IP Library Granted Patent US 9,148,697
Granted Patent B2
US 9,148,697 · App. 13/171,190 · Granted Sep 29, 2015

System and circuit for television power state control

Inventors: Jeff Johns (Murphy, TX); Bill Fang (Plano, TX)
Assignee: Enseo, Inc.
H04N21/4432H04N5/63
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,148,697
App. No.
13/171,190
Granted
Sep 29, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and circuit for television power state control are disclosed. In one embodiment, a power management circuit is coupled to a television and interposed between a video feed and an image display engine as well as between an audio feed and a speaker. The power management circuit selectively alternates the television between three states: powered ON /operating state (first state); power standby state (second state); and no/low power state (third state). Utilized with a television in a commercial application, the system and circuit are employed to provide accelerated turn-on time to receive an image for user interaction, while providing sufficient control to maintain energy power savings.

Claims (48)

1. A system for television state power control, the system comprising:

a television including a screen having an image display engine associated therewith, the television including a video feed providing a video signal and an audio feed providing an audio signal, the television including a visual indicator;

a power management circuit interposed between the video feed and the image display engine, the power management circuit in communication with the visual indicator and interposed between the audio feed and speakers associated with the television, the power management circuit configured to selectively alternate the television between a first state, a second state, and a third state;

a receiver coupled to the power management circuit, the receiver configured to receive an activity signal relative to environment activity status;

the first state including the power management circuit passing the video signal to the image display engine and the power management circuit passing the audio signal to the speaker, the first state including the visual indicator displaying television on;

the second state including the power management circuit blanking the video signal to the image display engine such that a blank video image is displayed on the television, the power management circuit maintaining synchronization of the video signal with the image display engine, and the power management circuit blocking the audio signal to the speaker, the second state including the visual indicator displaying television off;

the third state including the power management circuit turning the video feed off, the power management circuit turning the audio feed off, the third state including the visual indicator displaying television off, the second state and the third state having identical visual indicators;

the power management circuit selectively alternates the television between the second state and the third state based on guest occupancy of a commercial lodging environment relative to check-in and check-out of the commercial lodging environment; and

the power management circuit selectively alternates the television between the first state and the third state based on the guest occupancy of check-in and power on;

the power management circuit selectively alternates the television between the first state and the second state based on the guest occupancy of check-in and power on/off to the television; and

the power management circuit selectively alternates the television between the first state and the second state, between the second state and the third state, and between the first state and the third state.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a fourth state including the power management circuit passing the video signal to the image display engine and the power management circuit passing the audio signal to the speaker, the fourth state including the visual indicator displaying television ON , the fourth state including a timer decrementing a time period.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the fifth state including the power management circuit blanking the video signal to the image display engine, while maintaining synchronization with the image display engine, and the power management circuit blocking the audio signal to the speaker, the fifth state including the visual indicator displaying television OFF , the fifth state including a timer decrementing a time period.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the power management circuit forms a portion of the television.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the power management circuit forms a portion of a set top/back box located in communication with the television.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the receiver further comprises a wireless receiver coupled to the power management circuit, the wireless receiver configured to receive a wireless activity signal from a monitoring unit located proximate to the television.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the receiver further comprises an input coupled to the power management circuit, the input configured to receive data relative to environment activity status from a networked source.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first state further comprises an optimization for an occupied and power ON television.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second state further comprises an optimization for an occupied an power OFF television.

10. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the third state further comprises an optimization for an unoccupied an power OFF television.

