Automatic display unit activation
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a display unit configured to display information to a user and having a backlight to illuminate the display;
a proximity circuit configured to generate a transmitted signal and to receive a received signal that is indicative of a user'"'"'s proximity; and
a control unit coupled to the display and the proximity detector and configured to perform;
obtaining the received signal from the proximity detector;
analyzing the received signal to determine a current degree of motion of the user'"'"'s proximity;
when the current degree of motion is not greater than a first predetermined threshold and not greater than a second predetermined threshold for at least a first predetermined time duration, deactivating the display unit;
when the current degree of motion is greater than the first predetermined threshold and not greater than the second predetermined threshold and the display unit is not already activated, turning the display unit to a first intensity level;
when the current degree of motion is greater than the second predetermined threshold, turning the display unit on a second intensity level, wherein the first intensity level and the second intensity level are different; and
when the current degree of motion is greater than the first predetermined threshold and not greater than the second predetermined threshold for at least a second predetermined time duration and the display unit is already activated, turning the display unit to the second intensity level.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for controlling the brightness of a display unit based on detected movement of an external object such as a user. An apparatus includes a display, e.g., a color liquid crystal display (LCD) or organic light emitting diode (OLED). A proximity circuit generates a transmitted signal and a received signal. The received signal results from the transmitted signal being reflected by an external object. A control unit processes the received signal to determine a degree of motion of the external object. When the degree of motion is greater than a first predetermined threshold but not greater than a second predetermined threshold, the display is activated and operating at partial intensity. When the degree of motion is greater than the second predetermined threshold, the display is activated at full intensity. The degree of motion may be determined from the variation of the received signal.
23 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a display unit configured to display information to a user and having a backlight to illuminate the display; a proximity circuit configured to generate a transmitted signal and to receive a received signal that is indicative of a user'"'"'s proximity; and a control unit coupled to the display and the proximity detector and configured to perform; obtaining the received signal from the proximity detector; analyzing the received signal to determine a current degree of motion of the user'"'"'s proximity; when the current degree of motion is not greater than a first predetermined threshold and not greater than a second predetermined threshold for at least a first predetermined time duration, deactivating the display unit; when the current degree of motion is greater than the first predetermined threshold and not greater than the second predetermined threshold and the display unit is not already activated, turning the display unit to a first intensity level; when the current degree of motion is greater than the second predetermined threshold, turning the display unit on a second intensity level, wherein the first intensity level and the second intensity level are different; and when the current degree of motion is greater than the first predetermined threshold and not greater than the second predetermined threshold for at least a second predetermined time duration and the display unit is already activated, turning the display unit to the second intensity level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21)
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13. A method comprising:
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displaying information to a user on a display unit; transmitting a transmitted signal; receiving a received signal that is indicative of proximity of the user, wherein the received signal corresponds to the transmitted signal being reflected from an external object; analyzing the received signal to determine a current degree of motion of the user'"'"'s proximity; when the current degree of motion is not greater than a first predetermined threshold and not greater than a second predetermined threshold for at least a first predetermined time duration, deactivating the display unit; when the current degree of motion is greater than the first predetermined threshold and not greater than the second predetermined threshold and the display unit is not already activated, turning the display unit to a first intensity level; when the current degree of motion is greater than the second predetermined threshold, turning the display unit on a second intensity level, wherein the first intensity level and the second intensity level are different; and when the current degree of motion is greater than the first predetermined threshold and not greater than the second predetermined threshold for at least a second predetermined time duration and the display unit is already activated, turning the display unit to the second intensity level. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
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Specification