Communication device with automatic display and lighting activation and method therefore

• US 20040233153A1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Robinson, Heber
• Application Number:
  US10/443,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20040233153A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/102
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• 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

Abstract

A communication device (100) includes a sensor (125) for determining a position of the communication device (100) in relation to a device user, a user interface (250) for receiving user inputs from the device user; and a lighting mechanism (260) for illuminating the user interface (250) when the position determined by the sensor (125) is greater than a predetermined distance.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a sensor for determining a position of the communication device in relation to a device user;

a user interface for receiving user inputs from the device user; and

a lighting mechanism for illuminating the user interface when the position determined by the sensor is greater than a predetermined distance.

2. A communication device as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a microphone, wherein the sensor is proximately located with the microphone.

3. A communication device as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an earpiece, wherein the sensor is proximately located with the earpiece.

4. A communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a keypad and further wherein the lighting mechanism comprises a keypad lighting mechanism for illuminating at least a portion of the keypad.

5. A communication device as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a display for providing visual information, wherein the lighting mechanism comprises a display lighting mechanism for illuminating the display.

6. A communication device as recited in claim 5, wherein the display is activated when the position determined by the sensor is greater than a predetermined distance.

7. A communication device as recited in claim 1 wherein the sensor utilizes one or more sensing mechanisms selected from a group consisting of a temperature sensing mechanism, a proximity sensing mechanism, and a acoustic pressure sensing mechanism.

8. A communication device as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a lightness detector for determining a lightness level, wherein the lighting mechanism further illuminates the user interface when the lightness level is below a predetermined level.

9. A communication device as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an operation management application programmed to;

receive the sensing information from the sensor, and

compare the sensing information to a plurality of user preferences, and

change the state of the lighting mechanism based on the comparing step.

10. A communication device as recited in claim 9 further comprising:

a display, wherein the operation management application is further programmed to;

change the state of the display based on the comparing step.

11. A method for automatic display and lighting activation within a communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

initiating a communication call;

determining a position of the communication device in relation to a device user;

activating a lighting mechanism when the position is greater than a predetermined distance.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

activating a display when the position is greater than a predetermined distance.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

measuring a lightness level surrounding the communication device prior to the activating step;

proceeding to the activating step when the lightness level is below a predetermined level; and

inactivating the lighting mechanism when the lightness level is above a predetermined level.