Extending battery life of a portable electronic device

• US 8,665,214 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2010
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Forutanpour, Babak, Shahri, Homayoun, Aziz, Farhan M, Romera Jolliff, Maria E, Stern, Ronen R
• Primary Examiner(s): Wozniak, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): XAVIER, ANTONIO J
• Application Number:
  US12/980,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20120169608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/342 using several illumination sources separately controlled corresponding to different display panel areas, e.g. along one dimension such as lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A particular method includes determining a battery charge value of a battery at a particular time and comparing the battery charge value at the particular time to a threshold battery charge value of a battery usage profile associated with the particular time, where the threshold battery charge value varies over time (e.g., a dynamic threshold). When the battery charge value does not satisfy the threshold battery charge value, the method includes prompting a user to select a power save mode. For example, the power save mode may include activating a different backlight element of a plurality of backlight elements of a display device in response to a motion sensor of a portable electronic device detecting movement of the portable electronic device from a first orientation to a second orientation.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

activating a first backlight element of a plurality of backlight elements of a portable electronic device while other backlight elements of the plurality of backlight elements are turned off when the portable electronic device has a first orientation, so that a first image portion of an image on a first portion of a display device of the portable electronic device is observable by a user of the portable electronic device and other image portions on other portions of the display device are not observable by the user, wherein each backlight element of the plurality of backlight elements is associated with a particular portion of the display device of the portable electronic device, and wherein the first backlight element is associated with the first portion of the display device;

activating a second backlight element of the plurality of backlight elements while other backlight elements of the plurality of backlight elements are turned off in response to a motion sensor of the portable electronic device detecting movement of the portable electronic device from the first orientation to a second orientation, so that a second image portion of the image on a second portion of the display device of the portable electronic device is observable by the user of the portable electronic device and other image portions on other portions of the display device are not observable by the user, wherein the second backlight element is associated with the second portion of the display device, and wherein the first backlight element remains associated with the first image portion while the second backlight element is activated;

wherein the first image portion is different from the second image portion; and

wherein the first image portion and the second image portion are parts of the image presented on the display device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising deactivating the first backlight element in response to activation of the second backlight element.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising activating a third backlight element of the plurality of backlight elements in response to the motion sensor detecting movement of the portable electronic device from the second orientation to a third orientation, wherein the third backlight element is associated with a third portion of the display device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising deactivating the second backlight element in response to activation of the third backlight element.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement includes a change in pitch of the portable electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement includes a change in one of roll and yaw of the portable electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor includes an accelerometer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor includes one of a gyroscope and a compass.

9. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a display device;

a plurality of backlight elements, wherein each backlight element of the plurality of backlight elements is associated with a particular portion of the display device;

a motion sensor; and

logic configured to;

activate a first backlight element of the plurality of backlight elements while other backlight elements of the plurality of backlight elements are turned off when the portable electronic device has a first orientation, so that a first image portion on a first portion of the display device of the portable electronic device is observable by a user of the portable electronic device and other image portions on other portions of the display device are not observable by the user, wherein the first backlight element is associated with the first portion of the display device;

activate a second backlight element of the plurality of backlight elements while other backlight elements of the plurality of backlight elements are turned off in response to the motion sensor detecting movement of the portable electronic device from the first orientation to a second orientation, so that a second image portion on a second portion of the display device of the portable electronic device is observable by the user of the portable electronic device and other image portions on other portions of the display device are not observable by the user, wherein the second backlight element is associated with the second portion of the display device, and wherein the first backlight element remains associated with the first image portion while the second backlight element is activated;

wherein the first image portion is different from the second image portion; and

wherein the first image portion and the second image portion are parts of an image presented on the display device.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the logic is further configured to activate a third backlight element of the plurality of backlight elements in response to the motion sensor detecting movement of the portable electronic device from the first orientation to a third orientation, wherein the third backlight element is associated with a third portion of the display device.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the motion sensor includes an accelerometer, wherein the second backlight element is activated in response to the accelerometer detecting a change of pitch in a first direction, and wherein the third backlight element is activated in response to the accelerometer detecting a change of pitch in a second direction.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the logic is further configured to activate all of the plurality of backlight elements in response to the motion sensor detecting a shaking motion.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

means for detecting movement of a portable electronic device;

means for activating a first backlight element of a plurality of backlight elements of a display device while other backlight elements of the plurality of backlight elements are turned off when the portable electronic device has a first orientation, so that a first image portion on a first portion of the display device of the portable electronic device is observable by a user of the portable electronic device and other image portions on other portions of the display device are not observable by the user, wherein each backlight element of the plurality of backlight elements is associated with a particular portion of the display device, and wherein the first backlight element is associated with the first portion of the display device;

means for activating a second backlight element of the plurality of backlight elements while other backlight elements of the plurality of backlight elements are turned off in response to detection of movement of the portable electronic device from the first orientation to a second orientation, so that a second image portion on a second portion of the display device of the portable electronic device is observable by the user of the portable electronic device and other image portions on other portions of the display device are not observable by the user, wherein the second backlight element is associated with the second portion of the display device, and wherein the first backlight element remains associated with the first image portion while the second backlight element is activated;

wherein the first image portion is different from the second image portion; and

wherein the first image portion and the second image portion are parts of an image presented on the display device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for activating a third backlight element of the plurality of backlight elements in response to detection of movement of the portable electronic device to a third orientation, wherein the third backlight element is associated with a third portion of the display device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for deactivating the first backlight element when the second backlight element is activated.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

activate a first backlight element of a plurality of backlight elements of a portable electronic device while other backlight elements of the plurality of backlight elements are turned off when the portable electronic device has a first orientation, so that a first image portion on a first portion of a display device of the portable electronic device is observable by a user of the portable electronic device and other image portions on other portions of the display device are not observable by the user, wherein each backlight element of the plurality of backlight elements is associated with a particular portion of the display device of the portable electronic device, and wherein the first backlight element is associated with the first portion of the display device;

activate a second backlight element of the plurality of backlight elements while other backlight elements of the plurality of backlight elements are turned off in response to the portable electronic device moving from the first orientation to a second orientation, so that a second image portion on a second portion of the display device of the portable electronic device is observable by the user of the portable electronic device and other image portions on other portions of the display device are not observable by the user, wherein the second backlight element is associated with the second portion of the display device, and wherein the first backlight element remains associated with the first image portion while the second backlight element is activated;

wherein the first image portion is different from the second image portion; and

wherein the first image portion and the second image portion are parts of an image presented on the display device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to activate a third backlight element of the plurality of backlight elements in response to the portable electronic device moving to a third orientation, wherein the third backlight element is associated with a third portion of the display device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to deactivate the first backlight element when the second backlight element is activated.

19. A method, comprising:

determining a battery charge value of a battery of a portable electronic device at a particular time;

comparing the battery charge value determined at the particular time to a threshold battery charge value of a battery usage profile associated with the particular time, wherein the threshold battery charge value varies over time; and

when the battery charge value does not satisfy the threshold battery charge value, prompting a user to select a power save mode,

wherein the power save mode includes a mode that activates a first backlight element of a plurality of backlight elements of the portable electronic device in response to a first orientation of the portable electronic device while other backlight elements of the plurality of backlight elements are turned off, so that a first image portion on a first portion of a display device of the portable electronic device is observable by a user of the portable electronic device and other image portions on other portions of the display device are not observable by the user, wherein the first backlight element is associated with the first portion of the display device of the portable electronic device,

wherein the power save mode includes a mode that activates a second backlight element of a plurality of backlight elements of the portable electronic device in response to a second orientation of the portable electronic device while other backlight elements of the plurality of backlight elements are turned off, so that a second image portion on a second portion of the display device of the portable electronic device is observable by the user of the portable electronic device and other image portions on other portions of the display device are not observable by the user, wherein the second backlight element is associated with the second portion of the display device of the portable electronic device, and wherein the first backlight element remains associated with the first image portion while the second backlight element is activated,

wherein the first image portion is different from the second image portion, and

wherein the first image portion and the second image portion are parts of an image presented on the display device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein prompting the user to select a power save mode includes initiating display of information indicating that the battery charge value does not satisfy the threshold battery charge value.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

means for determining a battery charge value of a battery of a portable electronic device at a particular time;

means for comparing the battery charge value determined at the particular time to a threshold battery charge value of a battery usage profile associated with the particular time, wherein the threshold battery charge value varies over time; and

means for prompting a user to select a power save mode when the battery charge value does not satisfy the threshold battery charge value,

wherein the power save mode includes a mode that activates a first backlight element of a plurality of backlight elements of the portable electronic device in response to a first orientation of the portable electronic device while other backlight elements of the plurality of backlight elements are turned off, so that a first image portion on a first portion of a display device of the portable electronic device is observable by a user of the portable electronic device and other image portions on other portions of backlight elements are not observable by the user, wherein the first backlight element is associated with the first portion of the display device of the portable electronic device

wherein the power save mode includes a mode that activates a second backlight element of a plurality of backlight elements of the portable electronic device in response to a second orientation of the portable electronic device while other backlight elements of the plurality of backlight elements are turned off, so that a second image portion on a second portion of the display device of the portable electronic device is observable by the user of the portable electronic device and other image portions on other portions of the display device are not observable b the user wherein the second backlight element is associated with the second portion of the display device of the portable electronic device, and wherein the first backlight element remains associated with the first image portion while the second backlight element is activated,

wherein the first image portion is different from the second image portion, and

wherein the first image portion and the second image portion are parts of an image presented on the display device.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine a battery charge value of a battery of a portable electronic device at a particular time;

compare the battery charge value determined at the particular time to a threshold battery charge value of a battery usage profile associated with the particular time, wherein the threshold battery charge value varies over time; and

prompt a user to select a power save mode when the battery charge value does not satisfy the threshold battery charge value,

wherein the power save mode includes a mode that activates a first backlight element of a plurality of backlight elements of the portable electronic device in response to a first orientation of the portable electronic device while other backlight elements of the plurality of backlight elements are turned off, so that a first image portion on a first portion of a display device of the portable electronic device is observable by a user of the portable electronic device and other image portions on other portions of the display device are not observable by the user, wherein the first backlight element is associated with the first portion of the display device of the portable electronic device,

wherein the power save mode includes a mode that activates a second backlight element of a plurality of backlight elements of the portable electronic device in response to a second orientation of the portable electronic device while other backlight elements of the plurality of backlight elements are turned off, so that a second image portion on a second portion of the display device of the portable electronic device is observable by the user of the portable electronic device and other image portions on other portions of the display device are not observable by the user, wherein the second backlight element is associated with the second portion of the display device of the portable electronic device, and wherein the first backlight element remains associated with the first image portion while the second backlight element is activated,

wherein the first image portion is different from the second image portion, and

wherein the first image portion and the second image portion are parts of an image presented on the display device.