Method, electronic device, and accessory for carrying out functions based on reflected electromagnetic radiation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10069960-B2
Application number	US-201615231420-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2016
Priority date	Nov 13, 2013
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

A method, electronic device, and accessory for carrying out functions based on reflected electromagnetic radiation are provided. According to one implementation, an electronic device transmits electromagnetic radiation (“EMR”) to an accessory and detects a reflection of the transmitted EMR off of the accessory. A characteristic of the reflected EMR maps to a predetermined function associated with the accessory, which the electronic device performs.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method carried out by a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:
transmitting electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from a plurality of EMR sources of the mobile electronic device to a detachable cover accessory of the mobile electronic device, wherein:
the detachable cover accessory is configured to detachably couple to the mobile electronic device to cover and protect a display of the mobile electronic device;
the detachable cover accessory comprises a hinge configured to allow the detachable cover accessory to open and to close over the display; and
the detachable cover accessory includes a waveguide configured to couple light from at least a subset of the plurality of EMR sources to an EMR sensor of the mobile electronic device when the cover is opening and closing over the display;

when the detachable cover accessory is opening or closing over the display of the mobile electronic device, detecting, using the EMR sensor, a reflection of the transmitted EMR from the detachable cover accessory, wherein a characteristic of the reflected EMR maps to a predetermined function of the mobile electronic device, and wherein the predetermined function is associated with the detachable cover accessory; and
performing the predetermined function, wherein performing the predetermined function comprises adjusting a lighting of the display while the detachable cover accessory is opening or closing over the display.

2. The method claim 1 , wherein transmitting the EMR from the plurality of EMR sources of the mobile electronic device to the detachable cover accessory comprises transmitting the EMR from each of the plurality of EMR sources to the detachable cover accessory.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the EMR comprises infrared light, visible light, radio frequency EMR, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
transmitting the EMR comprises:
transmitting EMR having a first characteristic during a first time slot; and
transmitting EMR having a second characteristic during a second time slot;

detecting, using the EMR sensor, the reflection of the transmitted EMR comprises:
detecting a first reflection of the transmitted EMR of the first time slot from the detachable cover accessory;
detecting a second reflection of the transmitted EMR of the second time slot from the detachable cover accessory; and

performing the predetermined function comprises:
performing the predetermined function based on a code represented by the detected first reflection of the first time slot and the second reflection of the second time slot.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein:
transmitting the EMR having the first characteristic during the first time slot comprises utilizing a first EMR source to transmit the EMR having the first characteristic during the first time slot; and
transmitting the EMR having the second characteristic during the second time slot comprises utilizing a second EMR source to transmit the EMR having the second characteristic during the second time slot.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the EMR comprises transmitting the EMR over a range of transmission powers and over a range of distances between the mobile electronic device and the detachable cover accessory, wherein the characteristic of the reflected light comprises a reflection profile that is based on the reflection of the EMR transmitted over the range of transmission powers and over the range of, and wherein the mobile electronic device is configured to select the predetermined function based on a comparison between the reflection profile and one or more stored reflection profiles.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
adjusting one or both of a sensitivity of the EMR sensor over a range of sensitivities and the power of the transmitted EMR over the range of transmission powers, wherein the characteristic of the reflected light comprises a reflection profile that is based on the reflection of the EMR as detected over the range of sensitivities or over the range of transmission powers, and wherein the selection is based on a comparison between the reflection profile and a stored reflection profile of the one or more stored reflection profiles.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the detachable cover accessory is attached to the mobile electronic device and a portion of the detachable cover accessory is pivotable with respect to the mobile electronic device over a range of angles, wherein transmitting the EMR comprises transmitting the EMR over one or both of the range of transmission powers and the range of angles.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising:
wherein the detachable cover accessory comprises a folio and the portion comprises a cover portion of the folio, the method further comprising:
varying a gain of the transmitted EMR, a gain of the EMR sensor, or both, to take the EMR sensor out of a saturated state when the cover closes on the mobile electronic device, wherein the characteristic of the EMR is a reflection profile of an angle between the cover portion of the folio and the EMR sensor versus an output signal of the EMR sensor, including when the EMR sensor is in the saturated state; and
selecting the function based on a comparison between the reflection profile and a stored reflection profile, wherein the stored profile is associated with a particular type of a detachable cover accessory.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the reflected light comprises a wavelength, a frequency, a reflection profile, a reflection pattern, a reflection amplitude, or any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the predetermined function comprises painting a particular area of the display, changing a color of images displayed on the display, activating the display, deactivating the display, changing an alert type for the mobile electronic device, adjusting a volume of the mobile electronic device, adjusting a call handling of the mobile electronic device, launching an application on the mobile electronic device, activating the mobile electronic device, deactivating the mobile electronic device, placing the mobile electronic device into a sleep mode, or any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the predetermined function comprises displaying an image on a location of the display of the mobile electronic device, wherein the location corresponds to an area of the detachable cover accessory through which the image is displayed.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the predetermined function comprises changing a color of images displayed on the display.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the predetermined function comprises launching an application on the mobile electronic device or closing an application on the mobile electronic device.

15. An assembly, comprising:
A mobile electronic device configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from a plurality of EMR sources of the mobile electronic device to a detachable cover accessory of the mobile electronic device; and
the detachable cover accessory for the mobile electronic device, wherein:
the detachable cover accessory is configured to detachably couple to the mobile electronic device to cover and protect a display of the mobile electronic device;
the detachable cover accessory comprises a hinge configured to allow the detachable cover accessory to open and to close over the display;
the detachable cover accessory includes a waveguide configured to couple light from at least a subset of the plurality of EMR sources to an EMR sensor of t

Assignees

• Google Technology Holdings LLC
• Google Technology Holdings LLC

Inventors

• Alameh Rachid M
• Mclaughlin Michael David

Classifications

• H04M1/0245

  using open/close detection · CPC title

• H04M1/185

  Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity · CPC title

• H04M1/72575

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04M1/72569 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04M1/7246 Primary

  by connection of exchangeable housing parts · CPC title