Electronic device
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- a display;
a proximity sensor arranged near a display surface of the display and configured to provide an output signal corresponding to a degree of proximity of an object to the display surface, and also configured to provide a position of the approaching object in a direction horizontal to the display surface;
a user interface control unit having a first operational mode and a second operational mode;
wherein the user interface control unit, in the first operation mode, is configured to monitor proximity of a user'"'"'s hand from the display surface based on the output signal of the proximity sensor, and when it is determined that the user'"'"'s hand is within a first predetermined distance from the display surface, the user interface control unit changes a display state of the display and sets the second operational mode, whereas if it is not determined that the user'"'"'s hand is within the first predetermined distance from the display surface, the user interface control unit does not set the second operational mode, andwherein when the user interface control unit, in the second operational mode, detects a position of the user'"'"'s hand in a direction horizontal to the display surface within a detection target range in which a distance to the display surface is equal to or less than a second predetermined distance, the user interface control unit accepts the user'"'"'s operation according to the detected position of the user'"'"'s hand or a change in the position of the user'"'"'s hand, whereas if it is not detected that the position of the user'"'"'s hand is equal to or less than the second predetermined distance, the user interface control unit does not accept the user'"'"'s operation according to the detected position of the user'"'"'s hand or a change in the position of the user'"'"'s hand, and wherein the second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device includes a display and a proximity sensor arranged near a display surface of the display and configured to provide an output signal corresponding to a degree of proximity of an object to the display surface, and provides a position of the approaching object in a direction horizontal to the display surface. A user interface control unit has a first operational mode and a second operational mode, where in the first operation mode, the proximity of a user'"'"'s hand from the display surface is monitored based on the output signal of the proximity sensor. In the second operational mode, a position of the user'"'"'s hand in a direction horizontal to the display surface is detected within a detection target range and a user'"'"'s operation is accepted according to the detected position of the user'"'"'s hand.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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a display; a proximity sensor arranged near a display surface of the display and configured to provide an output signal corresponding to a degree of proximity of an object to the display surface, and also configured to provide a position of the approaching object in a direction horizontal to the display surface; a user interface control unit having a first operational mode and a second operational mode; wherein the user interface control unit, in the first operation mode, is configured to monitor proximity of a user'"'"'s hand from the display surface based on the output signal of the proximity sensor, and when it is determined that the user'"'"'s hand is within a first predetermined distance from the display surface, the user interface control unit changes a display state of the display and sets the second operational mode, whereas if it is not determined that the user'"'"'s hand is within the first predetermined distance from the display surface, the user interface control unit does not set the second operational mode, and wherein when the user interface control unit, in the second operational mode, detects a position of the user'"'"'s hand in a direction horizontal to the display surface within a detection target range in which a distance to the display surface is equal to or less than a second predetermined distance, the user interface control unit accepts the user'"'"'s operation according to the detected position of the user'"'"'s hand or a change in the position of the user'"'"'s hand, whereas if it is not detected that the position of the user'"'"'s hand is equal to or less than the second predetermined distance, the user interface control unit does not accept the user'"'"'s operation according to the detected position of the user'"'"'s hand or a change in the position of the user'"'"'s hand, and wherein the second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A user interface controlling method of controlling a user interface in an electronic device having a display, and a proximity sensor arranged near a display surface of the display, and configured to provide an output signal corresponding to a degree of proximity of an object to the display surface, and also configured to provide a position of the approaching object in a direction horizontal to the display surface, the method comprising:
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monitoring, by the electronic device, the proximity of a user'"'"'s hand within a first predetermined distance from the display surface based on the output signal of the proximity sensor, and determining that the user'"'"'s hand is within the first predetermined distance from the display surface; changing a display state of the display when the electronic device determines that the user'"'"'s hand is within the first distance from the display surface, whereas if it is not determined that the user'"'"'s hand is within the first predetermined distance from the display surface, the display state of the display is not changed; detecting, by the electronic device, a position of the user'"'"'s hand in a direction horizontal to the display surface within a detection target range in which a distance to the display surface is equal to or less than a second predetermined distance; and accepting the user'"'"'s operation according to the detected position of the user'"'"'s hand or a change in the position of the user'"'"'s hand, whereas if it is not detected that the position of the user'"'"'s hand is equal to or less than the second predetermined distance, a user'"'"'s operation is not accepted, and wherein the second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance.
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15. A non-transitory computer program read and executed by a computer which comprises:
- a display; and
a proximity sensor arranged near a display surface of the display and configured to output an output signal matching a degree of proximity of an object to the display surface of the display and also a position of the approaching object in a direction horizontal to the display surface of the display,the program causing the computer to execute; a step of monitoring the proximity of a user'"'"'s hand within a first predetermined distance from the display surface of the display using the output signal of the proximity sensor, and detecting occurrence of the proximity within the first predetermined distance; a step of, when detecting the proximity within the first predetermined distance, changing a display state of the display whereas if it is not determined that the user'"'"'s hand is within the first predetermined distance from the display surface, the display state of the display is not changed; and a step of, after detecting the proximity within the first predetermined distance, detecting a position of the user'"'"'s hand in a direction horizontal to the display surface of the display within a distance range as a detection target range in which a distance to the display surface of the display is equal to or less than a second predetermined distance shorter than the first predetermined distance using the output signal of the proximity sensor, and starting processing of accepting the user'"'"'s operation according to the position of the detected hand or a change in the position whereas if it is not detected that the position of the user'"'"'s hand is equal to or less than the second predetermined distance, a user'"'"'s operation is not accepted.
- a display; and
Specification