US 8,941,530 B2 · Electronic apparatus, control method thereof, remote control apparatus, and control method thereof

Abstract

An electronic apparatus, control method thereof, remote control apparatus that controls the electronic apparatus, and control method thereof. The remote control apparatus includes a communication unit which communicates with the electronic apparatus; a user input unit which receives a user button selection indicating an input button; a sensing unit which senses movement of the remote control apparatus; and a control unit which controls the communication unit to transmit information about the user button selection to perform a function corresponding to the input button if the remote control apparatus is in a button input mode, and to transmit information about the movement of the remote control apparatus to the electronic apparatus to control the electronic apparatus by the movement if the remote control apparatus is in a motion recognition mode. Accordingly, controlling a game or a multimedia content is easier, and the user is provided with a new and interesting experience.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims37

Dependent claims

An electronic apparatus which is configured to transmit remote control information to an external device, the electronic apparatus comprising:

a communication unit configured to establish communication with the external device;
a user input interface comprising a plurality of buttons;
a sensing unit configured to sense a movement of the electronic apparatus;
and
a control unit configured to control the electronic apparatus to operate in a movement sensing mode in which information corresponding to the sensed movement of the electronic apparatus is transmitted to the external device, and configured to control the electronic apparatus to operate in a button mode in which information corresponding to a selected button among the plurality of buttons is transmitted to the external device,
wherein, the control unit is configured to determine whether the electronic apparatus operates in the movement sensing mode or the button mode and, when the electronic apparatus operates in the button mode, to control the sensing unit to consume less power than when the electronic apparatus operates in the movement sensing mode,
wherein the sensing unit comprises at least one of a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, and a geomagnetic sensor, and
wherein the sensing unit senses a spatial movement of the electronic apparatus while the electronic apparatus is operating in the button mode and is consuming less power than when the electronic apparatus is in the movement sensing mode.

5 more elements

An electronic system comprising:

a first electronic apparatus comprising:
a communication unit configured to establish communication with the external device;
a user input unit which comprises a plurality of buttons;
a sensing unit which senses a movement of the first electronic apparatus;
and
a controller which controls the communication unit to transmit at least one of information about a selected button among the plurality of buttons and information corresponding to the sensed movement of the first electronic apparatus;
a second electronic apparatus comprising:
a display configured to display a plurality of menu items;
a signal receiver configured to receive the control signal from the first electronic apparatus;
and
a control unit which is configured to determine an operation mode of the second electronic apparatus,
wherein the operation mode is one of a pointing mode and a non-pointing mode wherein the selection between the pointing mode and the non-pointing mode is determined based on the control signal from the first electronic apparatus,
wherein, in the non-pointing mode, the control unit selects one of the plurality of menu items according to the information about the user input received from the first electronic apparatus, and
wherein in the pointing mode, the control unit controls the display unit to display a pointer which is moved according to the information regarding the sensed movement received from the first electronic apparatus,
wherein the sensing unit comprises at least one of a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, and a geomagnetic sensor,
wherein the controller of the first electronic apparatus is further configured to control the sensing unit to operate in a power saving mode in response to detecting a selection of a predetermined button among the plurality of buttons, and
wherein the sensing unit senses a spatial movement of the first electronic apparatus while the sensing unit of the first electronic apparatus is operating in the power saving mode in which the first electronic apparatus consumes less power than when the sensing unit of the first electronic apparatus is operating in an active mode.

14 more elements

An electronic apparatus which is configured to transmit remote control information to an external device, the electronic apparatus comprising:

a communication unit configured to establish communication with the external device;
a user input interface comprising a plurality of buttons;
a sensing unit configured to sense a movement of the electronic apparatus;
and
a control unit configured to
control the communication unit to transmit information corresponding to the sensed movement of the electronic apparatus to the external device,
control the sensing unit to operate in a power saving mode in response to detecting selection of a predetermined button among the plurality of buttons,
control the communication unit to transmit information corresponding to a selected button while the sensing unit operates in the power saving mode, and
control the sensing unit to shift from the power saving mode to an active mode in response to sensing a spatial movement of the electronic apparatus by the sensing unit in the power saving mode,
wherein the sensing unit consumes less power in the power saving mode than in the active mode,
wherein the sensing unit comprises at least one of a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, and a geomagnetic sensor.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,665 words

Summary704 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to controlling an electronic apparatus, and more particularly, to an integrated operation remote controller for a digital TV sensing a motion of a user performing a pointing function by moving a cursor displayed on a TV or sensing a motion of the user by adding a motion sensor to an existing button input type remote controller.

#2. Description of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings8 figures

#The above and other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a remote control apparatus and an electronic apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a transmitted packet if the remote control apparatus operates in a button input mode according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a transmitted packet if the remote control apparatus operates in a motion recognition mode according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Detailed description4,680 words

#Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

#The exemplary embodiments are described below so as to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. Repetitive description with respect to like elements of different embodiments may be omitted for the convenience of clarity.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a remote control apparatus and an electronic apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Facts

Application

13/769,035Filed 15 Feb 2013 · continuation

Priority

KR 10-2009-00832043 Sep 2009

Published

US 2013/0155334 A120 Jun 2013

Granted

27 Jan 2015

Term ends

27 Jan 2030

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification14 codes

G08C 17/02
Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link: using a radio link
G06F 3/0346
Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor: with detection of the…
G06F 3/038
Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor: control and interface…
G06F 3/0482
Based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like…:…

Family

Application12/694,867Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Jan 2010

US 2013/0155334 A1Pre-grant publication · published 20 Jun 2013

US 8,432,305 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2011/0050477 A1Published application

US 8,941,530 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Electronic apparatus, control method thereof, remote control apparatus, and control method thereof

Life of this patent

Electronic apparatus, control method thereof, remote control apparatus, and control method thereof

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims37

Description5,665 words

Drawings

Classification14 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,665 words