ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A DISPLAY

• US 20130187863A1
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: RYDENHAG, Tobias, LESSING, Robert Simon, LINDSAY, Donald James
• Granted Patent: US 9,058,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3218 of display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method includes, while a portable electronic device including a display is in a low-power condition, detecting, by the portable electronic device, a gesture and identifying any informational icons to be displayed. The display is progressively illuminated while displaying the identified informational icons. Progressive illumination optionally occurs as long as the gesture is detected.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

while a portable electronic device including a display is in a low-power condition, detecting, by the portable electronic device, a gesture;

identifying any informational icons to be displayed;

in response to detecting the gesture, progressively illuminating the display from a first edge of the display toward a second edge of the display while displaying the identified informational icons.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein progressively illuminating occurs while the gesture is detected.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gesture comprises at least one of a gesture detected by a touch-sensitive display and a 3D spatial gesture.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying comprises identifying at least one notification and an associated informational icon for each notification identified.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one notification comprises at least one of an email notification, a text message notification, and a calendar event.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one notification comprises a device condition of the portable electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the display comprising a first end and a second end opposing the first end, wherein progressively illuminating comprises gradually illuminating the display beginning at the first end and continuing toward the second end.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein progressively illuminating comprises gradually increasing brightness of an image displayed on the display.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein progressively illuminating comprises gradually illuminating the display beginning at a point and continuing in at least one direction away from the point.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein progressively illuminating comprises gradually increasing an illuminated area of the display.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified informational icons are gradually displayed as the gesture continues.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein gradually displaying the identified informational icons comprises progressively increasing a quantity of the identified informational icons that are displayed.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein gradually displaying the identified informational icons comprises progressively decreasing transparency of the identified informational icons that are displayed.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an unlock option when the gesture continues for at least a predetermined period of time or at least a predetermined distance.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting continuation of the gesture comprises detecting movement of the gesture.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon detecting a change in direction of the gesture, progressively reducing illumination of the display as the gesture continues.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising discontinuing illumination of the display when the gesture is discontinued.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein no information is displayed on the display during the low-power condition.

19. The electronic device configured to perform the method of claim 1 and comprising a touch-sensitive display that detects the gesture.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of a portable electronic device to perform the method of claim 1.

21. A method comprising:

while a touch-sensitive display is in a low-power condition, detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive display;

identifying any informational icons to be displayed;

while the gesture continues to be detected, progressively illuminating the touch-sensitive display from a first end of the display toward a second end of the display while displaying the identified informational icons.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein identifying comprises identifying at least one notification and an associated informational icon for each notification identified.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the gesture comprises a touch at or near a single location on the display and detecting continuation of the gesture comprises continually detecting the touch.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the identified informational icons are gradually displayed as the gesture continues.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein progressively illuminating comprises gradually increasing brightness of an image displayed on the display.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein progressively illuminating comprises gradually increasing an illuminated area of the display.

27. An electronic device configured to perform the method of claim 21 and comprising the touch-sensitive display.

28. A method comprising:

while a portable electronic device is in a low-power condition, detecting, by the portable electronic device, a gesture;

identifying any informational icons to be displayed;

in response to detecting the gesture, displaying the identified informational icons without fully illuminating a display of the portable electronic device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein discontinuation of the gesture results in a return to the low-power condition in which the display is not illuminated.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein displaying the identified informational icons comprises illuminating the informational icons without illuminating a remainder of the display.