Mobile terminal and method for controlling display thereof

• US 8,295,892 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jong-Hwan, Park, Nam-Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Cai, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Huy C
• Application Number:
  US12/354,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20090298554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/574
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/44 Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A mobile terminal including a terminal body, a transparent display formed at the terminal body, a solar cell configured to be disposed below the transparent display and to generate electricity using light incident and transmitting through the transparent display; and a controller configured to control an amount of light transmitted through the transparent display and being incident on the solar cell.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a terminal body;

a transparent display formed at the terminal body;

a solar cell configured to be disposed below the transparent display and to generate electricity using light incident and transmitting through the transparent display; and

a controller configured to;

divide the transparent display into a first display region and a second display region upon detection of a standby state of the mobile terminal, wherein the standby state indicates a state of the mobile terminal during which an input is ready to be received by the mobile terminal;

display preset specific information in the second display region while maintaining the first display region transparent without any information displayed thereon during the standby state, wherein the light incident and transmitting to the solar cell through the transparent display passes substantially through the first display region but is blocked by the preset specific information in the second display region during the standby state; and

remove the preset specific information from the second display region while maintaining the first display region transparent to increase an amount of the light incident and transmitting to the solar cell through the transparent display when the mobile terminal is transformed from the standby state to a power saving state if there is no input detected for a predetermined time since the detection of the standby state,

wherein the light incident and transmitting through the transparent display passes substantially through both the first display region and the second display region during the power saving state.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive an input signal indicating user manipulation of the mobile terminal, and to return the mobile terminal to the standby state from the power saving state upon receiving the input signal.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the preset specific information displayed in the second display region includes standby information and softkeys for selecting a function or operation on the terminal.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive an input signal indicating an operation or function being performed on the mobile terminal, to enter the mobile terminal into an operational state upon receiving the input signal, and to display information in the first and second display regions corresponding to the operation or function being performed on the mobile terminal.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control a transparency of the second display region including the preset specific information by changing a color or background of the preset specific information.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control a transparency of the transparent display by changing at least one of a shape, a size or a color of information displayed on the transparent display.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a touch pad disposed above or below the transparent display and configured to receive touch inputs for operating the mobile terminal.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the terminal body includes a first body arranged with the transparent display and a second body arranged with the solar cell, and

wherein the mobile terminal further comprises a hinge mechanism configured to rotate or flip the first body over the second body such that the transparent display is disposed over the solar cell.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to charge a battery of the mobile terminal with the electricity generated from the solar cell, and when the battery is fully charged, to control a transparency of the transparent display to limit the amount of light incident to the solar cell.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to output an indicator or alarm to indicate the battery is being fully charged.

11. A method of controlling a mobile terminal with a transparent display formed at a body of the mobile terminal and a solar cell configured to be disposed below the transparent display, the method comprising:

dividing the transparent display of the mobile terminal into a first display region and a second display region upon detection of a standby state of the mobile terminal, wherein the standby state indicates a state of the mobile terminal during which an input is ready to be received by the mobile terminal;

displaying preset specific information in the second display region while maintaining the first display region transparent without any information displayed thereon during the standby state, wherein the light incident and transmitting to the solar cell through the transparent display passes substantially through the first display region but blocked by the preset specific information in the second display region during the standby state; and

removing the preset specific information from the second display region while maintaining the first display region transparent to increase an amount of the light incident and transmitting to the solar cell through the transparent display when the mobile terminal is transformed from the standby state to a power saving state if there is no input detected for a predetermined time since the detection of the standby state,

wherein the light incident and transmitting through the transparent display passes substantially through both the first display region and the second display region during the power saving state.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an input signal indicating user manipulation of the mobile terminal; and

returning the mobile terminal to the standby state from the power saving state upon receiving the input signal.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an input signal indicating an operation or function being performed on the mobile terminal;

entering the mobile terminal into an operational state upon receiving the input signal; and

displaying information in the first and second display regions corresponding to the operation or function being performed on the mobile terminal.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

controlling a transparency of the second display region by changing a color or background of the preset specific information.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

changing a transparency of the transparent display by changing at least one of a shape, a size or a color of information displayed on the transparent display.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

charging a battery of the mobile terminal with electricity generated from the solar cell,

wherein a transparency of the transparent display is controlled to limit the amount of light incident to the solar cell.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

outputting an indicator or alarm to indicate the battery is being fully charged.