Portable electronic apparatus having remote control module

An exemplary portable electronic apparatus having a remote control module is provided. The portable electronic apparatus includes a housing, a mobile communication module disposed in the housing, a remote control module disposed in the housing, and a radio frequency (RF) module electrically connected with the mobile communication module. The remote control module includes an infrared sensing module and a digital signal processing (DSP) module electrically connected with the infrared sensing module and the RF module. The RF module is configured for receiving external RF signals and transmitting information received from said mobile communication module and said DSP module with RF signals. The portable electronic apparatus can be used for infrared remote control and mobile communication.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic products, and more particularly, to a remote control module and a portable electronic apparatus having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electronic gaming has been popular in recent years. In a typical electronic gaming machine, a remote control module is connected to a main unit of the electronic gaming machine by a cable. The remote control module generally includes a control panel with several buttons and joysticks thereon. When playing a game, a user presses the buttons or moves the joysticks to remotely control the main unit of the electronic gaming machine. However, after frequent use of the buttons and the joysticks, the mechanical parts therein tend to get worn out, thus degrading the precision of the remote control and the gaming experience of the user.

On the other hand, cell phones have been widely used by consumers for many years. A typical cell phone generally includes a keypad. A user presses buttons on the keypad to dial a phone number. However, in some emergency situations, it is not convenient or even possible to press the buttons.

Therefore, what is needed is to provide a remote control module and a portable electronic apparatus having the same which can reliably achieve precise remote control and dialing phone numbers without using a keypad.

SUMMARY

A remote control module, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, is provided. The remote control module includes an infrared sensing module and a digital signal processing (DSP) module electrically connected with the infrared sensing module. The infrared sensing module includes a barrel having a light entrance opening, an infrared sensor disposed in the barrel, and at least one optical element disposed between the light entrance opening and the infrared sensor. The at least one optical element includes at least one infrared pass filter. The DSP module is configured (i.e., structured and arranged) for processing signals received from the infrared sensor and transmitting signals corresponding to the result of such processing.

A portable electronic apparatus, in accordance with another preferred embodiment, is provided. The portable electronic apparatus includes a housing, a mobile communication module disposed in the housing, a remote control module disposed in the housing, and a radio frequency (RF) module electrically connected with the mobile communication module. The remote control module includes an infrared sensing module and a digital signal processing (DSP) module electrically connected with the infrared sensing module and to the RF module. The infrared sensing module includes a barrel having a light entrance opening, an infrared sensor disposed in the barrel, and at least one optical element disposed between the light entrance opening and the infrared sensor. The at least one optical element includes at least one infrared pass filter. The DSP module is configured (i.e., structured or arranged) for processing signals received from said infrared sensor and transmitting signals corresponding to the result of said processing to the RF module. The RF module is configured for receiving external RF signals and transmitting information received from said mobile communication module and said DSP module in RF signals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, a portable electronic apparatus100having a remote control module, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, is provided. The portable electronic apparatus100includes a housing101, a mobile communication module110, a remote control module120, a camera module130, a display module140, a RF module150electrically connected with the mobile communication module110, and a multi-axial acceleration sensor160integrated with the mobile communication module. The mobile communication module110, the remote control module120, the camera module130, the display module140, the RF module150and the multi-axial acceleration sensor160are all disposed in the housing101.

An infrared window102and a camera window103are defined on the housing101, respectively corresponding to the remote control module120and the camera module130. The infrared window102and the camera window103can be defined in a same side of the housing101(as shown inFIG. 1), or alternatively, can be defined on opposing or neighboring sides of the housing101, depending on the allocation of the control module120and the camera module130. A display window (not shown) is defined in the housing101at a location facing toward the display module140. Preferably, the housing101is made of elastic materials such as synthetic rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or other synthetic materials. When the portable electronic apparatus100experiences a large impulse, these elastic materials will reduce the impact upon the portable electronic apparatus100and protect it from damage.

The mobile communication module110is fixed inside the housing101, on which signal processing circuits are configured for processing the signals that the mobile communication module110receives. The RF module150is integrated with the mobile communication module110for receiving and transmitting RF signals. Preferably, a blue tooth module is integrated in the RF module150for working with the RF module150to wirelessly receive and transmit signals.

