Apple Granted Patent for Next Generation Apple TV Technology

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of seven newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The most notable patent covered in this report relates to possible next generation technology that Apple could employ in either in their Apple TV console or an HDTV unit itself - over time. Other patents granted to Apple today includes one that covers the iTune's "Season Pass" feature and another covering the iPhone's touch based slide unlocking-mechanism interface.

Granted Patent: Remote Control Systems that can Distinguish Stray Light Sources

Apple's patent generally relates to remote control systems that can distinguish predetermined light sources from stray light sources, such as environmental light sources and/or reflections. Apple's patent appears to be describing a likely upgrade to or next generation Apple TV console system. The focus of the patent, as noted in FIG. 1 below, centers on a new transmitter component that sits under a display or television in communications with the Apple TV console. The entire system could also be incorporated into a television itself, states the patent.

When combining the technologies presented in this patent in concert with Apple's proposed 3D wand that utilizes a new magnetic compass for greater 3D movements, we see that Apple is working on a next generation of Apple TV that is significantly more advanced.

Background

Some remote control systems use infrared (IR) emitters to determine the position and/or movement of a remote control. For example, if IR emitters are mounted proximate to a television, the remote control may be able to detect its own motion by measuring the motion of the IR emitters with respect to the remote control.

Such systems, however, often experience a common problem in that they may not be able to distinguish desired or predetermined IR light sources from undesirable environmental IR sources, e.g., the sun or a light bulb. Because those systems may mistake environmental IR sources for IR emitters, they may incorrectly determine the position and/or movement of the remote control.

Such systems also may experience another common problem in that the systems may not be able to distinguish IR emitters from reflections of the IR emitters, e.g., from the surface of a table or a window. For example, when IR emitters are disposed in a pattern that is symmetrical about a horizontal axis, the remote control system may mistake reflections of the IR emitters from a table surface for the actual IR emitters. Or, when IR emitters are disposed in a pattern that is symmetrical about a vertical axis, the remote control system may mistake reflections of the IR emitters from a window for the actual IR emitters. Again, such mistakes may result in incorrect determinations of the position and/or movement of the remote control.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a remote control system of the present invention having an asymmetric pattern of predetermined light sources.

As shown in FIG.1 remote control system 10 can include three predetermined light sources 16 disposed in a substantially linear pattern. The distance between left-most predetermined light source 16a and middle predetermined light source 16b can be less than that between middle predetermined light source 16b and right-most predetermined light source 16c. While FIG. 1 illustrates three predetermined light sources, remote control system 10 can include four or more predetermined light sources disposed in an asymmetric substantially linear pattern.

Predetermined light sources 16 can be disposed proximate any edge of display 20, e.g., a top, bottom, or vertical edge of display 20 either in frame 18 or integrated with display 20.

Console 30 also can communicate with display 20 using cable 36 and/or one or more wireless communication protocols known in the art or otherwise. Alternatively, console 30 can be integrated with display 20 as one unit. Display 20 can include a television having a screen with a nominal curvature, a computer monitor having a screen with a nominal curvature, a flat-screen television, a flat-screen monitor, a surface upon which a projector can project images, or any other type of display known in the art or otherwise.

All New Remote Control System Transmitter

Apple's patent is clearly illustrating a new embodiment component in FIG. 1 noted above referred to as the transmitter as follows: "In one embodiment of the present invention, console 30 can communicate with remote control 12 using cable 34 and/or one or more wireless communication protocols known in the art or otherwise. Console 30 also can communicate with transmitter 14 using cable 35 and/or one or more wireless communication protocols."

The transmitter could be a separate component from Apple TV or integrated into a display, projector system or television.

Advantageously, when predetermined light sources are disposed proximate to top and bottom edges of display 20, remote control system 10 can detect a greater range of vertical motion.

Distinguishing Between Predetermined Light and Stray Light Sources

Apple's patent FIG. 4 noted below illustrates a remote control system of one embodiment of the present invention that can distinguish predetermined light sources from stray light sources based on signature modulation characteristics with which output waveforms of the predetermined light sources are modulated.

Remote control 86 can include photodetector 88 and controller 90. In one embodiment of the present invention, photodetector 88 can be a two dimensional position sensitive diode (PSD). In the embodiment of FIG. 4, frequencies f1 and f2 can have different values that are greater than the frame rate at which photodetector 88 captures data.

Apple credits Steven Hotelling, Nicolas King, Duncan Kerr and Wing Kong Low as the inventors of Granted Patent 7,655,937, originally filed in Q3 2008. For more information, view this temporary link.

Other Noteworthy Granted Patents Published Today

Unlocking a Device by Performing Gestures on an Unlock Image: Apple's patent covers the iPhone's touch based slide unlocking-mechanism interface. For more information, view this temporary link.

Techniques for Acquiring a Media Season of Digital Media Assets: The iTunes Season Pass is a feature of the iTunes Store that allows users to purchase a full season's worth of a given TV show at the iTunes Store before all episodes have been released. For more information, view this temporary link.

The disclosed embodiments relate generally to user interfaces that employ touch-sensitive displays, and more particularly, to the unlocking of user interfaces on portable electronic devices.

Notice: Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or Granted Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application and/or Issued Patent should be read in its entirety for further details. For additional information on any granted patent noted above, simply feed the individual patent number(s) into this search engine.

Please note that any of the temporary links presented in today's report are in fact temporary and may redirect you to unrelated patents in the future. In such cases refer back to the search engine instructions above.

Posted by Jack Purcher on February 02, 2010 at 07:52 AM in 2. Granted Patents, Apple TV | Permalink | Comments (0)