Data processing device and method of controlling power consumption in back-light in data processing device

• US 7,124,313 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Motohashi, Teruyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Du, Thuan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Eric
• Application Number:
  US09/666,796
• Time in Patent Office: 2,217 Days
• Field of Search: 713/324, 345/102, 379/372
• US Class Current: 713/324
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• 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 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• 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 data processing device includes (a) a display unit, (b) a light-emitting unit which illuminates the display unit, (c) a communication unit which makes radio communication with other data processing devices, (d) a detector which detects whether the communication unit is in operation or not, and (e) a controller which limits a current to be supplied to the light-emitting unit in accordance with transmission power consumed in radio communication carried out by the communication unit, when the detector has detected that the communication unit is in operation.

Claims

1. A data processing device comprising:

(a) a display unit;

(b) a light-emitting unit which illuminates said display unit;

(c) a detector which detects whether a specific functional part in said data processing device is in operation or not; and

(d) a controller which limits a current supplied to said light-emitting unit when said detector has detected that said specific functional part in said data processing unit is in operation, wherein said current is continuous and wherein said light emitting unit is continuously driven when operation of said specific functional part is detected.

2. The data processing device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an interface through which data is input into said data processing unit, and wherein said light-emitting unit illuminates said interface.

3. A data processing device comprising:

(a) a display unit;

(b) a light-emitting unit which illuminates said display unit;

(c) a communication unit which makes radio communication with other data processing devices;

(d) a detector which detects whether said communication unit is in operation or not; and

(e) a controller which limits a current supplied to said light-emitting unit when said detector has detected that said communication unit is in operation,

wherein said current is continuous and wherein said light emitting unit is continuously driven when operation of said communication unit is detected.

4. The data processing device as set forth in claim 3, further comprising an interface through which data is input into said data processing unit, and wherein said light-emitting unit illuminates said interface.

5. A data processing device comprising:

(a) a display unit;

(b) a light-emitting unit which illuminates said display unit;

(c) a communication unit which makes radio communication with other data processing devices;

(d) a detector which detects whether said communication unit is in operation or not; and

(e) a controller which limits a current supplied to said light-emitting unit in accordance with transmission power consumed in radio communication carried out by said communication unit, when said detector has detected that said communication unit is in operation,

wherein said current is continuous and wherein said light emitting unit is continuously driven when operation of said communication unit is detected.

6. The data processing device as set forth in claim 5, further comprising an interface through which data is input into said data processing unit, and wherein said light-emitting unit illuminates said interface.

7. A method of operating a data processing device comprising a display unit and a light-emitting unit which illuminates said display unit, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting whether a specific functional part in said data processing device is in operation or not; and

(b) limiting a continuous current supplied to said light-emitting unit when it has been detected that said specific functional part in said data processing unit is in operation,

wherein said light emitting unit is continuously driven while operation of said specific functional part is detected.

8. A method of operating a data processing device comprising a display unit, a light-emitting unit which illuminates said display unit, and a communication unit which makes radio communication with other data processing devices, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting whether said communication unit is in operation or not; and

(b) limiting a continuous current supplied to said light-emitting unit when it has been detected that said communication unit is in operation, and

wherein said light emitting unit is continuously driven while operation of said communication unit is detected.

9. A method of operating a data processing device comprising a display unit, a light-emitting unit which illuminates said display unit, and a communication unit which makes radio communication with other data processing devices, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting whether said communication unit is in operation or not; and

(b) limiting a current supplied to said light-emitting unit in accordance with transmission power consumed in radio communication carried out by said communication unit, when it has been detected that said communication unit is in operation, and

wherein said light emitting unit is continuously driven while operation of said communication unit is detected.