Electronic device with a touch sensor and method for operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10069953-B2
Application number	US-201715639505-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2017
Priority date	Nov 4, 2013
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

An electronic device has a combination touch sensor (such as a fingerprint reader) and mechanical switch (actuated, for example, by a button press). The electronic device carries out various functions according to whether the touch sensor is being touched, the mechanical switch is being actuated, the electronic device is face up or face down, the state of the electronic device (awake or in sleep mode), and the function that the electronic device is currently carrying out.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by one or more processors, a first signal indicating whether or not a proximity sensor of an electronic device is covered;
receiving, by the one or more processors, a second signal indicating a touch of a user at a fingerprint reader of the electronic device;
determining, by the one or more processors, that the touch of the user corresponds to a fingerprint of an authorized user;
after receiving the first signal and the second signal, determining, by the one or more processors, a mode in which the electronic device is operating; and
after determining the mode in which the electronic device is operating, performing, by the one or more processors, based on the first signal indicating whether or not the proximity sensor is covered, and further based on the mode, at least one action while the electronic device operates in the mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the at least one action occurs further responsive to determining, based on the first signal, that that the proximity sensor is uncovered, and determining, based on the second signal, a swipe towards one end of the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the at least one action occurs further responsive to determining, based on the first signal, that the proximity sensor is covered, and determining, based on the second signal, a swipe towards one end of the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a third signal from a mechanical switch coupled to a button, wherein the button overlaps the fingerprint reader; and
performing the at least one action further based on the third signal from the mechanical switch.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a third signal from an accelerometer indicating whether the electronic device is moving or stationary; and
performing the at least one action further based on the third signal indicating whether the electronic device is moving or stationary.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a third signal from an accelerometer indicating whether the electronic device is face up or face down; and
performing the at least one action further based on the third signal indicating whether the electronic device is face up or face down.

7. The method of claim 1 , where the proximity sensor is located on a first side of the electronic device, and wherein the fingerprint reader is located on a second side of the electronic device that is opposite from the first side.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the at least one action comprises:
receiving an indication of a voice command; and
outputting a response to the voice command.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mode in which the electronic device is operating is selected from a group consisting of a media playing mode, an idle mode, an incoming call mode, and a speakerphone mode.

10. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein determining the mode in which the electronic device is operating comprises determining that the electronic device is receiving an incoming call, and
wherein performing the at least one action comprises outputting information identifying a caller of the incoming call.

11. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein determining the mode in which the electronic device is operating comprises determining that the electronic device is receiving an incoming call, and
wherein performing the at least one action comprises ignoring the incoming call.

12. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein determining the mode in which the electronic device is operating comprises determining that the electronic device is in a speakerphone mode, and
wherein performing the at least one action comprises terminating an ongoing phone call at the electronic device.

13. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein determining the mode in which the electronic device is operating comprises determining that the electronic device is in a speakerphone mode, and
wherein performing the at least one action comprises changing a volume of a speaker of the electronic device.

14. An electronic device comprising:
a proximity sensor;
a fingerprint reader; and
at least one processor configured to:
receive a first signal indicating whether or not the proximity sensor is covered;
receive a second signal indicating a touch of a user at the fingerprint reader;
determine that the touch of the user corresponds to a fingerprint of an authorized user;
after receiving the first signal and the second signal, determine a mode in which the electronic device is operating; and
after determining the mode in which the electronic device is operating, perform, based on the first signal indicating whether or not the proximity sensor is covered, and further based on the mode, at least one action while the electronic device operates in the mode.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein:
the proximity sensor is located on a first side of the electronic device,
the fingerprint reader is located on a second side of the electronic device,
the first side of the electronic device is opposite from the second side.

16. The electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising an accelerometer, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
receive a third signal from the accelerometer indicating whether the electronic device is moving or stationary; and
perform the at least one action further based on the third signal indicating whether the electronic device is moving or stationary.

17. The electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising an accelerometer, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
receive a third signal from the accelerometer indicating whether the electronic device is face up or face down; and
perform the at least one action further based on the third signal indicating whether the electronic device is face up or face down.

18. The electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising a mechanical switch coupled to a button,
wherein the button overlaps the fingerprint sensor, and
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform the at least one action further based on whether the mechanical switch is being actuated.

19. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform the at least one action at least by being configured to:
receive an indication of a voice command; and
output a response to the voice command.

20. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the mode in which the electronic device is operating is selected from a group consisting of a media playing mode, an idle mode, an incoming call mode, and a speakerphone mode.

Assignees

• Google Technology Holdings LLC
• Google Technology Holdings LLC

Inventors

• Lombardi Michael J
• Pierce Amber M

Classifications

• G06F3/0488 Primary

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F3/165

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title

• H04M2250/22

  including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector · CPC title

• G06F2203/0338

  Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image · CPC title

• G06F21/32

  using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints · CPC title