Portable Electronic Device with Auto-Dim Timers

• US 20080218535A1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Christie, Greg, Forstall, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,063,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/690
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3262 Power saving in digitizer or tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• 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: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display is disclosed. In some embodiments, the time period after which the display is dimmed due to user inactivity is extended based on user interaction with the device subsequent to a dimming event. The dim time can be extended for a single application, multiple applications, or for the device as a whole. The user interaction with the device that extends the dim time can be a touch on any button of the device, the device'"'"'s touch screen display, or even a smack on the body of the device that is detected by an acceleration sensor.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device,

executing on the device an application with an associated auto dim time setting and display window;

if the display window is active, dimming the display window when there is no user interaction with the application for a period of time in excess of the auto dim time setting; and

if there is subsequent user interaction with the device to reverse the dimming, extending the auto dim time setting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein extending the auto dim time setting comprises substantially doubling the auto dim time setting.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing on the device additional applications, each with associated dim time settings and display windows.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing on the device additional applications, wherein at least one of the additional applications has an associated dim time setting and display window.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising, if one or more of the display windows is active, dimming the one or more windows when there is no user interaction with the applications associated with the one or more windows for a period of time in excess of the longest auto dim time setting associated with the applications.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, if there is subsequent user interaction with the device to reverse the dimming, extending the auto dim time setting of all of the applications having active windows.

7. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device having a display,

executing on the device a first application with a first auto dim time setting and first display window, and a second application with a second auto dim time setting that is independent of the first auto dim time and a second display window;

if the first display window is active, dimming the first display window when there is no user interaction with the first application for a period of time in excess of the first auto dim time setting, and if there is subsequent user interaction with the device to reverse the dimming, extending the first auto dim time setting; and

if the second display window is active, dimming the second display window when there is no user interaction with the second application for a period of time in excess of the second auto dim time setting, and if there is subsequent user interaction with the device to reverse the dimming, extending the second auto dim time setting.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein extending the first auto dim time setting comprises substantially doubling the first auto dim time setting.

9. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs for execution by a portable electronic device having a display, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

executing on the device an application with an associated auto dim time setting and display window;

if the display window is active, dimming the display window when there is no user interaction with the application for a period of time in excess of the auto dim time setting; and

if there is subsequent user interaction with the device to reverse the dimming, extending the auto dim time setting.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein extending the auto dim time setting comprises substantially doubling the auto dim time setting.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for executing on the device additional applications, each with associated dim time settings and display windows.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for executing on the device additional applications, wherein at least one of the additional applications has an associated dim time setting and display window.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions, operative when one or more of the display windows is active, for dimming the one or more windows when there is no user interaction with the applications associated with the one or more windows for a period of time in excess of the longest auto dim time setting associated with the applications.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions, operative when there is subsequent user interaction with the device to reverse the dimming, for extending the auto dim time setting of all of the applications having active windows.

15. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs for execution by a portable electronic device having a display, the one or more programs including instructions for:

executing on the device a first application with a first auto dim time setting and first display window, and a second application with a second auto dim time setting that is independent of the first auto dim time and a second display window;

if the first display window is active, dimming the first display window when there is no user interaction with the first application for a period of time in excess of the first auto dim time setting, and if there is subsequent user interaction with the device to reverse the dimming, extending the first auto dim time setting; and

if the second display window is active, dimming the second display window when there is no user interaction with the second application for a period of time in excess of the second auto dim time setting, and if there is subsequent user interaction with the device to reverse the dimming, extending the second auto dim time setting.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein extending the first auto dim time setting comprises substantially doubling the first auto dim time setting.

17. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a display;

one or more processors for executing computer programs; and

memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors of the portable electronic device, the one or more programs comprising instructions for;

executing on the device an application with an associated auto dim time setting and display window;

if the display window is active, dimming the display window when there is no user interaction with the application for a period of time in excess of the auto dim time setting; and

if there is subsequent user interaction with the device to reverse the dimming, extending the auto dim time setting.

18. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a display;

one or more processors for executing computer programs; and

memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors of the portable electronic device, the one or more programs comprising instructions for;

executing on the device a first application with a first auto dim time setting and first display window, and a second application with a second auto dim time setting that is independent of the first auto dim time and a second display window;

if the first display window is active, dimming the first display window when there is no user interaction with the first application for a period of time in excess of the first auto dim time setting, and if there is subsequent user interaction with the device to reverse the dimming, extending the first auto dim time setting; and

if the second display window is active, dimming the second display window when there is no user interaction with the second application for a period of time in excess of the second auto dim time setting, and if there is subsequent user interaction with the device to reverse the dimming, extending the second auto dim time setting.