Mobile terminal emitting light according to temperature and display control method thereof

• US 20090051713A1
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Kun-Hyoung
• Granted Patent: US 8,350,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/690
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/041 Temperature compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/064 by time modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/30 using electroluminescent panels

Abstract

A mobile terminal emitting light according to a temperature and a display control method thereof are provided. The mobile terminal includes a display part activated in response to a control signal, a temperature sensor part for measuring a temperature of the mobile terminal and outputting a voltage corresponding to the measured temperature value, and a central controller for outputting the control signal to activate the display part included in the mobile terminal when the voltage input from the temperature sensor part exceeds a predetermined reference value. Therefore, it is possible to improve the design of the mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a display part activated in response to a control signal;

a temperature sensor part for measuring a temperature of the mobile terminal and outputting a voltage corresponding to the measured temperature value; and

a central controller for outputting the control signal to activate the display part when the voltage input from the temperature sensor part exceeds a predetermined reference value.

2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the display part comprises:

an electroluminescent sheet for emitting at least one color; and

an electroluminescent driver for controlling the electroluminescent sheet.

3. The mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein the electroluminescent driver comprises:

a low drop out (LDO) part for receiving a luminescent diode (LED) control signal through a general purpose input output (GPIO) terminal from the central controller and outputting a constant voltage; and

an electroluminescent sheet driver for applying a signal to drive the electroluminescent sheet depending on the voltage output from the LDO part.

4. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the central controller outputs control signals of different pulse width modulation (PWM) patterns depending on a range to which the voltage input from the temperature sensor part belongs.

5. The mobile terminal according to claim 4, wherein the display part emits light in a fade-in or a fade-out pattern depending on the PWM control signals output from the central controller.

6. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the central controller outputs the control signal to activate the display part when the mobile terminal is busy.

7. A display control method of a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

measuring a temperature of the mobile terminal using a temperature sensor part; and

emitting light through a display part included in the mobile terminal when the temperature of the mobile terminal measured by the temperature sensor part exceeds a predetermined reference value.

8. The display control method according to claim 7, wherein the display part comprises:

an electroluminescent sheet for emitting at least one color; and

an electroluminescent driver for controlling the electroluminescent sheet.

9. The display control method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the temperature measured by the temperature sensor part belongs to a certain range; and

emitting light in a fade-in or fade-out pattern depending on the measured temperature.

10. The display control method according to claim 7, wherein the display part is activated when the mobile terminal is busy.