Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-020381 filed on Jan. 30, 2009, including specification, claims, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    One aspect of the invention relates to an electronic apparatus configured to adjust the luminance of the display screen according to the illuminance therearound. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In electronic apparatus such as cell phones and cameras, to make the display screen easy to see, the light-emission luminance of the display screen is controlled so as to have an optimum value for the ambient illuminance. In this connection, there is an apparatus that is reduced in power consumption (see JP-A-2008-219659 (paragraphs 0029 and 0031 and FIGS. 7 and 8), for instance). In JP-A-2008-219659 (FIG. 7 and paragraph 0029), the battery operation time is elongated by reducing the power consumption by making the luminance of a backlight of a display module lower when the residual energy of a battery is small than when the residual energy is large. Furthermore, in JP-A-2008-219659 (FIG. 8 and paragraph 0031), during daytime when there is a large difference between illuminance in the sun and that in the shade, that is, a rapid variation occurs in ambient illuminance, a luminance control is employed in which the luminance control cycle is shortened to quickly respond to a rapid luminance variation. 
         [0006]    There is another apparatus that is reduced in power consumption (see JP No. 2,891,955 (Pages 1-3 and FIGS. 1 and 2), for instance). In JP No. 2,891,955, the average power consumption of a processor etc. for calculating optimum luminance is reduced by turning on the power to the processor etc. intermittently rather than all the time using a timer. Same as in JP-A-2008-219659, the control can follow an illuminance variation by a variable setting of the timer cycle that the timer cycle is set long in an environment with a small illuminance variation and short in an environment with a large illuminance variation (JP No. 2,891,955, paragraph 0015). 
         [0007]    The apparatus of JP-A-2008-219659 can elongate the battery operation time by reducing the power consumption by lowing the luminance of the backlight of the display module when the battery residual energy is small. However, a problem may arise that during such a control the display screen is reduced in luminance and hence made difficult to see. 
         [0008]    In the apparatus of JP No. 2,891,955, the power consumption of the processor etc. for calculating optimum luminance is reduced. However, the power used for the light emission of the display module is much larger than that consumed by the processor etc. For example, where the display module is an LCD or the like, very large power is consumed for the light emission of the backlight. In the case of organic LEDs or the like, very large power is supplied for the light emission of the organic LEDs. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including: a luminance adjustable display module; an illuminance sensor configured to detect illuminance around the electronic apparatus; and a controller configured to: read the illuminance from the illuminance sensor; determine luminance corresponding to the illuminance; control the luminance adjustable display module to set luminance to the determined luminance; and set a waiting time based on the determined luminance, the waiting time being a time to a next time point of illuminance reading and luminance control, wherein the controller is configured to set the waiting time short when the determined luminance is high and to set the waiting time long when the determined luminance is low. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Embodiment may be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary block diagram of an electronic apparatus  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  shows an exemplary illuminance/luminance table  3  of the electronic apparatus  100  according to the embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2B  shows an exemplary luminance/waiting time table  4  of the electronic apparatus  100  according to the embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary operation flowchart of a luminance control function  11  and a timer function  12  of a controller  1  of the electronic apparatus  100  according to the embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary timing chart illustrating a power saving effect of the electronic apparatus  100  according to the embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic apparatus  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 2A and 2B  show an illuminance/luminance table  3  and a luminance/waiting time table  4  of the electronic apparatus  100  according to the embodiment of the invention. The configuration etc. will be described below with reference to both figures. 
         [0017]    The electronic apparatus  100  is configured of a controller  1 , an illuminance sensor  2 , the illuminance/luminance table  3 , the luminance/waiting time table  4 , a display controller  5 , a display module  6 , etc. 
         [0018]    Disposed in a vicinity of the display module  6 , the illuminance sensor  2  measures ambient-light illuminance of the display module  6  and supplies an illuminance  2   a  signal to the controller  1 . 
