Multi-function device illumination control system and method
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorsJoseph Patino, Randall Fraser, Alexander Rodriguez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Wireless communications devices, such as cellular telephones (100), include an integrated camera (202) and process image data captured by that camera (202) to determine desired device illumination levels. A controller (410) within the wireless communications device (100) causes an image to be captured by the integrated camera (202). The captured image data is processed to determine approximate ambient light levels. A level of device illumination, such as provided by a display backlight (416) and a keypad backlight (418) is controlled based upon the approximate ambient light levels.
Claims17
A wireless communications device comprising:
- at least one controllable illuminated component;
- at least one camera;
- an ambient light level calculator, communicatively coupled to the at least one camera, the ambient light level calculator receiving at least one image from the camera and determining an approximate ambient light level based upon the at least one image;
- and
- an illumination controller, communicatively coupled to the ambient light level calculator and the at least one illuminated component, the illumination controller controlling, in response to the approximate ambient light level, the at least one illuminated component.
A method for controlling an illumination level on a wireless communications device, the method comprising:
- capturing at least one image with at least one camera mounted on an electronic device;
- determining an approximate ambient light level based upon the at least one image;
- and
- controlling, in response to the approximate ambient light level, an illumination level of at least one illuminated component that is located on the electronic device.
A machine readable medium containing a definition of a machine executable method for controlling an illumination level on a wireless communications device, the machine executable method comprising the steps of:
- capturing at least one image with at least one camera mounted on an electronic device;
- determining an approximate ambient light level based upon the at least one image;
- and
- controlling, in response to the approximate ambient light level, an illumination level of at least one illuminated component that is located on the electronic device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.