Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090051650 | Pass through of remote commands - In one embodiment, a television set having remote control signaling to a controlled device has a data communication interface for communication of data, said data communication interface having a connection reserved for DC power. A remote control interface that receives commands from a remote control device. A circuit determines whether a command received at the remote control interface is destined for the television set or for the controlled device. The controlled device is connected to the television set via the data communication interface. A modulator modulates a signal representing a command destined for the controlled device onto the DC power connection in order to convey the command to the controlled device. In another embodiment a television accessory device that is interconnected to and controllable by the television has a data communication interface for communication of data, said data communication interface having a connection reserved for DC power. The accessory device is connected to the television via the data communication interface. A demodulator is coupled to the DC power connection and demodulates a signal representing a command that is modulated onto the DC power connection in order to receive a command from the television. A processor implements the command in the accessory device. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 02-26-2009 |
20090156051 | HDMI source detection - A circuit for detection of an HDMI source device to an HDMI sink device through an HDMI sink connector without regard for the activity state of the HDMI source device has a pull-up resistor having first and second terminals with the first terminal coupled to a DC power source. A switching device is coupled between the pull-up resistor's second terminal and ground at a circuit node. The switching device is switched on to couple the circuit node to ground when power is applied to a control terminal thereof from the HDMI sink connector power pin, and being switched off otherwise. The circuit node is coupled to a DDC/CEC GROUND pin of the HDMI sink connector. The circuit node is readable as a binary signal to indicate the presence of a source device to the HDMI sink connector, wherein the node exhibits a logic low signal when either the node is grounded by the DDC/CEC GROUND pin connection to a source device or when the switching device is switched on. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 06-18-2009 |
20100043027 | Bi-directional remote control unit and method of using the same - A bi-directional communications link between a television set and a remote control unit assists a viewer in controlling the entertainment system. The television set can signal the remote control unit to confirm instruction signal received from the remote control unit. The television can also transmit electronic program guide information to the remote control unit which is displayed on a display device on the remote control unit. The television can send the remote control unit a listing of available sub-channels within a single digital channel. The listing is displayed on the remote's display device, and the viewer can then choose from among the sub-channels. | 02-18-2010 |
20100107184 | TV with eye detection - In certain implementations consistent with the present invention, a method for monitoring a television system viewer's status involves monitoring a field of view encompassing a viewer environment using a camera sensitive to light in the infrared (IR) spectrum; identifying a pair of bright spots in the IR spectrum that are spaced by a spacing consistent with spacing of a pair of human eyes; monitoring at least one characteristic of the spots to ascertain a status of a television system viewer; and at the television system, taking an action that affects an operational characteristic of the television system on the basis of the ascertained status of the television system viewer. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 04-29-2010 |
20100107185 | User identification using Bluetooth and audio ranging - In certain embodiments, a method of automatically changing an attribute defining operation of a television system involves determining that a short range radio frequency (RF) transceiver device has entered RF range of the television system, the television system having a short range RF transceiver compatible with that of the short range RF transceiver device; binding the short range RF transceiver device to the television set to establish an identity (ID) for the short range RF transceiver device; determining that the short range RF transceiver device is within a predefined distance metric of the television system by use of an audio ping signal; at the television system, looking up a functional attribute associated with the identity; and setting a television parameter at the television using the functional attribute while the short range RF transceiver device is in the RF range as well as within the predefined distance of the television system. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 04-29-2010 |
20100123735 | TV screen text capture - A method of processing television images consistent with certain implementations involves receiving a command from a television user interface to capture a television image; capturing and storing a frame of the television image to a frame memory device; receiving commands from the television user interface for editing the captured image to at least isolate a portion of the image; editing the captured image in accord with the editing commands; and storing the isolated portion of the image to a storage device for subsequent retrieval. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 05-20-2010 |
