GPS device and method for reducing light emitted by display

• US 7,477,991 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2005
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bushnell Incorporated (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bushnell Performance Optics
• Inventors: DeCastro, John, Ball, Richard, Lalik, Christopher, Cross, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US11/079,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20060206263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,403 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/213, 701/211, 701/207, 345/30, 345/435, 345/156, 348/563, 342/357.06
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters

Abstract

A GPS device and method for converting display information between a first display mode and a second display mode by negativizing pixels or other image elements, wherein negativizing entails converting relatively larger areas of lighter image elements to darker image elements and converting relatively smaller areas of darker image elements to lighter image elements so as to result in reduced total emission of light.

Claims

1. A GPS device allowing for reducing emitted light, the GPS device comprising:

(a) a GPS unit including a receiver and an antenna for receiving signals from each of a plurality of sources and, based on the received signals, determining a geographic location of the GPS device;

(b) an input interface for allowing a user to select a second display mode;

(c) a processor for converting display information to the second display mode, wherein the second display mode emits less light than a first display mode; and

(d) an output display for displaying the display information.

2. The GPS device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the input interface includes a dedicated selection device, a single actuation of which selects between the first display mode and the second display mode.

3. The GPS device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor converts the display information to the second display mode by negativizing a plurality of image elements.

4. The GPS device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor converts the display information to the second display mode by converting at least a portion of a plurality of image elements to a darker color.

5. The GPS device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor converts the display information to the second display mode by converting at least a portion of a plurality of image elements to a darker shade.

6. The GPS device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display information is displayed in gray scale and wherein the processor converts the display information to the second display mode by converting any white image elements to black image elements, any black image elements to white image elements, any lighter gray image elements to darker gray image elements, and any darker gray image elements to lighter gray image elements.

7. A GPS device allowing for reducing emitted light associated with displaying information, the GPS device comprising:

(a) a GPS unit including a receiver and an antenna for receiving signals from each of a plurality of sources and, based on the received signals, determining a geographic location of the GPS device;

(b) an input interface for allowing a user to select a second display mode with a single actuation of a dedicated selection device, wherein the second display mode emits less light than a first display mode;

(c) a processor for converting display information to the second display mode by converting at least a portion of any lighter image elements to darker image elements and at least a portion of any darker image elements to lighter image elements; and

(d) an output display for displaying the display information in the selected display mode.

8. In a GPS device having a GPS unit including a receiver and an antenna for receiving signals from each of a plurality of sources and, based on the received signals, determining a geographic location of the GPS device;

an input interface;

a processor; and

an output display, the improvement comprising;

the input interface allowing a user to select a first display mode or a second display mode; and

the processor converting display information to the second display mode in response to the user'"'"'s selection of the second display mode, wherein the second display mode emits less light than the first display mode when the display information is displayed on the output display.