Self adapting alert device
First Claim
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1. An electronic device comprising:
- a vibration-generating component;
a speaker;
a proximity sensor comprising an infrared emitter and an infrared detector, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to generate proximity sensor data by emitting infrared light onto a surface using the infrared emitter and measuring the infrared light that reflects off of the surface using the infrared detector;
an accelerometer that generates accelerometer data; and
a processor that determines whether the electronic device is lying on the surface based on the proximity sensor data and the accelerometer data, wherein the processor is configured to generate an alert with at least one of the vibration-generating component and the speaker in response to determining whether the electronic device is lying on the surface.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that allow an electronic device to autonomously adapt one or more user alerts to the current operating environment of the electronic device. For example, some embodiments may include a method comprising providing a plurality of alert devices in an electronic device, determining an operating environment of the electronic device using a sensor of the electronic device, and actuating at least one of the plurality of alert devices that corresponds to the determined operating environment.
32 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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a vibration-generating component; a speaker; a proximity sensor comprising an infrared emitter and an infrared detector, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to generate proximity sensor data by emitting infrared light onto a surface using the infrared emitter and measuring the infrared light that reflects off of the surface using the infrared detector; an accelerometer that generates accelerometer data; and a processor that determines whether the electronic device is lying on the surface based on the proximity sensor data and the accelerometer data, wherein the processor is configured to generate an alert with at least one of the vibration-generating component and the speaker in response to determining whether the electronic device is lying on the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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- 5. The electronic device defined in 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine an orientation of the electronic device based on the accelerometer data.
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9. An electronic device comprising:
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a vibration-generating component that causes the electronic device to vibrate; a speaker; an accelerometer that generates accelerometer data in response to movement of the electronic device other than the vibration of the electronic device caused by the vibration-generating component; and a processor that determines that the electronic device is in a confined space based on the accelerometer data. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21)
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16. An electronic device comprising:
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a vibration-generating component that is configured to cause the electronic device to vibrate; a proximity sensor comprising an infrared emitter and an infrared detector, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to generate proximity sensor data by emitting infrared light onto a surface using the infrared emitter and measuring the infrared light that reflects off of the surface using the infrared detector; an accelerometer configured to generate accelerometer data in response to movement of the electronic device other than the vibration of the electronic device caused by the vibration-generating component; and a processor that is configured to determine whether the electronic device is lying on the surface and whether the electronic device is in a confined space based on the accelerometer data and the proximity sensor data. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification