US 8,478,361 B2 · Human stimulus activation and deactivation of a screensaver

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to an electronic device having a human stimulus receptor which, when activated, suspends activation of a screensaver. The screensaver is activated to conserve the power and life of the electronic device. When latently viewing the electronic device, however, the human stimulus receptor is activated. A countdown starts counting down a pre-determined amount of time once the human stimulus receptor is inactive. At the expiration of the countdown, the screensaver is activated. The human stimulus receptor responds to skin conductivity, natural muscular twitch, pulse, skin temperature, and/or eye movement. Only when the electronic device no longer detects any of these human stimuli will the countdown begin. A user may set the predetermined amount of time.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A portable electronic device comprising:

a processor;
and
a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing instructions that are executed by the processor to perform operations comprising:
starting a first timer upon receiving a first human stimulus at a first human stimulus receptor in communication with the processor,
starting a second timer upon receiving a second human stimulus at a second human stimulus receptor in communication with the processor, wherein the second timer is greater than the first timer, and
activating a screen saver upon expiration of both the first timer and the second timer.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Human stimulus activation and deactivation of a screensaver

Life of this patent

Human stimulus activation and deactivation of a screensaver

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18