Apparatus and method for performing a mirror function in a portable terminal

• US 20020167511A1
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jong-Myung, Jung, Jae-Ik
• Granted Patent: US 7,151,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/211
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133545 Dielectric stack polarisers

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for embodying mirror function in a portable terminal by which a user can use an LCD of the portable terminal as a mirror, with a rear polarizer of the LCD constructed to allow the LCD to reflect incident light and to perform as a mirror when powered off, and to perform the original function of LCD when powered on. The LCD may further comprise a front polarizer for polarizing the external incident light to a certain direction, a liquid crystal for deflecting the incident light from the front polarizer about a molecular axis in the liquid crystal and arraying the light parallel to the direction of an electric field to pass the light along the molecular axis, and a rear polarizer for reflecting incident light from the liquid crystal when power is not applied and allowing the incident light to pass by the liquid crystal when power is applied.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing a mirror function in a portable terminal comprising:

an LCD having at least a rear polarizer made of a material for reflecting incident light;

a key input unit for generating a signal in response to a key input for a mirror function by a user;

a power control unit for controlling power to said LCD; and

a control unit for controlling said power control unit in response to said signal in response to said key input.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said LCD further comprises a compensation film attached to one side of said rear polarizer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rear polarizer reflects light when power is not applied.

4. An apparatus for performing a mirror function in a portable terminal comprising:

an LCD having at least a rear polarizer made of a material for reflecting incident light when power is not applied;

a key input unit for generating a signal in response to a key input for a mirror function by a user;

a power control unit for controlling power to said LCD; and

a control unit for controlling said power control unit to turn off power applied to said LCD when the key input is not performed for a predetermined time period.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said LCD further comprises a compensation film attached to one side of said rear polarizer.

6. A method for performing a mirror function in a portable terminal which includes an LCD operating as a mirror when power is not applied and as a common display unit when power is applied, comprising the steps of:

determining if there is a key input from a user while the LCD performs a common display function;

if there is a key input, determining if the key input corresponds to a mirror function on;

if the key input corresponds to the mirror function on, powering off the LCD;

determining if there is a key input or call receipt from the user corresponding to a mirror function off condition while the LCD performs as a mirror; and

if the key input or call receipt is performed, powering on the LCD, whereby the LCD returns to said common display function.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising the step of turning off the power to the LCD if it is determined that the key input has not been performed for a predetermined time period.

8. An LCD for performing a mirror function comprising:

a front polarizer for polarizing an external incident light in a direction;

a liquid crystal for deflecting the incident light from said front polarizer about an arrayed molecular axis when power is not applied, and arraying the molecular axis parallel to a direction of an electric field to deflect the light along the molecular axis when power is applied; and

a rear polarizer for reflecting essentially all incident light when power is not applied.