Electronic Device with Sensing Assembly and Method for Interpreting Consecutive Gestures
First Claim
1. A method for interpreting at least two consecutive gestures, wherein each gesture is a specified pattern of movement of an external object relative to an electronic device, the method comprising:
- providing as part of the electronic device a sensing assembly, wherein the sensing assembly includes either (a) at least one first photoreceiver and a plurality of first phototransmitters, wherein each first phototransmitter is positioned to emit a respective portion of first infrared light away from the electronic device about a corresponding central transmission axis, wherein each central transmission axis is oriented in a respective different angular direction with respect to the others, and wherein the at least one first photoreceiver is configured to receive at least some of the first infrared light, or (b) at least one second phototransmitter and a plurality of second photoreceivers, wherein the at least one second phototransmitter is configured to emit second infrared light, wherein each second photoreceiver is positioned to receive at least some of the second infrared light about a corresponding central receiving axis, and wherein each central receiving axis is oriented in a respective different angular direction with respect to the others;
controlling either first emissions of the portions of the first infrared light by the first phototransmitters or second emissions of the second infrared light by the at least one second phototransmitter during each of a plurality of time periods;
for each of the plurality of time periods, generating a corresponding measured signal indicative of a respective amount of the first or second infrared light that was received by a respective one of the at least one first photoreceiver or the plurality of second photoreceivers;
evaluating the measured signals to identify a first gesture and a second gesture;
operating the electronic device to ignore the first gesture upon the identifying of the first gesture; and
controlling the electronic device to take a first action in response to the identifying of the second gesture according to a first mode of operation of the electronic device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for interpreting at least one movement pattern of an external object relative to an electronic device includes providing as part of the electronic device a sensing assembly, determining a first occurrence of a first movement pattern of the at least one movement pattern based at least in part upon received infrared light, operating the electronic device in accordance with a first mode so as to avoid taking at least one possible action in response to the determining of the first occurrence of the first movement pattern, determining a second occurrence of a second movement pattern of the at least one movement pattern based at least in part the received infrared light, and controlling the electronic device in accordance with the first mode so as to take at least one first action in response to the determining of the second occurrence of the second movement pattern.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for interpreting at least two consecutive gestures, wherein each gesture is a specified pattern of movement of an external object relative to an electronic device, the method comprising:
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providing as part of the electronic device a sensing assembly, wherein the sensing assembly includes either (a) at least one first photoreceiver and a plurality of first phototransmitters, wherein each first phototransmitter is positioned to emit a respective portion of first infrared light away from the electronic device about a corresponding central transmission axis, wherein each central transmission axis is oriented in a respective different angular direction with respect to the others, and wherein the at least one first photoreceiver is configured to receive at least some of the first infrared light, or (b) at least one second phototransmitter and a plurality of second photoreceivers, wherein the at least one second phototransmitter is configured to emit second infrared light, wherein each second photoreceiver is positioned to receive at least some of the second infrared light about a corresponding central receiving axis, and wherein each central receiving axis is oriented in a respective different angular direction with respect to the others; controlling either first emissions of the portions of the first infrared light by the first phototransmitters or second emissions of the second infrared light by the at least one second phototransmitter during each of a plurality of time periods; for each of the plurality of time periods, generating a corresponding measured signal indicative of a respective amount of the first or second infrared light that was received by a respective one of the at least one first photoreceiver or the plurality of second photoreceivers; evaluating the measured signals to identify a first gesture and a second gesture; operating the electronic device to ignore the first gesture upon the identifying of the first gesture; and controlling the electronic device to take a first action in response to the identifying of the second gesture according to a first mode of operation of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for interpreting at least one movement pattern of an external object relative to an electronic device, the method comprising:
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providing as part of the electronic device a sensing assembly, wherein the sensing assembly includes either (a) at least one first photoreceiver and a plurality of first phototransmitters, wherein each first phototransmitter is positioned to emit a respective portion of first infrared light away from the electronic device about a corresponding central transmission axis, wherein each central transmission axis is oriented in a respective different angular direction with respect to the others, and wherein the at least one first photoreceiver is configured to receive at least some of the first infrared light, or (b) at least one second phototransmitter and a plurality of second photoreceivers, wherein the at least one second phototransmitter is configured to emit second infrared light, wherein each second photoreceiver is positioned to receive at least some of the second infrared light about a corresponding central receiving axis, and wherein each central receiving axis is oriented in a respective different angular direction with respect to the others; determining a first occurrence of a first movement pattern of the at least one movement pattern based at least in part upon the received first infrared light or the received second infrared light; operating the electronic device in accordance with a first mode so as to avoid taking at least one possible action in response to the determining of the first occurrence of the first movement pattern; determining a second occurrence of a second movement pattern of the at least one movement pattern based at least in part the received first infrared light or the received second infrared light; and controlling the electronic device in accordance with the first mode so as to take at least one first action in response to the determining of the second occurrence of the second movement pattern. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electronic device comprising:
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a sensing assembly, wherein the sensing assembly includes either (a) at least one first photoreceiver and a plurality of first phototransmitters, wherein each first phototransmitter is positioned to emit a respective portion of first infrared light away from the electronic device about a corresponding central transmission axis, wherein each central transmission axis is oriented in a respective different angular direction with respect to the others, and wherein the at least one first photoreceiver is configured to receive at least some of the first infrared light, or (b) at least one second phototransmitter and a plurality of second photoreceivers, wherein the at least one second phototransmitter is configured to emit second infrared light, wherein each second photoreceiver is positioned to receive at least some of the second infrared light about a corresponding central receiving axis, and wherein each central receiving axis is oriented in a respective different angular direction with respect to the others; either a camera or a touch screen display; at least one processing device coupled at least indirectly to the sensing assembly and the camera or touch screen display, wherein the at least one processing device is configured to;
(a) control either first emissions of the portions of the first infrared light by the first phototransmitters or second emissions of the second infrared light by the at least one second phototransmitter during each of a plurality of time periods;
(b) for each of the plurality of time periods, generate a corresponding measured signal indicative of a respective amount of the first or second infrared light that was received by a respective one of the at least one first photoreceiver or the plurality of second photoreceivers;
(c) evaluate the measured signals to determine occurrences of a first pattern of movement and a second pattern of movement of an external object relative to the electronic device;
(d) avoid taking at least one possible action upon the determining of the occurrence of the first pattern of movement; and
, (e) upon the determining of the occurrence of the second pattern of movement, cause the camera to be actuated so that a photograph is taken or cause the touch screen display to become substantially it up. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification