Communication device and display blanking control method therefor
First Claim
1. A communication device comprising:
- a battery for supplying operating power;
a display;
a switch closeable in response to grasping of the communication device by a user; and
a controller coupled to the switch, the battery and the display, the controller responsive to closure of the switch for controlling supply of operating power from the battery to the display, the controller maintaining supply of operating power from the battery to the display in response to closure of the switch.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus control blanking of a display (106) in a communication device (100) such as a battery powered radiotelephone. The communication device (100) includes a clock operated blanking timer 317. When the blanking timer 317 elapses, the communication device (100) blanks the display (106) a predetermined time after a key press of a keypad (108). A switch (310) detects when the communication device (100) is in use. In response to this detection, the communication device (100) maintains supply of operating power to the display (106), overriding the blanking timer 317. When a user is holding the communication device (100) adjacent to the user'"'"'s head, an earpiece sensor (312) provides an indication of this condition. In response to the indication, the display (106) is immediately blanked to conserve operating power in the battery (124).
100 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A communication device comprising:
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a battery for supplying operating power; a display; a switch closeable in response to grasping of the communication device by a user; and a controller coupled to the switch, the battery and the display, the controller responsive to closure of the switch for controlling supply of operating power from the battery to the display, the controller maintaining supply of operating power from the battery to the display in response to closure of the switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A battery operated radiotelephone comprising:
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a housing; a display disposed within the housing; one or more grips disposed on the housing and configured for grasping by a user; a switch responsive to grasping of the one or more grips for providing a blanking control signal; and a controller disposed within the housing, the controller interrupting supply of operating power to the display following a predetermined time, the controller maintaining supply of operating power to the display in response to the blanking control signal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for limiting battery power dissipation in a battery powered radiotelephone, the battery powered radiotelephone including a keypad and a display, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a switch responsive to grasping of the battery powered radiotelephone; starting a blanking timer; blanking the display upon expiration of the blanking timer; detecting a switch actuation of the switch; and in response to the switch actuation, un-blanking the display. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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- 14. A radiotelephone comprising a keypad, a display, a switch closeable in response to engagement of the radiotelephone by a user'"'"'s hand, and a controller coupled to the keypad and the display, the controller blanking the display a predetermined time following actuation of the keypad, the controller illuminating the display in response to closure of the switch, and the controller blanking the display in response to placing the radiotelephone in a position adjacent to a user'"'"'s head.
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17. A radiotelephone comprising:
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a housing; a battery configured for attachment to the housing; a display disposed within the housing; a keypad disposed within the housing; one or more grips disposed on the housing and configured for manual grasping by a user of the radiotelephone; a switch responsive to grasping of the one or more grips for providing a blanking control signal; an earpiece sensor disposed within the housing for providing an indication when the radiotelephone is located adjacent to a user'"'"'s head; and a controller disposed within the housing and coupled to the battery, the display, the keypad, the switch and the earpiece sensor, the controller interrupting supply of battery power from the battery to the display after a predetermined time following actuation of the keypad and interrupting supply of battery power from the battery to the display in response to the indication, the controller maintaining supply of battery power from the battery to the controller to the display in response to the blanking control signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A radiotelephone comprising:
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a housing; a battery configured for attachment to the housing; a keypad disposed within the housing; a switch responsive to a user'"'"'s touching of the radiotelephone for providing a blanking control signal; an earpiece sensor disposed within the housing for providing an indication when the radiotelephone is located adjacent to the user'"'"'s head; and a controller disposed within the housing, the controller interrupting supply of battery power from the battery to a portion of the radiotelephone after a predetermined time following actuation of the keypad and interrupting supply of battery power from the battery to the portion of the radiotelephone in response to the indication, the controller maintaining supply of battery power from the battery to the portion of the radiotelephone in response to the blanking control signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification