Computer light adjustment

• US 8,970,471 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kerr, Duncan, Ording, Bas, Christie, Greg, Chaudhri, Imran, van Os, Marcel, King, Nick
• Primary Examiner(s): Pervan, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/946,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20140021869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 345/102, 345156-157, 345168-173, 345/207, 345901-905, 341 20- 23, 349 61- 71, 36167908-6792, 3616794-67945, 36167955-67956, 362 971- 974
• US Class Current: 345/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0633 by amplitude modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 Intensity circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a light source configured to output light. The computing device also includes a light sensor configured to measure the level of light surrounding the computing device. The computing device further includes a control mechanism operatively coupled to the light source and light sensor and configured to adjust the level of output light based on the measured level of light surrounding the computing device.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a light source;

a light sensor;

a light controller configured to process light information associated with the light sensor and the light source;

a housing that encloses the light source, the light sensor, and the light controller, wherein the housing includes a plurality of openings and wherein the light sensor is configured to receive light through the plurality of openings; and

an output device that conveys signals to a user through the plurality of openings.

2. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a portion of a display.

3. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display.

4. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the portion of the display comprises a light panel of the display.

5. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the light sensor comprises an ambient light sensor.

6. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 5, further comprising an additional ambient light sensor.

7. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising storage configured to store an illumination profile that defines a relationship between measured ambient light levels and light intensities of the light source.

8. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the light controller is configured to control the light source using the stored illumination profile.

9. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the stored illumination profile comprises a data table that includes the ambient light levels as inputs and the light intensities as outputs.

10. A mobile phone, comprising:

a light source;

an ambient light sensor;

a housing that surrounds the light source and the ambient light sensor, wherein the housing includes at least one speaker opening and wherein the ambient light sensor is configured to receive ambient light through the at least one speaker opening; and

a processor, wherein the processor is configured to process measured output from the ambient light sensor and light instructions for the light source.

11. The mobile phone defined in claim 10 wherein the processor is further configured to control an intensity of the light source based on the measured output from the ambient light sensor.

12. The mobile phone defined in claim 11 wherein the light source comprises a light source associated with a display.

13. The mobile phone defined in claim 12 wherein an intensity of light emitted by the display is based on the measured output from the ambient light sensor.

14. The mobile phone defined in claim 13 wherein the display includes liquid crystal cells.

15. The mobile phone defined in claim 14 wherein the display further comprises at least one polarizing filter.

16. The mobile phone defined in claim 14 wherein the display further comprises a glass plate.

17. The mobile phone defined in claim 12, further comprising an additional ambient light sensor that receives ambient light through the material.

18. A media player, comprising:

a processor;

a light source;

a light sensor;

a light controller coupled to the processor and configured to direct light information between the processor, the light sensor, and the light source; and

a housing that encloses the processor, the light source, the ambient light sensor, and the light controller, wherein the housing includes a plurality of speaker openings and wherein the ambient light sensor is configured to receive light through the plurality of speaker openings.