System and method for conserving battery power in a mobile station

• US 20050003793A1
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Northern Research, LLC (Hilco Inc. (d/b/a Hilco Global))
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goris, Norman, Scheit, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 7,113,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/347
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• 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 mobile station and a method of conserving battery power consumed thereby. In one embodiment, the mobile station includes: (1) a chassis having a display and (2) a proximity sensor coupled to the chassis and adapted to cause a power consumption of the display to be reduced when the display is within a predetermined range of an external object.

Claims

1. A mobile station, comprising:

a chassis having a display; and

a proximity sensor coupled to said chassis and adapted to cause a power consumption of said display to be reduced when said display is within a predetermined range of an external object.

2. The mobile station as recited in claim 1 wherein said proximity sensor causes said display to be turned off.

3. The mobile station as recited in claim 1 wherein said proximity sensor causes said power consumption to be reduced when said display is within said predetermined range during a telephone call.

4. The mobile station as recited in claim 1 wherein said proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a mechanical proximity sensor,

an optical sensor, and

a range detecting sensor.

5. The mobile station as recited in claim 1 wherein said proximity sensor is located proximate said display.

6. The mobile station as recited in claim 1 wherein said proximity sensor is located on a speaker side of said chassis.

7. The mobile station as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined range is about five centimeters and said external object is selected from the group consisting of:

the ear of a user, and

a pocket.

8. A method of conserving battery power in a mobile station, comprising:

sensing when a display of said mobile station is within a predetermined distance of an external object; and

causing, in response thereto, a power consumption of said display to be reduced.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said causing comprises causing said display to be turned off.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said causing comprises causing said power consumption to be reduced when said display is within said predetermined range during a telephone call.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a mechanical proximity sensor,

an optical sensor, and

a range detecting sensor.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said proximity sensor is located proximate said display.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said proximity sensor is located on a speaker side of said chassis.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said predetermined range is about five centimeters and said external object is selected from the group consisting of:

the ear of a user, and

a pocket.

15. A mobile station, comprising:

a chassis having a display; and

a proximity sensor coupled to said chassis and adapted to cause said display to be turned off when said display is within a predetermined range of an external object during a telephone call.

16. The mobile station as recited in claim 15 wherein said proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a mechanical proximity sensor,

an optical sensor, and

a range detecting sensor.

17. The mobile station as recited in claim 15 wherein said proximity sensor is located proximate said display.

18. The mobile station as recited in claim 15 wherein said proximity sensor is located on a speaker side of said chassis.

19. The mobile station as recited in claim 15 wherein said predetermined range is about five centimeters and said external object is selected from the group consisting of:

the ear of a user, and

a pocket.

20. The mobile station as recited in claim 15 further comprising a keypad.