WO2009133507A1

WO2009133507A1 - A display device and a control method

Info

Publication number: WO2009133507A1
Application number: PCT/IB2009/051686
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oruc Mengu; Ufuk Osman Topcu
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2008-04-28
Filing date: 2009-04-24
Publication date: 2009-11-05

Abstract

The present invention relates to a display device (1) and a control method which determines the level of the signals received from the remote control (6) when being controlled by the remote control (6), and displays this signal information to the user on the screen (5) and which thus makes it easier for the user to adjust the radiation level of the remote control (6)

Description

Title of Invention: A DISPLAY DEVICE AND A CONTROL

METHOD

[ 1 ] Field of the Invention

[2] The present invention relates to a display device and a control method controlled by a remote control.

[3] Prior Art

[4] In most of the display devices, for example televisions, controlled by a remote control, intensity and thus the power consumption level of the command signals sent by the remote control are adjusted according to the maximum distance between the remote control and the television. However the users generally watch televisions from a closer distance, therefore more power than necessary is consumed in remote controls. With the purpose of preventing the said unnecessary power consumption, there are provided solutions where the power consumption in the remote controls is adjusted according to the distance of the user from the television.

[5] The German patent document No. DE3817621, in the state of the art, discloses a system for decreasing the power consumption in the remote control device. In the invention disclosed in the said document, different key pads are used for different power levels in order for the power consumption of the remote control to be adjusted manually. For this reason, a separate key and/or keypad is required for each level.

[6] Summary of the Invention

[7] The objective of the present invention is to realize a display device and a control method wherein the power consumption of the remote control is reduced.

[8] According to the display device and control method realized to fulfill the objective of the present invention and defined in Claim 1 and its dependent claims, the intensity (receiving level) of the signals received from the remote control is measured by the display device and the signal level information is displayed to the user. The visual feedback provided to the user shows the minimum signal level required for controlling the display device via a remote control from the current distance. This way, the user can adjust the level of the power (radiation power) that will be spent by the remote control by determining the signal level which will minimize power consumption but will be sufficient for controlling the display device with the remote control. The adjustment that can be easily performed by using the keys on the remote control is carried out precisely by means of the multi-stage adjustment option presented to the user.

[9] Detailed Description of the Invention [10] The display device and control method realized to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures wherein,

[11] Figure 1 is the schematic view of the inventive display device and the remote control used for controlling the display device.

[12] Figure 2 is the flowchart of the inventive method.

[13] The components shown in the figures are numbered individually, where the numbers refer to the following:

[14] 1. Display device

[15] 2. IR receiver

[16] 3. Measuring circuit

[17] 4. Controller

[18] 5. Screen

[19] 6. Remote Control

[20] 7. Key pad

[21] 8. Microprocessor

[22] 9. Adjustment circuit

[23] 10. IR transmitter

[24] 11. Memory

[25] The display device (1) comprises an IR (infrared) receiver (2) that receives infrared

(IR) signals, a level measuring circuit (3) which measures the level of the received signals, a controller (4) which transforms the measured signal level and the required minimum signal level into a text and/or graphic, and a screen (5) through which the measured signal level and the required minimum signal level are presented to the user.

[26] The display device (1) is controlled by a remote control (6). The remote control (6) comprises a key pad (7) that enables the user to enter the desired commands, a microprocessor (8) that detects the commands entered via the key pad (7), an adjustment circuit (9) that adjusts the levels of the electric signals coming from the microprocessor (8), an IR (infrared) transmitter (10) that converts the electric signals whose levels are adjusted into IR signals and transmits them to the display device (1), and a memory (11) in which the radiation power level information is kept.

[27] According to the inventive method, the level of the signals received from the remote control (6) are measured by the measuring circuit (3) located in the display device (1) and printed on the screen (5) automatically or upon request of the user. In addition to the received signal level, the minimum reliable signal level wherein the display device (1) can detect the commands coming from the remote control (6) is also displayed on the screen (5). Upon viewing the information on the screen (5) related to the signal level, the user adjusts the radiation power level of the signals sent by the remote control (6) by using the keys of the remote control (6). [28] The method, wherein unnecessary consumption of power by the remote control (6) is prevented in the display device (1), comprises the steps of

[29] - Turning on the display device (1) (101),

[30] - Determining whether the user wants to carry out radiation power adjustment (102),

[31] - If the user wants to perform radiation power adjustment, determining whether the current radiation power level is sufficient (103); otherwise switching to watching mode (107),

[32] - If the current radiation power level is not sufficient, maximizing the radiation power (104),

[33] - If the user wants to make an adjustment and the current radiation power level is sufficient, printing the power level of the signal received by the IR receiver (2) and the required minimum signal power level on the screen (5) (105),

[34] - The user adjusting the radiation power of the remote control (6) by using the key pad (7) provided on the remote control (6) (106),

[35] - After adjustment of the radiation power (106) is completed, switching to watching mode (107).

[36] After the display device (1) is turned on (101), it is determined whether the user wants to perform power consumption adjustment (102) and the following steps of the inventive method are determined according to the preference of the user.

[37] In one embodiment of the invention, the user specifies her/his preference about performing power consumption adjustment (102) upon being prompted by means of a text or graphic message that appears on the screen when the display device (1) is turned on about whether or not s/he wants to make power adjustment and entering his/ her preference using the key pad (7).

[38] In another embodiment of the invention, the user enters into the concerned adjustment menu included in the adjustment menus of the display device (1) by using the key pad (7) of the remote control (1) and selects the remote control radiation power consumption adjustment option from this menu. In this embodiment of the invention, if the user does not enter into the concerned adjustment menu after the display device (1) is turned on (101), it is regarded as the user does not want to perform remote control radiation power consumption adjustment.

[39] If the user wants to perform power consumption adjustment, in the next step, it is determined whether the current radiation power level is sufficient (103). In cases where the user moves away from the display device (1) to a position where the current radiation power level will be insufficient, the last adjusted value (current radiation power level) can be insufficient. In this case, the radiation power is maximized when the user depresses a certain key or key combination on the key pad (7). (104).

[40] After the user wants to perform a radiation power consumption adjustment and the radiation power level is sufficient or brought to the maximum level (104), the information related to the received signal level and the required minimum signal level are printed on the screen (5) (105). This step is realized by means of the measuring circuit (3) that measures the level of the signals received by the IR receiver (2) and the controller (4) that displays the measured signal level and the required minimum signal level on the screen (5). The signal information printed on the screen (5) is in the form of a tool bar which is preferably similar to the tool bars used for audio, etc. settings and comprised of various stages.

[41] In the following step, the user adjusts the radiation power in line with the radiation power information viewed on the screen (5) by using the key pad (7) provided on the remote control (6) (107). Thanks to the fact that the required minimum signal level is specified on the tool bar, the user reduces the radiation power to the required minimum signal level. For this purpose, while an additional key can be incorporated to the standard keys provided on the key pad (7) for the power adjustment function, the volume up/down (vol+/vol-) keys can also be used for this purpose. Upon depressing the said keys on the key pad (7), the adjustment circuit (9) changes the current that drives the IR transmitter (10) whereby enabling the adjustment of the radiation power level of the remote control (6). In order to maintain the adjusted radiation power level, a memory (11) connected to the microprocessor (8) is used. The said memory (11) is a permanent memory (for example EEPROM, NVRAM, Flash EPROM, etc.). This way, the adjusted radiation power level is saved automatically and maintained until the next adjustment.

[42] After it is switched to the watching mode (107), in case the radiation power is required to be re-adjusted (e.g. when the watching distance changes), the user returns to step 102 whereby specifying her/his preference of performing adjustment and can re-adjust the radiation power of the remote control (6) whenever s/he desires.

[43] In the case that the user changes his/her current position moving to a distance farther away, in order to prevent the current radiation power from being insufficient, the user can maximize the radiation power whenever s/he desires by using a key (radiation power key) specially positioned on the remote control (6) or a key combination formed with the keys provided on the key pad (7). Thus, in case of moving farther away from the display device (1) or insufficiency of the current radiation power due to a similar reason, before re-adjusting the radiation power the user can maximize the radiation power by depressing the said key(s).

