Methods and apparatus to detect an operating state of a display based on visible light

• US 7,786,987 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Christen V.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US11/388,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20060232575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 345/87, 345/166, 345/207, 725 13- 16, 348/511, 348/565
• US Class Current: 345/207
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/145 the light originating from the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/32 Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to detect operating states of a display based on visible light are disclosed. An example device to detect an operating state of a display includes at least one optical sensor and a logic circuit. The at least one optical sensor is disposed to detect visible light emanating from a screen of the display and to convert the visible light into an electrical signal. The logic circuit is coupled to the at least one optical sensor to generate an output signal indicative of the operating state of the display based on the electrical signal.

Claims

1. A device to detect an operating state of a display, the device comprising:

a plurality of optical sensors disposed to detect humanly visible light emanating from a screen of the display and to convert the humanly visible light into an electrical signal, the plurality of optical sensors to be distributed adjacent edges of the screen to enable detection of an on state of the display even if only a portion of the display emanates visible light; and

a logic circuit coupled to the at least one optical sensor, the logic circuit being configured to generate an output signal indicative of the operating state of the display based on the electrical signal without affecting operation of the display,

wherein the portion of the display emanating visible light is a picture-in-picture screen of the display and a main screen of the display does not emanate visible light.

2. A device to detect an operating state of a display, the device comprising:

at least one optical sensor disposed to detect humanly visible light emanating from a screen of the display and to convert the humanly visible light into an electrical signal, the at least one optical sensor distributed adjacent at least one edge of the screen to enable detection of an on state of the display even if only a portion of the display emanates visible light; and

a logic circuit coupled to the at least one optical sensor, the logic circuit being configured to generate an output signal indicative of the operating state of the display based on the electrical signal, wherein the portion of the display emanating visible light is a picture-in-picture screen of the display and a main screen of the display does not emanate visible light.

3. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein the display is one of a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a plasma display.

4. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein the at least one optical sensor comprises at least one photodetector.

5. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein the at least one optical sensor is disposed adjacent an edge of the screen.

6. The device as defined in claim 2 further comprising a processor coupled to the logic circuit, the processor being configured to associate a time stamp with the output signal from the logic circuit and to provide operating information associated with the display to a data collection facility.

7. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein the operating state of the display comprises at least one of an on state and an off state.

8. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein the device is integrated into a set top box (STB).

9. The device as defined in claim 2 further comprising a transparent waveguide coupled to the optical sensor, the transparent waveguide being configured to relay visible light emanating from the screen of the display to the optical sensor.