Dual mode proximity sensor

• US 8,850,508 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2013
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Britt, Joe Freeman
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Kieu Oanh T
• Application Number:
  US13/914,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20130276028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 725/141
• US Class Current: 725/141
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 9/06 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. light
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/941 using an optical detector H03K17/968 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for controlling an electronic device including receiving a signal through a light sensor of the device, identifying with a processor of the device whether the received signal originated from a light emitter of the device, and controlling a function of the device, the function selected based on whether the signal is identified as originating from the light emitter of the device or the light emitter separate from the device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a signal though a light sensor of a first electronic device;

determining whether the received signal originated from a second electronic device that is different from the first electronic device or is a reflection of a signal that originated from the first electronic device;

based on the determination of whether the received signal originated from the second electronic device or is a reflection of a signal that originated from the first electronic device, selecting, from a plurality of functions that can be performed by the first electronic device, a function that corresponds to the device from which the signal was determined to originate; and

executing the selected function with the first electronic device, wherein the executed function is a function of whether an item was placed adjacent to the first electronic device so as to reflect light generated by the first electronic device back to the light sensor in the first electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the selected function comprises identifying which of a plurality of light patterns the signal matches and selecting, for execution on the first electronic device, one or more functions, according to predetermined rules associated with the plurality of light patterns.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the light sensor is adapted to detect a partial occlusion of the light sensor, and in response to detecting the partial occlusion, the first electronic device is arranged to enable the selected function.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the light sensor is adapted to detect a full occlusion of the light sensor, and in response to detecting the full occlusion, the first electronic device is arranged to disable the selected function.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the received signal is a reflection of a signal that originated from the first electronic device, determining a strength of the reflected signal, and selecting, based on the determined strength of the reflected signal, the function from the plurality of functions that can be performed by the first electronic device.

6. An electronic device comprising:

a light sensor;

one or more processors arranged to receive data generated as a result of a signal received by the light sensor; and

one or more storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, perform operations that include determining from the received data whether the received signal originated from a second electronic device that is different from the first electronic device or is a reflection of a signal that originated from the first electronic device;

based on the determination of whether the received signal originated from the second electronic device or is a reflection of a signal that originated from the first electronic device, selecting, from a plurality of functions that can be performed by the first electronic device, a function that corresponds to the device from which the signal was determined to originate; and

executing the selected function with the first electronic device, wherein the executed function is a function of whether an item was placed adjacent to the first electronic device so as to reflect light generated by the first electronic device back to the light sensor.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein executing the selected function comprises identifying which of a plurality of light patterns the signal matches and selecting, for execution on the first electronic device, one or more functions, according to predetermined rules associated with the plurality of light patterns.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the light sensor is adapted to detect a partial occlusion of the light sensor, and in response to detecting the partial occlusion, the first electronic device is arranged to enable the selected function.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the light sensor is adapted to detect a full occlusion of the light sensor, and in response to detecting the full occlusion, the first electronic device is arranged to disable the selected function.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to determining that the received signal is a reflection of a signal that originated from the first electronic device, determining a strength of the reflected signal, and selecting, based on the determined strength of the reflected signal, the function from the plurality of functions that can be performed by the first electronic device.

11. A computer-implemented method for controlling an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a reflected signal though a light sensor of the electronic device;

identifying with a processor of the electronic device whether the reflected signal originated from a light emitter that is part of the electronic device or instead from a light emitter that is not part of the electronic device, by detecting a signal parameter of the reflected signal, and comparing the detected signal parameter to predetermined frequency characteristics for (i) the light emitter that is part of the electronic device, or (ii) the light emitter that is not part of the electronic device; and

executing a function of the electronic device, the function selected based at least in part on the detected signal parameter of the reflected signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the function comprises switching a mode of operation of the electronic device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the function comprises muting volume of sound playing on the electronic device if the reflected signal is identified as having originated from a light emitter that is part of the electronic device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising, in response to detecting that the reflected signal strength is above a predetermined threshold, executing the function of the electronic device.