Dynamic brightness range for portable computer displays based on ambient conditions

• US 8,493,371 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gettemy, Shawn R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US12/429,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20090262128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 345/3.1, 345/77, 345/102, 345204-214, 345/472, 345581-594, 345/600, 345/667, 345/690, 345/8, 348/645, 348/553, 348/E9.051, 340/425.5, 340/693.5, 340/815.4, 381/86, 381/122, 381/361, 250/205, 315/157
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0456 with a reflective area and a transmissive area combined in one pixel, such as in transflectance pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/043 Preventing or counteracting the effects of ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/22 using controlled light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3208 organic, e.g. using organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336

Abstract

A portable computer system that comprises dynamically adjustable brightness range settings and brightness control for providing improved user readability and prolonged component lifetime of the display screen. The main processor can change the range settings based on ambient light conditions or the user can perform the changes. The brightness level of the display changes according to a user selected setting within the range selected. The time required to implement the brightness change can be set to a value which can be configured by the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving ambient light information associated with an external environment of a display;

determining a value for an image quality setting for the display based on the ambient light information and a user preference;

adjusting the image quality setting to the value; and

adjusting emitted light for the display based on the value over a specified time period.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, the specified time period adjustable by a user.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising receiving the user preference.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising changing the user preference.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, the image quality setting comprising a brightness setting.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising displaying the image quality setting.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, the displaying comprising displaying a slider.

8. A method comprising:

detecting a change in ambient light associated with an external environment of a display;

determining a value for an image quality setting for the display based on the detected change in ambient light and a user preference;

adjusting the image quality setting to the value; and

adjusting emitted light for the display based on the value over a specified time period.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, the specified time period adjustable by a user.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, comprising receiving the user preference.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, comprising changing the user preference.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, the image quality setting comprising a brightness setting.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, comprising displaying the image quality setting.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, the displaying comprising displaying a slider.

15. A device comprising:

a sensor to detect ambient light;

a display including an image quality setting, wherein the ambient light is associated with an external environment of the display; and

a controller to determine a value for the image quality setting based on the detected ambient light and a user preference, the controller to adjust the image quality setting to the value and adjust emitted light for the display based on the value over a specified time period.

16. The device as recited in claim 15, the specified time period adjustable by a user.

17. The device as recited in claim 15, the controller to receive the user preference.

18. The device as recited in claim 15, the image quality setting comprising a brightness setting.

19. The device as recited in claim 15, the display to display the image quality setting.

20. The device as recited in claim 15, comprising a storage unit.