Input detection system for a portable electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9489018-B2
Application number	US-61211509-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2009
Priority date	Nov 30, 2000
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

A proximity input detection system for an electronic device. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes an inductive field sensor to detect a change in a magnetic field when an input device with a coil is within a threshold distance. In another embodiment, the present invention utilizes a capacitive sensor which can locate the position of an electrically conductive object which is within a threshold distance. The capacitive sensor can also be used, for example, as a switch to activate the device if a user picks it up. The present invention allows user inputs to be detected without actually touching the electronic device. The present invention can also be used to detect inputs through intervening non-metallic layers such as a protective cover or another display of the device without using additional input sensors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable electronic device comprising:
a processor;
a memory;
one or more wireless communication components;
a housing containing the processor, the memory, and the one or more wireless communication components therein;
a first display coupled with the housing;
a second display coupled with the housing;
display control circuitry disposed within the housing and capable of activating the first display and the second display;
a sensor coupled to the first display device, the sensor configured to detect an object in proximity to the housing;
wherein the processor is configured to:
determine a proximity of the object based on input from the sensor;
determine to activate the first display or the second display, based upon the determined proximity of the object; and
in response to determining to activate the first display or the second display, activate the first display device or the second display device.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first display resides on a first surface of the portable electronic device and the second display resides on a second surface of the portable electronic device.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first display is capable of operating in monochrome and color display modes.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the first display changes from the color display mode to the monochrome display mode when entering an inactive state.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the first display changes from the monochrome display mode to the color display mode when entering an active state.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first display and the second display are both viewable on a single surface of the portable electronic device.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a touch screen sensor operable to receive touch inputs to the first display.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect an object in contact with the portable electronic device.

9. A method of changing display modes of a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
causing each of a first display and a second display of the portable electronic device to display images, wherein the images of the first display are shown in color;
receiving an input from a sensor of the portable electronic device;
determine a proximity of an object based on the input from the sensor;
determine to cause the first display to enter an inactive mode, based upon the determined proximity of the object; and
in response to determining to cause the first display to enter an inactive mode, causing the first display to enter the inactive mode, wherein, in the inactive mode, the images of the first display are shown in monochrome.

10. The method of changing display modes of a portable electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising, in response to receiving a user input:
causing the first display to enter an active mode, and
causing the second display to enter the inactive mode, wherein, in the inactive mode, the images of the second display are shown in monochrome.

11. A method of changing display modes of a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
causing at least one of a first display or a second display of the portable electronic device to enter an inactive mode;
receiving an input from a sensor of the portable electronic device, the sensor configured to detect an object in proximity to the portable electronic device;
determine a proximity of the object to the portable electronic device based on the input received from the sensor;
determine to activate the at least one of the first display or the second display of the portable electronic device, based upon the determined proximity of the object; and
in response to determining to activate the at least one of the first display or the second display of the portable electronic device, activating the at least one of the first display or the second display of the portable electronic device.

12. The method of changing display modes of a portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the first display resides on a first surface of the portable electronic device and the second display resides on a second surface of the portable electronic device.

13. The method of changing display modes of a portable electronic device of claim 11 , further comprising operating the at least one of the first display or the second display in monochrome and color display modes.

14. The method of changing display modes of a portable electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one of the first display or the second display changes from the color display mode to the monochrome display mode when entering an inactive mode.

15. The method of changing display modes of a portable electronic device of claim 13 , wherein activating the at least one of the first display or the second display of the portable electronic device causes the at least one of the first display or the second display of the portable electronic device to change from the monochrome display mode to the color display mode when entering an active state.

16. The method of changing display modes of a portable electronic device of claim 11 wherein the sensor is a touch screen sensor, the method further comprising receiving touch inputs to the first display from the touch screen sensor.

17. The method of changing display modes of a portable electronic device of claim 11 , further comprising detecting, with the sensor, that the object is in contact with the portable electronic device.

Assignees

• Gettemy Shawn R
• Wong Yoon Kean
• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Gettemy Shawn R
• Wong Yoon Kean

Classifications

• G06F1/1647

  including at least an additional display (G06F1/1692 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1641

  the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1677

  for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment · CPC title

• G06F1/1698 Primary

  the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone (details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266) · CPC title

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title