Systems and methods to control light-emitting diodes

• US 7,190,121 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Costo, Avi, Rose, Tal
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US10/921,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20060038506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 315/129, 315/291, 315/307, 315/308, 713/300, 713/310, 713/340, 340/815.4, 340/815.45
• US Class Current: 315/129
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/24 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

According to some embodiments, systems and methods may be employed for receiving a power consumption signal. An on-state of a light-emitting diode may be defined. A duty cycle of the light-emitting diode may be determined based at least in part on the power consumption signal. The duty cycle may reduce a power consumed by the light-emitting diode. The determination of the duty cycle may, for example, include varying at least one of an on time or an off time, for the on-state, of the light-emitting diode.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a power consumption signal indicating that a computer system is associated with a low-power mode;

defining an on-state of a light-emitting diode associated with a status of the computer system, the status being associated with something other than the low-power mode; and

determining a duty cycle of the light-emitting diode based at least in part on the power consumption signal, the duty cycle to reduce a power consumed by the light-emitting diode, wherein said determining the duty cycle varies at least one of an on-period and an off-period, for the on-state, of the light-emitting diode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a signal associated with the determined duty cycle to the light-emitting diode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the duty cycle signal causes the light-emitting diode to illuminate in accordance with the determined duty cycle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the power consumption signal is received from a user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the power consumption signal is received from a processor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the power consumption signal is generated by the processor at least in part in response to an event.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the event includes an occurrence of a device having a pre-determined power level.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the device is a mobile computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting diode is a visual indicator associated with a mobile computing device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the light-emitting diode is a visual indicator of at least one network attribute associated with the mobile computing device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the duty cycle includes reducing the intensity of the illumination of the light-emitting diode for a period of time within the on-state.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in the following;

receivin a ower consumption signal indicating that a computer system is associated with a low-power mode;

defining an on state of a light-emitting diode associated with a status of the computer system, the status beiua associated with something other than the low-power mode; and

determining a duty cycle of the light-emitting diode based at least in part on the power consumption signal, the duty cycle to reduce the power consumed by the light-emitting diode,

wherein said determining the duty cycle includes varying at least one of an on-period and an off-period for the on-state of the light-emitting diode.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by a machine, further result in the:

sending a signal associated with the detennined duty cycle to the light-emitting diode.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the duty cycle signal causes the light-emitting diode to illuminate in accordance with the determined duty cycle.

15. A system, comprising:

a portable electronic device having a low-power mode, including;

a battery;

a processor powered by the battery;

a light-emitting diode to provide a visual indication associated with a status of the potable electronic device, the status being associated with something other than the low-power mode; and

a light-emitting diode controller to control the power consumption of the light-emitting diode, when in the low-power mode, the light-emitting diode controller to vary a duty cycle of at least one of an on-period and an off-period, for an on-state, of the light-emitting diode.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the light-emitting diode is a visual indicator of at least one attribute associated with a communication path.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the light-emitting diode controller determines a duty cycle to reduce the power consumed by the light-emitting diode.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the light-emitting diode controller causes the light-emitting diode to illuminate in accordance with the determined duty cycle.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein reducing the intensity of the illumination of the light-emitting diode for the on-state includes reducing a magnitude of a voltage or current applied to the light-emitting diode within the on-state.

20. A method, comprising:

receiving a power consumption signal indicating that a computer system is associated with a low-power mode;

defining an on-state of a light-emitting diode associated with a status of the computer system, the status being associated with something other than the low-power mode; and

determining a duty cycle within the on-state of the light-emitting diode based at least in part on the power consumption signal, the duty cycle to reduce the power consumed by the light-emitting diode, said determining the duty cycle to include an on-period and an off-period for the on-state of the light-emitting diode, wherein the on-period is associated with a maximum power level, and the off-period is associated with a minimum power level.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising cycling at least once between the off-period and the on-period within the on-state of the light emitting diode.