MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL AND POWER SAVING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20100099457A1
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Jong Hwan
• Granted Patent: US 8,666,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1639 the display being based on projection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0272 for a projector or beamer module assembly constructional features of projectors per se G03B21/00; constructional details of projectors using electronic spatial light modulators per se H04N9/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• 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 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3102 using two-dimensional electronic spatial light modulators micromechanical modulators as such G02B26/0833; liquid crystal modulators as such G02F1/13
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3173 wherein the projection device is specially adapted for enhanced portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 : including sensor feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 : by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 : by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal and power saving method thereof are disclosed, by which display information can be outputted to an external projection plane using a projector module. Accordingly, if an event by a system or user occurs, power saving can be performed by controlling an operation of the projector module. A mobile terminal may include a terminal body, a motion sensor configured to detect a motion of the terminal body, a projector module configured to project an image onto an external surface, a power supply configured to supply power to the projector module, and a controller configured to control an operation of the projector module and to discontinue the supply of power to the projector module in response to detecting the motion by the motion sensor.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a terminal body;

a motion sensor configured to detect a motion of the terminal body;

a projector module configured to project an image onto an external surface;

a power supply configured to supply power to the projector module; and

a controller configured to control an operation of the projector module and to discontinue the supply of power to the projector module in response to detecting the motion by the motion sensor.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to discontinue the supply of power to the projector module in response to a user event.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the user event comprises a user input of a pause command.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the user event comprises manipulation of a key input.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising a touch screen disposed on the terminal body.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to discontinue the supply of power to the projector module responsive to an input received at the touch screen.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to display in the projected image a picture being displayed on the touch screen in response to a touch and drag of the image on the touch screen in a direction toward the projector module.

8. A method for saving power in a mobile terminal having a terminal body and configured with a projector module, the method comprising:

supplying power to the projector module;

projecting an image from the projector module onto an external surface;

detecting a motion of the terminal body by a motion sensor located in the terminal body; and

discontinuing the supply of power to the projector module in response to detecting the motion.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising discontinuing the supply of power to the projector module in response to a user event.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user event comprises an input of a pause command at an input unit of the mobile terminal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the user event comprises manipulation of a key input.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a touch screen disposed on the terminal body.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising discontinuing the supply of power to the projector module responsive to an input received at the touch screen.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying in the projected image a picture being displayed on the touch screen in response to a touch and drag of the image on the touch screen in a direction toward the projector module.

15. A mobile terminal comprising:

a terminal body;

a memory configured to store at least one user setting;

a projector module configured to project an image onto an external surface;

a power supply configured to supply power to the projector module; and

a controller configured to detect an occurrence of a specified event while the projector module is in operation and to discontinue the supply of power to the projector module responsive to the occurrence of the event, wherein the discontinuing the supply of power is performed in accordance with the stored at least one user setting.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 15, further comprising a motion sensor configured to detect a motion of the terminal body.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein the specified event comprises a motion of the terminal body.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 15 wherein the specified event comprises a receipt of one of a voice call or a text message.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 18 wherein the at least one user setting comprises an instruction to discontinue the supply of power in response to a user answering the voice call or inputting a command to review the text message.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 18 wherein the at least one user setting comprises an instruction to display caller reception information in the projected image.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 20, wherein the caller reception information is displayed concurrently with and at least partially overlaps other information being displayed in the projected image.

22. The mobile terminal of claim 20, wherein the caller reception information is displayed in a specified portion of the projected image.

23. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the specified event comprises one of an SMS/MMS, alarm/schedule management, a battery status or a radio signal reception status.

24. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the specified event comprises a lapse of a predetermined time, and the user setting comprises an indication of the predetermined time.

25. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the at least one user setting comprises an indication to discontinue, without requiring further input, the supply of power to the projector module in response to the specified event.