WO2010073175A2

WO2010073175A2 - A control system

Info

Publication number: WO2010073175A2
Application number: PCT/IB2009/055685
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xin Chen; Yunji Xia
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2008-12-25
Filing date: 2009-12-11
Publication date: 2010-07-01
Also published as: WO2010073175A3

Abstract

This invention proposes a control system (100) for controlling a device. The proposed control system (100) comprises a first portion (20) having at least one area, each of said at least one area reflecting a function of said device respectively; and a second portion (21) having at least one area, each of said at least one area reflecting an option of a function reflected by a first given area of said first portion (20) respectively. When said first given area of said first portion (20) is connected with a second given area of said second portion (21), said control system is adapted to send a signal to said device (150) for triggering the device (150) to perform the function reflected by said first given area, using the option reflected by said second given area.

Description

A CONTROL SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a control system, more particularly to a control system for controlling the functions of a device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

WO 2006/038135 describes a lighting device comprising a lighting unit and a user interface for controlling the lighting color and/or intensity of the lighting unit. The user interface comprises a physical object, which is shaped like a polyhedron, for instance a cube.

Orienting the physical object and choosing which side is the top side, serves to select the color, and rotating the physical object about the side on which it rests serves to change the intensity setting. The user interface generates an output signal, which is the input for a processing unit. This processing unit converts this signal to a driving signal suitable for controlling the lighting unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The concept of the patent application mentioned in the Background hereinabove could be applied for controlling other devices as well, such as a TV set which presently has more functions than only playing a broadcast stream; it may also have the function of playing a

DVD, connecting to the Internet, displaying private data and so on. Each function will have multiple options, for example, the private data may be separated into many groups like: e-mail, photo, music, and so on.

By rotating the cube, the brightness can be controlled in a very easy and natural way. But when applying this solution to such a TV set, it is found to be not very efficient to perform such discontinuous options by rotating.

Another shortcoming is that two actions are required: the first action being "setting one facet so as to face upward" for selecting the function, the second one being "rotating the cube" for selecting the sub-functions of the selected function or an option of the selected function. Consequently, it is not very efficient.

This invention proposes an improved control system for controlling a device. The proposed control system comprises: - a first portion having at least one area, each of said at least one area reflecting a function of said device respectively; a second portion having at least one area, each of said at least one area reflecting an option of a function reflected by a first given area of said first portion respectively; when said first given area of said first portion is connected with a second given area of said second portion, said control system is adapted to send a signal to said device for triggering the device to perform the function reflected by said first given area, using the option reflected by said second given area.

The control system further comprises a first unit for detecting whether an area of said first portion is connected with an area of said second portion; if so, the detected area of said first portion corresponds to said first given area and the detected area of said second portion corresponds to said second given area.

This invention also proposes a method of controlling a device by a control system, wherein said control system comprises a first portion having at least one area, each of said at least one area reflecting a function of said device, and a second portion having at least one area respectively, each of said at least one area reflecting an option of a function reflected by a first given area of said first portion respectively. The proposed method comprises a step of generating a signal for triggering the device to perform the function reflected by said first given area, using the option reflected by a second given area, when said first given area of said first portion is connected with said second given area of said second portion. Using the proposed control system, two different-level choices can be selected by only one action, i.e. a sub-function of a function or an option of a function is selected just by one action. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGl depicts a system 10 which can perform different functions according to an example of this invention;

FIG.2 depicts a control system 100 according to an example of this invention; FIG.3 depicts the x, y, z axis of the first portion of the control system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGl depicts a system 10 which can perform different functions according to an example of this invention. The system 10 comprises a device 150, and a control system 100 for a user to control the device 150 to perform different functions.

The device 150 could be any type of device having multiple functions. And each one of the multiple functions has multiple options. In the context of this invention, an option should be selected to further define each of the functions. The term "option" is to be taken to mean here an optional sub-function of each function, or an optional classification of each function.

