Portable electronic device with activation sensor

• US 20060060762A1
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tan, Wee Sin, Saxena, Kuldeep Kumar, Ng, Peng Yam, Lim, Sin Heng, Chan, Serene Seok Peng, Lim, Chee Kien, Ho, Tammy Siew Hoon, Quek, Josephine Pei Chen, Ho, Freddy Ka Hui, Ong, Chi-Boon
• Granted Patent: US 7,196,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

An electronic device having a first piece, a second piece moveable with respect to the first piece, and a position sensor operable to sense the position of the second piece relative to the first piece. The electronic device is operated in a first mode or a second mode dependent upon the position of the second piece relative to the first piece. Optionally, a proximity sensor is provided to detect the presence of a body in close proximity to the device when the second piece is in an open position relative to the first piece.

Claims

1. An electronic device, operable in a first mode and a second mode, comprising:

a) a first piece;

b) a second piece moveable with respect to the first piece;

c) a processing circuit operable to control operation of the device; and

d) a photoelectric sensor operable to sense the position of the second piece with respect to the first piece and to switch the device between the first mode and the second mode dependent upon the position of the second piece with respect to the first piece.

2. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the photoelectric sensor comprises:

a photo-emitter; and

a photo-detector positioned to receive light from the photo-emitter when the second piece is in a closed position with respect to the first piece.

3. An electronic device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the photo-emitter is operable to emit a series of light pulses.

4. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the photoelectric sensor comprises:

a photo-emitter located in the second piece; and

a photo-detector located in the first piece and positioned to receive light from the photo-emitter when the second piece is in a closed position with respect to the first piece.

5. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the photoelectric sensor comprises:

a photo-emitter located in the first piece; and

a photo-detector located in the second piece and positioned to receive light from the photo-emitter when the second piece is in a closed position with respect to the first piece.

6. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the photoelectric sensor comprises a photo-emitter and a photo-detector located in the first piece and positioned to receive light reflected from a reflective region of the second piece when the second piece is in a closed position with respect to the first piece.

7. An electronic device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the photo-emitter emits light through an emitter lens and the photo-detector receives light through a receiver lens, the emitter lens and the receiver lens being aligned with respect to the reflective region of the second piece so to maximize the amount of light passing from the photo-emitter to the photo-detector.

8. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the photoelectric sensor comprises a photo-emitter and a photo-detector located in the second piece and positioned to receive light reflected from a reflective region of the first piece when the second piece is in a closed position with respect to the first piece.

9. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the photoelectric sensor comprises a photodiode positioned to receive light from an infrared LED.

10. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to enter an activated mode when the photoelectric sensor signals that the second piece is in an open position with respect to the first piece.

11. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying device functions and status information, wherein the display is deactivated when the photoelectric sensor signals that the second piece is in a closed position with respect to the first piece.

12. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying device functions and status information, wherein the display is operated in a standby mode when the photoelectric sensor signals that the second piece is in a closed position with respect to the first piece.

13. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a radiotelephone.

14. A folding radiotelephone operable in a speakerphone mode and a handset mode comprising:

a) a first piece;

b) a second piece moveable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the first piece;

c) a position sensor operable to sense the position of the second piece with respect to the first piece; and

d) a proximity sensor operable to detect the presence of a body in close proximity to the radiotelephone when the second piece is in the open position and operable to select the handset mode when a body is detected and the speakerphone mode when no body is detected.

15. A folding radiotelephone in accordance with claim 14, wherein the proximity sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of an inductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, a magnetic sensor, an eddy current sensor, a photoelectric sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor.

16. A folding radiotelephone in accordance with claim 14, wherein:

the proximity sensor comprises a photo-emitter, a photo-detector and an opaque barrier in an integral package located in second first piece; and

the position sensor comprises the photo-emitter and a second photo-detector located in the first piece so that the photo emitter of the proximity sensor further operates as a photo emitter of the position sensor.

17. A folding radiotelephone in accordance with claim 14, wherein:

the proximity sensor comprises a photo-emitter, a photo-detector and an opaque barrier in an integral package located in the second piece;

the position sensor comprises the proximity sensor and a reflective region of the first piece; and

the photo-detector of the proximity sensor is positioned to receive light emitted by the photo-emitter and reflected from the reflective region of the first piece when the second piece is in a closed position with respect to the first piece.

18. A folding radiotelephone, operable in a speakerphone mode and a handset mode, comprising:

a) a first piece;

b) a second piece moveable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the first piece;

c) a first sensing means for sensing the position of the second piece; and

d) a second sensing means for detecting the presence of a body close to the radiotelephone when the second piece is in the open position;

wherein the radiotelephone is operated in the handset mode when a body is detected and in the speakerphone mode when no body is detected.

19. A folding radiotelephone in accordance with claim 18, further comprising a processing means for controlling operation of the radiotelephone, wherein the processing means is operable to enter a standby mode when the photoelectric sensor signals that the second piece is in the closed position.

20. A folding radiotelephone in accordance with claim 18, further comprising a display means for displaying telephone functions and status information, wherein the display means is disabled when the photoelectric sensor signals that the second piece is in the closed position.

21. A folding radiotelephone in accordance with claim 18, further comprising a hinge moveable coupling the second piece to the first piece, wherein the first sensing means comprises:

a proximity sensor located in close proximity to the hinge; and

a protuberance extending from the hinge;

wherein the distance between the proximity sensor and the protuberance varies as the second piece is moved between the open position and the closed position.

22. A folding radiotelephone in accordance with claim 18, further comprising a hinge moveable coupling the second piece to the first piece, wherein the first sensing means comprises:

a photo-detector located in close proximity to the hinge; and

a photo-emitter located on the hinge;

wherein the photo-detector and the photo-emitter are in substantial alignment when the cover is moved to the closed position.

23. An electronic device, operable in a first mode and a second mode, comprising:

a) a first piece;

b) a second piece coupled by a hinge to the first piece and moveable with respect to the first piece;

c) a protuberance extending from the hinge; and

d) a proximity sensor located in close proximity to the hinge such that the distance between the proximity sensor and the protuberance varies as the second piece is moved with respect to the first piece, the proximity sensor operable to sense the position of the second piece relative to the first piece;

wherein the device is switched between the first mode and in the second mode dependent upon the position of the second piece relative to the first piece .

24. An electronic device in accordance with claim 23 wherein the electronic device is a radiotelephone.