Patent ID: 6404423
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: G09G

Abstract:
Display power management method, comprising the steps of:monitoring at a display a signal indicative of user activity; and timing within said display, for so long as said signal indicates user inactivity, successive periods of user inactivity, for initiating a corresponding series of successively greater power saving states, each of which terminates to a normal power consuming state upon detection of resumption of user activity as indicated by said signal, wherein said step of monitoring comprises the steps of: repeatedly detecting in said display for the absence of any one of a plurality of signals provided to the display from a host computer over a standard interface cable for signaling various display power management states; and wherein said step of timing comprises the steps of: upon first detecting the absence of said any one of said plurality of signals while in a normal operating state, commencing a timing procedure while continuing to detect for said absence of said any one of said plurality of signals, whereby after a number of timeout periods energy consumption of said display is reduced in a comparable number of energy-saving operating states; and returning to said normal operating state upon no longer detecting said absence of said any one of said plurality of signals.