Cradle-Backlight Feature; Tips For Improving Battery Life - Motorola MC17 Product Reference Manual

•
Turn off display while in the cradle. If customer requires display on all the time then reducing the brightness to
minimum acceptable when in cradle will also help. See

Cradle-Backlight Feature

The cradle-backlight feature provides improved battery charge time when the mobile computer is placed in the
cradle. When the mobile computer is in the cradle, the backlight brightness is reduced to 25% of the maximum
brightness. When the mobile computer is removed from the cradle, the brightness returns to the default value.
This value can be using a registry setting.
By default this feature is enabled. To disable this feature, set ACINBackLightChangeEnable to 0.
NOTE
Key Name: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Drivers\BuiltIn\CradleLock]
•
Name: ACINBackLightChangeEnable
• Data Type: dword
• Description: Enable =1; Disable=0
• Default: 1
•
Name: ACINBackLightLevel
• Data Type: dword
• Description: Backlight Level in cradle: 0 to 4 (dimmest to brightest)
• Default: 0

Tips for Improving Battery Life

The MC17 has many functions to allow server/client applications control over its power management. To improve
battery life:
•
Place the mobile computer in a Charging cradle connected to AC power when not in use.
In suspend mode, the radio cannot communicate with an AP.
NOTE
•
After the customer check-out, place the mobile computer in suspend mode. This prevents the mobile
computer's battery from discharging while sitting at a counter before being returned to the Charging cradle.
Once inserted in the cradle the mobile computer wakes up automatically.
•
When the mobile computer is not used after a time-out period place it in suspend mode. Any key press
wakes up the mobile computer. This can greatly increase battery life.
•
If the user application does not allow placing the mobile computer in suspend mode, turn off the backlight
after the time-out period.
•
Set the backlight brightness to the minimum required by the application.
•
Ensure a good wireless signal.
•
Set the wireless profile to MAX Power Save mode. If CAM mode is selected, the device does not maximize
power savings.
Special Considerations
Cradle-Backlight Feature below.
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