Mobile communication terminal with power-saving motion sensor and method for the same

• US 8,666,446 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jong Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Prez-Gutirrez, Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fang, Keith
• Application Number:
  US12/509,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20100099457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1639 the display being based on projection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• 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 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0272 for a projector or beamer module assembly constructional features of projectors per se G03B21/00; constructional details of projectors using electronic spatial light modulators per se H04N9/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• 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 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3102 using two-dimensional electronic spatial light modulators micromechanical modulators as such G02B26/0833; liquid crystal modulators as such G02F1/13
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3173 wherein the projection device is specially adapted for enhanced portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 : including sensor feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 : by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 : by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal and power saving method thereof are disclosed, by which display information can be outputted to an external projection plane using a projector module. Accordingly, if an event by a system or user occurs, power saving can be performed by controlling an operation of the projector module. A mobile terminal may include a terminal body, a motion sensor configured to detect a motion of the terminal body, a projector module configured to project an image onto an external surface, a power supply configured to supply power to the projector module, and a controller configured to control an operation of the projector module and to discontinue the supply of power to the projector module in response to detecting the motion by the motion sensor.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a terminal body;

a touch screen located on the terminal body;

a motion sensor configured to detect motion of the terminal body;

a projector module configured to project an image onto an external surface, the projector module coupled to the terminal body and positioned in a specific direction to face the external surface;

a power supply configured to supply power to the projector module; and

a controller configured to;

identify an occurrence of a first motion and a second motion based upon the detected motion of the terminal body, the detected motion occurring while the projector module is operating, the first motion occurring when the terminal body is moved along or rotated on a plane that is perpendicular to the specific direction and the second motion occurring when the terminal body is moved in a direction parallel to the specific direction;

control the power supply to discontinue supplying power to the projector module while continuing to supply power to the touch screen upon detection of the occurrence of the first motion;

control the power supply to resume supplying power to the projector module upon detection of a touch and drag input on the touch screen in a direction toward the projector module;

control the power supply to discontinue supplying power to the projector module while continuing to supply power to the touch screen upon detection of the occurrence of the second motion when the mobile terminal is in a power saving mode; and

control the power supply to continue supplying power to the projector module upon detection of the occurrence of the second motion when the mobile terminal is not in the power saving mode such that the second motion causes enlargement or reduction of the image projected onto the external surface.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the power supply to discontinue supplying power to the projector module in response to at least receipt of an input of a pause command, manipulation of a key, receipt of a voice call by the mobile terminal, receipt of a text message by the mobile terminal, an occurrence of an alarm event, an occurrence of a wake-up call, an occurrence of a low battery power status of the mobile terminal, a lapse of a predetermined time without mobile terminal user activity or a predetermined time without receipt of radio signals by the mobile terminal.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is further configured to control the power supply to discontinue supplying power to the projector module based on at least one received input, the at least received input comprising an instruction to discontinue supplying power in response to an answering of a voice call or receipt of a command for reviewing a text message.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the at least received input further comprises an executed instruction to display caller reception information in the projected image.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein the caller reception information is displayed concurrently with and at least partially overlaps other information displayed in the projected image.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein the caller reception information is displayed in a specified portion of the projected image.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the projector module to project an image selected by the touch and drag input when the power supply resumes supplying power to the projector module.

8. A method for saving power in a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal comprising a terminal body, a touch screen disposed on the terminal body and a projector module coupled to the terminal body, the projector module positioned in a specific direction to face an external surface, the method comprising:

supplying power to the projector module;

projecting an image from the projector module onto the external surface;

detecting a motion of the terminal body via a motion sensor coupled to the terminal body;

identifying an occurrence of a first motion and a second motion based upon the detected motion of the terminal body, the detected motion occurring while the projector module is operating, the first motion occurring when the terminal body is moved along or rotated on a plane that is perpendicular to the specific direction and the second motion occurring when the terminal body is moved in a direction parallel to the specific direction;

discontinuing supplying power to the projector module while continuing supplying power to the touch screen in response to the occurrence of the first motion;

resuming supplying power to the projector module upon detection of a touch and drag input on the touch screen in a direction toward the projector module;

discontinuing supplying power to the projector module while continuing to supply power to the touch screen upon detection of the occurrence of the second motion when the mobile terminal is in a power saving mode; and

continuing supplying power to the projector module in response to the occurrence of the second motion when the mobile terminal is not in the power saving mode such that the second motion causes enlargement or reduction of the image projected onto the external surface.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising discontinuing supplying power to the projector module in response to receipt of an input.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the received input comprises a pause command received via an input unit of the mobile terminal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the received input comprises manipulation of a key.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising projecting an image selected by the touch and drag input when the power supply resumes supplying power to the projector module.