         [0019]    The illuminance/luminance table  3  (see  FIG. 2A ) is a table in which optimum light-emission luminance values (luminance  3   b  outputs) of the display module  6  are recorded in advance for respective ambient illuminance values (illuminance  3   a  inputs). The luminance  3   b  output is data corresponding to power to be supplied to a backlight  62  of the display module  6 , that is, light-emission luminance of the backlight  62 . When the illuminance  3   a  is high (bright), the viewability is rendered low if the degree of light emission of the display module  6  is low (dark) and hence the luminance  3   b  is set high (bright) to increase the viewability. Therefore, the power consumption of the display module  6  is also made high. When the illuminance  3   a  is low (dark), sufficient viewability is secured even if the luminance  3   b  is set low. Therefore, the luminance  3   b  is set low and the power consumption of the display module  6  is also made low. 
         [0020]    The luminance/waiting time table  4  is a table in which waiting times (waiting time  4   b  outputs) to a start of processing of a luminance control function  11  are recorded in advance for respective light-emission luminance values (luminance  4   a  inputs) of the display module  6 , that is, power consumption values. The waiting time is set short (e.g., 1 sec) when the luminance  4   a  input is large (the power consumption is high), and is set long (e.g., 3 sec) when the luminance  4   a  input is small (the power consumption is low). That is, the waiting time is applied weighing so as to vary reversely to the manner of variation of the luminance  4   a  (power consumption). 
         [0021]    In the display controller  5 , which is a display controller for the display module  6 , controls display data according to the form of the display module  6  and outputs resulting display data to an LCD  61 . 
         [0022]    The display module  6 , which is an LCD module, is configured of the LCD  61 , the backlight  62 , etc. The current flowing through the backlight  62  is varied according to a luminance  11   a  signal that is output from the luminance control function  11 , whereby the light-emission luminance of the backlight  62 , that is, the light-emission luminance of the display module  6 , is varied. 
         [0023]    The controller  1 , which is configured of a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, etc., performs the luminance control function  11 , a timer function  12 , etc. by running programs stored in the ROM. 
         [0024]    Broken lines in the block of the luminance control function  11  indicate input/output relationships between pieces of information that are controlled by the luminance control function  11 . The luminance control function  11  reads an illuminance  2   a  signal representing ambient illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor  2 , gives it to the illuminance/luminance table  3  as an illuminance  3   a  input and reads out a corresponding luminance  3   b , and supplies it to the backlight  62  as a luminance  11   a  signal representing determined luminance. The backlight  62  emits light at this luminance. The processing so far described is conventional processing. 
         [0025]    Then, the luminance control function  11  gives the thus-determined luminance  3   b  to the luminance/waiting time table  4  as a luminance  4   a  input and reads out a corresponding waiting time  4   b , sets it in the timer of the timer function  12 , and suspends the processing of the luminance control function  11  itself. 
         [0026]    After a lapse of the waiting time  4   b , the luminance control function  11  is activated again by the timer function  12 . The above processing is repeated thereafter. 
         [0027]    As described in describing the luminance/waiting time table  4  (see  FIG. 2B ), the waiting times  4   b  are set so as to vary reversely to the manner of variation of the luminance  4   a  (power consumption). An advantage of this setting will be described later with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is an operation flowchart of the luminance control function  11  and the timer function  12  of the controller  1  of the electronic apparatus  100  according to the embodiment of the invention. 
         [0029]    When a state for display on the display module  6  is established by, for example, opening the body of the electronic apparatus  100 , the luminance control function  11  and the timer function  12  start to operate. 
         [0030]    First, at step S 1 , the luminance control function  11  reads an illuminance  2   a  signal representing ambient illuminance from the illuminance sensor  2  and reads a corresponding display module luminance  3   b  from the illuminance/luminance table  3  using the illuminance  2   a  signal as an illuminance  3   a  input, and supplies the luminance  3   b  to the backlight  62  as a luminance  11   a  signal. As a result, the light-emission luminance of the display module  6  is made high if the ambient illuminance is high and is made low if the ambient illuminance is low. The display module  6  is thus kept easy to see according to the ambient illuminance. The power consumption is high if the light-emission luminance of the display module  6  is high and is low if the light-emission luminance of the display module  6  is low. Step S 1  is a conventional step. 
         [0031]    At step S 2 , the luminance control function  11  reads a corresponding waiting time  4   b  from the luminance/waiting time table  4  using, as a luminance  4   a  input, the luminance  11   a  (equals to luminance  3   b ) that was supplied to the backlight  62 , and sets the waiting time  4   b  in the timer of the timer function  12 . Then, the luminance control function  11  finishes its processing. 
