Electronic device and control method thereof

• US 20070080818A1
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yun, Young-hwa, Pak, Sung-youn
• Granted Patent: US 7,573,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/584
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/94 characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96042 with illumination

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronic device including a plurality of connection terminals and a control method thereof. The electronic device including a plurality of connection terminals, including: a light-emitting unit disposed adjacent to the plurality of connection terminals; a sensing unit sensing whether an external connection terminal is within a predetermined sensing range with respect to the connection terminal; and a control unit controlling the light-emitting unit to emit light when it is determined that the predetermined external connection terminal is within the predetermined sensing range according to the sensed result of the sensing unit. With this configuration, the connection convenience is provided by guiding an external connection terminal to the corresponding connection terminal of the electronic device under a low luminance condition, and a control method thereof.

Claims

1. An electronic device including a plurality of connection terminals, comprising:

a light-emitting unit disposed adjacent to the plurality of connection terminals;

a sensing unit which senses whether an external connection terminal is within a predetermined sensing range with respect to at least one of the connection terminals; and

a control unit which controls the light-emitting unit to emit light when it is determined that the external connection terminal is within the predetermined sensing range according to a sensed result of the sensing unit.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the sensing unit comprises at least one of a heat sensor which senses a heat change within the predetermined sensing range, and a motion sensor which senses a motion change within the predetermined sensing range.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the external connection terminal comprises a transmitting sensor which wirelessly transmits inherent ID information,

wherein the sensing unit comprises a receiving sensor which wirelessly receives the inherent ID information from the transmitting sensor of the external connection terminal when the external connection terminal is within the predetermined sensing range.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the light-emitting unit comprises light-emitting devices corresponding to the plurality of connection terminals, respectively.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit previously stores connection terminal connecting information related to each of the plurality of connection terminals matched with the inherent ID information of available external connection terminals, and controls a light-emitting device corresponding to at least one of the connection terminals matched with the external connection terminal when the external connection terminal is within the predetermined sensing range, to emit light, on the basis of the stored connection terminal connecting information and the inherent ID information sensed by the sensing unit.

6. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit stores connection terminal function information in which the plurality of connection terminals are classified according to predetermined functions and which indicates at least one of the plurality of connection terminals having a corresponding function according to the inherent ID information of the external connection terminal, and controls the light-emitting device corresponding to the connection terminal having a function matched with the external connection terminal when the external connection terminal is within the predetermined sensing range, to emit light, on the basis of the previously stored connection terminal function information and the inherent ID information sensed by the sensing unit.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the connection terminal function information comprises:

at least one of connection terminal input/output information containing the inherent ID information of the external connection terminals respectively matched with input terminals and output terminals classified according to an input/output function; and

connection terminal type information containing the inherent ID information of the external connection terminals respectively matched with DVI terminals, PC terminals, component terminals, and S video terminals which are classified according to the types of external sources to be connected.

8. A method for controlling an electronic device including a plurality of connection terminals, comprising:

disposing a light-emitting unit adjacent to the plurality of connection terminals;

sensing whether an external connection terminal is within a predetermined sensing range with respect to at least one of the plurality of connection terminals; and

controlling the light-emitting unit to emit light when it is determined that the external connection terminal is within the predetermined sensing range according to a sensed result of the sensing unit.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the sensing whether the external connection terminal is within the predetermined sensing range comprises at least one of:

sensing a heat change within the predetermined sensing range, and

sensing a motion change within the predetermined sensing range.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the sensing whether the external connection terminal is within the predetermined sensing range comprises:

wirelessly transmitting inherent ID Information of a transmitting sensor wherein the transmitting sensor is provided in the external connection terminal; and

wirelessly receiving the inherent ID information from the transmitting sensor of the external connection terminal which is within the predetermined sensing range.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the light-emitting unit comprises light-emitting devices corresponding to the plurality of connection terminals, respectively.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

previously storing connection terminal connecting information related to each of the plurality of connection terminals matched with the inherent ID information of available external connection terminals,

wherein the controlling the light-emitting unit to emit light comprises controlling a light-emitting device corresponding to at least one of the plurality of connection terminals matched with the external connection terminal which is within the predetermined sensing range, to emit light, on the basis of the previously stored connection terminal connecting information and the received inherent ID information according to the sensed result.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

previously storing connection terminal function information in which the plurality of connection terminals are classified according to predetermined functions and which indicates at least one of the plurality of connection terminals having a corresponding function according to the inherent ID information of the available external connection terminal,

wherein the controlling the light-emitting unit to emit light comprises controlling the light-emitting device corresponding to the connection terminal having a function matched with the external connection terminal which is within the predetermined sensing range, to emit light, on the basis of the previously stored connection terminal function information and the received inherent ID information according to the sensed result.

14. An electronic device including a connection terminal comprising:

a light-emitting unit disposed in close proximity with the connection terminal;

a sensing unit which senses whether an external connection terminal is within a sensing range of the connection terminal; and

a control unit which controls the light-emitting unit to emit light when the external connection terminal is within the sensing range.

15. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the sensing unit comprises at least one of a heat sensor and a motion sensor.

16. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the external connection terminal comprises a transmitting sensor which transmits ID information related to the external connection terminal,

wherein the sensing unit comprises a receiving sensor which receives the ID information when the external connection terminal is within the sensing range.

17. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the control unit stores information related to the connection terminal and controls the light-emitting device to emit light when the information related to the connection terminal is related to the ID information.

18. The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the information related to the connection terminal comprises at least one of function information of the connection terminal and ID information of the external connection terminal.