Apparatus and method for performing a mirror function in a portable terminal

• US 8,115,711 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jong-Myung, Jung, Jae-Ik
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALMEIDA, CORY A
• Application Number:
  US11/506,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20060274018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,007 Days
• Field of Search: 345/87, 345/204
• US Class Current: 345/87
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133545 Dielectric stack polarisers

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for embodying mirror function in a portable terminal by which a user can use an LCD of the portable terminal as a mirror, with a rear polarizer of the LCD constructed to allow the LCD to reflect incident light and to perform as a mirror when powered off, and to perform the original function of LCD when powered on. The LCD may further comprise a front polarizer for polarizing the external incident light to a certain direction, a liquid crystal for deflecting the incident light from the front polarizer about a molecular axis in the liquid crystal and arraying the light parallel to the direction of an electric field to pass the light along the molecular axis, and a rear polarizer for reflecting incident light from the liquid crystal when power is not applied and allowing the incident light to pass by the liquid crystal when power is applied.

Claims

1. A method for performing a mirror function in a portable terminal which includes a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), comprising the steps of:

determining if there is a key input from a user while the LCD performs a common display function;

if there is a key input, determining if the key input corresponds to a mirror function on;

if the key input corresponds to the mirror function on, powering off the LCD;

determining if there is a key input or call receipt from the user corresponding to a mirror function off condition while the LCD performs as a mirror; and

if the key input or call receipt is performed, powering on the LCD, whereby the LCD returns to said common display function,

wherein the LCD operates as a mirror when no power is applied to the LCD, and as a common display unit when power is applied to the LCD.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of turning off the power to the LCD if it is determined that the key input has not been performed for a predetermined time period.