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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9467119-B2
Application number	US-78397010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2010
Priority date	May 29, 2009
Publication date	Oct 11, 2016
Grant date	Oct 11, 2016

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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 devi

Assignees

• Lee Min Sup
• Lee Jae Kyung
• Lee Kun Sik
• Kim Gyu Seung
• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Min Sup
• Lee Jae Kyung
• Lee Kun Sik
• Kim Gyu Seung

Classifications

• H03J1/0025 Primary

  in a remote control unit (remote control tuning in general H03J9/00) · CPC title

• G06F3/0346

  with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors · CPC title

• G08C2201/32

  Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device · CPC title

• G08C2201/20

  Binding and programming of remote control devices · CPC title

• H04Q9/04 Primary

  Arrangements for synchronous operation · CPC title