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Patent application 12/002,148 filed in Dec 14, 2007 reveals several ways of using a “remote wand” to control the “operations of [an] electronic device.”  To make things more clear, let’s rename the “remote wand” with iPhone and “electronic device” with Apple TV.   We already know that the “Remote” application installed on an iPhone will allow you to control iTunes and Apple TV.  However, this patent application reveals a completely different methodology for using your iPhone as a remote control.  Rather than selecting the media on your iPhone, you purely use the iPhone as an input device for selecting on the big screen.  Several methods are described, including the use of the iPhone’s acceleraometers, gyroscopes, and motion detection components.  This would indeed allow you to use the iPhone as a wand.  Methods for controlling a cursor on the big screen using the iPhone’s touchscreen is also included (as seen in the second image).

Interestingly, the claims of the patent application are all limted to controlling a “screen saver.”  Presumably, using your iPhone as a “remote wand” is not novel and/or unobvious enough to be claimed independently.

Update: Looks like several other patent application also filed on Dec 14, 2007 by Apple share the same specification as 12/002,148 mentioned above.  Each of course has its own set of claims.  This is not surprising as the Specifications is rather lengthy and there may be more than one invention in there.   Apparently, Apple isn’t limiting claims to a “screen saver.”  See all the fun details of the 12/002,197, 12/002,063, 12/002,198, and 12/002,053 claims by following the links.