[44] The signal level received from the remote control (6) and the minimum signal level required for the display device (1) to be controlled by the remote control (6) are displayed to the user on the screen (5) by means of the above described display device (1) and control method. The user having been guided by the information s/he receives from the screen (5) adjusts the radiation power of the remote control (6) by using the key pad (7) provided on the remote control (6). Radiation power can be adjusted in a multi-stage (e.g. 32 stages) range just like the audio adjustment. This way the radiation power is ensured to be adjusted precisely. During use, as long as the distance between the display device (1) and the remote control (6) does not change, the radiation level is maintained constant. In case the said distance changes, the user may readjust the radiation power by entering into the concerned adjustment menu of the display device (1). This way, in cases where the display device (1) is watched from a close distance not requiring maximum radiation power, the radiation power of the remote control (6) is minimized to save power and to extend the economic life of the remote control (6). Furthermore, due to the fact that the invention can be realized without requiring an additional key or key pad besides the standard keys, an extra cost does not occur and the radiation power adjustment can be realized in an economical manner.

Claims

[Claim 1] A display device (1), which is controlled by a remote control (6) comprising a key pad (7) that enables the user to enter the desired commands, a microprocessor (8) that detects the commands entered via the key pad (7), an adjustment circuit (9) that adjusts the levels of the electric signals coming from the microprocessor (8), an IR transmitter (10) that converts the electric signals whose levels are adjusted into IR signals and transmits them to the display device (1), and a memory (11) in which the radiation power level information is kept; comprising an IR receiver (2) that receives the infrared (IR) signals coming from the remote control (6), a level measuring circuit (3) which measures the level of the signals received by the IR receiver (2), a controller (4) and a screen (5); characterized by a controller (4) wherein the measured signal level and the information related to the minimum signal level required for the remote control (6) to control the display device (1) are processed and transformed into a text and/or graphic, and a screen (5) through which the said text and/or graphic is displayed to the user.

[Claim 2] A control method for the display device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by the steps of

- Turning on (101),

- The user indicating whether s/he wants to perform radiation power adjustment (102),

- Determining whether the current radiation power level is sufficient (103),

- If the user wants to make an adjustment but the current radiation power level is not sufficient, maximizing the radiation power (104),

- If the user wants to make an adjustment and the current radiation power level is sufficient, printing the power level of the signal received by the IR receiver (2) and the required minimum signal power level on the screen (5) (105),

- The user, guided by the information printed on the screen (5), adjusting the radiation power of the remote control (6) by using the key pad (7) provided on the remote control (6) (106),

- After adjustment of the radiation power (106) is completed or if the user does not want to make an adjustment, switching directly to watching mode (107).

[Claim 3] A control method according to Claim 2 wherein the user specifies her/ his preference about performing power consumption adjustment (102) upon being prompted by means of a text or graphic that appears on the screen when the display device (1) is turned on (101) about whether or not s/he wants to make power adjustment and entering his/her preference using the key pad (7).

[Claim 4] A control method according to Claim 2 wherein the user specifies her/ his preference about performing power consumption adjustment (102) by entering into the concerned adjustment menu included in the adjustment menus of the display device (1) by using the key pad (7) of the remote control (1) and selecting the power consumption adjustment option from this menu.

[Claim 5] A control method according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the radiation power is maximized (104) by the user's depression of a certain key or key combination provided on the key pad (7).

[Claim 6] A control method according to Claim 5 wherein printing of the received signal level and the required minimum signal level on the screen (5) is enabled by the measuring circuit (3) that measures the level of the signals received by the IR receiver (2) and the controller (4) that displays the measured signal level and the required minimum signal level on the screen (5).

[Claim 7] A control method according to Claim 6 wherein the radiation power of the remote control (6) is adjusted (106) by using the power adjustment key(s) incorporated to the standard keys provided on the key pad (7).

[Claim 8] A control method according to Claim 6 wherein the radiation power of the remote control (6) is adjusted (106) by using the volume up/down keys.

[Claim 9] A control method according to Claim 6 wherein the radiation power of the remote control (6) is adjusted (106) by having the adjustment circuit (9) change the current that drives the IR transmitter (10).