Mobile device display management

• US 9,185,203 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2015
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lockwood, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajayi, Joel
• Application Number:
  US14/718,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20150264170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 173 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The display of a mobile device is managed during a voice communication session using a proximity sensor and an accelerometer. In one example, the display of a mobile device is turned off during a phone call on the mobile device when a proximity sensor detects an object is proximate the device and an accelerometer determines the device is in a first orientation.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a mobile device and based on information provided by a proximity sensor, that an object is proximate the mobile device, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect a presence of the object without any physical contact between the object and the mobile device, and wherein the proximity sensor detects when the object is within a threshold distance from the proximity sensor;

determining, by the mobile device, that an orientation of the mobile device changes to a first orientation;

determining, by the mobile device, that the orientation of the mobile device stays in the first orientation for more than a first threshold period of time;

after determining that the object is proximate the mobile device and that the orientation of the mobile device stays in the first orientation for more than the first threshold period of time, automatically turning off a display of the mobile device; and

after turning off the display of the mobile device;

receiving, by the mobile device, one or more voice signals based on audible input received by a microphone of the mobile device, and

after at least one of (a) determining that the object is not proximate the mobile device or (b) determining that the orientation of the mobile device changes from the first orientation to a second orientation and further determining that the orientation of the mobile device stays in the second orientation for more than a second threshold period of time, automatically turning on the display of the mobile device, wherein the second orientation is different from the first orientation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the orientation of the mobile device is determined as approximately horizontal when an angle between a vector generally parallel to a major surface of the mobile device and a projection of the vector onto a plane that is generally perpendicular to a direction of gravity is less than or equal to approximately 50 degrees.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the orientation of the mobile device is determined as approximately vertical when an angle between a vector generally parallel to a major surface of the mobile device and a projection of the vector onto a plane that is generally perpendicular to a direction of gravity is greater than approximately 50 degrees.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the object is not proximate the mobile device occurs before determining that the orientation of the mobile device is the second orientation.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically turning off the display of the mobile device in response to at least one of determining that the object is proximate the mobile device a second time using the proximity sensor or determining that the orientation of the mobile device is the first orientation a second time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first threshold period of time is different than the second threshold period of time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the orientation of the mobile device is the first orientation or the second orientation is based on one or more signals generated by an accelerometer of the mobile device.

8. A mobile device comprising:

a display;

a microphone;

a proximity sensor configured to detect a proximity of an object to the mobile device, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect a presence of the object without any physical contact between the object and the mobile device, and wherein the proximity sensor detects when the object is within a threshold distance from the proximity sensor; and

one or more processors configured to;

determine that an orientation of the mobile device changes to a first orientation;

determine that the orientation of the mobile device stays in the first orientation for more than a first threshold period of time;

after determining that the object is proximate the mobile device and that the orientation of the mobile device stays in the first orientation for more than the first threshold period of time, automatically turn off the display of the mobile device;

after turning off the display;

receive one or more voice signals based on audible input received by the microphone, and

after at least one of (a) determining that the object is not proximate the mobile device or (b) determining that the orientation of the mobile device changes from the first orientation to a second orientation and further determining that the orientation of the mobile device stays in the second orientation for at least more than a second threshold period of time, automatically turn on the display of the mobile device, wherein the second orientation is different from the first orientation.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the orientation of the mobile device is determined as approximately horizontal when an angle between a vector generally parallel to a major surface of the mobile device and a projection of the vector onto a plane that is generally perpendicular to a direction of gravity is less than or equal to approximately 50 degrees.

10. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the orientation of the mobile device is determined as approximately vertical when an angle between a vector generally parallel to a major surface of the mobile device and a projection of the vector onto a plane that is generally perpendicular to a direction of gravity is greater than approximately 50 degrees.

11. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the first threshold period of time is different than the second threshold period of time.

12. The mobile device of claim 8, further comprising an accelerometer, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine that the orientation of the mobile device is the first orientation or the second orientation based on one or more signals generated by the accelerometer.

13. A storage device storing instructions for causing at least one processor to:

automatically turn off a display of a mobile device after determining that an orientation of the mobile device changes to a first orientation, that the orientation of the mobile device stays in the first orientation for more than a first threshold period of time, and that an object is proximate the mobile device using a proximity sensor, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect a presence of the object without any physical contact between the object and the mobile device, and wherein the proximity sensor detects when the object is within a threshold distance from the proximity sensor;

after turning off the display;

receive one or more voice signals based on audible input, and

after at least one of (a) determining that the object is not proximate the mobile device or (b) determining that the orientation of the mobile device changes from the first orientation to a second orientation and further determining that the orientation of the mobile device stays in the second orientation for more than a second threshold period of time, automatically turn on the display of the mobile device, wherein the second orientation is different from the first orientation.

14. The storage device of claim 13, wherein the orientation of the mobile device is determined as approximately horizontal when an angle between a vector generally parallel to a major surface of the mobile device and a projection of the vector onto a plane that is generally perpendicular to a direction of gravity is less than or equal to approximately 50 degrees.

15. The storage device of claim 13, wherein the orientation of the mobile device is determined as approximately vertical when an angle between a vector generally parallel to a major surface of the mobile device and a projection of the vector onto a plane that is generally perpendicular to a direction of gravity is greater than approximately 50 degrees.

16. The storage device of claim 13, further storing instructions for causing the at least one processor to determine that the orientation of the mobile device is the first orientation or the second orientation based on one or more signals generated by an accelerometer of the mobile device.

17. The storage device of claim 13, wherein the first threshold period of time is different than the second threshold period of time.