         [0032]    Then, the process goes to the part of which the timer function  12  is in charge. At step S 10 , the timer function  12  starts to count to the waiting time  4   b  which was set at step S 2 . When the waiting time  4   b  has elapsed, the process returns to the part of which the luminance control function  11  is in charge and the luminance control function  11  performs step S 1  again. 
         [0033]    With the above process, the cycle of the luminance control function  11  is equal to (waiting time  4   b )+(processing time of steps S 1  and S 2 ). Since the waiting time  4   b  in on the order of seconds, the cycle is approximately equal to the waiting time  4   b.    
         [0034]    As described above, step S 1  which is performed by the luminance control function  11  to control the light-emission luminance of the display module  6  by determining light-emission luminance suitable for ambient illuminance is performed only after a lapse of a waiting time  4   b . Therefore, if the ambient illuminance varies while the timer is counting to a waiting time  4   b , execution of light-emission luminance optimization process for resulting ambient illuminance is not started until the waiting time  4   b  elapses. In addition, the waiting time  4   b  is set at step S 2  from the waiting times that vary reversely to the manner of variation of the luminance  3   b  (power consumption) to be determined and output by the luminance control function  11 . 
         [0035]    The above operation flowchart is such that the part of which the luminance control function  11  is in charge and the part of which the timer function  12  is in charge are executed in succession. Alternatively, the luminance control function  11  may be provided as a separate function and activated by an interruption from the timer function  12 . Either of these methods may be employed as long as they attain the above functions. 
         [0036]    Next, a description will be made of a power saving effect of a feature of the embodiment that the waiting times  4   b  are set so as to vary reversely to the manner of variation of the luminance  3   b  (power consumption) to be determined and output at step S 1 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  is a timing chart illustrating a power saving effect of the electronic apparatus  100  according to the embodiment of the invention through a comparison with a related case. For the sake of simplicity, in this example, it is assumed that the ambient illuminance varies between two levels (high and low). 
         [0038]    Assume that the ambient illuminance varies “low” to “high” at time T 1  and varies from “high” to “low” at time T 4 . 
       FIG.  4 , Section (A)  
       [0039]      FIG. 4 , section (A) shows how the display luminance (power consumption) varies when the ambient illuminance  2   a  varies in the above-mentioned manner in the case where a luminance control function is performed which has a constant cycle (assumed to be 2 sec). Naturally, the variation of the ambient illuminance  2   a  is not synchronized with the activation timing of the luminance control function having the cycle of 2 sec. It is assumed that the illuminance/luminance table is the same as the illuminance/luminance table  3  of the invention. 
         [0040]    At each activation time point that precedes an activation time point T 2  by more than 2 sec, the luminance control function reads ambient illuminance  2   a  being low and makes the display luminance low. 
         [0041]    At time T 2  which is the first activation time point after time T 1  when the ambient illuminance varies from “low” to “high,” the luminance control function reads ambient illuminance  2   a  being high and makes the display luminance high. Therefore, the power consumption of the display module  6  is kept high after time T 2 . At each activation time point (occurring every 2 sec) after time T 2 , the luminance control function reads ambient illuminance  2   a  being high and makes the display luminance high. 
         [0042]    At time T 6  which is the first activation time point after time T 4  when the ambient illuminance varies from “high” to “low,” the luminance control function reads ambient illuminance  2   a  being low and makes the display luminance low. Therefore, the power consumption of the display module  6  is kept low after time T 6 . 
       FIG.  4 , Section (B): Embodiment  
       [0043]      FIG. 4 , section (B) shows how the display luminance  11   a  (power consumption) varies when the ambient illuminance  2   a  varies in the above-mentioned manner in the case where the luminance control function  11  according to the invention is performed whose cycle is variable (1 to 3 sec). Naturally, the variation of the ambient illuminance  2   a  is not synchronized with the activation timing of the luminance control function  11  whose cycle is variable (1 to 3 sec). 
         [0044]    In this embodiment, in a state that the display luminance (power consumption) is low (indicated by symbol B 1 ), the waiting time (approximately equal to the cycle) of the luminance control function  11  is set long (3 sec) to maintain the low power consumption state as long as possible, that is, to delay, as much as possible, a time point of setting the display luminance (power consumption) high in response to a later variation to “high” of the ambient illuminance  2   a.    
