Method and apparatus for 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 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 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 may be generated on the computer display screen. The display mode can change from color to monochrome thereby saving power because the monochrome display. 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:
detecting a battery energy level of said portable electronic device comprises a first predetermined level, wherein said portable electronic device comprises a display device for providing a first display mode and a second display mode;
in response to said detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device below said first predetermined level, placing said display device into said first display mode to enhance remaining battery life of said portable electronic device wherein said first display mode is a power saving mode;
in response to detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device above said first predetermined level and below a predetermined level, activating a second display mode, wherein said first and said second display modes are independent of an intensity of an illumination system for said display device.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said placing said display device into said first display mode is performed automatically in response to said detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device below said first predetermined level.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said display device comprises a backlighting element.
4. The method as recited in claim 1
wherein placing said display device into said first display mode is performed automatically.
5. The method as recited in claim 1
wherein placing said display device into said second display mode is performed automatically.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
detecting said battery level energy level of said portable electronic device above said predetermined level; and
in response to said detecting said battery level energy level of said portable electronic device above said predetermined level, automatically placing said display device into said second display mode.
7. A portable electronic device comprising:
a battery;
a processor couple to a bus;
an input device couple to said bus;
a display device coupled to said bus, said display device for providing a first display mode and a second display mode, wherein said first display mode is a power saving mode;
a memory unit coupled to said bus wherein said memory unit comprises processor instructions that when executed implement a method of enhancing battery life, said method 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 said first predetermined level, placing said display device into said first display mode to enhance remaining battery life of said portable electronic device;
in response to detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device above said first predetermined level and below a predetermined level, activating a second display mode,
wherein said first and said second display modes are independent of an intensity of an illumination system for said display device.
8. The portable electronic device of claim 7 wherein said placing said display device into said first display mode is performed automatically in response to said detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device below said first predetermined level.
9. The portable electronic device of claim 7 wherein said display device comprises a backlighting element.
10. The portable electronic device of claim 7 wherein placing said display device into said first display mode is performed automatically.
11. The portable electronic device of claim 7 wherein placing said display device into said second display mode is performed automatically.
12. The portable electronic device of claim 7 wherein said method further comprises:
detecting said battery level energy level of said portable electronic device above said predetermined level; and
in response to said detecting said battery level energy level of said portable electronic device above said predetermined level, automatically placing said display device into said second display mode.
13. A computer-usable medium comprising computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a method of enhancing battery life in a portable electronic device, said method comprising:
detecting a battery energy level of said portable electronic device below a first predetermined level, wherein said portable electronic device comprises a display device for providing a first display mode and a second display mode;
in response to said detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device below said first predetermined level, placing said display device into said first display mode to enhance remaining battery life of said portable electronic device wherein said first display mode is a power saving mode;
in response to detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device above said first predetermined level and below a predetermined level, displaying a message on said display device indicating a low battery level,
wherein said first and said second display modes are independent of an intensity of an illumination system for said display device.
14. The computer-usable medium of claim 13 wherein said placing said display device into said first display mode is performed automatically in response to said detecting said battery energy level of said portable electronic device below said first predetermined level.
15. The computer-usable medium of claim 13 wherein placing said display device into said first display mode is performed automatically.
16. The computer-usable medium of claim 13 wherein placing said display device into said second display mode is performed automatically.
17. The computer-usable medium of claim 13 wherein said method further comprises:
detecting said battery level energy level of said portable electronic device above said predetermined level; and
in response to said detecting said battery level energy level of said portable electronic device above said predetermined level, automatically placing said display device into said second display mode.