Front panel display

• US 20020018050A1
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pace Micro Technology Ltd. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pace Micro Technology Ltd. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Turner, William
• Application Number:
  US09/893,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20020018050A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0606 Manual adjustment
• 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 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/04 for presentation of a single character by selection from a plurality of characters, or by composing the character by combination of individual elements, e.g. segments using a combination of such display devices for composing words, rows or the like, in a frame with fixed character positions
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/57 Control of contrast or brightness
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/59 in dependence upon beam current of cathode ray tube

Abstract

A front panel display (6) for an electronic device. The front panel display (6) indicates the operational status of the device, such as a broadcast data receiver, to a user. The illumination and/or brightness of the display (6) is/are user adjustable and/or adjustable depending on the status of the device and/or ambient lighting in the locality of the device.

Claims

1. A front panel display (6) for an electronic device, said front panel display (6) indicating the operational status of the device to a user and characterised in that the illumination and/or brightness of the display (6) is/are adjustable by the user of the device using control means.

2. A display according to claim 1 characterised in that the illumination and/or brightness of the display (6) is adjusted in response to the user initiating a change in the status of the device.

3. A display according to claim 1 characterised in that the control means are any or any combination of a remote control handset for operation of the device, control buttons on the device and/or display or voice recognition system.

4. A display according to claim 1 characterised in that the display (6) brightens on activation of a function/control button by the user on the remote control handset of the device and/or control buttons on the device.

5. A display according to claim 1 characterised in that the display (6) dims when one or more function/control buttons have not been activated by the user for a predetermined period of time.

6. A display according to claim 1 characterised in that the display (6) is provided with two brightness settings, a dim setting during pre-determined time periods of inactivation of the device and a bright setting during activation of the device.

7. A display according to claim 1 characterised in that the brightness levels of the display (6) are determined by the manufacturer of the device.

8. A display according to claim 1 characterised in that the ability to adjust the illumination and/or brightness of the display (6) can be switched between on/off positions as and when required.

9. A display according to claim 1 characterised in that at least one light sensor is provided in the device and/or front panel display (6) to monitor the ambient light levels surrounding the device and the illumination and/or brightness of the display is adjustable depending on the ambient lighting in the locality of the device.

10. A display according to claim 1 characterised in that the electronic device is any or any combination of a broadcast data receiver (4), video recorder and/or television display screen (2).

11. A display according to claim 1 characterised in that it is a liquid crystal display.

12. A display according to claim 1 characterised in that the brightness and/or illumination of the backlighting of the display (6) is adjusted.

13. A display according to claim 12 characterised in that the brightness and/or illumination is adjusted by altering the voltage to light emitting diodes forming the backlight.

14. A display according to claim 1 characterised in that the brightness and/or illumination of the seven segment display (6) is adjusted.

15. A display according to claim 14 characterised in that the brightness and/or illumination is adjusted by pulsing the light emitting diodes forming the seven segment display.

16. An electronic device having a front panel display, said front panel display (6) indicating the operational status of the device to a user and characterised in that the illumination and/or brightness of the display (6) is/are adjustable by the user of the device using control means.

17. A broadcast data receiver (4) having a front panel display (6), said receiver (4) receiving audio, video and/or auxiliary data from a broadcaster at a remote location, said display (6) indicating the operational status of the receiver (4) to a user and characterised in that the illumination and/or brightness of the display (6) is/are adjustable by the user of the receiver using control means.