# US 2008/0185976 A1 · Display backlight system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185976 A1 - Document ID: US20080185976A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/671,202 - Filed: 2007-02-05 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-05 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Bill A. Dickey; Michael R. Praiswater - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185976A1 ## CPC - G09G 3/3426: {the different display panel areas being distributed in two dimensions, e.g. matrix} - G09G 3/342: {using several illumination sources separately controlled corresponding to different display panel areas, e.g. along one dimension such as lines} - H05B 45/46: having LEDs disposed in parallel lines - G09G 2320/041: Temperature compensation - G09G 2330/021: Power management, e.g. power saving - G09G 2360/145: the light originating from the display screen - H05B 45/28: using temperature feedback - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A system and method for controlling backlight luminance of a display that includes a display region in which an image may be selectively rendered includes one or more devices for determining if operation in a reduced power mode is desired. If operation in the reduced power mode is not desired, the display region is at least substantially uniformly backlit. If operation in the reduced power mode is desired, only selected sections of the display region are selectively backlit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A backlight system for a display, comprising: a plurality of light sources, each light source coupled to be selectively energized and deenergized and operable, upon being energized to emit light and illuminate a portion of the display; a backlight controller configured to determine if reduced power operation is desired and, if so, to selectively deenergize selected ones of the light sources and selectively energize selected other ones of the light sources. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The backlight system of claim 1, wherein the backlight controller is further configured to energize each light source if reduced power operation is not desired. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The backlight system of claim 1, wherein: the backlight controller is adapted to receive an input signal; and the backlight controller is responsive to the input signal to determine if reduced power operation is desired. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, further comprising: a user interface in operable communication with the backlight controller, the user interface configured to receive input stimuli from a user and, in response to the user stimuli, to selectively supply the input signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the input signal is at least representative of representative of the thermal state of the display. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein: the backlight controller is adapted to receive power from a power supply; and the input signal is at least representative of the power supply state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein: the power supply is either a primary power supply or a backup power supply; and the input signal is at least representative of which power supply is supplying power to the backup controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the input signal is at least representative of the state of one or more sensor signals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the backlight controller is adapted to receive image data representative of images to be rendered by the display; and the backlight controller is further configured, upon receipt of the image data, to selectively deenergize selected ones of the light sources and selectively energize selected other ones of the light sources. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the backlight controller is further configured to selectively reduce electrical power supplied to the selectively energized light sources. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). ### Claim 12 A display device, comprising: a display including a display region in which an image may be selectively rendered; a backlight spaced apart from the display region and including a plurality of light sources, each light source coupled to be selectively energized and deenergized and operable, upon being energized, to emit light; and a backlight controller coupled to the backlight, the backlight controller configured to: (i) determine if reduced power operation is desired, (ii) energize each light source in a manner that at least substantially uniformly backlights the display region if reduced power operation is not desired, and (iii) selectively deenergize selected ones of the light sources and selectively energize selected other ones of the light sources in a manner that selectively backlights only selected sections of the display region if reduced power operation is desired. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The display device of claim 12, wherein the backlight controller is responsive to an input signal to determine if reduced power operation is desired. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The display device of claim 13, further comprising: a user interface in operable communication with the backlight controller, the user interface configured to receive input stimuli from a user and, in response to the user stimuli, to selectively supply the input signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The display device of claim 13, further comprising: a thermal sensor in operable communication with the backlight controller, the thermal sensor configured to sense the thermal state of the display and supply a signal representative thereof as the input signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The display device of claim 13, further comprising: a power supply configured to supply power to the backlight controller, wherein the input signal is at least representative of the power supply state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The display device of claim 13, further comprising: a primary power supply configured to selectively supply power to the backlight controller; and a backup power supply configured to selectively supply power to the backlight controller, wherein the input signal is at least representative of which power supply is supplying power to the backup controller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The display device of claim 13, further comprising: a sensor operable to supply a sensor signal to the display representative of one or more parameters to be rendered in the display region, wherein the input signal is at least representative of the state of the sensor signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The display device of claim 13, further comprising: a display controller in operable communication with the display and the backlight controller, the display controller configured to (i) selectively cause the image to be selectively displayed in the display region and (ii) to supply image data representative of the image to be rendered, wherein the backlight controller is adapted to receive the image data and is further configured, upon receipt of the image data, to selectively deenergize selected ones of the light sources and selectively energize selected other ones of the light sources. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The display device of claim 12, wherein the backlight controller is further configured to selectively reduce electrical power supplied to the selectively energized light sources. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The display device of claim 12, wherein each light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). ### Claim 22 A method of controlling backlight luminance of a display, the display including a display region in which an image may be selectively rendered, the method comprising the steps of: determining if operation in a reduced power mode is desired; at least substantially uniformly backlighting the display region if operation in the reduced power mode is not desired; and selectively backlighting only selected sections of the display region if operation in the reduced power mode is desired.