Patent Publication Number: US-2010110054-A1

Title: Display module and method for using the same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to display modules and method for using the same, and particularly to a display module that uses less power and a method for using the same. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Display modules are widely used in portable electronic devices such as mobile phones or personal digital assistants (PDA). With the development of technology, display modules are provided with enlarged sizes, variety of colors, and high definition. However, these enlarged/multicolored/high definition display modules consume much more electric power. 
     Many display modules can have a standby status to save electric power. When a display module of a portable electronic device works in a standby status, the display module is in a black-screen status. In the black-screen status, the display module stops displaying images and turns off its backlight to save electric power. When the portable electronic device receives alerting signals such as telephone calls or short message, or the user inputs instruction to the portable electronic device, the display module changes to a display status, thus the display module turns on the backlight, thereby displaying images. 
     When a display module of a portable electronic device switches from the standby status to the display status, despite the fact that information/instructions received by the portable electronic device can be displayed in only a part of a screen of its display module and/or in only black and white, the display module will turn on all of its backlight, and the whole screen of the display module will become multicolor and display information/instruction. Therefore, the conventional portable electronic device consumes a larger amount of electric power. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present display module and method for using the same can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the various drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present display module and method fro using the same. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a display module, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the display module shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of an image displaying method, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a display module  100  according to an exemplary embodiment is provided. The display module  100  is used in a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a laptop computer to display images. 
     The display module  100  includes an operating unit  10 , a processor unit  20 , a signal receiving unit  30  and a display unit  40 . The operating unit  10 , the signal receiving unit  30  and the display unit  40  are all electronically connected to the processor unit  20 . The operating unit  10  is an input apparatus such as a keypad for inputting operating instruction to the display module  100 . The processor unit  20  can be a CPU of the portable electronic device for processing the operating instructions and controlling the display unit  40  to work according to the operating instruction. The signal receiving module  30  can be an antenna of the portable electronic device for receiving outside wireless signals and sending the signals to the processor unit  20 , thereby displaying images. 
     The display unit  40  includes a main display  41  and a subsidiary display  42 . The main display  41  and the subsidiary display  42  are both electronically connected to the processor unit  20 . The subsidiary display  42  is also electronically connected to the main display  41 , and the electronic connection between the main display  41  and the subsidiary display  42  is controlled by the processor unit  20 . 
     The main display  41  can be a conventional display of the portable electronic device. The main display  41  has a display status and a standby status. In the display status, the main display  41  turns on its backlight and displays images in colors. In the standby status, the main display  41  turns off its backlight and stops displaying images. The subsidiary display  42  is a relatively small display, which has a common display status and a standby status similar to the display status and the standby status of the main display  41 . The subsidiary display  42  further has a special display status. In the special display status, the subsidiary display  42  displays images in less colors (e.g., only in black and white) less than the number of kinds of colors used in the common display status. 
     Understandably, in one fabricating method, a whole display is premade and then be divided into a subsidiary display  42  and a main display  41 ; in another fabricating method, the main display  41  and the subsidiary display  42  are made separately, and then assembled together. In assembly, the subsidiary display  42  can be mounted on a surface of the main display  41  or received in a corresponding hole  411  defined in the main display  41 . 
     The display module  100  has a standby mode, a common display mode and an energy-saving display mode. In the standby mode and the common display mode, the subsidiary display  42  is electronically connected to the main display  41 . The subsidiary display  42  is integrated with the main display  41  to serve as a part of the main display  41 , and thus the main display  41  and the subsidiary display  42  can display images together in the aforementioned display status/common display status, respectively, or both switch to the standby status to stop displaying images. In the energy-saving mode, the electronic connection between the main display  41  and the subsidiary display  42  is switched off by the processor unit  20 . The subsidiary display  42  serves as an independent display, and thus the subsidiary display  42  can display images in either the common display status or the special display status. 
     Also referring to  FIG. 3 , an image display method according to an exemplary embodiment is provided. The method includes these steps as follows. 
     First, a display module  100  is provided and installed in a portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a laptop computer. 
     Display parameters of the display unit  40  (e.g., the number and colors used to display images, luminance of the backlight, and definition of displayed images, etc.) are set in the processor module  20  by the operating module  10 . Advantageously, the display status of the main display  41  and the common display status of the subsidiary display  42  use relatively more kinds of colors, higher luminance of backlight and higher definition, and the special display status of the subsidiary display  42  use relatively less kinds of colors, lower backlight luminance and lower definition. 
     After setting display parameters, the display module  100  automatically switches or is manually switched to the standby mode. The subsidiary display  42  is electronically connected to the main display  41 , and both the main display  41  and the subsidiary display  42  are in their above-mentioned standby statuses. 
     When outside signals, such as inputted instruction, telephone calls, messages or pictures are received by the portable electronic device, the signal receiving unit  30  sends the signals to the processor unit  20 . The processor unit  20  then identifies the kinds of the received signals, selects from different working modes of the display module  100  according to the identifying results, and then sends the signals to the display unit  100  to display according to selected working modes. 
     In particular, when the processor unit  20  identifies the received signals as character signals (e.g., telephone calls or character messages) or simple image signals that do not require a large display size nor many display colors, the processor unit  20  selects the energy-saving display mode. Thus, the processor unit  20  switches off the electronic connection between the main display  41  and the subsidiary display  22 . The main display  41  maintains functioning in the standby status to save electric energy, and the subsidiary display  22  independently displays images of the signals, i.e., the phone numbers or characters, in less colors or just in black and white, with relatively low brightness and definition. Correspondingly, only a part of backlight corresponding to the subsidiary display  42  is turned on. Therefore, only a part of the display unit  100  displays images, and the display module  100  can save electric energy. 
     When processor unit  20  identifies the received signals as image signals requiring a large display size and many display colors, for example, pictures or webpages, the processor unit  20  selects the common display mode. Thus, the processor unit  20  mains functioning the electronic connection between the main display  41  and the subsidiary display  42 . The images are displayed in the main display  41  and the subsidiary display  42  integrated together, wherein the entire backlight is turned on, and the images are displayed in all colors of the display unit  40 , with relatively higher brightness and definition. Therefore, the display parameters such as size, luminous, colors and definition of the displayed images are all improved, such that the images get high display quality. 
     Additionally, in the method embodiment, the aforementioned step of setting display parameters can also be omitted. Instead, the processor unit  20  can automatically determine display parameters when the received signals have been identified. 
     It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions of various embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.