The remote control module120includes an infrared sensing module121and a digital signal processing (DSP) module128electrically connected thereto. The infrared sensing module includes a barrel122, wherein an optical lens123, an infrared sensor124, and an infrared pass filter126are disposed.

The barrel122includes a barrel body1222and a barrel seating1224engaged therewith. A barrel lid1226is disposed on the top of the barrel body1222near the infrared window102. The barrel body1222is threadedly engaged with the barrel seating1224. The barrel lid1226is ring-shaped, and defines an essentially round-shaped light entrance opening1220confined therein for allowing infrared light to be received in the barrel122. Preferably, an infrared lens129is disposed in the light path of the light coming into the light entrance opening1220for passing only infrared light and blocking light in other spectrums. The infrared lens129also serves to prevent dusts and dirt outside from getting into the barrel122. It is understood that the infrared lens129can alternatively be disposed in the infrared window102.

The infrared sensor124is disposed in the barrel seating1224, which can be a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) sensor or a CCD (charge coupled device) sensor configured for sensing light only in the infrared spectrum.

The infrared pass filter126is disposed inside the barrel1222between the infrared sensor123and the light entrance opening1220. The infrared pass filter126includes a transparent substrate and multiple layers of oxide film with different refractive indexes formed thereon, passing infrared light and blocking light in other spectrums. By preventing light in other spectrums from disturbing the infrared light reception on the infrared sensor124, the accuracy of infrared sensing is improved and so is the precision of the remote control. Preferably, the infrared pass filter126is formed by alternately depositing titanium oxide and silicon oxide films on the transparent substrate. The number of the layers is 30 to 50. It is understood that the multiple layers of films can be deposited directly on the optical lens123without using the transparent substrate.

The optical lens123is disposed between the infrared pass filter126and the light entrance opening1220. A spacer ring125is disposed between the infrared pass filter126and the optical lens123. Preferably, the optical lens123is a convex lens for focusing an image on the infrared sensor124. It is understood that the number of optical lens123is not limited to one. Multiple lenses can be configured to improve the accuracy of optical signal reception.

The DSP module128is configured for processing signals received from said infrared sensor124and transmitting signals corresponding to the result of said processing to the RF module150. Preferably, the DSP module128is integrated to the mobile communication module110and electrically connected with the RF module150.

Preferably, the remote control module120further includes a glass sheet127, disposed in the barrel seating1224between the barrel body1222and the infrared sensor124for protecting the infrared sensor124.

The camera module130includes a top lid131, a lens barrel132, a lens module133, a glass cover134, an image sensing element135and a lens seating136.

The top lid131is a ring-shaped cover board fixed on the top of the lens barrel132, defining an essentially round-shaped light entrance opening1310. The light entrance opening1310is aligned to the camera window103so that light coming into the camera window103is incident on the lens module133located inside the lens barrel132. Preferably, a protection lens137is disposed on the light entrance opening1310, or alternatively the camera window103for preventing dusts and dirt from contaminating the lens module133. It is understood that by properly positioning the protection lens137, the top lid131can be eliminated.

The lens barrel132is a hollow cylinder, a part of which is inserted into and threadedly engaged with the lens seating136in an adjustable fashion. A distance between the lens module133and the image sensing element135can be adjusted by adjusting the distance between the lens barrel132and the lens seating136for focusing purpose.

The lens module133disposed in the lens barrel132includes three lenses spaced from each other by spacers1335. The lens module133can be glued to the inner wall of the lens barrel132and the spacers1335. Preferably, an infrared cut filter1337is disposed in the lens barrel132on the light path, or alternatively an infrared cut coating is formed on any one of the lenses in the lens module133, for preventing the infrared light reflected by an object to be photographed from being incident on the image sensing element135and causing image noise.

The three lenses of the lens module133are respectively a first lens1331, a second lens1332and a third lens1333. These three lenses can be spherical or aspherical lenses. Preferably, the first lens1331is an aspherical convex lens, wherein an aspherical surface extends toward an object side of the first lens1331. The second lens1332is disposed behind the first lens1331, aspherical and in a similar shape as the first lens1331. The third lens1333is shaped symmetrically with the second lens1332for eliminating aberration and improving image quality. It is understood that the number of lens in the lens module133is not limited to three and can be chosen based on design consideration.

