Apparatus and method for ambient light detection and power control via photovoltaics

1. An apparatus for ambient light detection and power control using photovoltaics, comprising:

a processor;

a display operatively coupled to the processor;

a power supply powering at least one of the processor and the display;

a photovoltaic cell detecting an ambient light level and producing an electric current based on the ambient light level;

a power recovery circuit receiving the electric current from the photovoltaic cell and conditioning the electric current to provide a conditioned power signal to at least one of an energy storage unit, the power supply, the processor, and the display, the conditioned power signal being useable by the at least one of the energy storage unit, the power supply, the processor, and the display; and

a memory device operatively coupled to the processor, the memory device storing instructions to cause the processor to:

provide a display signal to the display;

determine a value indicative of the ambient light level based on the electric current; and

control a power level of the display signal based on the value indicative of the ambient light level such that a change in the ambient light level causes a change in a brightness level of the display to reduce power consumption.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a portable electronic device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage unit is a rechargeable battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic cell is part of a at least one of a photovoltaic cell module, a photovoltaic cell array, and a plurality of photovoltaic cells.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic cell is optimized to absorb energy in the visible light frequency range.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic cell is prominently located on the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power recovery circuit includes a high efficiency boost converter to condition the energy received from the photovoltaic cell into the conditioned power signal in a specified current range and in a specified voltage range.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display is at least one of a liquid crystal display, a plasma display panel, a cathode ray tube display, a digital light processing display, a field emission display, a surface-conduction electron-emitter display, a liquid crystal on silicon display, an interferometric modulator display, a time multiplexed optical shutter display, a light emitting diode display, an organic light emitting diode display, a vacuum fluorescent display, a seven segment display, flat panel display, and a touch screen display.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power level of the display signal is at a first power level when the ambient light level is high and the power level of the display signal is at a second power level when the ambient light level is low, the first power level being greater than the second power level.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus saves power by simultaneously control a power level of the display signal to reduce power consumption and at least one of the energy storage unit, the power supply, the processor, and the display using the conditioned power signal as a power source.

11. A method for ambient light detection and power control using photovoltaics, comprising:

detecting an ambient light level with a photovoltaic cell;

producing an electric current based on the detected ambient light level;

receiving the electric current from the photovoltaic cell at a power recovery circuit;

conditioning the electric current with the power recovery circuit to provide a conditioned power signal to at least one of an energy storage unit, a power supply, a processor, and a display, the conditioned power signal being useable by the at least one of the energy storage unit, the power supply, the processor, and the display;

providing a display signal to the display;

determining a value indicative of the ambient light level based on the electric current; and

controlling a power level of the display signal based on the value indicative of the ambient light level such that a change in the ambient light level causes a change in a brightness level of the display to reduce power consumption.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the photovoltaic cell is part of a at least one of a photovoltaic cell module, a photovoltaic cell array, and a plurality of photovoltaic cells.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the power recovery circuit includes a high efficiency boost converter to condition the energy received from the photovoltaic cell into the conditioned power signal in a specified current range and in a specified voltage range.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the display is at least one of a liquid crystal display, a plasma display panel, a cathode ray tube display, a digital light processing display, a field emission display, a surface-conduction electron-emitter display, a liquid crystal on silicon display, an interferometric modulator display, a time multiplexed optical shutter display, a light emitting diode display, an organic light emitting diode display, a vacuum fluorescent display, a seven segment display, flat panel display, and a touch screen display.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the power level of the display signal is at a first power level when the ambient light level is high and the power level of the display signal is at a second power level when the ambient light level is low, the first power level being greater than the second power level.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the power level of the display signal is reduced when the ambient light level is low to save power.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the conditioned power signal recharges a rechargeable battery in the energy storage unit to save power.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the power level of the display signal is reduced when the ambient light level is low simultaneously with the conditioned power signal recharging the rechargeable battery to save power.

19. A computer readable device storing software instructions to cause an apparatus for ambient light detection and power control using photovoltaics to:

provide a display signal to a display;

receive a signal indicative of an ambient light level from a photovoltaic cell;

determine a value indicative of the ambient light level based on the signal;

control the use of a conditioned power signal generated from the photovoltaic cell such that the conditioned power signal is at least one of stored in an energy storage unit, used by a power supply, used by a processor, and used by a display; and

control a power level of the display signal based on the value indicative of the ambient light level such that a change in the ambient light level causes a change in a brightness level of the display to reduce power consumption.

20. The computer readable device of claim 19 , wherein the apparatus saves power by simultaneously controlling a power level of the display signal to reduce power consumption and at least one of the energy storage unit, the power supply, the processor, and the display using the conditioned power signal as a power source.