LIGHT SENSITIVE DISPLAY INTERFACE FOR COMPUTING DEVICES

• US 20080100593A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Skillman, Peter, Yeung, Chun Wun
• Granted Patent: US 7,969,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

According to one or more embodiments, a variation is detected in light that is cast over a display interface of a computing device. A characteristic of the light variation is identified. From this characteristic, a determination is made as to whether the variation in light is to be interpreted as an input or to be ignored.

Claims

1. A method for operating a display interface of a computing device, the method comprising:

detecting a variation in light that is cast over the display interface;

identifying a characteristic of the light variation that is cast over the display surface; and

making a determination as to whether the variation in light is to be interpreted as an input or to be ignored based on the characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a characteristic of the light variation includes identifying the characteristic as being one that is designated to be indicative of a stylus tip making contact or being in close proximity with a surface of the display interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a characteristic of the light variation includes detecting a dimension or shape of the light variation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein making a determination as to whether the variation in light is to be interpreted as an input or to be ignored based on the characteristic includes making the determination that the variation is input based on the shape of the light variation correlating to a tip portion of a stylus.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a characteristic of the light variation includes detecting light variation that is attributable to one or more of a protrusion or a surface feature of a tip portion of a stylus.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein making a determination as to whether the variation in light is to be interpreted as an input or to be ignored based on the characteristic includes making the determination that the variation is input based on the light variation correlating to the one or more of the protrusions or the surface feature on the tip portion of the stylus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a characteristic of the light variation includes detecting a hot spot in the light cast onto the display interface, wherein the hot spot corresponds to a light variation that is brighter than an ambient or designated level of light.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein making a determination as to whether the variation in light is to be interpreted as an input or to be ignored based on the characteristic includes making the determination that the variation is input based at least in part on detecting the hot spot that correlates to light emitted from a feature of a top portion of a stylus.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a characteristic of the light variation includes detecting a cold spot in the light cast onto the display interface, wherein the cold spot corresponds to a light variation that is darker than a designated level of light.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein making a determination as to whether the variation in light is to be interpreted as an input or to be ignored based on the characteristic includes making the determination that the variation is input based at least in part on detecting the cold spot that is attributable to light originating from the display interface not being reflected back to the display interface by a feature of a stylus.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a characteristic of the light variation includes detecting a light variation corresponding to a color or a distinctive shading.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein making a determination as to whether the variation in light is to be interpreted as an input or to be ignored based on the characteristic making the determination that the variation is input based on the shape of the light variation correlating to a tip portion of a stylus.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a duration of time that the light variation is present or relatively static, and wherein making a determination as to whether the variation in light is to be interpreted as an input or to be ignored based on the characteristic includes making the determination that the variation is input based in part on the duration of time.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a mode setting of the computing device, and wherein making a determination as to whether the variation in light is to be interpreted as an input or to be ignored based on the characteristic includes making the determination that the variation is input based in part on the mode setting.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed using a processor of the computing device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed using logic integrated into the display interface.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a characteristic of the light variation includes detecting a characteristic of an object causing the light variation.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a characteristic of the light variation includes detecting an aspect ratio of a shaded pattern, and wherein making a determination as to whether the variation in light is to be interpreted as an input or to be ignored based on the characteristic includes making the determination that the variation is input based at least in part on the aspect ratio being of a designated range.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a variation in light that is cast over the display interface includes using a plurality of photosensors distributed across an area of the display interface.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the display interface to emit light that has a particular characteristic, and

wherein identifying a variation in light includes detecting the particular characteristic reflected back to the display interface from an object that is configured to reflect the particular characteristic back, and

wherein making a determination as to whether the variation in light is to be interpreted as an input includes interpreting the variation in light as the input when the detected characteristic includes the particular characteristic reflected back.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein causing the display interface to emit light that has a particular characteristic includes flickering the emitted light, and wherein detecting the particular characteristic includes detecting a flickering reflection from a stylus tip.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a condition representing a lighting condition in which the display interface of the computing device is operated.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein detecting a condition representing a lighting condition includes detecting the condition corresponding to presence of ambient light, and wherein making a determination as to whether the variation in light is to be interpreted as an input includes accounting for the presence of a shadow created by the ambient light on a length of an object that is brought into contact or proximity with a surface of the display interface to provide the input.

24. An interface system for a computing device, the interface system comprising:

a stylus having a tip portion;

a display interface on the computing device comprising one or more light sensors, wherein the light sensors are configured to detect light variations cast onto the display interface; and

display logic that is configured to interpret a light variation as being attributable to the tip portion of the stylus being brought into contact or proximity to the display interface.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the tip portion of the stylus includes a characteristic shape of a dimension, and wherein the display logic identifies the light variation as including a shading pattern that is a result of the shape and/or dimension of the tip portion of the stylus.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the tip portion of the stylus includes a characteristic surface feature or protrusion, and wherein the display logic identifies the light variation as including a shading pattern that is a result of the characteristic surface feature or protrusion.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the tip portion of the stylus includes a reflector, and wherein the display logic identifies the light variation as including a brightened region or hot spot that is a result of light emitted from the display interface reflecting off the reflector.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the tip portion of the stylus includes a light source, and wherein the display logic identifies the light variation as including a brightened region or hot spot that is a result of light emitted from the light source of the reflector.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the tip portion of the stylus includes a light absorbing feature, and wherein the display logic identifies the light variation as including a darkened region or cold spot that is a result of light emitted from the display interface not reflecting off the light absorbing feature.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the light absorbing feature is provided as a material on a contact surface of the tip portion of the stylus.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the light absorbing feature is provided as an aperture on a contact surface of the tip portion of the stylus.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein the tip portion of the stylus includes a characteristic color or shading, and wherein the display logic identifies the light variation as corresponding to the characteristic color or shading.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein the tip portion of the stylus includes a structure having a feature selected from a group consisting of (i) a contact surface having a flattened polygonal shape, (ii) a plurality of concentric and receding structures, (iii) a conical length, (iv) a bulbous tip, (v) an aperture on a contact surface, (vi) a reflector, and (vii) a reflector.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein the display interface is configured to flicker, and wherein the display logic is configured to identify a light variation resulting from flickered light reflecting off the tip portion of the stylus.

35. A stylus for use with a computing device on which a light-sensitive display interface is provided, the stylus comprising:

a tip portion that includes one or more structures or surfaces that create a variation in a light cast over the display interface when the tip portion is brought into contact or close proximity to the display interface, wherein the variation is characteristic of the tip portion when the tip portion is brought into contact or close proximity to the display interface.

36. The stylus of claim 35, wherein the one or more structures or surfaces includes a feature selected from a group consisting of (i) a shape of the tip portion, (ii) a protrusion or surface feature on a contact surface of the tip portion, (iii) a reflector on the tip portion, (iv) a depthwise contour that focuses and reflects light emitted from the display interface, (v) an aperture formed into the tip portion, (vi) light-absorbing material.

37. The stylus of claim 35, wherein the stylus includes a light source on the tip portion.

38. A display interface for a computing device, the display interface comprising:

a display screen that is configured to emit light;

one or more light sensors, wherein the light sensors detect light variations cast onto the display screen; and

display logic configured to interpret a light variation as being characteristic of a tip portion of a stylus being brought into contact or proximity to the display screen.

39. The display interface of claim 38, wherein the display logic is configured to interpret the light variation as being characteristic of a feature of the tip portion of the stylus.

40. The display interface of claim 39, wherein the display logic is configured to interpret the light variation as being characteristic of a feature selected from a group consisting of (i) a shape of the tip portion, (ii) a protrusion or surface feature on a contact surface of the tip portion, (iii) a reflector on the tip portion, (iv) a depthwise contour that focuses and reflects light emitted from the display interface, (v) an aperture formed into the tip portion, (vi) light-absorbing material.

41. The display interface of claim 38, wherein the one or more light sensors include one or more photodiodes.

42. The display interface of claim 38, wherein the one or more photodiodes are distributed as a grid and combined with the display screen.

43. The display interface of claim 38, wherein the display logic is provided at least in part by execution of instructions by one or more processors of the computing device.

44. The display interface of claim 38, wherein the display logic is provided at least in part by physical logic integrated with the display interface.