ESTIMATING A BASELINE OF A PROXIMITY SENSOR

• US 20140012528A1
• Filed: 07/04/2012
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: CARMEL-VEILLEUX, Tennessee, GARBER, Andrew Martin
• Granted Patent: US 9,632,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/88
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/945 Proximity switches H03K17/96 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94026 Automatic threshold calibration; e.g. threshold automatically adapts to ambient conditions or follows variation of input
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

Described are methods and systems for estimating a baseline of a proximity sensor on an electronic device comprising: collecting proximity sensor data at the electronic device using the proximity sensor; collecting second data using a second source at the electronic device; obtaining a sample of the proximity sensor data at the electronic device when it is determined that no object is proximal to a first face of the electronic device based on the proximity sensor data and based on the second data; and approximating the baseline of the proximity sensor using the obtained sample.

Claims

1. A method of estimating a baseline of a proximity sensor on an electronic device, the method comprising:

collecting proximity sensor data at the electronic device using the proximity sensor;

collecting second data using a second source at the electronic device;

obtaining a sample of the proximity sensor data at the electronic device when it is determined that no object is proximal to a first face of the electronic device based on the proximity sensor data and based on the second data; and

approximating the baseline of the proximity sensor using the obtained sample.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that no object is proximal to the first face of the electronic device based on the proximity sensor data comprises determining that the proximity sensor data is below a predetermined threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting second data using a second source at the electronic device comprises determining the orientation of the electronic device using an orientation sensor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining that no object is proximal to the first face of the electronic device based on the second data comprises determining that the orientation of the electronic device is within a predetermined range of orientations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting second data using a second source at the electronic device comprises evaluating whether one of the proximity sensor data or the proximity sensor are being accessed by a component associated with the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining that no object is proximal to the first face of the electronic device based on the second data comprises determining that no components associated with the electronic device are accessing one of the proximity sensor data or the proximity sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting second data using a second source at the electronic device comprises collecting ambient light readings using a light sensor at the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining that no object is proximal to the first face of the electronic device based on the second data comprises determining that the ambient light readings are consistent with predetermined conditions indicating that an object is not proximal to the first face of the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining a sample of the proximity sensor data at the electronic device comprises:

gathering at least one burst of a predetermined number of proximity sensor readings; and

,

validating the proximity sensor readings.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein obtaining a sample of the proximity sensor data further comprises gathering at least one burst of a predetermined number of proximity sensor readings and a predetermined number of ambient light readings and validating the proximity sensor readings based on the ambient light readings.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein obtaining a sample of the proximity sensor data at the electronic device further comprises obtaining a predetermined number of valid bursts of proximity sensor readings and obtaining a predetermined number of ambient light readings, and wherein approximating the baseline using the obtained samples comprises calculating an estimate of the baseline based on the proximity sensor readings and the ambient light readings.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein approximating the baseline of the proximity sensor using the obtained sample comprises averaging weighted proximity sensor readings.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the samples of the valid bursts of proximity sensor readings are weighted based on the ambient light readings.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting proximity sensor data at the electronic device using the proximity sensor comprises measuring, at the electronic device, a reflection of an infrared light beam emanating from the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor data comprises the intensity of infrared light measured at the proximity sensor.

16. An electronic communication device comprising:

a memory;

a proximity sensor for collecting proximity sensor data;

a second source for collecting second data; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the proximity sensor, and the second source, the processor to execute instructions to configure the processor to;

collect proximity sensor data at the electronic device using the proximity sensor;

collect second data using a second source at the electronic device;

obtain a sample of the proximity sensor data when it is determined that no object is proximal to a first face of the electronic device based on the proximity sensor data and based on the second data; and

approximate a baseline of the proximity sensor using the obtained sample.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the second source comprises an orientation sensor and the second data comprises the orientation of the electronic device.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the second source comprises an ambient light sensor and the second data comprises ambient light intensity.

19. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to

gather at least one burst of a predetermined number of proximity sensor readings;

and,

validate the proximity sensor readings.

20. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to:

collecting proximity sensor data at the electronic device using a proximity sensor;

collect second data using a second source at the electronic device;

obtain a sample of the proximity sensor data at the electronic device when it is determined that no object is proximal to a first face of the electronic device based on the proximity sensor data and based on the second data; and

approximate a baseline of the proximity sensor using the obtained sample.