Mobile device with proximity sensor

• US 8,618,482 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2011
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Katz, Marshall Joseph, Lewis, Ian Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTIERREZ, GISSELLE M
• Application Number:
  US13/032,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20120211656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 250/338.1, 250/215, 250/214.DC, 250/372, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 250/338.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/941 using an optical detector H03K17/968 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94108 making use of reflection

Abstract

A mobile device including a source for emitting electromagnetic radiation, an enclosure having a side wall, and a detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source is described. At least a portion of the sidewall is adapted to transmit electromagnetic radiation from the source. The source and detector are positioned inside the enclosure. The detector is spaced from the source, and is arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation from the source that is reflected from an object outside the enclosure and passes through the portion of the side wall.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a source for emitting electromagnetic radiation;

a transducer;

an enclosure having a side wall, at least a portion of the side wall being both sound permeable and adapted to transmit electromagnetic radiation from the source; and

a detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source in use, the source, detector and transducer being positioned inside the enclosure, wherein the transducer is positioned between the source and the detector;

wherein the detector is spaced from the source, and is arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation from the source that is reflected from an object outside the enclosure and passes through the portion of the side wall.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the transducer blocks a direct line of sight between the source and the detector.

3. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the transducer is a speaker or a microphone.

4. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein electromagnetic radiation emitted from the source is shaped to shield a direct line of sight between the source and the detector.

5. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the detector has a field of view which is shaped to shield a direct line of sight between the source and the detector.

6. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the sound permeable portion of the side wall is a grille.

7. The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB);

the source and the detector being mounted on the PCB.

8. The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB);

the source, the detector and the transducer being mounted on the PCB.

9. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the source and the detector are mounted on a first side of the PCB, and the transducer is mounted on a second side of the PCB.

10. The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising a processor, the processor being configured to receive detection information from the detector.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, the processor being further configured to filter detection information for electromagnetic radiation detected by the detector that has reflected off an inside surface of the enclosure.

12. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source and detected by the detector falls within the electromagnetic spectrum range of infrared light.

13. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a communication device configured to connect to a server over at least one mobile network.

14. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source and detected by the detector falls within the electromagnetic spectrum range of ultraviolet light.

15. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source and detected by the detector falls within the electromagnetic spectrum range of visible light.

16. The mobile device of claim 1 comprising a proximity sensor implemented using the source and the detector.

17. A mobile device comprising:

an acoustic enclosure having a wall portion that is both sound permeable and adapted to transmit electromagnetic radiation,

a proximity sensor, and an acoustic transducer positioned within the acoustic enclosure between a source for emitting electromagnetic radiation and a detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source, the proximity sensor being arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation that passes through the wall portion.

18. The mobile device of claim 17 wherein the acoustic enclosure is a speaker enclosure and the transducer is a speaker.

19. The mobile device of claim 17 wherein the transducer is a microphone.

20. The mobile device of claim 17 wherein the detector is arranged to detect the electromagnetic radiation from the source that is reflected from an object outside the enclosure and passes through the wall portion.