20110001651 | Zero standby power laser controlled device - In certain embodiments, a remotely controllable television has an energy converter that receives light energy from a laser in a remote controller and converts the light energy to electrical energy. A remote control code interpreter that is receives a turn-on code from the remote controller. The electrical energy from the energy converter is used to supply power to the remote control code interpreter. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 01-06-2011 |
20110001887 | Zero standby power RF controlled device - A remotely controllable electronic appliance has a radio frequency energy converter that receives a radio frequency energy from a remote controller and converts the radio frequency energy to electrical energy, where the electrical energy from the energy converter is used to supply power to receive a turn-on code. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 01-06-2011 |
20110051018 | Bi-directional remote control unit and method of using the same - A bi-directional communications link between a television set and a remote control unit assists a viewer in controlling the entertainment system. The television set can signal the remote control unit to confirm instruction signal received from the remote control unit. The television can also transmit electronic program guide information to the remote control unit which is displayed on a display device on the remote control unit. The television can send the remote control unit a listing of available sub-channels within a single digital channel. The listing is displayed on the remote's display device, and the viewer can then choose from among the sub-channels. | 03-03-2011 |
20110093882 | Parental control through the HDMI interface - An HDMI parental control device consistent with certain embodiments has an HDMI receiver that receives an HDMI audio/video stream and produces editable audio/video output data and a logic processor that receives closed caption data and compares descriptors in the closed caption data with a list of descriptors to be censored. When the logic processor detects a descriptor to be censored it causes the audio/video data corresponding to the descriptor to be censored to be altered from the audio/video output data to produce censored audio/video output data and uncensored audio/video output data and then output via an HDMI transmitter. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 04-21-2011 |
20110128442 | Delivery of Captions, Content Advisory and Other Data Through Digital Interface - In certain implementations, closed captioning data can be packaged in IP packets and transmitted over an HDMI interface to permit closed captioning data to be rendered at a television set or other HDMI sink closer to the TV set rather than at a source so as to more closely match the capabilities of the display device. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 06-02-2011 |
20110138422 | TECHNIQUES FOR DISPLAYING DATA BASED ON CHARACTERISTICS OF A DISPLAY DEVICE - A method of selecting a portion of a block of data for display based on characteristics of a display device. The method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be a set-top box. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device next selects a portion, more or fewer columns or rows, of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user. | 06-09-2011 |
20110164143 | TV demonstration - A television demonstration method involves providing a television display and a camera; at a computer processor, receiving a video image from the camera, the computer processor capturing the video image from the camera to determine if the viewer makes a predetermined gesture; and retrieving and playing a specified video segment on the display associated with the gesture in response to determining that the viewer has made the predetermined gesture. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 07-07-2011 |
20110225611 | 3D TV glasses with TV mode control - A method of operation of three dimensional (3D) stereoscopic television consistent with certain implementations involves turning on or installing a set of 3D glasses on a viewer to cause the set of 3D glasses to enter an active operational mode; and at the 3D glasses, emitting a signal to the television that causes the television to switch from a 2D display mode to a 3D display mode. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 09-15-2011 |
20110271296 | AUTOMATICALLY RECONFIGURABLE MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM WITH INTERCHANGEABLE PERSONALITY ADAPTERS - A TV-set is equipped with HDMI and USB connections that allow it to display and run audio-video content from a variety of conventional consumer devices. The TV-set is further equipped to provide a secure HDMI-USB interface that will allow the transfer of licensed high definition content and Internet subscriber services. Such secure HDMI-USB interface also enables a selection of proprietary application modules to be attached. Downloadable user interface templates, much like XML style sheets, are rendered to a user interface displayed on the screen. These are associated with corresponding thumbnails and URI's that allow a user to surf through lists and catalogs of materials, and then to play them in the appropriate formats and provide the machine with a customized controller. A remote commander is simplified, yet expanded to control all the attached devices through interactions with the user interface. The functions of the remote commander's keys change depending on where the user is navigating and what device is being controlled, similar to so-called soft-keys. | 11-03-2011 |
20110304771 | TV Screen Text Capture - A method of processing television images consistent with certain implementations involves receiving a television signal and capturing a television image; capturing and storing a frame of the television image to a frame memory device; editing the captured image to at least isolate a portion of the image; and storing the isolated portion of the image to a storage device for subsequent retrieval. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 12-15-2011 |
