Importance

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Abstract

A wireless communication device (100) includes a display (120) having a backlight (124). A backlight controller (126) selectively enables the backlight (124) to minimize power consumption and conserve energy in a battery (132). In one embodiment, a receiver (110) receives a time-of-day message from a remote location to set a timer (122) with the current time-of-day. The current time-of-day is compared with a predetermined time-of-day and the backlight controller (126) enables and disables the backlight (124) at predetermined times-of-day. The wireless communication device (100) may also include a GPS receiver (128), to determine the location of the device. The backlight controller (126) can determine the sunrise or sunset times for the specific location. The GPS data may be used in combination with the time-of-day message. A photosensor (130) can detect ambient light levels and generate an electrical signal corresponding thereto. The backlight controller (126) may use the photosensor (130) to determine ambient light levels and to enable or disable the backlight (124) based only on ambient light levels. The photosensor signal can be used in combination with the time-of-day message and/or the location data from the GPS receiver (128) to control the backlight (124).

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First Claim