×

Proximity detection

  • US 10,642,370 B2
  • Filed: 02/09/2017
  • Issued: 05/05/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An electronic device comprising an ultrasound transmitter, an ultrasound receiver, and a processing system, the electronic device being arranged to:

  • transmit an ultrasonic sine-wave signal from the ultrasound transmitter;

    receive the ultrasonic sine-wave signal, through air, at the ultrasound receiver;

    detect when the frequency of the ultrasonic sine-wave signal as transmitted by the electronic device and a frequency of the ultrasonic sine-wave signal as received by the electronic device satisfy a predetermined difference criterion;

    transmit a second ultrasonic signal from the ultrasound transmitter, the second ultrasonic signal having a wider bandwidth than the transmitted sine-wave signal;

    receive ultrasonic signals, through air, at the ultrasound receiver, arising from the second ultrasonic signal;

    use the received signals arising from the second ultrasonic signal to determine data representative of a distance to an acoustically-reflective surface spaced away from the electronic device; and

    use said distance data and the detection of the predetermined difference criterion to determine whether to disable a touch or touchless input on the electronic device, or to determine whether to enable a touch or touchless input on the electronic device.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×