Electronic device with automatic mode switching

Abstract

An automatic hold switch is disclosed. The automatic hold switch provides a means for automatically switching a hold feature on and off. When the hold feature is on, one or more input devices of a portable electronic device are disabled or prevented from providing input signals. When the hold feature is off, one or more input devices of a portable electronic device are enabled or allowed to provide input signals. Because the user no longer has to manually control the hold feature, the number of actions that need to be taken by the user is reduced. In one example, the automatic hold switch is embodied with light sensors that detect when the device is in a dark environment and when the device is in a light environment. A dark environment indicates to the portable electronic device that the user wishes not to input and therefore the hold feature is turned on. A lighted environment indicates to the portable electronic device that the user wishes to input and therefore the hold feature is turned off.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing;   a display in the housing; and   a sensor that detects a motion of the housing, wherein the display is configured to be activated based on the motion of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the display is configured to be deactivated when the sensor detects that the housing has not moved for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a light sensor, wherein the display is configured to be adjusted based on measurements from the light sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device defined in  claim 3 , wherein the light sensor is an ambient light sensor, and the display has a brightness that is configured to be adjusted based on the measurements from the ambient light sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the display is configured to display a video, and the display is configured to pause the video based on the motion of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device defined in  claim 5 , wherein the display is configured to pause the video when the motion of the housing has decreased by a threshold amount. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device defined in  claim 5 , wherein the display is configured to pause the video when the motion of the housing has reached a predetermined level. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor detects a tilt of the housing, and the display is configured to be activated based on the tilt. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an orientation sensor that measures an orientation of the housing, wherein the display is configured to be adjusted based on the orientation of the housing.   
     
     
         10 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing;   a display in the housing;   an orientation sensor that determines an orientation of the housing; and   control circuitry configured to adjust the display based on the orientation of the housing.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic device defined in  claim 10 , wherein the orientation sensor is configured to measure a tilt of the housing, and the control circuitry is configured to adjust the display based on the tilt. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device defined in  claim 10 , wherein the display is configured to display a video, and the control circuitry is configured to pause the video based on the orientation of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device defined in  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to activate the display when the housing is in a first orientation. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device defined in  claim 13 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to deactivate the display when the housing is in a second orientation that is different from the first orientation. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device defined in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a light sensor, wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the display based on the orientation of the housing and information from the light sensor.   
     
     
         16 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing;   an output component in the housing;   a sensor; and   control circuitry configured to adjust the output component in response to information from the sensor.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device defined in  claim 16 , wherein the output component is a display that is configured to display video, and the control circuitry is configured to pause the video in response to the information from the sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device defined in  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is a motion sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device defined in  claim 16 , wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of: an ambient light senor, a location sensor, a motion sensor, an orientation sensor a temperature sensor, and a noise sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device defined in  claim 16 , wherein the output component is a display, the sensor is a motion sensor, and the control circuitry is configured to activate the display based on the information form the motion sensor.