20120007968 | Shutter glasses repeater - A method, consistent with certain implementations involves at a television remote controller housing that provides a user interface that provides access to controls for television functions and encloses a television remote controller circuit: receiving a 3D shutter glasses synchronization signal; and re-transmitting the shutter glasses synchronization signal. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 01-12-2012 |
20130194394 | Energy Conserving Display - A method of adjusting pixel height in a display panel having sub-pixelized pixels capable of operating in at least a tall mode and a short mode involves at a detector coupled to the display panel, detecting a position of a viewer viewing the display; at a processor, calculating a vertical viewing angle for a viewer; at the processor, determining if the calculated vertical viewing angle is within a predetermined range of vertical viewing angles; and the processor selecting a tall mode or a short mode for operation of the display panel as a result of the determining. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 08-01-2013 |
20130242202 | Television Start Speed Enhancement - A television receives a command to power up from a standby mode. This causes the TV to start a boot process, and while the boot process proceeds. At a that a point in the boot process when the tuner input switch are operative the process simultaneously determines a current time from a real time clock and retrieves a channel and a switch setting from a usage pattern database corresponding to the current time. The tuner is tuned to the channel and the input switch is set. At completion of the boot process the tuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to the switch setting corresponding the current time so that time to viewing a desired channel is often minimized. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 09-19-2013 |
20130300942 | TELEVISION START SPEED ENHANCEMENT - A television receives a command to power up from a standby mode. This causes the TV to start a boot process, and while the boot process proceeds. At a point in the boot process when the tuner input switch is operative, the process simultaneously determines a current time from a real time clock and retrieves a channel and a switch setting from a usage pattern database corresponding to the current time. The tuner is tuned to the channel and the input switch is set. At completion of the boot process the tuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to the switch setting corresponding the current time so that time to viewing a desired channel is often minimized. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 11-14-2013 |
20130342562 | Visual Accessibility for Vision Impaired - A method involves presenting a viewer of images on an electronic display with a plurality of images each of which displays an ordered range of intensities of colors for each of a plurality of color families; providing the viewer with control over selection of a gamma correction factor for each of the plurality of color families so as to allow the viewer to select a gamma factor that presents an appearance of most equal steps in intensity change in each of the plurality of color families in order to compensate for a color vision impairment of the viewer; and displaying images on the electronic display, where the displayed images are compensated using the user selected gamma correction factors for each of the plurality of color families. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 12-26-2013 |
20140071350 | TELEVISION START SPEED ENHANCEMENT - An audio video device a command to power up from a standby mode. This causes the device to start a boot process, and while the boot process proceeds. The process determines a current time from a real time clock and retrieves settings from a usage pattern database corresponding to the current time. The audio video device set to the retrieved settings. At completion of the boot process the audio video device is set to the retrieved settings. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 03-13-2014 |
20140092305 | HDMI SOURCE DETECTION - A circuit for detection of an HDMI source device to an HDMI sink device through an HDMI sink connector without regard for the activity state of the HDMI source device has a pull-up resistor connecting a DC power source to the DDC/CEC ground node. The node is readable as a binary signal to indicate the presence of a source device to the HDMI sink connector, where the node exhibits a logic low signal when either the node is grounded by the DDC/CEC GROUND pin connection to a source device or when a switching device is switched on. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 04-03-2014 |
20140160362 | ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENT FOR HEARING IMPAIRED - A television audio device has a multiple channel television audio system having provisions for providing multiple channel audio to a speaker system and multiple channel audio for receipt by a multiple channel headphone system. A switch is configured to detect operation of the multiple channel headphone system. A processor is selectively programmable to configure the multiple channel television audio system to provide a monaural audio signal to all channels of the multiple channel headphone system when the multiple channel headphone system is detected to be in operation. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 06-12-2014 |
20150078595 | AUDIO ACCESSIBILITY - An audio delivery method. An image of a listening area is captured and processed to locate a position of a listener in the room. A stored listener profile associated with the listener is retrieved and audio characteristics are established based on the listener's profile. A directional beam of audio is directed toward the listener's ears and the directional beam is adjusted to track movement of the listener. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 03-19-2015 |