Portable terminal capable of controlling backlight and method for controlling backlight thereof

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for controlling a backlight of a portable terminal, which includes from a memory previously stored backlight brightness values that correspond to a backlight steps, retrieving a stored brightness value corresponding to one of a plurality of brightness steps selected by a user, regulating the brightness of the portable terminal according to the retrieved brightness value, and displaying the currently selected brightness step on the display unit, wherein the brightness steps correspond to incremental levels of brightness.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable terminal brightness controlling method, comprising:
 from a memory previously stored backlight brightness values that correspond to a backlight steps, retrieving a stored brightness value corresponding to one of a plurality of brightness steps selected by a user;   regulating the brightness of the portable terminal according to the retrieved brightness value; and   displaying the currently selected brightness step on the display unit, wherein the brightness steps correspond to incremental levels of brightness.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the retrieving step comprises:
 converting an operation mode of the portable terminal to a brightness regulation mode in response to a brightness regulation request of a user;   displaying a brightness step selection screen for selecting a brightness step if the operation mode of the portable terminal is converted to the brightness regulation mode; and   retrieving a brightness value corresponding to the brightness step selected.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein information to associate predetermined inputs with brightness steps having preset brightness values respectively is stored in a memory. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein a brightness value of a brightness step corresponding to a predetermined input is retrieved in the retrieving step if one of the predetermined inputs is input in the brightness regulation mode. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined inputs are provided in at least one of an input unit and a display unit of the portable terminal. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined inputs comprise keys. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined inputs comprise number keys and the number keys are stored so as to correspond to the brightness steps, and the numbers allocated to the number keys indicate the brightness steps. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the brightness values are backlight brightness values and the brightness steps are backlight brightness steps. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the brightness step selection screen provides a plurality of brightness steps for the user to select therefrom. 
     
     
         10 . A portable terminal comprising:
 an input unit for inputting a user manipulation signal;   a display unit for displaying data generated in the portable terminal;   a memory for storing brightness values that correspond to a plurality of brightness steps, the brightness steps corresponding to incremental levels of brightness; and   a control unit for retrieving the stored brightness values corresponding to one of the brightness steps selected by a user through at least one of the input unit and the display unit and regulating the brightness of the display unit, wherein the control unit controls the portable terminal so that currently selected brightness step is displayed on the display unit.   
     
     
         11 . A portable terminal according to  claim 10 , the control unit further comprising a brightness regulating unit adapted to regulate the brightness of the display unit according to the brightness values retrieved by the control unit. 
     
     
         12 . A portable terminal according to  claim 11 , wherein the control unit is adapted to
 convert an operation mode of the portable terminal to a brightness regulation mode in response to a brightness regulation request of a user and to display a brightness step selection screen for selecting a predetermined brightness step on the display unit.   
     
     
         13 . A portable terminal according to  claim 10 , wherein if a predetermined brightness step is selected through at least one of the input unit and the display unit, the control unit is adapted to retrieve the brightness value corresponding to the selected brightness step from the memory. 
     
     
         14 . A portable terminal according to  claim 10 , wherein the memory stores information to which predetermined inputs correspond according to brightness steps having the preset brightness values respectively. 
     
     
         15 . A portable terminal according to  claim 12 , wherein if a stored predetermined input is input through at least one of the input unit and the display unit in the brightness regulating mode, the control unit is adapted to retrieve the brightness value of the brightness step corresponding to the inputted predetermined input from the memory and to regulate the brightness. 
     
     
         16 . A portable terminal according to  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined inputs comprise keys. 
     
     
         17 . A portable terminal according to  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined inputs comprises number keys and the memory stores information so that the numbers allocated to the number keys indicate the brightness steps under the control of the control unit. 
     
     
         18 . A portable terminal according to  claim 10 , wherein the brightness values are backlight brightness values and the brightness steps are backlight brightness steps. 
     
     
         19 . A portable terminal according to  claim 12 , wherein the brightness step selection screen provides a plurality of brightness steps for the user to select therefrom.