Handheld devices as visual indicators

• US 10,649,629 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2018
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Whang, Eugene Antony
• Primary Examiner(s): Mandeville, Jason M
• Application Number:
  US16/049,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20180335905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 345 87, 345102, 345168-169, 345173, 715864-866, 455566
• 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 computing device comprising:

a display configured to display a graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile computing device;

a light sensor configured to detect light conditions around the display; and

a processor configured to control a light level transmitted by the display based at least in part on the detected light conditions, wherein the processor is configured to control the light level using a preset intensity pattern assigned to a beacon light effect based at least in part on the detected light conditions comprising a low-light or no-light condition, and wherein the processor is configured to cause the display to be illuminated without using the preset intensity pattern assigned to the beacon light effect based at least in part on the detected light conditions comprising more light than the low-light condition.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1 comprising an input device configured to receive a selection of a playlist from a plurality of playlists, wherein each playlist of the plurality of playlists comprises a plurality of songs.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the light beacon effect is configured to alert others of a presence of the mobile computing device.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the light level in a music mode when the detected light conditions are above a threshold.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 4, wherein the music mode varies the light level transmitted by the display in accordance with a song being played.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to present text or graphics, the light level being configured to provide a visual stimulus for relaying information about a selected playlist to an area around the mobile computing device.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the light level is configured to operate in a first light mode providing constant luminance to the display and a second light mode that provides varying luminance for relaying information to a surrounding of the mobile computing device, wherein an alternation between the first and second light modes occurs upon selection of standard or enhanced lighting.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein a selected playlist is configured to be created on a remote computing device separate from and remote to the processor.

9. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a display configured emit light at a light level and to display at least a graphical user interface (GUI) on the mobile computing device;

a light sensor configured to detect light conditions around the mobile computing device;

an input device configured to receive a selection of a playlist from a plurality of playlists; and

a processor configured to alternate the light level between light modes of a plurality of light modes based at least in part on the detected light conditions and the selection of the playlist, which is selected from the plurality of playlists, wherein the processor is configured to flash the light level using a preset intensity pattern assigned to the selected playlist, wherein the detected light conditions comprises a low-light condition or a no-light condition for the preset intensity pattern, and the processor is configured to cause the display to be illuminated without flashing the light level using the preset intensity pattern based at least in part on the detected light conditions comprising more light than the low-light condition.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of playlists comprises another playlist that corresponds to a music mode.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 10, wherein the music mode varies the light level transmitted by the display in accordance with a song being played.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 9, wherein the playlist is configured to be created on a remote computing device separate from and remote to the mobile computing device.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 12, comprising a wireless communication module configured to wirelessly couple the remote computing device to the mobile computing device.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 12, wherein the remote computing device comprises a personal computer, a cellular phone, a portable media player, or any combination thereof.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 9, wherein the mobile computing device comprises a portable media player, a cellular phone, or any combination thereof.

16. A method for controlling a light level for a display of a mobile computing device, comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) using the display;

detecting an ambient light level around the mobile computing device; and

alternating a light level of the display of the mobile computing device between a plurality of light modes based at least in part upon the detected light level, wherein at least one of the light modes of the plurality of light modes causes the light level to flash using a preset intensity pattern assigned to low light conditions, and the ambient light level comprises a low-light level or a no-light level, and alternating the light level of the display comprises causing the display to be illuminated without flashing the light level using the preset intensity pattern based at least in part on the detected light conditions comprising more light than the low-light level.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the preset intensity pattern is configured to alert others of a presence of the display.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising:

displaying a plurality of playlists in a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display, wherein the GUI is displayed on the display having the light level of light emitted from the display, wherein each playlist comprises a respective plurality of songs; and

receiving a selection of a playlist via an input device configured to receive a selection of a playlist from the plurality of playlists using the graphical user interface, wherein the playlist comprises one or more media files, and alternating the light level is based at least in part on the selection.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein alternating the light level between a plurality of light modes is based in part upon a detection of motion via an accelerometer.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein alternating the light level between a plurality of light modes comprises flashing a light source that comprises a solid-state light-emission device.