Mobile device and proximity detection method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016259462-A1
Application number	US-201514639136-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 5, 2015
Priority date	Mar 5, 2015
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A mobile device and a corresponding proximity detection method are provided. The mobile device includes an infrared emitter and a proximity sensor. The infrared emitter emits an infrared using first power in a first mode or emits the infrared using second power in a second mode. The first power and the second power are different. The proximity sensor detects the reflection of the infrared and determines whether or not there is an object in close proximity to the mobile device based on the reflection.

First claim

1 . A mobile device, comprising:
an infrared emitter, configured to emit an infrared ray by using first power in a first mode or emit the infrared ray by using second power in a second mode, wherein the first power and the second power are different; a proximity sensor, configured to detect a reflected light of the infrared ray and determine whether an object is in close proximity to the mobile device based on the reflected light; a communication unit, configured to conduct an incoming call; a touch panel, configured to detect a touch operation on the mobile device; a processor, coupled to the infrared emitter, the proximity sensor, the communication unit and the touch panel, and configured to enable the infrared emitter and control the infrared emitter to enter the second mode after the communication unit conducts the incoming call, disable the touch panel when the proximity sensor determines that the object is in close proximity to the mobile device, and enable the touch panel when the proximity sensor determines that no object is in close proximity to the mobile device.

2 . The mobile device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an upper cover, wherein the upper cover is capable of being opened or closed in relative to the mobile device, and a surface of the upper cover in relative to the infrared emitter and the proximity sensor comprises a reflection area, wherein when the upper cover is closed in relative to the mobile device, the reflection area covers the infrared emitter and the proximity sensor.

3 . The mobile device according to claim 2 , wherein the first power is lower than the second power, the reflected light in the first mode comes from the reflection area, and the reflection area comprises a metallic material.

4 . The mobile device according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a light sensor, configured to detect an ambient brightness and determine whether the mobile device is in a dark environment based on the ambient brightness, wherein when the upper cover is closed in relative to the mobile device, the upper cover covers the light sensor.

5 . The mobile device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a light sensor, configured to detect an ambient brightness and determine whether the mobile device is in a dark environment based on the ambient brightness; and a processor, coupled to the infrared emitter, the proximity sensor and the light sensor, wherein when the light sensor determines that the mobile device is in the dark environment and the proximity sensor determines that the object is in close proximity to the mobile device, the processor controls the mobile device to enter a suspend mode.

6 . The mobile device according to claim 5 , wherein the processor enables the infrared emitter and the proximity sensor and controls the infrared emitter to enter the first mode after the light sensor determines that the mobile device is in the dark environment, wherein before the mobile device enters the suspend mode, the processor disables the infrared emitter and the proximity sensor.

7 . The mobile device according to claim 5 , wherein when the light sensor determines that the mobile device has left the dark environment and the proximity sensor determines that no object is in close proximity to the mobile device, the processor controls the mobile device to exit the suspend mode.

8 . The mobile device according to claim 7 , wherein the processor enables the infrared emitter and the proximity sensor and controls the infrared emitter to enter the first mode after the light sensor determines that the mobile device has left the dark environment, wherein when the mobile device is in the suspend mode, the processor disables the infrared emitter and the proximity sensor.

9 . (canceled)

10 . A proximity detection method for a mobile device comprising a infrared emitter, a proximity sensor and a processor, the method comprising
emitting, by the infrared emitter, an infrared ray by using first power in a first mode; emitting, by the infrared emitter, the infrared ray by using second power in a second mode, wherein the first power and the second power are different; detecting, by the proximity sensor, a reflected light of the infrared ray; determining, by the proximity sensor, whether an object is in close proximity to the mobile device based on the reflected light; enabling, by the processor, the infrared emitter and control the infrared emitter to enter the second mode after the mobile device conducts an incoming call; in the second mode, disabling a touch panel of the mobile device by the processor when the object is in close proximity to the mobile device; and in the second mode, enabling the touch panel of the mobile device by the processor when no object is in close proximity to the mobile device.

11 . The proximity detection method according to claim 10 ,
wherein the first power is lower than the second power, the reflected light in the first mode comes from a reflection area of an upper cover of the mobile device, and the reflection area comprises a metallic material.

12 . The proximity detection method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
detecting, by a light sensor of the mobile device, an ambient brightness; determining, by the light sensor of the mobile device, whether the mobile device is in a dark environment based on the ambient brightness; and in the first mode, when the mobile device is in the dark environment and the object is in close proximity to the mobile device, controlling the mobile device to enter a suspend mode by the processor.

13 . The proximity detection method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
when the mobile device has entered the suspend mode, if the mobile device has left the dark environment and no object is in close proximity to the mobile device, controlling the mobile device to exit the suspend mode by the processor.

14 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Htc Corp

Inventors

• Liao Chi-Yi

Classifications

• G01J1/4204

  with determination of ambient light (solar light G01J2001/4266) · CPC title

• G06F3/0416 Primary

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title

• G01V8/12 Primary

  using one transmitter and one receiver · CPC title

• H04B1/3888 Primary

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title

• H04M1/724

  User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones · CPC title