Dynamic brightness range for portable computer displays based on ambient ...

1. A portable computer system comprising: a processor coupled to a bus; a light sensor coupled to said bus and for providing an ambient light information signal to said processor; a lighted display device coupled to said bus and for providing a visual display; a display controller coupled to said bus and for controlling said visual display; a data storage device coupled to said bus and comprising preconfigured dynamically adjustable brightness range setting data for implementing a plurality of different simultaneously stored ranges, wherein each stored range of said plurality of stored ranges comprises plurality of brightness values; and wherein said processor automatically selects a stored range of said plurality of stored ranges based on said ambient light information signal from said light sensor for use in dynamic brightness control, and wherein at least one user selectable brightness setting remains unchanged in response to said automatic selection by said processor.

2. The portable computer system of claim 1 further comprising an adjustment display for enabling a user to select said at least one selectable brightness setting.

3. The portable computer system of claim 1 wherein said lighted display device is transmissive.

4. The portable computer system of claim 1 wherein said lighted display device is emissive.

5. The portable computer system of claim 1 wherein said lighted display device is reflective.

6. The portable computer system of claim 1 wherein said lighted display device is transflective.

7. The portable computer system of claim 2 wherein said adjustment display comprises a brightness bar with an adjustable slider for adjustment by a user.

8. The portable computer system of claim 7 wherein a position of said adjustable slider along said brightness bar corresponds with said at least one selectable brightness setting.

9. The portable computer system of claim 8 wherein said position of said adjustable slider remains unchanged in response to an automatic change in brightness range from a first selected range to a second selected range, and wherein said position of said adjustable slider corresponds to a different brightness setting when first selected range is selected than when said second selected range is selected.

10. The portable computer system of claim 1 wherein said display controller adjusts brightness of said lighted display device according to said selected range and a selected brightness setting.

11. The portable computer system of claim 10 further comprising a time period for implementing any brightness changes to said display device.

12. The portable computer system of claim 11 wherein a setting for said time period is fixed.

13. The portable computer system of claim 11 wherein a setting for said time period is user-configurable.

14. A portable electronic device comprising: a processor coupled to a bus; a light sensor coupled to said bus and for providing ambient light information signal to said processor; a lighted display device coupled to said bus and for providing a visual display; a display controller and for controlling said visual display; a data storage device coupled to said bus and comprising a plurality of simultaneously stored preconfigured dynamically adjustable brightness ranges, wherein each stored range of said plurality of stored ranges comprises a plurality of brightness values; and wherein said processor selects a brightness range of said stored brightness ranges based on preset range configuration data and said ambient light information signal from said light sensor for use in dynamic brightness control, and wherein at least one user selectable brightness setting remains unchanged in response to said automatic selection by said processor.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 14 further comprising an adjustment display for enabling a user to select said at least one selectable brightness setting.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 14 wherein said lighted display device is transmissive.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 14 wherein said lighted display device is emissive.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 14 wherein said lighted display device is reflective.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 14 wherein said lighted display device is transflective.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 15 wherein said adjustment display is a graphical user interface comprising a brightness bar with an adjustable slider for adjustment by a user.

21. The portable electronic device of claim 20 wherein a position of said adjustable slider along said brightness bar corresponds with said at least one selectable brightness setting.

22. The portable electronic device of claim 21 wherein said position of said adjustable slider remains unchanged in response to an automatic change in brightness range from a first selected range to a second selected range, and wherein said position of said adjustable slider corresponds to a different brightness setting when first selected range is selected than when said selected second selected range is selected.

23. The portable electronic device of claim 14 wherein said display controller implements adjustment to brightness of said lighted display device according to said selected range and a selected brightness setting.

24. The portable electronic device of claim 23 further comprising a time-delay for implementing any adjustment to brightness of said display device.

25. The portable electronic device of claim 24 wherein said time delay is fixed.

26. The portable electronic device of claim 24 wherein said time delay is user-configurable.

27. In a portable electronic device, a method of responding to a change in ambient light conditions comprising: a) detecting said change in ambient light conditions and generating a signal in response thereto; b) in response to said signal, a processor of said portable electronic device selecting a brightness range from a plurality of simultaneously stored brightness ranges based on preconfigured range information for use in dynamic brightness control; and c) implementing said selected brightness range to alter a brightness of a display device of said portable electronic device, wherein each stored brightness range of said plurality of stored brightness ranges comprises a plurality of brightness values, and wherein at least one user selectable brightness setting remains unchanged in response to said automatic selection by said processor.

28. A method as described in claim 27 wherein a) is performed by a light sensor of said portable electronic device.

29. A method as described in claim 27 wherein c) comprises employing a time delay between any brightness transition of said display device.

30. A method as described in claim 27 further comprising: d) detecting an adjustment of a brightness setting of said portable device; and e) altering said brightness of said display device based on said adjustment of said brightness setting.

31. A method as described in claim 30 wherein said d) is implemented using an adjustable slider displayed on said display device.

32. A method as described in claim 31, wherein a position of said adjustable slider remains unchanged in response to an automatic change in brightness range from a first selected range to a second selected range and wherein said position of said adjustable slider corresponds to a different brightness setting when first selected range is selected than when said selected second selected range is selected.