MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DISPLAY THEREOF

• US 20090298554A1
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Nam-Yong, KIM, Jong-Hwan
• Granted Patent: US 8,295,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/44 Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A mobile terminal including a terminal body, a transparent display formed at the terminal body, a solar cell configured to be disposed below the transparent display and to generate electricity using light incident and transmitting through the transparent display; and a controller configured to control an amount of light transmitted through the transparent display and being incident on the solar cell.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a terminal body;

a transparent display formed at the terminal body;

a solar cell configured to be disposed below the transparent display and to generate electricity using light incident and transmitting through the transparent display; and

a controller configured to control an amount of light transmitted through the transparent display and being incident on the solar cell.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control a transparency of the transparent display so as to control the amount of light transmitted through the transparent display and being incident on the solar cell.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to control the transparency of the transparent display by dividing the transparent display into a plurality of first and second display regions and displaying no information in the first display regions and displaying preset specific information in the second display regions when the mobile terminal is in a standby state.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to increase the transparency of the transparent display when the mobile terminal enters a power saving state by removing the preset specific information displayed in the second display regions when the mobile terminal enters the power saving state.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to receive an input signal indicating user manipulation of the mobile terminal, and to return the mobile terminal to the standby state from the power saving state upon receiving the input signal.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the preset specific information displayed in the second display regions includes standby information and softkeys for selecting a function or operation on the terminal.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to receive an input signal indicating an operation or function being performed on the mobile terminal, to enter the mobile terminal into an operational state upon receiving the input signal, and to display information in the first and second display regions corresponding to the operation or function being performed on the mobile terminal.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to control the transparency of the second display regions including the preset specific information by changing a color or background of the preset specific information.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to control the transparency of the transparent display by changing at least one of a shape, a size and a color of information displayed on the transparent display.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a touch pad disposed at least one of above the transparent display and below the transparent display and configured receive touch inputs for operating the mobile terminal.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the terminal body includes a first body arranged with the transparent display, and a second body arranged with the solar cell, and

wherein the mobile terminal further comprises a hinge mechanism configured to rotate or flip the first body over the second body such that the transparent display is disposed over the solar cell.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to charge a battery of the mobile terminal with the electricity generated from the solar cell, and when the battery is fully charged, to control the transparency of the transparent display to limit the amount of light incident onto the solar cell.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein when the battery is fully charged, the controller is further configured to output an indicator or alarm to indicate the battery is fully charged.

14. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

generating electricity via a solar cell disposed below a transparent display in the mobile terminal using light transmitting through the transparent display and being incident on the solar cell; and

controlling an amount of light transmitted through the transparent display and being incident on the solar cell by changing a transparency of the transparent display.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the controlling step comprises:

dividing the transparent display into a plurality of first and second display regions; and

displaying no information in the first display regions and displaying preset specific information in the second display regions when the mobile terminal is in a standby state.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the controlling step further comprises:

increasing the transparency of the transparent display when the mobile terminal enters a power saving state by removing the preset specific information displayed in the second display regions when the mobile terminal enters the power saving state.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the controlling step further comprises:

receiving an input signal indicating user manipulation of the mobile terminal; and

returning the mobile terminal to the standby state from the power saving state upon receiving the input signal.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the controlling step further comprises:

receiving an input signal indicating an operation or function being performed on the mobile terminal;

entering the mobile terminal into an operational state upon receiving the input signal; and

displaying information in the first and second display regions corresponding to the operation or function being performed on the mobile terminal.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the controlling step controls the transparency of the second display regions including the preset specific information by changing a color or background of the preset specific information.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the controlling step changes the transparency of the transparent display by changing at least one of a shape, a size and a color of information displayed on the transparent display.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

charging a battery of the mobile terminal with the electricity generated from the solar cell,

wherein when the battery is fully charged, the controlling step controls the transparency of the transparent display to limit the amount of light incident onto the solar cell.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein when the battery is fully charged, the method further comprises outputting an indicator or alarm to indicate the battery is fully charged.