Remote control for sensing movement, image display apparatus for controlling pointer by the remote control, and controlling method thereof

• US 9,453,732 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Yun, Hyun-kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MIRZA F
• Application Number:
  US13/780,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20130181899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 340/12.22, 340/4.11, 340/825.22, 340/825.69, 340/572.1, 340/3.1, 340/12.23, 455/151, 455/352, 455/414.4, 715/856, 715/863, 345156-184, 345/419
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/00 Gyroscopes; Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses; Turn-sensitive devices without moving masses; Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3259 Power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A remote control is provided including a plurality of sensors which sense movement of the remote control, and a control unit which turns on at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors and thereby senses movement of the remote control, and determines whether to turn on or off the remaining sensors according to whether or not the at least one sensor senses movement of the remote control. Consequently, battery consumption is reduced.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first movement sensor configured to sense a first movement of the apparatus; and

a second movement sensor configured to sense a second movement of the apparatus,

wherein, when the first movement sensor is powered-on while the second movement sensor is powered-off, the second movement sensor is then subsequently powered-on based on a first signal from the first movement sensor, wherein the first signal is generated in response to the first movement of the apparatus sensed by the first movement sensor,

wherein, when the first movement sensor and the second movement sensor do not detect a movement of the apparatus within a predetermined time period while the first movement sensor and the second movement sensor are powered-on, the second movement sensor is then subsequently powered-off,

wherein at least one of the first movement sensor and the second movement sensor comprises a gyro sensor, and

wherein the apparatus generates a signal for controlling movement of a pointer displayed on a display device based on the first movement sensed by the first movement sensor and the second movement sensed by the second movement sensor, and transmits the generated signal to the display device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller which is configured to receive the first signal from the first movement sensor while the second movement sensor is powered-off, and is configured to control the second movement sensor to turn-on in response to the first signal from the first movement sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a data transmission device configured to transmit the generated signal for controlling movement of the pointer, to the display device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first movement sensor and the second movement sensor are arranged separately.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery operable to supply power to the first movement sensor and the second movement sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first movement sensor and the second movement sensor each comprise powered-sensors requiring respective supplies of electrical power to sense movement.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the first movement sensor is powered-on while the second movement sensor is powered-off, the first movement sensor transmits impulse signals at regular intervals to sense movement of the remote control and the second movement sensor does not transmit impulse signals.

4. A system for controlling a display device by a remote controller, the display device comprising:

a data receiver, configured to receive a signal for controlling movement of a pointer displayed on the display device from the remote controller;

a display screen configured to display a screen including the pointer; and

a pointer position calculator, configured to calculate a position of the pointer in response to the signal from the remote controller,

wherein the signal is generated based on a movement of the remote controller, and

wherein, when a first movement sensor, configured to sense a first movement of the remote control, is powered-on while a second movement sensor is powered-off, the second movement sensor is then subsequently powered-on based on a first signal from the first movement sensor, the first signal is generated in response to the first movement of the apparatus sensed by the first movement sensor,

wherein a controller powers-off the second movement sensor after the powering-on of the second movement sensor, if a signal in response to sensing a second movement of the apparatus is not received from the powered-on second movement sensor within a predetermined period of time, and

wherein when the first movement sensor is powered-on while the second movement sensor is powered-off, the first movement sensor transmits impulse signals at regular intervals to sense movement of the remote control and the second movement sensor does not transmit impulse signals.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a first movement sensor configured to sense a first movement of the apparatus;

a second movement sensor configured to sense a second movement of the apparatus, and

a controller configured to power-off the second movement sensor in a power consumption saving mode,

wherein, when the controller receives a first signal from the first movement sensor in response to sensing the first movement of the apparatus while the second movement sensor is powered-off, the controller is configured to then subsequently power-on the second movement sensor in response to receiving the first signal which is generated in response to the first movement of the apparatus sensed by the first movement sensor,

wherein, when the apparatus maintains a stable state during a predetermined time period while the first movement sensor and the second movement sensor are powered-on, the second movement sensor is then subsequently powered-off,

wherein at least one of the first movement sensor and the second movement sensor comprises a gyro sensor, and

wherein the apparatus generates a signal for controlling movement of a pointer displayed on a display device based on the first movement sensed by the first movement sensor and the second movement sensed by the second movement sensor and transmits the generated signal to the display device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

a data transmitter configured to transmit the generated signal, for controlling movement of the pointer, to the display device.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the second movement sensor is the gyro sensor; and

the first movement sensor is one of an acceleration sensor and a terrestrial magnetism sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller powers-off the second movement sensor after the powering-on of the second movement sensor, if a signal in response to sensing the second movement of the apparatus is not received from the powered-on second movement sensor within a predetermined period of time.

15. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first movement sensor, the second movement sensor and the controller are arranged separately.

17. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the stable state is a state that the apparatus does not move.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a first movement sensor for sensing a first movement of the apparatus;

a second movement sensor for sensing a second movement of the apparatus and which operates in a first power consumption mode and a second power consumption mode, and

a controller configured to control the second movement sensor,

wherein, if the controller receives a first signal outputted from the first movement sensor in response to sensing the first movement of the apparatus while the second movement sensor is in the first power consumption mode, the first signal is generated in response to the first movement of the apparatus sensed by the first movement sensor, the controller is configured to output a second signal to then subsequently change a power consumption mode of the second movement sensor from the first power consumption mode to the second power consumption mode in response to the first signal,

wherein, when the apparatus maintains a stable state during a predetermined time period while the first movement sensor and the second movement sensor are powered-on, the second movement sensor is then subsequently powered-off,

wherein at least one of the first movement sensor and the second movement sensor comprises a gyro sensor, and

wherein the apparatus generates a signal for controlling movement of a pointer displayed on a display device based on the movement sensed by the first movement sensor and the second movement sensor and transmits the generated signal to the display device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a data transmitter configured to transmit the generated signal to the display device.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the second movement sensor is the gyro sensor; and

the first movement sensor is one of an acceleration sensor and a terrestrial magnetism sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller outputs a signal for changing the second movement sensor to the first power consumption mode again, if a signal in response to sensing the movement of the apparatus is not received from the second movement sensor in the second power consumption mode within a predetermined period of time.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the stable state is a state that the apparatus does not move.

13. A system for controlling a display device by a remote controller, the display device comprising:

a data receiver configured to receive a signal for controlling movement of a pointer displayed on the display device from the remote controller;

a display screen configured to display a screen including the pointer; and

a pointer position calculator configured to calculate a position of the pointer in response the signal from the remote controller,

wherein the signal is generated based on a movement of the remote controller, and

wherein, when a first movement sensor, configured to sense a first movement of the remote controller, is powered-on while a second movement sensor is powered-off, the second movement sensor is then subsequently powered-on based on a first signal from the first movement sensor, the first signal is generated in response to the first movement of the remote controller sensed by the first movement sensor,

wherein a controller powers-off the second movement sensor after the powering-on of the second movement sensor, if a signal in response to sensing a second movement of the apparatus is not received from the powered-on second movement sensor within a predetermined period of time, and

wherein when the first movement sensor is powered-on while the second movement sensor is powered-off, the first movement sensor transmits impulse signals at regular intervals to sense movement of the remote control and the second movement sensor does not transmit impulse signals.