User configurable power conservation through LCD display screen reduction

• US 20080141049A1
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bahl, Paramvir, Kuehnel, Thomas W., Hassan, Amer A., Bahl, Pradeep
• Granted Patent: US 7,552,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/04 Changes in size, position or resolution of an image
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0428 Gradation resolution change
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2003 Display of colours specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A novel system and method increase battery life for portable computing devices through intelligent display management. A user interface allows a user to input threshold values and parameters such that power management actions are taken should battery power fall below the thresholds. Such actions include the reduction of size to the projected display, disabling of network activity, and management of intensive CPU processes.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions for conserving power on a portable computing device, the portable computing device comprising a display unit and a power unit, the power unit providing power to the display unit, the display unit providing a display at a first resolution, the computer-executable instructions comprising instructions for:

monitoring an amount of power remaining in the power unit;

determining that the remaining power falls below a first threshold; and

in response to the amount of remaining power falling below the first threshold level;

partitioning the display into a first and a second portion; and

causing power to be substantially reduced to the first portion.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 further performing the step of:

reducing the resolution provided by the display unit to a second resolution, wherein the second resolution corresponds to the size of the second portion.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 2 wherein the second resolution corresponds to a standardized resolution.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the computer-executable instructions further comprising instructions for:

continuing to monitor the amount of power remaining in the power unit;

determining that the remaining power falls below a second threshold; and

in response to the amount of remaining power falling below the second threshold level;

partitioning the display into a third and a fourth portion; and

causing power to be substantially reduced to the third portion, wherein the third portion includes the second portion, and the first portion includes the fourth portion.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, the computer-executable instructions further comprising instructions for:

causing the resolution provided by the display unit to be reduced to a third resolution, wherein the third resolution corresponds to the size of the fourth portion.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the first threshold level is configured by a user of the computing device.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the display unit is a liquid crystal display unit.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the computer-executable instructions further comprising instructions for:

adjusting the chromatic level such that less power is consumed by the display unit.

9. For use in a portable computing device comprising a display unit and a power unit, the power unit providing power to the display unit, the display unit providing a display at a first resolution, a user interface for managing power consumption, the user interface comprising:

a user-selectable option for setting a first power threshold; and

a user-selectable option for specifying at least one action to be performed if the power remaining in the power unit falls below the first threshold;

wherein the at least one action to be performed comprises;

substantially reducing the amount of power directed to a partitioned portion of the display; and

causing the display unit to provide a display at a lower resolution.

10. The user interface of claim 9 further comprising:

a user-selectable option for setting a second power threshold, the second power threshold less than the first power threshold; and

a user-selectable option for specifying at least one action to be performed if the power remaining in the power unit falls below the second threshold;

wherein the at least one action to be performed comprises;

substantially reducing the amount of power directed to a larger partitioned portion of the display; and

causing the display unit to provide a display at a further lower resolution.

11. The user interface of claim 9, wherein the portable computing device further comprises a wireless network adapter, the user interface further comprising:

a user-selectable option for setting a time threshold; and

a user-selectable option for specifying at least one action to be performed if the network adapter is inactive for an amount of time greater than the threshold;

wherein the at least one action to be performed comprises substantially reducing the amount of power to the network adapter.

12. The user interface of claim 9, wherein the at least one action to be performed comprises terminating low-level processes requiring network services.

13. The user interface of claim 9 further comprising:

a user-selectable option for setting a second power threshold; and

a user-selectable option for specifying at least one action to be performed if the power remaining in the power unit falls below the second threshold;

wherein the at least one action to be performed comprises;

reducing processing activity of the computing.

14. The user interface of claim 9 further comprising:

a user-selectable option for setting a second power threshold; and

a user-selectable option for specifying at least one action to be performed if the power remaining in the power unit falls below the second threshold;

wherein the at least one action to be performed comprises;

executing as background tasks processor-intensive processes currently executing on the computing device.

15. A method for conserving power on a portable computing device, the portable computing device comprising a display unit and a power unit, the power unit providing power to the display unit, the display unit providing a display at a first resolution, and the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring the amount of power remaining in the power unit; and

in response to the amount of remaining power falling below a first threshold level;

partitioning the entire display into a first and a second portion; and

causing power to be substantially reduced to the first portion.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

causing the resolution provided by the display unit to reduce the display to a second resolution, wherein the second resolution corresponds to the size of the second portion.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the second resolution corresponds to a standardized resolution.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

continuing to monitor the amount of power remaining in the power unit; and

in response to the amount of remaining power falling below a second threshold level;

partitioning the entire display into a third and a fourth portion; and

causing power to be substantially reduced to the third portion;

wherein the third portion includes the second portion, and the first portion includes the fourth portion.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of:

causing the resolution provided by the display unit to reduce the display to a third resolution;

wherein the third resolution corresponds to the size of the fourth portion.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the first threshold level is configured by a user of the computing device.