USING AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR TO AUGMENT PROXIMITY SENSOR OUTPUT
First Claim
1. A method of sensing proximity, the method comprising:
- generating a proximity determination from an output of a proximity sensor;
receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output; and
altering, in response to the ALS output, the proximity determination wherein a system comprises the proximity sensor and the ALS and wherein the system is configured to alter the proximity determination with a first change based on an ALS output that has a first value and is configured to alter the proximity determination with a second change when the ALS output has a second value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods to sense proximity of an object and operate a proximity sensor of a portable device. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output, and altering, based on the ALS output, an effect of a proximity sensor output on control of a proximity determination. The ALS sensor and the proximity sensor may be located adjacent to an earpiece of a portable device. In some cases, the proximity determination may be a proximity of an object to the proximity sensor, and altering the effect may include changing the proximity of the object from a proximity greater than a first threshold to a proximity less than the first threshold. Other apparatuses and methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of sensing proximity, the method comprising:
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generating a proximity determination from an output of a proximity sensor; receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output; and altering, in response to the ALS output, the proximity determination wherein a system comprises the proximity sensor and the ALS and wherein the system is configured to alter the proximity determination with a first change based on an ALS output that has a first value and is configured to alter the proximity determination with a second change when the ALS output has a second value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A machine readable non-transitory storage medium containing instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method of sensing proximity, the method comprising:
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generating a proximity determination from an output of a proximity sensor; receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output; and altering, in response to the ALS output, the proximity determination wherein a system comprises the proximity sensor and the ALS and wherein the system is configured to alter the proximity determination with a first change based on an ALS output that has a first value and is configured to alter the proximity determination with a second change when the ALS output has a second value. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A data processing system comprising:
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means for generating a proximity determination from an output of a proximity sensor; means for receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output; and means for altering, in response to the ALS output, the proximity determination wherein a system comprises the proximity sensor and the ALS and wherein the system is configured to alter the proximity determination with a first change based on an ALS output that has a first value and is configured to alter the proximity determination with a second change when the ALS output has a second value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of sensing proximity, the method comprising:
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receiving a first intensity level output from a proximity sensor; determining an estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and a surface of an object based on the received first intensity level output from the proximity sensor; receiving a second intensity level output from an ambient light sensor (ALS); determining, based on the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor that the estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and the surface of the object is incorrect; changing, by a data processing system, the estimated distance value by a first change using a first value of the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor; and changing, by the data processing system, the estimated distance value by a second change using a second value of the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A non-transitory machine readable medium containing executable program instructions which when executed cause a method of operating a data processing system, the method comprising:
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receiving a first intensity level output from a proximity sensor; determining an estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and a surface of an object based on the received first intensity level output from the proximity sensor; receiving a second intensity level output from an ambient light sensor; determining, based on the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor that the estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and the surface of the object is incorrect; changing, by a data processing system, the estimated distance value by a first change using a first value of the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor; and changing, by the data processing system, the estimated distance value by a second change using a second value of the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A portable data processing device comprising:
hardware logic for; receiving a first intensity level output from a proximity sensor; determining an estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and a surface of an object based on the received first intensity level output from the proximity sensor; receiving a second intensity level output from an ambient light sensor; determining, based on the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor that the estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and the surface of the object is incorrect; changing, by the data processing system, the estimated distance value by a first change using a first value of the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor; and changing, by the data processing system, the estimated distance value by a second change using a second value of the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor. - View Dependent Claims (18)
Specification