11. A power management circuit for efficient television power state control, the power management circuit comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled monitor and receive data relative to environment activity status;

an input configured to receive data relative to environment activity status from a networked source;

a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and the input, the processor configured to communicate with a video feed, an audio feed, an image display engine, and a visual indicator;

a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to selectively alternate between a first state, a second state, and a third state based on received data relative to the environment status:

in the first state, drive first signaling to pass the video signal to the image display engine and pass the audio signal to a speaker, the first signaling including the visual indicator displaying television on,

in the second state, drive second signaling to blank the video signal to the image display engine such that a blank video image is provided on the signal for display, the power management circuit maintaining synchronization of the video signal with the image display engine, the second signaling including blocking the audio signal to the speaker, the second signaling including the visual indicator displaying television off, the second state and the third state having identical visual indicators, and

in the third state, drive third signaling to turn the video feed off and to turn the audio feed off, the third signaling including the visual indicator displaying television off;

the processor selectively alternates the television between the second state and the third state based on guest occupancy of a commercial lodging environment relative to check-in and check-out of the commercial lodging environment; the processor selectively alternates the television between the first state and the third state based on the guest occupancy of check-in and power on;

the power management circuit selectively alternates the television between the first state and the second state based on the guest occupancy of check-in and power on/off to the television; and

the power management circuit selectively alternates the television between the first state and the second state, between the second state and the third state, and between the first state and the third state.

12. The power management circuit as recited in claim 11 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise, when executed, the processor to decrement a timer period.

13. The power management circuit as recited in claim 12 , wherein prior to selectively alternating between the first state and the third state, the processor decrements the time period to zero.

14. A system for television state power control, the system comprising:

a television including a screen having an image display engine associated therewith, the television including a video feed providing a video signal and an audio feed providing an audio signal, the television including a visual indicator;

a power management circuit interposed between the video feed and the image display engine, the power management circuit in communication with the visual indicator and interposed between the audio feed and speakers associated with the television, the power management circuit including means for selectively alternating the television between a first state, a second state, and a third state;

receiving means for receiving an activity signal relative to environment activity status;

the first state including the power management circuit passing the video signal to the image display engine and the power management circuit passing the audio signal to the speaker, the first state including the visual indicator displaying television on;

the second state including the power management circuit blanking the video signal to the image display engine such that a blank video image is displayed on the television, the power management circuit maintaining synchronization of the video signal with the image display engine, and the power management circuit blocking the audio signal to the speaker, the second state including the visual indicator displaying television off, the second state and the third state having identical visual indicators;

the third state including the power management circuit turning the video feed off, the power management circuit turning the audio feed off, the third state including the visual indicator displaying television off;

the power management circuit selectively alternates the television between the second state and the third state based on guest occupancy of a commercial lodging environment relative to check-in and check-out of the commercial lodging environment;

the power management circuit selectively alternates the television between the first state and the third state based on the guest occupancy of check-in and power on; and

the power management circuit selectively alternates the television between the first state and the second state based on the guest occupancy of check-in and power on/off to the television; and

the power management circuit selectively alternates the television between the first state and the second state, between the second state and the third state, and between the first state and the third state.

15. The system as recited in claim 14 , further comprising a fourth state including the power management circuit passing the video signal to the image display engine and the power management circuit passing the audio signal to the speaker, the fourth state including the visual indicator displaying television ON , the fourth state including a timer decrementing a time period.

16. The system as recited in claim 14 , further comprising a fifth state including the power management circuit blanking the video signal to the image display engine, while maintaining synchronization with the image display engine, and the power management circuit blocking the audio signal to the speaker, the fifth state including the visual indicator displaying television OFF , the fifth state including a timer decrementing a time period.

17. The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the guest occupancy further relates to a hotel guest.

18. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the guest occupancy further relates to a hotel guest.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: ENSEO, LLC
Reel/Frame 056445/0915 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2021
From: ENSEO, LLC; CATAPULT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: PROSPECT CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056462/0174 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 27, 2021
From: ENSEO, INC.
To: ENSEO, LLC
Reel/Frame 055139/0530 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2017
From: ENSEO, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 043210/0881 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2011
From: JOHNS, JEFF; FANG, BILL
To: ENSEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 026638/0155 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61359251 · Jun 28, 2010
Related Publication 20110317078A1 · Dec 29, 2011