Devices and methods for controlling a display to conserve power

• US 20090058842A1
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wood, Policarpo, Bull, William, Bar-Nahum, Guy
• Application Number:
  US12/154,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20090058842A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/212
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• 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 2340/0435 Change or adaptation of the frame rate of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/02 characterised by the way in which colour is displayed details of colour display specific for CRTs G09G1/28; specific for flat matrix panels other than liquid crystal displays G09G3/2003; specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607

Abstract

Devices and methods for controlling display output based application class and/or on one or more monitored device parameters are described herein. These devices and methods can be advantageous because they can reduce power consumption, and can improve user experience. For example, devices and methods comprising determining an application class, wherein for the first class of applications no display simplifications are used, and wherein for the second class of applications a device parameter is monitored such that if a first state is detected, full graphics are displayed, and if the second state is detected, simplified graphics are displayed are described. In some embodiments, the applications can include video applications, audio applications, and radio applications, for example. In some embodiments, the device parameter can comprise user input frequency, power supply charge, and backlight intensity, for example.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the display of an electronic device, wherein the electronic device is configured to execute applications, wherein the applications are grouped into at least two application classes, comprising:

displaying full graphics in applications belonging to a first application class; and

alternating between displaying full graphics and simplified graphics in applications belonging to a second application class.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternating between displaying full graphics and simplified graphics comprises alternating between displaying graphics in full-color mode and displaying graphics in reduced-color mode in applications belonging to a second application class.

3. A method for controlling the display of an electronic device, the display comprising a full-color mode and a reduced-color mode, comprising:

monitoring at least one device parameter, wherein the at least one device parameter comprises a plurality of states;

displaying graphics in full-color mode when the at least one device parameter is in a first state; and

changing from full-color mode to reduced-color mode when the at least one device parameter is in a second state.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the monitoring at least one device parameter comprises monitoring user input frequency, wherein changing from full-color mode to reduced-color mode comprises changing from full-color mode to reduced-color mode when the user input frequency compares in a predetermined manner to a predetermined value.

5. A method for controlling the display of an electronic device, comprising:

monitoring at least one device parameter, wherein the at least one device parameter comprises a plurality of states;

displaying full graphics for the electronic device when the at least one device parameter is in a first state; and

changing-from displaying full animations to displaying simplified animations when the at least one device parameter is in a second state.

6. A method for controlling the display of an electronic device, comprising:

monitoring at least one device parameter, wherein the at least one device parameter comprises a plurality of states;

displaying full graphics comprising a full set of status indicators when the at least one device parameter is in a first state; and

displaying simplified graphics comprising a simplified set of status indicators when the at least one device parameter is in a second state.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the displaying simplified graphics comprises displaying simplified graphics comprising a reduced number of status indicators when the at least one device parameter is in a second state.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the displaying simplified graphics comprises displaying simplified graphics comprising displaying the status indicators at a lower resolution when the at least one device parameter is in a second state.