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

• US 10,069,953 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lombardi, Michael J., Pierce, Amber M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kumar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Onyekaba, Amy C
• Application Number:
  US15/639,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20170302768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1312 direct reading, e.g. contactless acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6054 Biometric subscriber identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 : including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 : with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 : Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 : Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

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.

Claims

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.