Display screen having regions of differing pixel density

• US 9,646,577 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2015
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: DeLuca, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): McLoone, Peter D
• Application Number:
  US14/841,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20150371612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20172 Image enhancement details
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/00 Image enhancement or restoration
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/391 Resolution modifying circuits, e.g. variable screen formats

Abstract

A display device including: a display screen having first region and second region, the first region having a first pixel density and the second region having a second pixel density, the second pixel density being higher than the first pixel density, an input for receiving image data, a power source; and wherein the display screen is operable in a full screen mode in which an image is displayed in both the first region and the second region and a reduced screen mode in which power to the first region is turned off and the image is displayed in the second region.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

illuminating a first region and a second region of a display screen of a device to display a first image, the first region having a first pixel density and the second region having a second pixel density that is greater than the first pixel density, wherein the first image is displayed at a same first resolution in the first region and the second region;

receiving a power conservation signal in response to a function performed by an application running on the device; and

in response to receiving the power conservation signal, updating illumination of the display screen to display a second image at a second resolution in the second region, the second resolution being higher than the first resolution and higher than a maximum image resolution based on the first pixel density.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein updating illumination comprises at least one of shutting down power to the first region, operating the first region at a lower power, or operating the first region in a monochromatic mode.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising operating the second region at a lower power.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein updating illumination comprises:

turning off power to the first region; and

wherein the first image is displayed as the second image in the second region with a resolution that is greater than the first resolution.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second region is centrally located relative to the first region.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the function comprises the application launching a separate window.

7. A device, comprising:

a display configured to illuminate a first region and a second region of a display screen of a device to display a first image, the first region having a first pixel density and the second region having a second pixel density that is greater than the first pixel density, wherein the first image is displayed at a same first resolution in the first region and the second region;

one or more processors configured to receive a power conservation signal in response to a function performed by an application running on the device; and

the display further configured to, in response to receiving the power conservation signal, update illumination of the display screen to display a second image at a second resolution in the second region, the second resolution being higher than the first resolution and higher than a maximum image resolution based on the first pixel density.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein update illumination comprises at least one of shut down power to the first region, operate the first region at a lower power, or operate the first region in a monochromatic mode.

9. The device of claim 8, the display further configured to operate the second region at a lower power.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein update illumination comprises:

turn off power to the first region; and

wherein the first image is displayed as the second image in the second region with a resolution that is greater than the first resolution.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the second region is centrally located relative to the first region.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the function comprises the application launching a separate window.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

illuminating a first region and a second region of a display screen of a device to display a first image, the first region having a first pixel density and the second region having a second pixel density that is greater than the first pixel density, wherein the first image is displayed at a same first resolution in the first region and the second region;

receiving a power conservation signal in response to a function performed by an application running on the device; and

in response to receiving the power conservation signal, updating illumination of the display screen to display a second image at a second resolution in the second region, the second resolution being higher than the first resolution and higher than a maximum image resolution based on the first pixel density.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein updating illumination comprises at least one of shutting down power to the first region, operating the first region at a lower power, or operating the first region in a monochromatic mode.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, the instructions further comprising operating the second region at a lower power.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein updating illumination comprises:

turning off power to the first region; and

wherein the first image is displayed as the second image in the second region with a resolution that is greater than the first resolution.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the second region is centrally located relative to the first region.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the function comprises the application launching a separate window.