Method and apparatus for user selectable display mode for intelligently enhancing battery life
View Patent ↗A method and system for enhancing the life of a battery within a portable or otherwise battery operated electronic device. The method and system provide user selectable display modes, e.g., from color to monochrome, that can be changed in order to enhance the life of the device's battery. The monochrome display mode can be selected by the user when the battery level is detected below a predefined threshold. In one embodiment, the electronic device is a hand held computer system with a display device. When the battery level is detected as below a preselected level, a message is generated on the computer display screen. The message informs the user that the display mode of the screen can be changed to enhance the battery life. If selected, the display mode can change from color to monochrome thereby saving power because the monochrome display does not utilize a back-lighting element. In one embodiment, color sequential techniques are used to provide a flat panel color display. Within the display, a transreflective layer provides reflective light for monochrome applications. When the battery energy returns to normal levels, the color display mode can be re-entered automatically. It is appreciated that the display mode changes can also be performed automatically if the battery level falls below certain critical levels.
1. In a portable electronic device, a method of enhancing battery life comprising the steps of:
detecting a battery energy level of said portable electronic device below a first predetermined level, wherein said portable electronic device comprises a multi-mode display device;
in response to said detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device below a first predetermined level, automatically placing said multi-mode display device into a monochrome display mode to enhance remaining battery life of said portable electronic device;
detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device above said first predetermined level and below a second predetermined level; and
in response to said detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device above said first predetermined level and below said second predetermined level, displaying a message on said multi-mode display device indicating a low battery level and also indicating a user selection between said monochrome display mode and a color display mode.
2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said portable electronic device is a palm sized computer system.
3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said portable electronic device is a wireless telephone.
4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said multi-mode display device comprises:
selectively energized multi-color lighting elements;
a color flat panel display layer utilizing color sequential scanning processes; and
a transreflective layer positioned between said multi-color lighting elements and said color flat panel display layer.
5. A method as described in claim 4 wherein said multi-color lighting elements are disabled during said monochrome display mode.
6. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising:
detecting said battery level energy level of said portable electronic device above second predetermined level; and
in response to said detecting said battery level energy level of said portable electronic device above second predetermined level, automatically placing said multi-mode display device into said color display mode.
7. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising:
in response to a user selection of said monochrome display mode, placing said multi-mode display device into said monochrome display mode.
8. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising:
in response to a user selection of said color display mode, placing said multi-mode display device into said color display mode.
9. In a battery powered palm sized computer system, a method of enhancing battery life comprising:
detecting a battery energy level of said computer system below a first predetermined level, wherein said computer system comprises a flat panel multi-mode display device;
in response to said detecting a battery energy level of said computer system below a first predetermined level, placing said flat panel multi-mode display device into a monochrome display mode to enhance remaining battery life of said computer system;
detecting said battery energy level of said computer system above said first predetermined level and below a second predetermined level; and
d) in response to said detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device above said first predetermined level and below said second predetermined level, displaying a message on said flat panel multi-mode display device indicating a low battery level and also indicating a user selection between said monochrome display mode and a color display mode.
10. A method as described in claim 9 wherein said flat panel multi-mode display device comprises:
selectively energized multi-color lighting elements;
a color flat panel display layer utilizing color sequential scanning processes; and
a transreflective layer positioned between said multi-color lighting elements and said color flat panel display layer.
11. A method as described in claim 10 wherein said multi-color lighting elements are disabled during said monochrome display mode.
12. A method as described in claim 9 further comprising:
detecting said battery level energy level of said portable electronic device above second predetermined level; and
in response to said detecting said battery level energy level of said portable electronic device above second predetermined level, automatically placing said multi-mode display device into said color display mode.
13. A method as described in claim 9 further comprising:
in response to a user selection of said monochrome display mode, placing said multi-mode display device into said monochrome display mode.
14. A method as described in claim 9 further comprising:
in response to a user selection of said color display mode, placing said multi-mode display device into said color display mode.
15. A portable electronic device comprising:
a battery;
a processor coupled to a bus;
an input device coupled to said bus;
a multi-mode display device coupled to said bus;
a memory unit coupled to said bus wherein said memory unit contains processor instructions that when executed implement a method of enhancing battery life comprising:
detecting a battery energy level of said portable electronic device below a first predetermined level;
in response to said detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device below a first predetermined level, automatically placing said multi-mode display device into a monochrome display mode to enhance remaining battery life of said portable electronic device;
detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device above said first predetermined level and below a second predetermined level; and
in response to said detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device above said first predetermined level and below said second predetermined level, displaying a message on said multi-mode display device indicating a low battery level and also indicating a user selection between said monochrome display mode and a color display mode.
16. A portable electronic device as described in claim 15 wherein said multi-mode display device comprises:
selectively energized multi-color lighting elements;
a color flat panel display layer utilizing color sequential scanning processes; and
a transreflective layer positioned between said multi-color lighting elements and said color flat panel display layer.
17. A portable electronic device as described in claim 16 wherein said multi-color lighting elements are disabled during said monochrome display mode.
18. A portable electronic device as described in claim 15 wherein said method further comprises:
detecting said battery level energy level of said portable electronic device above second predetermined level; and
in response to said detecting said battery level energy level of said portable electronic device above second predetermined level, automatically placing said multi-mode display device into said color display mode.
19. A portable electronic device as described in claim 15 wherein said method further comprises:
in response to a user selection of said monochrome display mode, placing said multi-mode display device into said monochrome display mode.
20. A portable electronic device as described in claim 15 wherein said method further comprises:
in response to a user selection of said color display mode, placing said multi-mode display device into said color display mode.
21. In a portable electronic device, a method of enhancing battery life comprising:
detecting a battery energy level of said portable electronic device below a first predetermined level, wherein said portable electronic device comprises a transreflective display device comprising a back lighting element;
in response to said detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device below a first predetermined level, automatically placing said transreflective display device into a first display mode to enhance remaining battery life of said portable electronic device wherein said first display mode disables said back lighting element;
detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device above said first predetermined level and below a second predetermined level; and
in response to said detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device above said first predetermined level and below said second predetermined level, displaying a message on said transreflective display device indicating a low battery level and also indicating a user selection between said first display mode and a second display mode wherein said second display mode enables said back lighting element.