Opportunistically Changing Display Brightness

Abstract

Automatically changing the brightness of a display device. A method includes, while the display device is at a first brightness power output level, detecting a power saving event indicating that it is desirable to reduce overall power consumed by the display device. The method further includes continuing to operate the display device at the first power output level while attempting to identify a brightness power output level change triggering event. The brightness power output level change triggering event is an event that occurs that makes a change to the brightness power output level of the display device less perceptible to a user. The method further includes detecting a brightness power output level change triggering event. In response to detecting the brightness power output level change triggering event, the method includes changing the power output level of the display device to a second brightness power output level.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of controlling the brightness power output level of a display device on a computing device, the method comprising:
 while the display device is at a first brightness power output level, detecting a power saving event indicating that it is desirable to reduce overall power consumed by the computing device;   identifying a brightness power output level change triggering event, where the brightness power output level change triggering event is an event which masks changes to brightness power output levels of the display device; and   as a result of the power saving event, adjusting the brightness power output level to a second brightness power output level using a plurality of incremental changes to the brightness output level of the display device, wherein at least one of the incremental changes is performed as a result of, and contemporaneous with the brightness power output level change triggering event.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the incremental changes has a magnitude that is based on the type of brightness power output level change triggering event. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the incremental changes has a magnitude that is based on a battery power level of the computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the incremental changes has a magnitude that is based on an evaluation of other actions to reduce power consumption of the computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the incremental changes has a magnitude that is based on a time lapse since a previous incremental change. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the incremental changes has a magnitude that is based on the number of incremental changes in the plurality of incremental changes to enable the incremental changes to enable adjusting the brightness power output level to the second brightness power output level, where the second brightness power output level is a target power output level. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the incremental changes is performed as a result of, and contemporaneous with a brightness power output level change triggering event. 
     
     
         9 . A computer system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to configure the computer system to control the brightness power output level of a display device on a computing device, including instructions that are executable to configure the computer system to perform at least the following:   while the display device is at a first brightness power output level, detecting a power saving event indicating that it is desirable to reduce overall power consumed by the computing device;   identifying a brightness power output level change triggering event, where the brightness power output level change triggering event is an event which masks changes to brightness power output levels of the display device; and   as a result of the power saving event, adjusting the brightness power output level to a second brightness power output level using a plurality of incremental changes to the brightness output level of the display device, wherein at least one of the incremental changes is performed as a result of, and contemporaneous with the brightness power output level change triggering event.   
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the incremental changes has a magnitude that is based on the type of brightness power output level change triggering event. 
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the incremental changes has a magnitude that is based on a battery power level of the computing device. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the incremental changes has a magnitude that is based on an evaluation of other actions to reduce power consumption of the computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the incremental changes has a magnitude that is based on a time lapse since a previous incremental change. 
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the incremental changes has a magnitude that is based on the number of incremental changes in the plurality of incremental changes to enable the incremental changes to enable adjusting the brightness power output level to the second brightness power output level, where the second brightness power output level is a target power output level. 
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the incremental changes is performed as a result of, and contemporaneous with a brightness power output level change triggering event. 
     
     
         16 . A computing device comprising:
 a display device configured to display content at varying brightness power output levels;   control circuitry coupled to the display device, wherein the control circuitry is configured to perform the following:
 when the display device is at a first brightness power output level, detect a power saving event indicating that it is desirable to reduce overall power consumed by the computing device; 
 identify a brightness power output level change triggering event, where the brightness power output level change triggering event is an event which masks changes to brightness power output levels of the display device; and 
 as a result of the power saving event, adjust the brightness power output level to a second brightness power output level using a plurality of incremental changes to the brightness output level of the display device, wherein at least one of the incremental changes is performed as a result of, and contemporaneous with the brightness power output level change triggering event. 
   
     
     
         17 . The computing device of  claim 16 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the brightness power output level to a second level where at least one of the incremental changes has a magnitude that is based on the type of brightness power output level change triggering event. 
     
     
         18 . The computing device of  claim 16 , further comprising a battery coupled to the control circuitry, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine a battery power level of the battery and to adjust the brightness power output level to a second level where at least one of the incremental changes has a magnitude that is based on the battery power level. 
     
     
         19 . The computing device of  claim 16 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the brightness power output level to a second level where the at least one of the incremental changes has a magnitude that is based on an evaluation of other actions to reduce power consumption of the computing device. 
     
     
         20 . The computing device of  claim 16 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the brightness power output level to a second level where the at least one of the incremental changes has a magnitude that is based on a time lapse since a previous incremental change. 
     
     
         21 . The computing device of  claim 16 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the brightness power output level to a second level where each of the incremental changes is performed as a result of, and contemporaneous with a brightness power output level change triggering event.