ACTIVATION OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH A CAPACITIVE KEYBOARD

• US 20150253894A1
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mckenzie, Donald Somerset McCulloch, Defazio, Michael Joseph, Hofer, Joseph Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/202,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20150253894A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/82 Protecting input, output or interconnection devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes a memory storing instructions. The portable electronic device also includes a processor executing the instructions to perform a plurality of operations. The operations may include detecting a key pressing action associated with a component of the portable electronic device. The operations may also include determining that the key pressing action reflects a request to activate the portable electronic device based on a measurement of an area associated with the key pressing action being less than or equal to a predetermined threshold area measurement. The operations may further include activating the portable electronic device based on the determination.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor executing the instructions to perform operations comprising;

detecting a key pressing action associated with a component of the portable electronic device;

determining that the key pressing action reflects a request to activate the portable electronic device based on a measurement of an area associated with the key pressing action being less than or equal to a predetermined threshold area measurement; and

activating the portable electronic device based on the determination.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the component is a key on a keyboard of the portable electronic device.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the component of the portable electronic device is associated with a capacitive touch sensor.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein the capacitive touch sensor is configured to detect the measurement of the area associated with the key pressing action.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprises:

unlocking the portable electronic device based on the determination.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the unlocking and the activating are performed simultaneously.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprises:

performing a predetermined function based on the key pressing action associated with the component and the determination.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the predetermined function includes displaying a screen on the portable electronic device showing at least a portion of content of an application.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein determining that the key pressing action reflects a request to activate the portable electronic device is further based on a measurement of a time duration associated with the key pressing action being less than or equal to a predetermined threshold time measurement.

10. A computer-implemented method for activating a portable electronic device, the method comprising the following operations executed by a processor:

detecting a key pressing action associated with a component of the portable electronic device;

determining that the key pressing action reflects a request to activate the portable electronic device based on a measurement of an area associated with the key pressing action being less than or equal to a predetermined threshold area measurement; and

activating the portable electronic device based on the determination.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the component is a key on a keyboard of the portable electronic device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the component of the portable electronic device is associated with a capacitive touch sensor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the capacitive touch sensor is configured to detect the measurement of the area associated with the key pressing action.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

unlocking the portable electronic device based on the determination.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the unlocking and the activating are performed simultaneously.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

performing a predetermined function based on the key pressing action associated with the component and the determination.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined function includes displaying a screen on the portable electronic device showing at least a portion of content of an application.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein determining that the key pressing action reflects a request to activate the portable electronic device is further based on a measurement of a time duration associated with the key pressing action being less than or equal to a predetermined threshold time measurement.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

detecting a key pressing action associated with a component of a portable electronic device;

determining that the key pressing action reflects a request to activate the portable electronic device based on a measurement of an area associated with the key pressing action being less than or equal to a predetermined threshold area measurement; and

activating the portable electronic device based on the determination.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the component is a key on a keyboard of the portable electronic device.