For example, the device 150 could be a cooker having the functions of baking food, heating food, frying food, etc. And for each function, there are several options for selecting the different types of food. Such as: vegetables, meat, rice, etc. Here, the food classifications are the different options corresponding to different functions. For another example, the device 150 is a home-device-center for controlling different home devices. The functions of this kind of home-device-center could be to operate a set-top-box, an air-conditioner, a cooker, etc. When the user chooses the function of operating the air-conditioner, still a sub-function of refrigerating or heating could be selected. For illustrating the principle of the invention, in the following, the device 150 refers to a media service device which can obtain and decode different types of media content for presenting media content via a display 151 and/or a speaker 152. The device 150 has many functions, for example, it can receive broadcast data such as TV programs; it can receive e-mail from a certain server; it can receive pictures from a certain server or from a USB interface; it can provide a preinstalled game, etc.

FIG.2 depicts a control system 100 for controlling the device 150 to perform different functions according to an example of this invention.

The control system 100 comprises a first portion 20 and a second portion 21. The first portion 20 could be any polyhedron, such as a cube, a pentahedron, a tetrahedron or a flat portion, etc. The second portion 21 could also be any polyhedron, such as a cube or a flat portion, etc.

As shown in FIG.2, for illustrating the principle of the invention, the first portion 20 is shown as a cube and the second portion 21 is shown as a portion with flat surface. The first portion 20 has six facets: the facets 201, 202, 203, 204, 205 and 206 (the facets 204, 205, 206 are not shown in FIGl). The facet 204 is opposite to the facet 201, the facet 205 is opposite to the facet 202, and the facet 206 is opposite to the facet 203.

The facet 201 defines an area 201a, which means the area 201a is part of the facet 201, or the area 201a is exactly the same as the facet 201. Similarly, the facet 202 defines an area 202a, the facet 203 defines an area 203a, and the facet 204 defines an area 204a. Each area represents one function of the device 150 respectively. For example, the area 201a represents the function of displaying TV programs; the area 202a represents the function of displaying e-mail; the area 203a represents the function of displaying pictures, the area 204a represents the function of rendering a game program. The second portion 21 has a flat surface 210. The flat surface 210 is divided into four areas 211, 212, 213 and 214. Each area reflects an option of a given function of said device 150. For example, the function of displaying e-mail includes four options: the friends' pictures, the son's pictures, the daughter's pictures, the grandson's pictures. The function of displaying e-mail also could have similar four options. These four options are represented by the four areas 211, 212, 213 and 214 separately. For example, the area 211 represents the option of "the friends", the area 212 represents the option of "the son", the area 213 represents the option of "the daughter" and the area 212 represents the option of "the grandson". The options relating to the function of rendering the game program could be: four different games.

The options relating to the function of displaying TV could be: "change to the next TV channel forward" represented by the area 211, "change to the next TV channel backward" represented by the area 212, "increase the volume" represented by the area 213, "decrease the volume" represented by the area 214. When the first given area of said first portion 20 is connected with a second given area of said second portion 21, the control system 100 is adapted to send a signal to the device 150 for triggering the device 150 to perform the function reflected by the first given area, using the option reflected by the second given area.

In the context of this invention, the term "connected" means the first given area very closely faces the second given area. This term includes the situations of "touched" and

"not touched" because wireless technology could be applied for implementing the situation of "not touched".

For example, when the user wants to view the pictures of the grandson which are stored on the device 150 or on a certain server and which can be accessed by the device 150, the user only needs to connect the area 203a of the first portion 20 with the area 212 of the second portion 21, causing a control signal for triggering the device 150 to display the grandson's pictures to be generated and sent to the device 150.

In order to generate a control signal, the control system 100 further comprises a first unit for detecting whether an area of the first portion 20 is connected with an area of the second portion 21. And if two areas are connected with each other, the two areas detected by the first unit correspond to the aforementioned first given area and the second given area, respectively. In other words, the control signal should be generated to control the device 150 to perform the function reflected by the detected area of the first portion 20, using the option reflected by the detected area of the second portion 21. For example, if the first unit detects that the area 202a is connected to the area 213, then a signal should be generated for triggering the device 150 to display the daughter's email.

There are many embodiments to implement the function of the first unit. According to a first embodiment of the first unit, the first unit comprises at least one near-field communication (NFC) element being attached to said first portion 20; and at least one NFC reader being attached to said second portion 21, wherein said at least one NFC reader serves to receive the signal sent from said at least one NFC element (?).

In the example of FIG.2, for each area of the first portion 20, a unique NFC element is attached. That is, four different NFC elements are attached respectively to four areas 201a, 202a, 203a and 204a. For each area of the second portion 21, a NFC reader is attached. That is, a NFC reader is attached to the four areas 211, 212, 213, and 214. Each of the four NFC readers can recognize the aforementioned four different NFC elements. The four

NFC readers could be the same; therefore, it is also possible to use only one NFC reader having four interfaces. The four interfaces are attached to the four areas 211-214.

Another example could be to attach the NFC reader to the first portion 20 and attach the NFC element to the second portion 21.

The NFC element and NFC reader are prior art technology, therefore, no further detailed description will be given. According to a second embodiment of the first unit, the first unit comprises at least one resistor being attached to the first portion 20, each of said at least one resistor having a different resistance value; and at least one resistor sensor being attached to the second portion 21. The at least one resistor sensor serves to measure the resistance value of the at least one resistor, and according to the different resistance values measured by different resistor sensors, the control system 100 can identify which area of the first portion 20 is connected to which area of the second portion 21.

As shown in FIG.2, similar to the first embodiment of the first unit, four different resistors are attached respectively to four different areas of one portion, i.e. portion 20 or portion 21; and four resistor sensors for measuring the resistance value of the different resistors are attached to the other portion, i.e. portion 21 or portion 20. Similar to the first embodiment, the four resistor sensors can be replaced with one resistor sensor having four interfaces, and the four interfaces are attached to the four areas, respectively. Optionally, the resistor may be attached to the second portion 21, and the resistor sensor may be attached to the first portion 20.

According to a third embodiment of the first unit, the first unit comprises at least one pressure sensor being attached to the first portion 20 for measuring the pressure from outside of the first portion 20; and at least one pressure sensor being attached to the second portion 21 for measuring the pressure from outside of the second portion 21. When an area of the first portion 20 is pressed onto the area of the second portion 21, such as 202a is pressed onto 214, the two pressure sensors attached respectively to the area 202a and the area 214 can both measure the pressure from the other side, and therefore the control system 100 finds two areas which are connected to each other, i.e. the area 202a and the area 214 are detected. According to a fourth embodiment of the first unit, the first unit comprises an accelerometer being associated with said first portion 20, said accelerometer serving to measure the orientation of said first portion 20; and at least one pressure sensor being attached to said second portion 21 for measuring the pressure from outside of the second portion 21.

As shown in FIG.2, the accelerometer can collect the acceleration data from 3 axes in the x, y and z planes of the first portion 20 (x, y, z planes are shown in FIG.3), and a processor can be used for calculating the orientation of the six facets of the portion 20 according to the collected acceleration data. And, as a result, the orientation of the areas defined by the facets is determined, i.e, the orientation of the areas 201a, 202a, 203a and 204a is detected. Since all the areas of the second portion 21 are in the same flat surface 210, the areas of the second portion 21 are supposed to be always directed upward. When an area of the first portion 20 is connected to an area of the second portion 21, such as the area 201a is connected to the area 213, the orientation of the area 201a should be downward, and at the same time the pressure sensor attached to the area 213 can detect a pressure signal. And according to the detected pressure signal and the detected orientation data, the two areas can be detected, in other words, the area 201a and the area 213 can be identified.

Optionally, the accelerometer may be attached to the second portion 21, and the pressure sensor may be attached to the first portion 20. In the third and fourth embodiments, the control system further comprises a fourth unit for allowing said first portion 20 to communicate with said second portion 21, so that one portion can inform the other portion about the detected area .

The control system 100 further comprises a second unit for generating a signal for triggering the device 150 to perform the function reflected by a first given area, using the option reflected by a second given area, when the first unit detects the first given area is connected with the second given area. The second unit may either be embedded in the first portion 20 or the second portion 21. The second unit may be implemented by software, hardware or firmware, for example, the first unit could be a microprocessor provided with an instruction code. The control system 100 further comprises a third unit for sending the generated control signal to the device 150. For sending the signal, the second unit could use all kinds of wired or wireless communication technology. Preferably, it makes use of a wireless communication technology, such as: infrared, radio frequency, and so on.

The device 150 will be equipped with a corresponding receiver to receive the signal and will select the function according to the received signal.

To enhance the function selection process, a lighting unit and/or audio unit may be added to the control system 100. The lighting unit is made up of multiple lighting elements (e.g. single LEDs, whole lighting surfaces, etc.) placed at the surface of the first portion 20 or the second portion 21. Each time a signal is generated and sent to device 150, the lighting elements and/or audio elements are adapted to generate a signal for informing the user that a control signal has been generated and output.

There are numerous ways of implementing functions by means of hardware or software, or both. In this respect, the drawings are very illustrative, each representing only one possible embodiment of the invention. Thus, although a drawing shows different functions as different blocks, this by no means excludes that a single item of hardware or software carries out several functions. Nor does it exclude that an assembly of items of hardware or software or both carry out a function. This invention also proposes a method of controlling a device 150 by a control system 100, wherein said control system 100 comprises a first portion 20 having at least one area, each of said at least one area reflecting a function of said device 150 respectively, and a second portion 21 having at least one area, each of said at least one area reflecting an option of a function reflected by a first given area of said first portion 20 respectively. The method comprises a step of sending a signal for triggering the device 150 to perform the function reflected by said first given area, using the option reflected by a second given area, when said first given area of said first portion is connected with said second given area of said second portion.

The remarks made hereinabove demonstrate that the detailed description with reference to the drawings, illustrate rather than limit the invention. There are numerous alternatives, which fall within the scope of the appended claims. Any reference sign in a claim should not be construed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element or step does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements or steps.

Claims

1. A control system (100) for controlling a device (150), said control system (100) comprising: - a first portion (20) having at least one area, each of said at least one area reflecting a function of said device respectively;

a second portion (21) having at least one area, each of said at least one area reflecting an option of a function reflected by a first given area of said first portion (20) respectively;

when said first given area is connected with a second given area of said second portion (21), said control system (100) is adapted to send a signal to said device (150) for triggering the device (150) to perform the function reflected by said first given area, using the option reflected by said second given area.

2. A control system (100) according to claim 1, wherein said control system further comprises a first unit for detecting whether an area of said first portion (20) is connected with an area of said second portion (21); if so, the detected area of said first portion (20) corresponds to said first given area and the detected area of said second portion (21) corresponds to said second given area.

3. A control system (100) according to claim 1, wherein said control system further comprises a second unit for generating said signal.

4. A control system (100) according to claim 1, wherein said control system further comprises a third unit for sending said signal to said device.

5. A control system (100) according to claim 2, said first unit comprising:

- at least one near-field communication element being attached to said first portion; and

- at least one near-field communication reader being attached to said second portion, wherein said at least one near-field communication reader serves to receive the signal sent from said at least one near-field communication element.

6. A control system (100) according to claim 2, said first unit comprising:

- at least one resistor being attached to said first portion, each of said at least one resistor having a different resistance value; and - at least one resistor sensor being attached to said second portion, wherein said at least one resistor sensor serves to measure the resistance value of said at least one resistor.

7. A control system (100) according to claim 2, said first unit comprising: at least one pressure sensor being attached to said first portion for measuring the pressure from outside of the first portion; and at least one pressure sensor being attached to said second portion for measuring the pressure from outside of the second portion.

8. A control system (100) according to claim 2, said first unit comprising: - an accelerometer being associated with said first portion, said accelerometer serving to measure the orientation of said first portion; and at least one pressure sensor being attached to said second portion for measuring the pressure from outside of the second portion.

9. A control system (100) according to any one of claim 7 and 8, said control system further comprising a fourth unit for allowing said first portion to communicate with said second portion.

10. A control system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said first portion is a polyhedron comprising a set of facets defining said at least one area of said first portion; and said second portion is a polyhedron comprising a set of facets defining said at least one area of said second portion.

11. A control system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said first portion is a polyhedron comprising a set of facets defining said at least one area of said first portion; said second portion is a flat surface, which is divided into a set of sub-planar surfaces defining said at least one area of said second portion.

12. A method of controlling a device by a control system (100), wherein said control system comprises a first portion having at least one area, each of said at least one area reflecting a function of said device respectively, and a second portion having at least one area, each of said at least one area reflecting an option of a function reflected by a first given area of said first portion (20) respectively; said method comprising:

- a step of sending a signal to said device (150) for triggering the device (150) to perform the function reflected by said first given area, using the option reflected by a second given area, when said first given area of said first portion (20) is connected with said second given area of said second portion (21).