Display control for cellular phone

• US 20080090617A1
• Filed: 01/16/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sehat Sutardja
• Original Assignee: Sehat Sutardja
• Inventors: Sutardja, Sehat
• Application Number:
  US11/654,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20080090617A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6016 in the receiver circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• 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 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0267 by controlling user interface components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A control system for a mobile device comprises a proximity sensing module that generates a proximity signal based on a sensed proximity of the mobile device to an external object. A comparing module generates a first signal when the proximity signal is less than a threshold. A timing module determines a duration of the first signal. A selecting module communicates with the timing module and selects one of an active mode and an inactive mode of the mobile device when the duration is greater than a first period.

Claims

1. A control system for a mobile device, comprising:

a proximity sensing module that generates a proximity signal based on a sensed proximity of the mobile device to an external object;

a comparing module that generates a first signal when the proximity signal is less than a threshold;

a timing module that determines a duration of the first signal; and

a selecting module that communicates with the timing module and that selects one of an active mode and an inactive mode of the mobile device when the duration is greater than a first period.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the selecting module selects one of the active mode and the inactive mode of at least one of a backlight, a display, and a user input of the mobile device.

3. The control system of claim 1 wherein the mobile device includes at least one of a cellular phone, a media player, a mobile gaming device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a mobile personal computer (PC).

4. The control system of claim 1 wherein the proximity sensing module includes an infra-red (IR) device.

5. A control system for a mobile device, comprising:

proximity sensing means for generating a proximity signal based on a sensed proximity of the mobile device to an external object;

comparing means for generating a first signal when the proximity signal is less than a threshold;

timing means for determining a duration of the first signal; and

selecting means for communicating with the timing means and for selecting one of an active mode and an inactive mode of the mobile device when the duration is greater than a first period.

6. The control system of claim 5 wherein the selecting means selects one of the active mode and the inactive mode of at least one of a backlight, a display, and a user input of the mobile device.

7. The control system of claim 5 wherein the mobile device includes at least one of a cellular phone, a media player, a mobile gaming device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a mobile personal computer (PC).

8. The control system of claim 5 wherein the proximity sensing means includes an infra-red (IR) device.

9. A method for operating a mobile device, comprising:

generating a proximity signal based on a sensed proximity of the mobile device to an external object;

generating a first signal when the proximity signal is less than a threshold;

determining a duration of the first signal; and

selecting one of an active mode and an inactive mode of the mobile device when the duration is greater than a first period.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein selecting includes selecting one of the active mode and the inactive mode of at least one of a backlight, a display, and a user input of the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the mobile device includes at least one of a cellular phone, a media player, a mobile gaming device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a mobile personal computer (PC).

12. A computer program stored for use by a processor for operating a mobile device, comprising:

generating a proximity signal based on a sensed proximity of the mobile device to an external object;

generating a first signal when the proximity signal is less than a threshold;

determining a duration of the first signal; and

selecting one of an active mode and an inactive mode of the mobile device when the duration is greater than a first period.

13. The computer program of claim 12 wherein selecting includes selecting one of the active mode and the inactive mode of at least one of a backlight, a display, and a user input of the mobile device.

14. The computer program of claim 12 wherein the mobile device includes at least one of a cellular phone, a media player, a mobile gaming device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a mobile personal computer (PC).