Electronic device with ambient light sensor

• US 20060073844A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tan, Wee Sin, Chan, Serene Seok Peng, Lim, Chee Kien, Ho, Tammy Siew Hoon
• Granted Patent: US 7,292,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• 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

An electronic device having a first piece, a second piece moveable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the first piece, and an ambient light sensor operable to detect ambient light when the second piece is not closed. The electronic device is operated in a first mode when the second piece is in an open position and in a second mode when the second piece is in the closed position.

Claims

1. An electronic device, operable in a first mode and a second mode, comprising:

a) a first piece;

b) a second piece moveable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the first piece;

c) a processing circuit operable to control operation of the electronic device; and

d) an ambient light sensor operable to sense the position of the second piece with respect to the first piece and to signal the processing circuit to operate the electronic device in the first mode when the second piece is in an open position and in the second mode when the second piece is in the closed position.

2. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ambient light sensor is operated intermittently.

3. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ambient light sensor is located in the first piece and positioned such that ambient light is blocked by the second piece when the second piece is in the closed position.

4. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ambient light sensor is located in the second piece and positioned such that ambient light is blocked by the first piece when the second piece is in the closed position.

5. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to enter an activated mode when the ambient light sensor indicates that the second piece is in the open position.

6. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying information, wherein the display is deactivated when the ambient light sensor indicates that the second piece is in the closed position.

7. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying information, wherein the display is operated in a standby mode when the ambient light sensor indicates that the second piece is in the closed position.

8. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a radiotelephone.

9. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second piece is moveably coupled to the first piece.

10. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second piece is separable from the first piece.

11. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic device is switched off when the second piece is in the closed position.

12. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic device is operated at a lower power level when the second piece is in the closed position.

13. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ambient light sensor has a light spectral sensitivity that approximates the light spectral of the human eye.

14. A method for determining if a first piece of an electronic device is in a closed position relative to a second piece of an electronic device, the method comprising:

a) generating a signal by sensing ambient light falling on an optical sensor attached to the electronic device;

b) comparing the level of the signal to a threshold level; and

c) determining the first piece to be in the closed position relative to the second piece if the level of the signal is below the threshold level.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, further comprising:

d) operating the electronic device in a first mode if the first piece is in the closed position relative to the second piece; and

e) operating the electronic device in a second mode if the first piece is not in the closed position relative to the second piece.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the threshold level is set such even low levels of ambient light are detected when the first piece is not in the closed position relative to the second piece.

17. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein comparing the level of the signal to a threshold level is performed intermittently.