Optical detection of user interaction based on external light source
First Claim
1. An optical interface for optically determining interaction by a user with a mobile device, comprising:
- a relatively transparent portion that enables the communication of light between an external environment and an interior surface of the transparent portion;
a wave guide having an end positioned at an interior surface of the transparent portion, wherein the waveguide is arranged to collect ambient light from the external environment at the end positioned at the interior surface; and
a processor that is adapted to receive at least the collected ambient light through another end of the wave guide, wherein the processor is arranged to employ an absence of received ambient light from the wave guide to detect a location of at least one finger of a user that is physically interacting with the transparent portion of the optical interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for employing ambient light collected from an external light source to detect a user'"'"'s fingers that are gripping at least a relatively transparent portion of a case. The ends of a plurality of waveguides are coupled at relatively unequal or equidistant positions to the interior surface of the transparent portion, where they are arranged to collect light from the exterior light source if the user'"'"'s finger(s) are not gripping the mobile device at that position. If the light collected by the wave guides is blocked by one or more of the user'"'"'s fingers, a profile can be determined for the placement, orientation (left handed or right handed), and size of the user'"'"'s fingers and hand gripping the mobile device. Also, interactions of the fingers with the mobile device can be detected, such as lifting away, pressing, or sliding one or more fingers at the transparent portion for a short or relatively lengthy period of time. Additionally, the collected light can be provided by one or more external light sources, such as ambient light from remotely located sources, one or more illuminators within a mobile device such as a back light for a display, control or other element.
96 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An optical interface for optically determining interaction by a user with a mobile device, comprising:
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a relatively transparent portion that enables the communication of light between an external environment and an interior surface of the transparent portion; a wave guide having an end positioned at an interior surface of the transparent portion, wherein the waveguide is arranged to collect ambient light from the external environment at the end positioned at the interior surface; and a processor that is adapted to receive at least the collected ambient light through another end of the wave guide, wherein the processor is arranged to employ an absence of received ambient light from the wave guide to detect a location of at least one finger of a user that is physically interacting with the transparent portion of the optical interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for optically determining interaction by a user, comprising:
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positioning a transparent portion in a case to enable communication of external light through an exterior surface of the transparent portion to its interior surface within the case; collecting ambient light at one end of a wave guide, wherein light communicated through the transparent portion is collected through at least one end of the wave guide positioned adjacent to the interior surface of the transparent portion; and receiving the collected ambient light through another end of the wave guide, wherein the received ambient light is employed to determine an interaction by the user to initiate an operation with an application. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A mobile device, comprising:
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a memory for storing data; a processor for enabling actions; and an optical interface adapted to detect a physical interaction, including; a relatively transparent portion that enables the communication of light between an external environment and an interior surface of the transparent portion; and a wave guide having an end positioned at an interior surface of the transparent portion, wherein the waveguide is arranged to collect ambient light from the external environment at the end positioned at the interior surface; and a processor that is adapted to receive at least the collected ambient light through another end of the wave guide, wherein the processor is arranged to employ an absence of received ambient light from the wave guide to detect a location of at least one finger of a user that is physically interacting with the transparent portion of the optical interface.
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Specification