PROXIMITY SENSOR AND METHOD FOR INDICATING A DISPLAY ORIENTATION CHANGE
First Claim
1. A proximity sensor device for an electronic device having a display screen, the proximity sensor device comprising:
- a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor adapted to be adjacent to the display screen of the electronic device, the proximity sensor adapted to detect object motion along a sensing region; and
a processor, the processor coupled to the proximity sensor, the processor adapted to indicate an orientation change for the display screen in a first way responsive to detected object motion along the sensing region in a first direction, the processor further adapted to indicate an orientation change for the display screen in a second way responsive to detected object motion along the sensing region in a second direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A proximity sensor device and method is provided that facilitates orientation changes in displays. The proximity sensor device and method provide a user with the ability to indicate an orientation change in a display using the sensing region of a proximity sensor device as a user interface. In one specific embodiment, proximity sensor device is implemented to indicate an orientation change in a first way responsive to detected object motion along the sensing region in a first direction, and is further implemented to indicate an orientation change in a second way responsive to detected object motion along the sensing region in a second direction. Thus, a user can cause orientation changes of different ways through the use of object motions in different directions along the sensing region.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A proximity sensor device for an electronic device having a display screen, the proximity sensor device comprising:
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a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor adapted to be adjacent to the display screen of the electronic device, the proximity sensor adapted to detect object motion along a sensing region; and a processor, the processor coupled to the proximity sensor, the processor adapted to indicate an orientation change for the display screen in a first way responsive to detected object motion along the sensing region in a first direction, the processor further adapted to indicate an orientation change for the display screen in a second way responsive to detected object motion along the sensing region in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. The proximity sensor device for a portable computing device having a display screen, the proximity sensor device comprising:
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a capacitive proximity sensor, the capacitive proximity sensor adapted to detect object motion along the sensing region, the sensing region including a first sensing region portion, the first sensing region portion having a first axis parallel a first side of the display screen, the sensing region further including a second sensing region portion, the second sensing region portion having a second axis parallel a second side of the display screen, wherein the first sensing region portion and the second sensing region portion together define an L-shape proximate a corner of the display screen, and wherein a vector normal to a touch surface associated with the sensing region is substantially parallel to a vector normal to the display screen; and a processor, the processor coupled to the proximity sensor, the processor adapted to indicate an orientation change for the display screen in a clockwise direction responsive to detected object motion in a first direction along the L-shaped sensing region, the processor further adapted to indicate an orientation change for the display screen in a counter-clockwise direction responsive to detected object motion in a second direction along the L-shaped sensing region. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of indicating an orientation change in a display screen of an electronic device, the method comprising:
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detecting object motion along a sensing region of a proximity sensor; determining a direction of detected motion along the sensing region; and indicating an orientation change in the display screen in a first way if the direction of detected motion along the sensing region is in a first direction; and indicating an orientation change in the display screen in a second way if the direction of detected motion along the sensing region is in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A program product comprising:
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a proximity sensor program, the proximity sensor program adapted to receive motion data from a proximity sensor adjacent to a display screen in an electronic device, the motion data generated responsive to detected object motion along a sensing region, the proximity sensor program further adapted to indicate an orientation change for the display screen in a first way responsive to detected object motion along the sensing region in a first direction, the proximity sensor program further adapted to indicate an orientation change for the display screen in a second way responsive to detected object motion along the sensing region in a second direction; and a computer-readable media bearing said proximity sensor program. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification