Electronic Device with a Touch Sensor and Method for Operating the Same

• US 20150126246A1
• Filed: 11/04/2013
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lombardi, Michael J., Pierce, Amber M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,411,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1312 direct reading, e.g. contactless acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6054 Biometric subscriber identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 : including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 : with voice recognition means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 : Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 : Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

An electronic device has a combination touch sensor (such as a fingerprint reader) and mechanical switch (actuated, for example, by a button press). The electronic device carries out various functions according to whether the touch sensor is being touched, the mechanical switch is being actuated, the electronic device is face up or face down, the state of the electronic device (awake or in sleep mode), and the function that the electronic device is currently carrying out.

Claims

1. A method for carrying out an action on an electronic device, the electronic device having a front side and a rear side, the method comprising:

receiving, from a proximity sensor on the front side of the electronic device, a signal indicating whether the proximity sensor is covered or uncovered;

receiving, from a touch sensor on the rear side of the electronic device, a signal indicating the touch of a user; and

selecting an action to be carried out by the electronic device based on the signal from the proximity sensor and the signal from the touch sensor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting an action further comprises:

selecting the action based additionally on the mode in which the electronic device is operating.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the mode is chosen from the group consisting of a media playing mode, an idle mode, an incoming call mode, and a speakerphone mode.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

if the received signal indicates the proximity sensor is covered and the electronic device is in an idle mode,

listening to the user'"'"'s voice command; and

responding to the user'"'"'s voice command.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the action comprises:

if the received signal indicates a covered proximity sensor, selecting a first action; and

if the received signal indicates an uncovered proximity sensor, selecting a second action.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein the touch sensor is a fingerprint reader,

wherein selecting the action comprises selecting the action only if, based on the touch, the user'"'"'s finger is recognized as the fingerprint of that user.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if the proximity sensor is uncovered and a swipe toward a first side of the electronic device on the touch sensor is detected, performing a first action;

if the proximity sensor is uncovered and a swipe toward a second side of the electronic device on the touch sensor is detected, performing a second action;

if the proximity sensor is covered and a swipe toward the first side of the electronic device on the touch sensor is detected, performing the second action;

if the proximity sensor is covered and a swipe toward the second side of the electronic device on the touch sensor is detected, performing the first action.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal from a mechanical switch coupled to a button located on the second side,

wherein the button overlaps the touch sensor; and

selecting the action further based on the signal from the mechanical switch.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal from an accelerometer indicating whether the electronic device is moving or stationary; and

selecting the action further based on whether the electronic device is moving or stationary.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal from an accelerometer indicating whether the electronic device is face up or face down; and

selecting the action further based on whether the electronic device is face up or face down.

11. An electronic device having a front side and a rear side, the electronic device comprising:

a proximity sensor disposed on the front side of the electronic device;

a touch sensor disposed on the rear side of the electronic device; and

a processor configured to

receive, from the proximity sensor, a signal indicating whether the proximity sensor is covered or uncovered;

receive, from the touch sensor, a signal indicating the touch of a user; and

select an action to be carried out by the electronic device based on the signal from the proximity sensor and the signal from the touch sensor.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein

the front side of the electronic device includes a touchscreen display,

the rear side of the electronic device includes a surface opposite to and substantially parallel with the first,

the proximity sensor is disposed on the front side, and

the touch sensor is disposed on the rear side.

13. The electronic device claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to:

select the action based additionally on the mode in which the electronic device is operating.

14. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein the mode is chosen from the group consisting of a media playing mode, an idle mode, an incoming call mode, and a speakerphone mode.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured to:

if the received signal indicates the proximity sensor is covered,

listening to the user'"'"'s voice command; and

respond to the user'"'"'s voice command.

16. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to:

if the proximity sensor is uncovered and a swipe toward a first side of the electronic device on the touch sensor is detected, perform a first action;

if the proximity sensor is uncovered and a swipe toward a second side of the electronic device on the touch sensor is detected, perform a second action;

if the proximity sensor is covered and a swipe toward the first side of the electronic device on the touch sensor is detected, perform the second action; and

if the proximity sensor is covered and a swipe toward the second side of the electronic device on the touch sensor is detected, perform the first action.

17. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to:

if the received signal indicates a covered proximity sensor, select a first action; and

if the received signal indicates an uncovered proximity sensor, select a second action.

18. The electronic device of claim 11,

wherein the touch sensor is a fingerprint reader,

wherein selecting the action comprises selecting the action only if, based on the touch, the user'"'"'s finger is recognized as the fingerprint of that user.

19. The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising an accelerometer wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a signal from the accelerometer indicating whether the electronic device is moving or stationary; and

select the action further based on whether the electronic device is moving or stationary.

20. The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising an accelerometer wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a signal from the accelerometer indicating whether the electronic device is face up or face down; and

select the action further based on whether the electronic device is face up or face down.

21. The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising a mechanical switch coupled to a button located on the second side,

wherein the button overlaps the touch sensor,

wherein the processor is further configured to select the action further based on whether the mechanical switch is being actuated.