Multi-mode pointing device and method for operating a multi-mode pointing device

• US 9,467,119 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2010
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Min Sup, Lee, Jae Kyung, Lee, Kun Sik, Kim, Gyu Seung
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRAY, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US12/783,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20100302154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,336 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/158, 348/734, 340 1222- 1255
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00

Abstract

A method for pairing and operating a multi-mode pointing device is provided. A pointing device may be automatically paired with an image display device. A pairing request signal may be transmitted on a prescribed frequency channel, and a signal may be received indicating information of a plurality of frequency channels. One of the frequency channels may be selected as a pairing frequency channel for operating in a radio frequency mode.

Claims

1. A method for operating a pointing device comprising a radio signal transceiver, an input portion including a power-on button, and a sensor portion including a gyro sensor and an acceleration sensor, the method comprising:

receiving, at the pointing device, a power on input from the power-on button;

transmitting at least one infrared (IR) signal to a television in response to the power on input;

receiving, at the pointing device, a signal from the television, wherein the signal is received from the television in response to the television powering on based on the at least one infrared (IR) signal, and the signal is received through a radio frequency (RF) communication standard;

transmitting a pairing request signal in response to the received signal from the television;

receiving information from the television, the received information including information of pairing-available frequency channel of a plurality of frequency channels;

selecting at least one of a frequency channel as a pairing frequency channel based on the received information from the television;

operating the pointing device in an RF mode after pairing between the pointing device and the television based on the selected frequency channel;

receiving signals sensed from the gyro sensor and the acceleration sensor; and

transmitting a RF signal to the television using the selected frequency channel, wherein the RF signal includes information regarding movement of the pointing device corresponding to the signals received from the gyro sensor and the acceleration sensor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein selecting the at least one of the frequency channels comprises scanning the frequency channels indicated by the received information of the plurality of frequency channels and selecting the at least one of the frequency channels from the scanned frequency channels as the pairing frequency channel.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the pairing frequency channel is selected, the pointing device is in an RF mode.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information regarding movement of the pointing device includes information regarding operation of the pointing device along x, y and z axes, and information regarding velocity of the pointing device.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying information regarding a connection between the pointing device and the television.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

when the pointing device moves in a first pattern, transmitting a signal corresponding to a button or a key manipulation to the television as the RF signal.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein upon power-on of the television, the pairing request signal is transmitted to the television in case that a predetermined button or key is not manipulated, or the pointing device is not moved.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

upon receipt of the received signal from the television, determining whether the pointing device is currently in an RF mode;

the transmitting includes;

when the pointing device is not currently in an RF mode, transmitting a pairing request signal in response to the received signal from the television.

9. A method for operating a pointing device comprising a radio signal transceiver, an input portion including a power-on button, and a sensor portion including a gyro sensor and an acceleration sensor, the method comprising:

receiving, at the pointing device, a first input from the power-on button;

transmitting an infrared (IR) signal to a television in response to a power on input;

receiving, at the pointing device, a signal from the television, wherein the signal is received from the television in response to the television powering on based on the at least one infrared (IR) signal, and the signal is received through a radio frequency (RF) communication standard;

transmitting a pairing request signal to the television in response to the signal from the television;

receiving information from the television, the received information including information of pairing-available frequency channel of a plurality of frequency channels;

selecting at least one of a frequency channel as a pairing frequency channel based on the received information from the television;

operating the pointing device in an RF mode after pairing between the pointing device and the television based on the selected frequency channel;

receiving signals sensed from the gyro sensor and the acceleration sensor; and

transmitting a RF signal to the television using the selected frequency channel;

wherein the RF signal includes information regarding movement of the pointing device corresponding to the signals received from the gyro sensor and the acceleration sensor.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

transitioning the pointing device to an IR mode when a response signal is not received within a predetermined time after transmitting the RF signal or within a predetermined number of signal transmissions.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting a signal corresponding to a manipulated button when the pointing device is transitioned to the IR mode.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

indicating the mode of the pointing device.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the information regarding movement of the pointing device includes information regarding operation of the pointing device along x, y and z axes, and information regarding velocity of the pointing device.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising displaying information regarding a connection between the pointing device and the television.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

upon receipt of the received signal from the television, determining whether the pointing device is currently in an RF mode;

the transmitting includes;

when the pointing device is not currently in an RF mode, transmitting a pairing request signal in response to the received signal from the television.

16. A pointing device for transmitting and receiving signals, comprising:

a radio signal transceiver;

an input portion including a power-on button;

a sensor portion including a gyro sensor and an acceleration sensor;

a storage for storing frequency channel information; and

a controller configured to;

transmit at least one infrared (IR) signal to a television in response to a first input from the power-on button,

receive a signal from the television, wherein the signal is received from the television in response to the television powering on based on the at least one infrared (IR) signal, and the signal is received through a radio frequency (RF) communication standard;

transmit a pairing request signal in response to the received signal from the television at the pointing device,

receive information from the television, the received information including information of pairing-available frequency channel of a plurality of frequency channels,

select at least one of a frequency channel as a pairing frequency channel based on the received information from the television,

operate the pointing device in an RF mode after pairing between the pointing device and the television based on the selected frequency channel,

receive signals sensed from the gyro sensor and the acceleration sensor, and

transmit a RF signal to the television using the selected frequency channel, wherein the RF signal includes information regarding movement of the pointing device corresponding to the signals received from the gyro sensor and the acceleration sensor.

17. The pointing device according to claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to transition the pointing device to the IR mode when a response signal is not received within a predetermined time after transmitting the RF signal or within a predetermined number of signal transmissions.

18. The pointing device according to claim 16, wherein when the controller determines that the pointing device is in the IR mode, the controller is configured to determine whether a pairing request button is manipulated, and transmit a pairing request signal on a prescribed frequency channel when the pairing request button is determined to be manipulated.

19. The pointing device according to claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to transmit information regarding movement of the pointing device to the television while the pointing device is operating in the RF mode.

20. The pointing device according to claim 19, wherein the information regarding movement of the pointing device includes information regarding operation of the pointing device along x, y and z axes, and information regarding velocity of the pointing device.

21. The pointing device according to claim 16, wherein when the pointing device moves forward or backward, an image displayed on the television is enlarged or reduced.

22. The pointing device according to claim 16, further comprising a power supply,

wherein when the pointing device is kept stationary for a predetermined time period, the power supply blocks power or reduces power for the pointing device, and

wherein when a predetermined key of the pointing device is manipulated or the pointing device moves, the power supply resumes power supply.

23. The pointing device according to claim 16, wherein power consumption of the pointing device is greater in an RF mode transmitting the RF signal than in the IR mode transmitting the IR signal.

24. The pointing device according to claim 16, when the controller does not receive the pairing-available frequency channel information, the controller is configured to retransmit the pairing request packet a plurality of times.

25. The pointing device according to claim 16, when the pointing device is moved in a predetermined pattern, a pairing request command is entered for transmitting the pairing request signal.

26. The pointing device according to claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to:

upon receipt of the received signal from the television, determine whether the pointing device is currently in an RF mode, and

when the pointing device is not currently in an RF mode, transmit a pairing request signal in response to the received signal from the television.