         [0045]    In a state that the display luminance (power consumption) is high (indicated by symbol B 2 ), the waiting time (approximately equal to the cycle) of the luminance control function  11  is set short (1 sec) to set the display luminance (power consumption) low as early as possible in response to a later variation to “low” of the ambient illuminance  2   a.    
         [0046]    Next, a more detailed description will be made. At each activation time point that precedes an activation time point T 3  by more than 3 sec, the luminance control function  11  reads ambient illuminance  2   a  being low and sets the display luminance  11   a  (power consumption) low (step S 1  in  FIG. 3 ). In this case, the luminance control function  11  reads a corresponding waiting time  4   b  of 3 sec from the luminance/waiting time table  4  and sets it in the timer function  12  (step S 2 ). As a result, the response speed is slowed in preparation for a later variation to “high” of the ambient illuminance  2   a.    
         [0047]    Therefore, in this state, the cycle of 3 sec is maintained until time T 3  which is the first activation time point after time T 1  when the ambient illuminance  2   a  varies from “low” to “high.” Time T 3  is later than time T 2  which is the activation time point of the case of  FIG. 4 , section (A) (cycle: 2 sec). Naturally, because of the asynchronous operations, time T 3  may sometimes be earlier than time T 2 . However, on average, time T 3  is later than time T 2 . 
         [0048]    The luminance control function  11  reads ambient illuminance  2   a  being high at time T 3  and sets the display luminance high (step S 1 ). From time T 3  onward, the power consumption of the display module  6  is kept high. However, the power is saved in the hatched period between time T 2  and time T 3  relative to the case of  FIG. 4 , section (A). 
         [0049]    On the other hand, in this period, since the delay from time T 1  when the ambient illuminance  2   a  changes to “high” to time T 3  when the display luminance is set to an optimum value is increased, the screen becomes difficult to see. However, this is only an instant and is not problematic. 
         [0050]    At time T 3 , the luminance control function  11  sets the display luminance high (step S 1 ), reads a waiting time  4   b  (1 sec) corresponding to the high display luminance from the luminance/waiting time table  4 , and sets it in the timer function  12  (step S 2 ). As a result, the response speed is increased in preparation for a later variation to “low” of the ambient illuminance  2   a.    
         [0051]    Therefore, in this state, the cycle of 1 sec is maintained until time T 5  which is the first activation time point after time T 4  when the ambient illuminance  2   a  varies from “high” to “low.” Time T 5  is earlier than time T 6  which is the activation time point of the case of  FIG. 4 , section (A) (cycle: 2 sec). Naturally, because of the asynchronous operations, time T 5  may sometimes be later than time T 6 . However, on average, time T 5  is earlier than time T 6 . 
         [0052]    The luminance control function  11  reads ambient illuminance  2   a  being low at time T 5  and sets the display luminance low (step S 1 ). From time T 5  onward, the power consumption of the display module  6  is kept low. As a result, the power is saved in the hatched period between time T 5  and time T 6  relative to the case of  FIG. 4 , section (A). 
         [0053]    At time T 5 , the luminance control function  11  sets the display luminance low (step S 1 ), reads a waiting time  4   b  (3 sec) corresponding to the low display luminance from the luminance/waiting time table  4 , and sets it in the timer function  12  (step S 2 ). As a result, from time T 5  onward, the cycle of the luminance control function  11  is kept equal to about 3 sec and the response speed is kept low. 
         [0054]    As described above, the embodiment of the invention provides a power saving effect when the ambient illuminance varies. Since in general the ambient illuminance varies all the time, attaining a power saving effect every variation time point provides a great advantage. Where the ambient illuminance does not vary, the embodiment provides the same levels of power consumption and viewability as the conventional case does. Although the optimization of the light-emission luminance of the display module is somewhat delayed when the ambient illuminance increases, it is just an instant and does not cause a problem relating to the viewability. 
         [0055]    Although in the embodiment of the invention the display module  3  is an LCD module and the luminance of its backlight is controlled, in self-emission displays such as organic EL displays the luminance and the power consumption may be controlled by controlling the supply voltage, for example. 
         [0056]    The electronic apparatus  100  according to the invention can be applied to cell phones, PHS phones, game machines, cameras, etc.

Technology Category: 3