Patent ID: 7719528

Claim:
A portable computer having a main body and a display panel hingedly attached to the main body, the portable computer reducing power use by using at least a low-power state where power to components of the portable computer, including the display panel and a light unit of the display panel, are interrupted upon closing of the display panel, and a non-low-power state where power to the light unit is selectively interrupted upon closing of the display panel without setting of a ceasing of power to the display panel, comprising: an open/closed sensor to output open and closed detection signals in response to the display panel being open and closed, respectively; a power supply to supply a driving power to the display panel; and a controller to identify a predetermined power state in response to receiving the closed detection signal from the open/closed sensor, and to selectively control the driving power to the display panel to be interrupted in response to the display panel being closed and the power state not being set to the low-power state, wherein the controller comprises a video card driver to control the driving power to the display panel to be interrupted in response to the power state not being set to the low-power state.