Method and apparatus for display power management

• US 20040225904A1
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cardona, Angel L. Torres, Perez, Ricardo Martinez
• Granted Patent: US 7,076,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A portable communication product (10) such as a cellular phone includes a transceiver radio having a microphone (20), an earpiece (22), a keypad (18) and a display (12) coupled to the transceiver radio. The portable communication product further includes at least one sensor (24, 26, 28, or 30) and a processor (16). The sensor can be used for detecting a user condition of the portable communication device such as a talk condition when the user is assumed to be talking on the portable communication product. The processor can be programmed to at least reduce power provided to the display when the sensor detects the talk condition.

Claims

1. A portable communication device, comprising:

a transceiver radio;

a display coupled to the transceiver radio;

a sensor for detecting a user condition of the portable communication device, wherein the user condition can comprise a talk condition when the user is assumed to be talking on the portable communication device; and

a processor programmed to at least reduce power provided to the display when the sensor detects the talk condition.

2. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device further comprises a backlit keypad and wherein the processor is further programmed to turn off at least one among the display and a light source for the backlit keypad when the portable communication device is in the talk condition.

3. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device further comprises a backlight for the display, wherein the processor is further programmed to turn off at least one among the backlight and the display when the portable communication device is in the talk condition.

4. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device further comprises a backlight for the display and a backlit keypad, wherein the processor is further programmed to turn off at least one among the display, the backlight, and a light source for the backlit keypad when the portable communication device is in the talk condition.

5. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a proximity sensor for detecting if a predetermined volume of acoustic sound is being received at a microphone indicative of a user talking on the portable communication device.

6. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an acoustic feedback algorithm that measures at least one among a spectrum density and a spectrum energy of a bounced signal to determine the proximity of a user'"'"'s head to an earpiece of the portable communication device.

7. The portable communication device of claim 5, wherein the sensor further comprises a microphone placed relatively close to the earpiece.

8. The portable communication device of claim 6, wherein the sensor is further used to maintain a constant audio level output from the earpiece.

9. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a timer for measuring a predetermined period after a phone call starts and upon expiration of the predetermined period the processor is further programmed to shut off the display.

10. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a MEMS device for detecting an angle at which the portable communication device is positioned.

11. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a MEMS device for detecting vibration of the portable communication device.

12. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a differential pressure sensor for detecting if the portable communication device is in a user'"'"'s hand.

13. The portable communication device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further programmed to turn off the display if the differential pressure sensor detects the portable communication device in a user'"'"'s hand and no keys other than an off key is depressed.

14. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the display is a color display.

15. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device further comprises a push-to-talk button for operating the portable communication device in a dispatch mode and wherein the processor detects the talk condition when the push-to-talk button is depressed a predetermined number of times.

16. A portable communication device, comprising:

a transceiver radio;

a light source coupled to the transceiver radio;

an environmental sensor for detecting a user condition of the portable communication device, wherein the user condition can comprise a talk condition when the user is assumed to be talking on the portable communication device;

a processor programmed to at least reduce power provided to the light source when the sensor detects the talk condition.

17. The portable communication device of claim 16, wherein the light source is selected among the group of a display device, a light source for backlighting the display device, and a light source for backlighting a keypad for the portable communication device.

18. A method of power management for a radio communication device having a display, comprising the steps of:

detecting a talk condition;

at least reducing the power provided to the display within a predetermined time of the talk condition.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises the step of providing power to the display when the method no longer detects a talk condition and a key on the communication device is depressed.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of detecting a talk condition is selected from the group of conditions consisting of a) detecting if a predetermined volume of acoustic sound is being received at a microphone indicative of a user talking on the portable communication device;

b) measuring at least one among a spectrum density and a spectrum energy of a bounced signal to determine the proximity of a user'"'"'s head to an earpiece of the portable communication device;

c) measuring a predetermined period after a phone call starts;

d) detecting an angle at which the portable communication device is positioned;

e) detecting a vibration of the portable communication device; and

f) detecting if the portable communication device is in a user'"'"'s hand.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises the step of at least reducing the power provided to at least one among the display device, a light source for backlighting the display device, and a light source for a backlit keypad for the portable communication device within the predetermined time of the talk condition.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of detecting the talk condition includes the detection of a dispatch call activation.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of detecting the talk condition comprises the detection of a speakerphone operation for a predetermined period of time.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises the step of turning on the display when detecting at least one among the conditions selected from a break from a pause in audio, a movement of the radio communication device, a detected device angle, and a key depression on the radio communication device.