Method and Apparatus for Determining Whether Ear of User is Contiguous to Electronic Device or Whether User Watches Display of Electronic Device

• US 20140302894A1
• Filed: 01/13/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FraSen Inc.
• Original Assignee: FraSen Inc.
• Inventors: Woo, Hyo Jun, Woo, Hyo Min
• Application Number:
  US14/154,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20140302894A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining whether a ear of a user is contiguous to an electronic device or whether a user watches a display of the electronic device are disclosed herein. The method for determining a proximity level between an electronic device and a user includes the steps of acquiring a measurement value from at least one sensor being differentiated from a proximity sensor, detecting a movement of the electronic device by using the measurement value, responding to the detection of the electronic device and determining whether or not the electronic device is placed near (or contiguous to) the user or whether or not the user is viewing a display of the electronic device by using the measurement value, and controlling the electronic device based upon the determined result. Accordingly, the proximity level between the electronic device and the user may be determined without having to use a proximity sensor.

Claims

1. A method for determining a proximity level between an electronic device and a user, comprising the steps of:

acquiring a measurement value from at least one sensor being differentiated from a proximity sensor;

detecting a movement of the electronic device by using the measurement value;

responding to the detection of the electronic device and determining whether or not the electronic device is placed near (or contiguous to) the user or whether or not the user is viewing a display of the electronic device by using the measurement value; and

controlling the electronic device based upon the determined result.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling the electronic device comprises:

checking whether or not the electronic device is in a user busy mode; and

in case the electronic device is in the user busy mode, controlling power being supplied to a display of the electronic device based upon the determined result.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether or not the electronic device is placed near the user corresponds to a step of determining whether or not the electronic device is placed near the user or whether or not the user is viewing the display of the electronic device based upon a variation pattern of the measurement values.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of determining whether or not the electronic device is placed near the user comprises:

comparing a value indicating a variation pattern of the measurement values with a predetermined threshold value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether or not the electronic device is placed near the user corresponds to a step of determining whether or not the electronic device is placed near the user or whether or not the user is viewing the display of the electronic device by using measurement values measured by at least two or more sensors, each being differentiated from the proximity sensor and each being different from one another.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein, in the step of controlling power being supplied to a display of the electronic device, when it is determined that the electronic device is placed near the user, the power being supplied to the display is reduced or blocked, and, when it is determined that the electronic device is not placed near the user, the power being supplied to the display is maintained or increased.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a gyro sensor, a magnetic field sensor, a gravity sensor, an orientation sensor, a rotation sensor, a vision sensor, a thermal sensor, a microphone, an optical sensor, and a touch sensor.

8. A computer-readable recording medium having a program for executing the method of claim 1 recorded therein.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a display configured to display an image signal;

at least one sensor configured to be differentiated from a proximity sensor and to generate measurement values from a position, alignment or movement of the electronic device; and

a processor configured to detect a movement of the electronic device by using the measurement value, to respond to the detection of the electronic device and to determine whether or not the electronic device is placed near the user or whether or not the user is viewing a display of the electronic device by using the measurement value, and to control the electronic device based upon the determined result.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor checks whether or not the electronic device is in a user busy mode, and wherein, in case the electronic device is in the user busy mode, the processor controls power being supplied to a display of the electronic device based upon the determined result.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor determines whether or not the electronic device is placed near the user based upon a variation pattern of the measurement values.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor compares a value indicating a variation pattern of the measurement values with a predetermined threshold value.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor determines whether or not the electronic device is placed near the user or whether or not the user is viewing the display of the electronic device by using measurement values measured by at least two or more sensors, each being differentiated from the proximity sensor and each being different from one another.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein, when it is determined that the electronic device is placed near the user, the processor reduces or blocks the power being supplied to the display, and wherein, when it is determined that the electronic device is not placed near the user, the processor maintains or increases the power being supplied to the display.

15. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a gyro sensor, a magnetic field sensor, a gravity sensor, an orientation sensor, a rotation sensor, a vision sensor, a thermal sensor, a microphone, an optical sensor, and a touch sensor.