Automatic activation of touch sensitive screen in a hand held computing device

• US 7,158,913 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mobigence Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mobigence Incorporated
• Inventors: Park, Ilwhan, Shim, Jae H., Berelovich, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lau, Tung S
• Application Number:
  US09/775,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20020103616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,162 Days
• Field of Search: 702/150, 708/139, 713/323, 395/182.12, 364/707, 382/103, 363/84, 341/20, 361/794
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0267 by controlling user interface components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Method and system for activating at least one of a display screen and a touch screen, and/or for deactivating a power conservation system for a hand held computing device (PDA, radiotelephone, etc.), when a stylus used for the touch screen is absent from a receptacle that receives the stylus on the device. When the stylus is present in the receptacle, the display screen and/or touch screen are deactivated and/or the power conservation system is activated. When the stylus is absent from the receptacle, but an accumulated time for such absence is greater than a selected time-out value, the system reacts as if the stylus is present in the receptacle. Examples of methods of sensing presence or absence of a stylus in a stylus receptacle are presented.

Claims

1. A method of operating a hand held computing device, the method comprising:

providing a hand held computing device with an electrical power conservation system, with an LCD display, with a touch sensitive screen and with a stylus for use in entering information into the computing device through the touch screen;

sensing whether the stylus is positioned in a stylus receiving receptacle provided on the device by a process comprising at least one of the following actions;

(a) comparing an impedance measured for said receptacle with an impedance value associated with said receptacle when said stylus is positioned within said receptacle;

(b) comparing an electrical conductivity measured for said receptacle with an electrical conductivity value associated with said receptacle when said stylus is positioned within said receptacle;

(c) comparing a capacitance measured for said receptacle with a capacitance value associated with said receptacle when said stylus is positioned within said receptacle;

(d) comparing a mass measured for said receptacle with a mass value associated with said receptacle when said stylus is positioned within said receptacle;

(e) determining if an electromechanical switch associated with said receptacle is in a selected switch state when said stylus is positioned within said receptacle;

(f) determining if an electromagnetic sensor associated with said receptacle senses proximity of a selected ferromagnetic component embedded in said stylus when said stylus is positioned within said receptacle; and

(g) determining if light in a selected wavelength range is received by an optical sensor associated with said receptacle when said stylus is positioned within said receptacle; and

when the stylus is positioned within the receptacle, taking at least one of the following set of actions;

(i) deactivating the touch screen;

(ii) deactivating the LCD display; and

(iii) activating the power conservation system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when said stylus is not positioned within said receptacle, taking at least one of the following actions;

(iv) activating said touch screen for entry of information;

(v) activating said LCD display; and

(vi) deactivating said power conservation system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when said stylus is not positioned within said receptacle;

determining if said system is presently in an active state;

when said system is presently in an active state, taking at least one of the following actions;

(iv) activating said touch screen for entry of information;

(v) activating said LCD display; and

(vi) deactivating said power conservation system;

when said system is not presently in an active state, determining an accumulated time during which said stylus has continuously not been within said receptacle and said device has not been in an active state, and comparing the accumulated time with a selected time-out value;

when the accumulated time is greater than the time-out value, taking at least one of said actions (i), (ii) and (iii);

when the accumulated time is not greater than the time-out value, taking at least one of the actions (iv), (v) and (vi).

4. A system of operating a hand held computing device, the system comprising:

a hand held computing device having a electrical power conservation system, an LCD display, a touch sensitive screen and a stylus for use in entering information into the computing device through the touch screen;

a stylus sensor that is configured for sensing whether the stylus is positioned in a stylus receiving receptacle provided on the system by a process comprising at least one of the following actions;

(a) comparing an impedance measured for said receptacle with an impedance value associated with said receptacle when said stylus is positioned within said receptacle;

(b) comparing an electrical conductivity measured for said receptacle with an electrical conductivity value associated with said receptacle when said stylus is positioned within said receptacle;

(c) comparing a capacitance measured for said receptacle with a capacitance value associated with said receptacle when said stylus is positioned within said receptacle;

(d) comparing a mass measured for said receptacle with a mass value associated with said receptacle when said stylus is positioned within said receptacle;

(e) determining if an electromechanical switch associated with said receptacle is in a selected switch state when said stylus is positioned within said receptacle;

(f) determining if an electromagnetic sensor associated with said receptacle senses proximity of a selected ferromagnetic component embedded in said stylus when said stylus is positioned within said receptacle; and

(g) determining if light in a selected wavelength range is received by an optical sensor associated with said receptacle when said stylus is positioned within said receptacle; and

a computer that is programmed so that, when the stylus is positioned within the receptacle, the system takes at least one of the following set of actions;

(i) deactivating the touch screen;

(ii) deactivating the LCD display; and

(iii) activating the power conservation system.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said computer is programmed so that, when said stylus is not positioned within said receptacle, said system takes at least one of the following actions:

(iv) activating said touch screen for entry of information;

(v) activating said LCD display; and

(vi) deactivating said power conservation system.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said computer is programmed so that, when said stylus is not positioned within said receptacle:

said computer determines if said system is presently in an active state;

when said system is presently in an active state, said system takes at least one of the following actions;

(iv) activating said touch screen for entry of information;

(v) activating said LCD display; and

(vi) deactivating said power conservation system;

when said system is not presently in an active state, said computer determines an accumulated time during which said stylus has continuously not been within said receptacle and said device has not been in an active state, and said computer compares the accumulated time with a selected time-out value;

when the accumulated time is greater than the time-out value, said system takes at least one of said actions (i), (ii) and (iii);

when the accumulated time is not greater than the time-out value, said system takes at least one of the actions (iv), (v) and (vi).