Layout design of proximity sensors to enable shortcuts
First Claim
1. A mobile device comprising:
- a housing having a front, back, first side, second side, top side and a bottom side;
a touch screen display on the front of the housing;
a plurality of proximity sensors coupled to the housing, each proximity sensor is activated when an object passes through a field produced by the proximity sensor, the plurality of proximity sensors having a configuration on the housing, the configuration comprising;
at least one proximity sensor mounted on the first side and at least one proximity sensor mounted on the second side;
at least one proximity sensor mounted on the back of the housing;
a processor connected to the plurality of proximity sensors;
memory connected to the processor;
software held in the memory and run in the processor to;
determine a configuration of activated proximity sensors;
determine a power mode of the mobile device;
if the power mode of the mobile device is a lower power mode than awake, determine a function to be performed by the mobile device based at least in part on the configuration of activated proximity sensors and the power mode, wherein the function comprises performing a telephony operation, performing a music player operation, launching an application, performing a camera application operation, performing a texting application operation, performing an email application operation, providing status information of the mobile device or any combination thereof; and
control the mobile device by performing the determined function.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile platform includes a plurality of proximity sensors coupled to a housing including on the sides, front and back of the housing. Signals from the proximity sensors are analyzed to determine configuration of the proximity sensors that are activated. The configuration may be a sequence of proximity sensors that are activated, e.g., when a gesture is detected, or the locations of the proximity sensors that are activated when the mobile platform is held in different manners. Mobile platform applications associated with the configuration are determined and automatically launched. For example, the applications may include a camera application or short message service (SMS) application, as well as controlling telephony operations, controlling a music player, and providing status information. Information from an orientation sensor and/or ambient light detector may also be used to assist in determining the applications to be launched.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A mobile device comprising:
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a housing having a front, back, first side, second side, top side and a bottom side; a touch screen display on the front of the housing; a plurality of proximity sensors coupled to the housing, each proximity sensor is activated when an object passes through a field produced by the proximity sensor, the plurality of proximity sensors having a configuration on the housing, the configuration comprising; at least one proximity sensor mounted on the first side and at least one proximity sensor mounted on the second side; at least one proximity sensor mounted on the back of the housing; a processor connected to the plurality of proximity sensors; memory connected to the processor; software held in the memory and run in the processor to; determine a configuration of activated proximity sensors; determine a power mode of the mobile device; if the power mode of the mobile device is a lower power mode than awake, determine a function to be performed by the mobile device based at least in part on the configuration of activated proximity sensors and the power mode, wherein the function comprises performing a telephony operation, performing a music player operation, launching an application, performing a camera application operation, performing a texting application operation, performing an email application operation, providing status information of the mobile device or any combination thereof; and control the mobile device by performing the determined function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 56, 57)
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26. A method comprising:
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monitoring for signals from a plurality of proximity sensors coupled to a housing of a mobile device; analyzing signals received from the plurality of proximity sensors to determine a configuration of activated proximity sensors; determining a power mode of the mobile device; if the power mode of the mobile device is a lower power mode than awake, determining a function based at least in part on the configuration of activated proximity sensors and the power mode, wherein the function comprises performing a telephony operation, performing a music player operation, launching an application, performing a camera application operation, performing a texting application operation, performing an email application operation, providing status information of the mobile device or any combination thereof; and controlling the mobile device based on the determined function. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A system for controlling an operation of a mobile device comprising:
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means for capacitively sensing a proximity of an object to a housing of the mobile device, the means for capacitively sensing being located at multiple locations on the housing including a first side, a second side, and a back side; means for determining a configuration of the means for capacitively sensing that are activated by the proximity of the object to the housing; means for determining a power mode of the mobile device; if the power mode of the mobile device is a lower power mode than awake, means for determining a function to be performed by the mobile device based at least in part on the configuration and the power mode, wherein the function comprises performing a telephony operation, performing a music player operation, launching an application, performing a camera application operation, performing a texting application operation, performing an email application operation, providing status information of the mobile device or any combination thereof; means for controlling mobile device based on the determined function. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, comprising:
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program code to analyze signals received from a plurality of proximity sensors coupled to a housing of a mobile device to determine a configuration of activated proximity sensors; program code to determine a power mode of the mobile device; if the power mode of the mobile device is a lower power mode than awake, program code to determine a function based at least in part on the configuration of activated proximity sensors and the power mode, wherein the function comprises performing a telephony operation, performing a music player operation, launching an application, performing a camera application operation, performing a texting application operation, performing an email application operation, providing status information of the mobile device or any combination thereof; and program code to automatically run the determined function on the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55)
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Specification