The glass cover134is fixed to the inner wall of the lens seating136and disposed between the lens barrel132and the image sensing element135. The glass cover134is configured for protecting the image sensing element135.

The image sensing element135, which can be a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) sensor or a CCD (charge coupled device) sensor, is disposed in the lens seating136and electrically connected to an image signal processing module139by a wire138for transmitting signals from the image sensing element135to the image signal processing module139. The image signal processing module139is integrated on the mobile communication module110for processing image signals and outputting the results to the display module140. Preferably, the image signal processing module139is electrically connected to the digital signal processing module128and can share some signal processing units therewith.

The display module140is electrically connected to the mobile communication module110, disposed in an end of the housing100and configured for displaying the information that the mobile communication module110outputs. Preferably, the display module140is a thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT LCD) module.

The multi-axial acceleration sensor160is integrated to the mobile communication module110for sensing a three dimensional linear acceleration and a three dimensional angular acceleration of the portable electronic apparatus100and transmitting the corresponding information to the RF module150. The RF module150further transmits the information to a remote receiver. The multi-axial acceleration sensor160can be a six-axial acceleration sensor and manufactured by MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology.

The portable electronic apparatus100can further include a micro hard disk drive170and an audio input device180such as a microphone. The micro hard disk drive170is disposed near the mobile communication module110for storing a variety of information. The audio input device180is disposed on a side of the housing100for recording audio information such as user commands.

In case that the portable electronic apparatus100is falling to ground or is going to collide with a hard object, the multi-axial acceleration sensor160can sense an abnormal acceleration and predict an impact. A signal will be sent to shut down the micro hard disk or other working objects in the portable electronic apparatus100before that impact happens. The portable electronic apparatus100is thus protected from damage.

The portable electronic device100is a multi-functional device. In one aspect, the portable electronic device100can be used as a remote control for an electronic gaming machine. Generally a main unit of an electronic gaming machine (not shown) includes an infrared light source such as an infrared light emitting diode array for emitting infrared light. The light emitted from the infrared light source is received and processed by the remote control module120and the result is sent back to the main unit of the electronic gaming machine by the RF module150to control the electronic gaming machine.

More specifically, an infrared optical signal transmitted from the infrared light source in the main unit of the electronic gaming machine is first filtered by the infrared lens129and then projected onto the optical lens123where the optical signal is focused and enhanced. The enhanced optical signal is further filtered by the infrared pass filter126and sensed by the infrared sensor124. The infrared sensor124converts the optical signal incident thereon to an electric signal and sends the electric signal to the DSP module128. When a user moves the portable electronic apparatus100in three dimensional space relative to the main unit of the electronic gaming machine, the signal that the DSP module128receives varies according to the position of the portable electronic apparatus100. By processing this signal, the DSP module128identifies the motion that the portable electronic apparatus100is making and sends the corresponding information to the main unit of the electronic gaming machine through the RF module150. By this means, the user can use the portable electronic apparatus100to remotely control the electronic gaming machine.

In the above embodiment, the infrared pass filter126in the remote control module120transmits light only in the infrared spectrum, eliminating the interference from light not in the infrared spectrum and improving the precision of the remote control. In addition, there is no mechanical wearing of the remote control module120during its operation, which improves its reliability and prolongs its usage life. Furthermore, the optical lens123focuses an image on the infrared sensor124, which enhances the optical signal strength and thus further improves the precision of the remote control.

It is understood that the portable electronic apparatus100can also be used for remotely controlling other information processing systems such as a computer.

In another aspect, the portable electronic apparatus100can be used as a cell phone with which a user can dial a phone number without a keypad. For example, if a user draws an “S” in air with the portable electronic apparatus100, meaning SOS, the multi-axial acceleration sensor160senses this motion and notifies the RF module150to dial a corresponded emergency phone number for help. As another example, when the user draws a number such as “911” in air with the portable electronic apparatus100, the corresponded phone number 911 can be dialed. This feature provides convenience to the user especially in an emergency situation when it is not convenient or even possible to dial numbers using a keypad.

It is understood that the portable electronic apparatus100can be used in other applications such as a compass, a velocity meter, a step counter and so on.