Dual light sensors on a portable electronic device

• US 8,400,065 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Malo, Eric Gary, Fletcher, Bergen Albert, Wu, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US12/392,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20100052543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/102, 345/204, 315/149, 315/291, 315307-309, 315/156, 315/158
• US Class Current: 315/149
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0233 Handheld
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A portable electronic device capable of assuming an open configuration and a closed configuration comprises a primary light sensor and a secondary light sensor. When the portable electronic device is in the open configuration, a light sensor signal is selected from the primary light sensor, and when the portable electronic device is in the closed configuration, a light sensor signal is selected from the secondary light sensor.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a first casing;

a second casing;

a hinge assembly connecting the first casing to the second casing and enabling the device to alternate between an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a primary display mounted in one of the first and second casings, wherein the primary display is visible when the device is in the open configuration and wherein the primary display is hidden when the device is in the closed configuration;

a secondary display mounted in one of the first and second casings;

a primary light sensor mounted in one of the first and second casings, wherein the primary light sensor is visible when the device is in the open configuration and wherein the primary light sensor is hidden when the device is in the closed configuration;

a secondary light sensor mounted in one of the first and second casings; and

a selector configured to;

receive a first input indicative of the device being in the open configuration and a second input indicative of the device being in the closed configuration;

select a light sensor signal from one of the primary light sensor and the secondary light sensor as a function of whether the device is in the open configuration or the closed configuration; and

, output the light sensor signal.

2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary displays and the primary and secondary light sensors are mounted on opposite sides of one of the first and second casings.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further including a lamp mounted in one of the first and second casings.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein the lamp and the secondary light sensor are one of either a single element or distinct elements having shared components.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further including an LED mounted in one of the first and second casings.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5, further including a window in which the primary light sensor and LED are disposed such that the window serves as a visual indicator and a light sensor.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further including an open-closed state detector in communication with the selector for detecting the open configuration and the closed configuration.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the open-closed state detector is mounted in one of the first and second casings, and is responsive to movement of a magnet in another of the first and second casings.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the selector is a multiplexer.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor for receiving the light sensor signal and controlling a function of the portable electronic device in accordance therewith.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the controlling comprises at least one of adjusting brightness of at least one of the primary display and the secondary display, setting a backlight level for at least one of the primary display and the secondary display, and establishing a lighting level for an input or output component of the portable electronic device.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the primary display is larger than the secondary display.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the primary display includes features different from those in the secondary display.

14. A method comprising:

receiving at a sensor of a portable electronic device a first input indicative of the portable electronic device being in an open configuration and a second input indicative of the portable electronic device being in a closed configuration, wherein the portable electronic device is enabled to alternate between the open configuration and the closed configuration;

selecting a light sensor signal from one of a primary light sensor and a secondary light sensor as a function of whether the device is in the open configuration or the closed configuration; and

,

outputting the light sensor signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the selecting further comprises selecting the light sensor signal from the primary light sensor responsive to the first input indicating that the portable electronic device is in the open configuration.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the selecting further comprises selecting the light sensor signal from the secondary light sensor responsive to the second input indicating that the portable electronic device is in the closed configuration.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising controlling a function of the portable electronic device in accordance with the light sensor signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said controlling a function comprises at least one of adjusting brightness of a display, setting a backlight level for the display, or establishing a lighting level for an input or output component of the portable electronic device.