Automatic screen and keypad brightness adjustment on a mobile handheld electronic device

Abstract

A method is set forth for automatically adjusting screen and keypad brightness on a mobile electronic device having a light sensor, display screen and keypad, for optimum legibility under varying lighting conditions, with minimal eye strain and distraction to the user. The method includes obtaining light level samples from the light sensor, and independently adjusting backlight intensity of the display screen and keypad responsive to the light level samples. Preferably, correct screen and keypad adjustments are made responsive to the user pulling his or her handheld device out of its holster notwithstanding non-optimal ambient light detection while the device is being removed from the holster. According to another aspect, the described method allows for ambient light detection in a handheld device where the light sensor and a message notification indicator share a common light pipe.

Description

technical field [0001] The present application relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to methods for automatically adjusting screen and keyboard brightness on mobile electronic devices. Background technique [0002] The brightness of the liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and keypad on the handheld electronic device can be adjusted according to different operating environments, so as to provide the best user experience. For example, in an outdoor or sunny environment, the LCD backlight must be very bright to be readable, and the keypad backlight should be turned off to save power. Under normal indoor or office conditions, the LCD backlight should be operated at moderate brightness and the keyboard backlight should usually be off. In dim or dark conditions, the LCD backlight should be on low intensity to prevent eye strain, and the keyboard backlight should be on. [0003] As users move between different work environments, ambient lighting conditio...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, no such prior art backlight algorithm is known to address independent control of LCD and keypad backlight adjustments as the user moves between different ambient light conditions as the user moves between different ambient lighting environments.

Furthermore, the known prior art does not address the problem of providing quick backlight adjustments in response to a user removing his or her handheld electronic device from a wearable holster accessory, or when the device's light sensor and message notification indicator are shared. PROBLEMS OF DETECTING AMBIENT LIGHT WHEN COMMON LUMINOUS PIPES (as described in co-pending U.S. Patent Application No. 11 / 187,867, filed Jul. 25, 2005, entitled SHARED LIGHT PIPE FOR A MESSAGE INDICATOR AND LIGHTSENSOR)

Images