim 8, wherein said event to be detect corresponds to a receipt of a data frame emitted by a remote control of said electronic device.

12. The display device according to claim 8, wherein said micro controller is connected to said switching circuit and is adapted for detecting a variation of a signal following a pressing of a key of a keyboard of the electronic device.

13. The display device according to claim 8, wherein said micro controller is connected to said switching circuit and is adapted for detecting an equality between a current time and a preprogrammed time, leading to an activation of a function of said electronic device.