Handheld devices as visual indicators

• US 7,616,097 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Whang, Eugene Antony
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/889,933
• Time in Patent Office: 1,947 Days
• Field of Search: 340/321, 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/573.7, 340/574, 340/326, 345/179, 345/180, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 361/692, 361/681, 315/297, 455/557
• US Class Current: 340/321
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0633 by amplitude modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/064 by time modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336

Abstract

A computing device is configured with a multifunctional backlit display. The backlighting can be operated in at least a first mode and a second mode. In a first mode, the backlighting provides luminance to the display so that images on the display can be easily seen. In a second mode, the backlighting provides visual stimulus for relaying information to a user or a user'"'"'s surroundings.

Claims

1. A mobile handheld computing device configured for operation as a media player and for operation as a safety reflector or light in low light and no light conditions, the computing device having a light source configured to output a beacon light effect that alerts others to the presence of the user of the computing device when the user is in low light or no light conditions, the beacon light effect including blinking, fading in and out, ebbing, pulsating or strobing.

2. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the light source is associated with a backlit display.

3. The computing device as recited in claim 2 wherein the computing device is a music player capable of outputting music.

4. A computer implemented method performed on a hand held computing device having a backlit display, the method comprising:

receiving a light command;

controlling the back lighting in accordance with the light command, the light command varying a characteristic or attribute of the light generated by the backlit display in order to provide visual indicia on the backlit display such that a beacon light effect that alerts others to the presence of the user of the computing device is created.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the backlighting is controlled based on an event associated with the computing device or on an event associated with a device operatively coupled to the computing device.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the event is a user selected event, an I/O event, or a programming event.

7. The method as recited in claim 4 further including:

monitoring device hardware and software;

obtaining status of hardware and software;

determining illumination characteristics; and

generating a light command for at least the backlit display in accordance with the illumination characteristics and status information.

8. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the backlighting is controlled based on a light signal from a light sensor, a motion signal from an accelerometer, a heart signal from a heart monitoring sensor, a temperature signal from a thermometer, or a music signal from an audio device.

9. The method as recited in claim 4 further including controlling a light source whether internal or external to the computing device in accordance with the light command, the light command varying a characteristic or attribute of the light generated by the internal or external light source in order to provide additional visual indicia relating to the computing device.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the internal light source is located inside the computing device in order to illuminate a button or an illuminable housing of the computing device, and wherein the external light source is located outside the computing device in order to illuminate an external surface of the computing device or a device operatively coupled to the computing device.

11. A hand held media player having a display with backlighting, the display being configured to present text or graphics to a user, the backlighting being configured to operate in at least a first light mode where the backlighting provides luminance to the display so that the text or graphics can be easily seen, and a second light mode where the backlighting provides a safety beacon that flashes or emits a characteristic plow in order to alert others to the presence of the user.

12. The media player as recited in claim 11 wherein in the second mode attributes or characteristics of the backlighting are adjusted in order to produce a variable light effect.

13. The media player as recited in claim 11 wherein in the second mode the backlighting produces a light effect that reflects the desires and mood of the user, that reflects inputs or outputs for the media player or that reflects tasks associated with the operation of the media player.

14. The media player as recited in claim 11 wherein the backlighting provides constant luminance in the first light mode, and provides varying luminance in the second light mode.

15. The media player as recited in claim 11 wherein the second light mode is selected from an alert mode, a night beacon mode or a music mode.

16. The media player as recited in claim 11 wherein the second light mode is a night beacon mode, which provides varying luminance in low light and no light situations to warn oncoming traffic to the presence of the user of the media player in the general vicinity of the traffic.

17. The media player as recited in claim 16 wherein the varying luminance includes blinking, fading in and out, ebbing, pulsating or strobing.

18. A media player system comprising:

a media device controller that directs inputs and outputs between an input device, display, one or more light sources and a speaker, at least one of the light sources being configured to provide backlighting to the display, the media device controller including,

a media player module that controls the overall activity of the media player system,

a graphical user interface module that controls information presented on the display,

a mode selector module that controls whether the media player system is in one of a plurality of light modes, and

a light module that controls the operation of the one or more light sources based on which light mode is selected, wherein at least one light mode is adapted to provide a beacon light effect that alerts others to the presence of the user of the media player system.

19. The media player system as recited in claim 18 wherein the GUI module presents a list of the plurality of light modes on the display, wherein the mode selector module receives a selection signal from the input device and changes the light mode based on the selection signal, the selected light mode being employed to handle future light events, and wherein the light module instructs the light source to perform a first light effect when a first light mode is selected and a second light effect when a second light mode is selected.

20. The media player system as recited in claim 19 wherein the light module instructs the light source to output a constant light effect when the standard light mode is selected, and wherein the light module instructs the light source to output a varying light effect when the enhanced light mode is selected.

21. A computer implemented method performed on a hand held computing device having a backlit display, the method comprising:

presenting a menu on the backlit display, the menu including a backlighting feature;

determining if the backlighting feature is selected;

retrieving backlighting options when the backlighting feature is selected;

presenting the backlighting options on the backlit display, the backlighting options including at least first and second options, each of which represent different modes of backlighting;

determining if the first or second option is selected;

retrieving a light setting associated with the first option when the first option is selected, the light setting including information about how the backlighting is to be controlled;

outputting a first light effect with the back lighting based on the first light settings;

retrieving a light setting associated with the second option when the second option is selected, the light setting including information about how the backlighting is to be controlled;

outputting a second light effect with the backlighting based on the second light settings, wherein at least one of said first light effect and said second light effect includes a beacon light effect that alerts others to the presence of the user of the hand held computing device.

22. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein the first light effect is a static light effect that continuously outputs light at a constant light intensity and the second light effect is a dynamic light effect that outputs light at a vary light intensity.

23. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein during the dynamic light effect the backlighting continuously cycles between a first light intensity and a second light intensity.

24. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein the menu further includes a playlist feature, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining if the playlist feature is selected;

retrieving the playlist when the playlist feature is selected;

presenting the playlist on the backlit display, the playlist including a plurality of songs;

determining if a song is selected from the playlist;

retrieving the song when the song is selected; and

outputting music associated with the song.

25. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein the first light option corresponds to a standard backlighting mode where the backlighting stays at a constant level so that the menu and the options can be easily seen, and the wherein the second light option corresponds to a safety or beacon light option where the backlighting varies to provide visual indication to warn oncoming traffic of a users presence.