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Apple Granted Patent on Methods for Dimming Screens Based on Content Needs

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The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today officially granted Apple a patent (via AppleInsider) describing methods for automatically adjusting screen brightness to suit the content being displayed. The patent, which was originally filed for in mid-2006 and can actually be traced back to a separate 2002 application, addresses techniques for saving battery life on portable devices.

The improved techniques reduce power consumption by lowering display intensity at appropriate times. In one embodiment, the display intensity can be controlled depending on the type of content being displayed. For example, when displaying certain types of content, the display intensity can be lowered from its otherwise high, constant intensity level. In another embodiment, the display intensity can be controlled depending on the characteristics of the content being displayed. For example, when displaying images that are light, the display intensity can be lowered from its otherwise high, constant intensity level. In still another embodiment, the display intensity can be controlled depending on the type and characteristics of content being displayed.

Apple's battery-powered devices have long had the capability to automatically dim displays based on such criteria as power source (battery vs. wall power), ambient light levels and usage (dimming the display of a device that hasn't been used for a particular time interval). Dimming the screen based on content, such as when a particularly bright image is displayed, requires a more sophisticated approach, something that Apple has clearly been working on for some time.

automatic brightness content
Apple actually now uses a variation on this invention for its Passbook application in iOS 6 for the iPhone, automatically boosting the display's brightness to maximum when the app is launched in order to make it easier for scanners to read the 2D barcodes used on passes within the app.

The patent suggests that Apple's plans for content-sensitive automatic brightness adjustment could even extend as far as frame-by-frame or scene-by-scene adjustments when viewing videos, with users also being able to configure their own preferences for content-based brightness.

Tag: Patent

Top Rated Comments

inkswamp Avatar
inkswamp
172 months ago
OH MY GOD! APPLE JUST PATENTED DIMMING THE SCREEN!

Sorry for that everyone. Just wanted to get the unnecessary panic out of the way. Resume your regular discussions. :rolleyes:
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nepalisherpa Avatar
nepalisherpa
172 months ago
And this is why Apple is still regarded as the best. Instead of focusing 100% on specs they focus on smaller things that create a much more solid experience and speed up performance. e.g. dual core iP5 out benchmarking quad core S3

Have you even read about features for other phones out there? I like Apple as well but I wouldn't call them the best!
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
K
komodrone
172 months ago
iChat with mom -> dim screen to 0%
porn -> 100% brightness.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turtlez Avatar
turtlez
172 months ago
And this is why Apple is still regarded as the best. Instead of focusing 100% on specs they focus on smaller things that create a much more solid experience and speed up performance. e.g. dual core iP5 out benchmarking quad core S3
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
RetepNamenots
172 months ago
And this is why Apple is still regarded as the best. Instead of focusing 100% on specs they focus on smaller things that create a much more solid experience and speed up performance. e.g. dual core iP5 out benchmarking quad core S3

The stock Android clock has had this feature for a few years.

But sure, now a patent has been published in Apple's name, they're the innovative ones...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T
Timzer
172 months ago
And this is why Apple is still regarded as the best. Instead of focusing 100% on specs they focus on smaller things that create a much more solid experience and speed up performance. e.g. dual core iP5 out benchmarking quad core S3
Wow, you really gotta get out more.
Ever heard of Smart Stay, Smart Alarm, Direct Call, etc..?
BTW, these are features that already exist on an eight month old phone, the Galaxy S3. Yeah, unlike Apple, Samsung has focused on the little things too, but without ignoring specs. ;)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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