Method and apparatus for automatic power-up and power-down of an electronic device

• US 7,626,582 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2006
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nicolas, Regis, Osborn, Neal
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Said; Mansour M
• Application Number:
  US11/385,984
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/158, 345/169, 345173-179, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.09, 178/19.01, 178/19.07, 178/20.01, 455/90, 455/556, 455/572, 455/574, 708/107, 708/109, 708/140, 713/321
• US Class Current: 345/204
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatic power-up and power-down of an electronic device is disclosed. More specifically, an electronic device may be automatically powered-up in response to removal of a user interface object from a portion of a housing of the electronic device. The electronic device may be placed in a power conservation mode when the user interface object is placed in the portion of the housing of the electronic device. The electronic device may include a cover operable to cover a display device of the electronic device, where the electronic device may be automatically powered-up in response to uncovering the display device. The electronic device may be placed in a power conservation mode when the display device is covered by the cover.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to said processor;

a display coupled to said processor;

a housing for enclosing said processor, said memory, and said display, said housing comprising a portion for storing a user interface object;

a detector disposed within said housing and for detecting said user interface object in said portion; and

a switch coupled to said detector for generating a signal to power up said processor when said user interface object is removed from said portion, said switch further for generating a signal to place said processor in a power conservation mode when said user interface object is placed in said portion.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said portion comprises a slot, and wherein said user interface object comprises a stylus.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said detector is disposed within said portion.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said detector comprises an electrical detector for detecting said user interface object when a conductive portion of said user interface object comes into physical contact with a portion of said electrical detector.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said detector is selected from a group consisting of an optical detector and a mechanical detector.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising:

a second detector coupled to said detector, wherein said detector and said second detector are operable to determine movement of said user interface object with respect to said portion.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a battery, wherein said battery selectively supplies power to said processor and said display based on a mode of said switch.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a button for placing said processor and said display into said power conservation mode when said electronic device is powered on, and wherein said button is further for powering on said processor and said display when said electronic device is in said power conservation mode.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising:

a digitizer coupled to said processor and operable to detect user inputs.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to said processor;

a display coupled to said processor;

a housing for enclosing said processor, said memory, and said display;

a cover rotatably coupled to said housing and operable to cover said display;

a detector for detecting if said display is covered by said cover; and

a switch coupled to said detector and operable to generate a signal to automatically power up said display when said display is uncovered.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein said switch is further for generating a signal to automatically place said display in a power conservation mode when said display is covered.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 further comprising a button for placing said processor and said display into said power conservation mode when said electronic device is powered on, and wherein said button is also for powering on said processor and said display when said electronic device is in said power conservation mode.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein said detector comprises an electrical detector.

14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein said detector comprises an optical detector.

15. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein said detector comprises a mechanical detector.

16. The electronic device of claim 10 further comprising a battery, wherein said battery is operable to selectively supply power to said processor and said display based on a mode of said switch.

17. The electronic device of claim 10 further comprising:

a hinge for rotatably coupling said cover to said housing.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein said detector is physically coupled to said hinge.

19. A method of controlling power to an electronic device, said method comprising:

detecting a position of a cover of said electronic device with respect to a display of said electronic device, wherein said cover is operable to rotate with respect to said display;

if said display is covered by said cover, automatically placing said display into a power conservation mode; and

if said display is uncovered, automatically placing said display in a power-up mode.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said automatically placing said display into a power-up mode and said automatically placing said display into a power conservation mode are implemented using a switch.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said detecting said position of said cover is implemented using an electrical detector.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said detecting said position of said cover is implemented using an optical detector.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said detecting said position of said cover is implemented using a mechanical detector.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein said electronic device comprises a mobile phone.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said electronic device further comprises a button, and wherein said method further comprises:

if said display is powered-up, powering-down said display in response to an activation of said button; and

if said display is powered-down, powering-up said display in response to an activation of said button.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said cover is rotatably coupled to a housing of said electronic device by a hinge.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said detecting said position of said cover is implemented using a detector, wherein said detector is physically coupled to said hinge.