Removable protective cover with embedded proximity sensors
First Claim
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1. A removable cover for a handheld electronic device, comprising:
- a protective cover that at least partially covers rear and side surfaces of a handheld electronic device, comprising narrow slits;
a plurality of proximity sensors mounted in said protective cover for detecting user gestures performed outside of the electronic device, comprising;
alternating light emitters and light receivers; and
lenses that direct light beams from said light emitters out of said protective cover through said narrow slits, wherein a finger that covers one or more of said lenses reflects the directed light beams back through at least one of said narrow slits and, via said lenses, onto one or more of said light receivers;
a battery;
wireless communication circuitry; and
a processor configured to operate said proximity sensors, and to operate said wireless communication circuitry to transmit commands to the electronic device based on gestures detected by said proximity sensors.
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Abstract
A removable cover for a handheld electronic device, including a protective cover that at least partially covers rear and side surfaces of a handheld electronic device, a plurality of proximity sensors mounted in the cover for detecting user gestures performed outside of the electronic device, a battery, wireless communication circuitry, and a processor configured to operate the proximity sensors, and to operate the wireless communication circuitry to transmit commands to the electronic device based on gestures detected by the proximity sensors.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A removable cover for a handheld electronic device, comprising:
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a protective cover that at least partially covers rear and side surfaces of a handheld electronic device, comprising narrow slits; a plurality of proximity sensors mounted in said protective cover for detecting user gestures performed outside of the electronic device, comprising; alternating light emitters and light receivers; and lenses that direct light beams from said light emitters out of said protective cover through said narrow slits, wherein a finger that covers one or more of said lenses reflects the directed light beams back through at least one of said narrow slits and, via said lenses, onto one or more of said light receivers; a battery; wireless communication circuitry; and a processor configured to operate said proximity sensors, and to operate said wireless communication circuitry to transmit commands to the electronic device based on gestures detected by said proximity sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification