# US 2013/0154485 A1 · Dual light sensors on a portable electronic device

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- Number: US 2013/0154485 A1
- Document ID: US20130154485A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/767,117
- Filed: 2013-02-14
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2008-09-02
- Assignees: Research In Motion Limited
- Inventors: Eric Gary MALO; Bergen Albert FLETCHER; Ken WU
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154485A1

## CPC

- H05B 47/11: by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
- G01J 1/0233: {Handheld}
- H04M 1/0245: {using open/close detection}
- H04W 52/027: {by controlling a display operation or backlight unit}
- H04M 1/0214: {Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position (combined with translation movement H04M1/0235)}
- H04M 1/22: Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
- H04M 2250/12: including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
- H04M 2250/16: including more than one display unit
- Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
- Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

A portable electronic device capable of assuming an open configuration and a closed configuration comprises a primary light sensor and a secondary light sensor. When the portable electronic device is in the open configuration, a light sensor signal is selected from the primary light sensor, and when the portable electronic device is in the closed configuration, a light sensor signal is selected from the secondary light sensor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device comprising:
an open configuration and a closed configuration, the device configured to alternate between the open configuration and the closed configuration;
a selector configured to: receive a first input indicative of the device being in the open configuration and a second input indicative of the device being in the closed configuration; select a light sensor signal from one of a primary light sensor and a secondary light sensor as a function of whether the device is in the open configuration or the closed configuration; and, output the light sensor signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the selector is further configured to select the light sensor signal from the primary light sensor responsive to the first input.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the selector is further configured to select the light sensor signal from the secondary light sensor responsive to the second input.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the selector comprises a multiplexer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to control a function of the device in accordance with the light sensor signal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to control the function by at least one of adjusting brightness of a display of the device, setting a backlight level for the display, and establishing a lighting level for one or more of an input component and an output component of the device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising an open-closed state detector, in communication with the selector, the open-closed state detector configured to detect the open configuration and the closed configuration

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first casing and a second casing configured to alternate between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, further comprising an open-closed state detector mounted in one of the first casing and the second casing, the open-closed state detector configured to detect the open configuration and the closed configuration responsive to movement of a magnet in another of the first casing and the second casing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising: a first display mounted in one of a first casing and a second casing of the device configured to alternate between the open configuration and the closed configuration, wherein the first display is visible in the open configuration and hidden in the closed configuration; and, a second display mounted in one of the first and second casings.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, further comprising a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to control a function of one or more of the first display and the second display in accordance with the light sensor signal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising: one or more of an input component and an output component; and a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to control a function of one or more of the input component and the output component in accordance with the light sensor signal.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12, wherein the input component comprises a keyboard and the output component comprises a lamp.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12, wherein the input component comprises a lamp, and the lamp and the secondary light sensor are one of either a single element or distinct elements having shared components.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12, wherein the output component comprises a lamp and the device further comprises a window in which the primary light sensor and the lamp are disposed such that the window serves as both a visual indicator and a light sensor.

### Claim 16

A method comprising:
receiving, at a sensor of a device configured to alternate between an open configuration and a closed configuration, a first input indicative of the device being in an open configuration and a second input indicative of the device being in a closed configuration;
selecting a light sensor signal from one of a primary light sensor and a secondary light sensor as a function of the device being in the open configuration or the closed configuration; and,
outputting the light sensor signal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the selecting comprises selecting the light sensor signal from the primary light sensor responsive to the first input.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the selecting comprises selecting the light sensor signal from the secondary light sensor responsive to the second input.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising controlling a function of the device in accordance with the light sensor signal.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the controlling a function comprises at least one of adjusting brightness of a display, setting a backlight level for the display, and establishing a lighting level for one or more of an input component and an output component of the device.