US5835083A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Eyetrack-driven illumination and information display
Assignee: Oracle America Inc
•
Filing: 1996-05-30
•
Granted: 1998-11-10
•
Expires: 2016-05-30
Abstract
Abstract An eyetracker is used to control power to an electrical device such as a computer display screen so that power consumption is reduced when a user's eyes and therefore a user's attention are not directed to the device. A motion detector activates a proximity detector and/or an IR detector to ensure that power is applied only when a user is actually present.
Inventors
- 👤 Jakob Nielsen
- 👤 Bruce Tognazzini
- 👤 Bob Glass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/011; G06F3/013; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3209; G06F1/3231; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for automatically applying power to a computer controlled device, comprising: a. a motion detector; b. a proximity detector, activated by said motion detector detecting motion; c. a switch connected to a source of power and to said computer controlled device and controlled by said motion detector and said proximity detector for applying power to said computer controlled device when the proximity detector detects an object within a predetermined distance from the computer controlled device while activated by said motion detector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for automatically applying power to a computer controlled device, comprising: a. a motion detector; b. a proximity detector, activated by said motion detector detecting motion; c. a switch connected to a source of power and to said computer controlled device and controlled by said motion detector and said proximity detector for applying power to said computer controlled device when the proximity detector detects an object within a predetermined distance from the computer controlled device while activated by said motion detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including a power off timer, activated when power is applied to said computer controlled device and reset by said motion detector detecting motion for controlling said switch to remove power from said computer controlled device when the timer times out.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which said computer controlled device is a computer having a display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an eyetracker for limiting power consumption when the eyetracker indicates that a computer user has directed user attention to something other than said display.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for automatically applying power to a computer controlled device, comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing the step of detecting motion; b. providing an element for performing the step of detecting proximity of objects to said device; and c. providing an element for performing the step of applying power to said device when an object is within a predetermined distance from the computer controlled device within a predetermined period of time after motion has been detected.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for automatically applying power to a computer controlled device, comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing the step of detecting motion; b. providing an element for performing the step of detecting proximity of objects to said device; and c. providing an element for performing the step of applying power to said device when an object is within a predetermined distance from the computer controlled device within a predetermined period of time after motion has been detected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
118 words
A computer system comprising: a. a network; b. a plurality of computers connected to said network; c. at least a particular one of said plurality of computers equipped with c.1. a motion detector; c.2. a proximity detector, activated by said motion detector detecting motion; and c.3. a switch connected to a source of power and to said one of the plurality of computers and controlled by said motion detector and said proximity detector for applying power to said at least a particular one of said plurality of computers when the proximity detector detects an object within a predetermined distance from the said at least a particular one of said plurality of computers while activated by said motion detector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
118 words
A computer system comprising: a. a network; b. a plurality of computers connected to said network; c. at least a particular one of said plurality of computers equipped with c.1. a motion detector; c.2. a proximity detector, activated by said motion detector detecting motion; and c.3. a switch connected to a source of power and to said one of the plurality of computers and controlled by said motion detector and said proximity detector for applying power to said at least a particular one of said plurality of computers when the proximity detector detects an object within a predetermined distance from the said at least a particular one of said plurality of computers while activated by said motion detector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer program product for applying power to a computer controlled device, comprising: a. a computer readable memory medium; and b. a computer program including: b.1 instructions for detecting motion; b.2 instructions for detecting proximity of objects to said device; and b.3 instructions for applying power to said device when an object is within a predetermined distance from the computer controlled device within a predetermined period of time after motion has been detected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer program product for applying power to a computer controlled device, comprising: a. a computer readable memory medium; and b. a computer program including: b.1 instructions for detecting motion; b.2 instructions for detecting proximity of objects to said device; and b.3 instructions for applying power to said device when an object is within a predetermined distance from the computer controlled device within a predetermined period of time after motion has been detected.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5008946A
Cited
DE3837620A1
Cited
US5046027A
Cited
US5059961A
Cited
JPH0511713A
Cited
US5396443A
Cited
US5483464A
Cited
US5635948A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-09 | 2002-05-11 | 2002-11-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-09 | 2006-05-11 | 2006-11-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-09 | 2010-05-11 | 2010-11-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |