Automatic keypad backlight adjustment on a mobile handheld electronic device

摘要

A method is set forth for automatically adjusting keypad brightness on a mobile electronic device having a light sensor, a keypad and a backlight for said keypad, comprising obtaining light level samples from the light sensor, turning the backlight from off to on in the event a current light level sample is less than a threshold value below which backlight illumination becomes necessary in order to read the keypad, and from off to on after a predetermined time period in the event the current light level sample is greater than the threshold value.