Motion sensitive illumination system and method for a mobile computing device

• US 7,498,951 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IXI Mobile (R&D) Ltd. (IXI Mobile, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IXI Mobile (R&D) Ltd. (IXI Mobile, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wardimon, Yavor Eliad
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US10/968,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20060081771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 340/691.3
• US Class Current: 340/691.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/32 adapted for automatic variation of the measured or reference value regulation of light intensity G05D25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A motion sensitive illumination method for a mobile device is provided. The method comprises measuring a first motion attribute of the mobile device using a motion sensor to produce a first value; comparing the first value with a threshold value; and adjusting illumination intensity of an illuminating mechanism that illuminates a user interface component of the mobile device, when the first value is not approximately equal to a first threshold value.

Claims

1. A motion and position sensitive method for configuring user interfaces of a mobile device, the method comprising:

measuring one or more motion or position attributes of the mobile device using a motion sensor to produce a first value based on change in level of movement or position;

comparing the first value with one or more threshold values associated with the change in level of movement or position; and

adjusting one or more user interfaces of the mobile device to be locked or illuminated in accordance with a plurality of lock state or illumination intensity scenarios, respectively,

wherein the first value is between a first predetermined set of threshold values and a second predetermined set of threshold values which define the occurrence of at least two events related to change in level of movement or position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises increasing illumination intensity of the mobile device'"'"'s illuminating mechanism.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises decreasing illumination intensity of the mobile device'"'"'s illuminating mechanism.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion or position attributes comprise one or more of the following:

speed, acceleration, deceleration, direction of movement, degree of shock or pressure applied to the mobile device, and whether the mobile device is standing upright or lying horizontally.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a time delay is associated with the adjusting.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device'"'"'s illuminating mechanism is a backlight for lighting the one or more user interfaces.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the mobile device'"'"'s illuminating mechanism is a light emitting diode (LED).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more user interfaces comprise one or more keys on a keypad of the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more user interfaces comprise a display screen of the mobile device.

10. A motion and position sensitive system for configuring user interface of a mobile device, the system comprising:

a motion sensor for measuring one or more motion or position attributes of the mobile device to produce a first value based on change in level of movement or position;

a logic unit for comparing the first value with one or more threshold values associated with the change in level of movement or position;

an illumination mechanism for illuminating one or more user interfaces of the mobile device; and

a power management module for adjusting the one or more user interfaces of the mobile device to be locked or illuminated in accordance with a plurality of lock state or illumination intensity scenarios, respectively,

wherein the first value is between a first predetermined set of threshold values and a second predetermined set of threshold values which define the occurrence of at least two events related to the change in level of movement or position.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the illumination mechanism adjusts illumination intensity of the mobile device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the motion or position attributes comprise one or more of the following:

speed, acceleration, deceleration, direction of movement, degree of shock or pressure applied to the mobile device, and whether the mobile device is standing upright or lying horizontally.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein a time delay is associated with adjusting the one or more user interfaces of the mobile device to be locked or illuminated in accordance with a plurality of lock state or illumination intensity scenarios, respectively.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more user interfaces comprise one or more keys on a keypad of the mobile device.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more user interfaces comprise a display screen of the mobile device.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the illuminating mechanism is a backlight.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the illuminating mechanism is a light emitting diode (LED).

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the power management module comprises a power management chip in communication with a microcontroller for determining whether to adjust the one or more user interfaces of the mobile device to be locked or illuminated in accordance with a plurality of lock state or illumination intensity scenarios, respectively.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the power management chip converts a first signal provided by the motion sensor to a second signal provided to the microcontroller, wherein the first signal represents a change in the one or more motion or position attributes of the mobile device, and the second signal represents a value used by the microcontroller to adjust the one or more user interfaces of the mobile device to be locked or illuminated in accordance with a plurality of lock state or illumination intensity scenarios, respectively.