Method and apparatus for proximity sensing in a portable electronic device
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- an audio interface having a gain control input;
a sensor having a sensor output indicating proximity of the sensor to a human body part; and
a control circuit having an input connected to the sensor output and a control output connected to the gain control input of the audio interface, the control circuit setting a signal level on the control output selectively in response to a signal level on the control circuit input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable electronic device that automatically detects its mode of use and alters a characteristic of its user interface to match the mode of use. A mobile telephone is described as an example of a portable electronic device. The telephone is equipped with a proximity sensor that may indicate whether the telephone is held close or far from the user'"'"'s face. Based on the proximity to the user'"'"'s face, gains in the audio interface are adjusted. The gain is reduced when the device is held close to a user'"'"'s face and increased when the device is moved away from the user'"'"'s face. This approach is well suited for use in connection with portable devices that use voice command interfaces.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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an audio interface having a gain control input;
a sensor having a sensor output indicating proximity of the sensor to a human body part; and
a control circuit having an input connected to the sensor output and a control output connected to the gain control input of the audio interface, the control circuit setting a signal level on the control output selectively in response to a signal level on the control circuit input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electronic device, comprising:
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a housing;
an audio interface mounted in the housing, the audio interface having a gain control input;
a sensor mounted in the housing, the sensor having a sensor output representative of a mode of use of the electronic device; and
a control circuit having an input connected to the sensor output and a control output connected to the gain control input of the audio interface, the control circuit setting a signal level on the control output selectively in response to a signal level on the control circuit input. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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13. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the housing has at least one surface and the electronic device additionally comprises a display screen mounted adjacent the at least one surface.
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18. A method of operating an electronic device, comprising acts performed by the device of:
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detecting the proximity of the device to a human body part; and
automatically adjusting at least one operating characteristic of a user interface in the electronic device based on the detected proximity to a human body part. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of operating an electronic device having a plurality of user interfaces, comprising the acts of:
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measuring at least one value relating to a use environment of the device;
determining a mode of use of the electronic device form the at least one measured value; and
exchanging information with a user through at least one of the plurality of user interfaces selected based on the determined mode of use. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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Specification