User interfaces
First Claim
1. A method of operating a first handheld electronic device in the presence of a second handheld electronic device wherein the first and second devices are configured to transmit acoustic signals the for user input detection, the first device being configured to transmit first acoustic signals with a first signal characteristic, the method comprising:
- the first device determining the presence of the second device;
when the second device is determined to be present, thereafter altering a transmission of the first device so as to transmit second acoustic signals from the first device, the second acoustic signals having a second signal characteristic, different from the first signal characteristic;
receiving said second acoustic signals at the first device, the second acoustic signals comprising reflections of the transmitted second acoustic signals from an object; and
using the received second signals to characterize the motion of the object and thereby to control a function of the first device,wherein the second signal characteristic gives a reduced interference between acoustic signals transmitted from the first and second devices respectively than the first signal characteristic.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A first electronic device is operated in the presence of a second electronic device. Both are configured to transmit acoustic signals, the first being configured to transmit signals with a first characteristic. The first device determines the presence of the second device and thereafter transmits acoustic signals having a second, signal characteristic, different from the first characteristic, and giving a reduced interference between signals transmitted from the first and second devices respectively than the first signal characteristic. Acoustic signals comprising reflections of the transmitted signals from an object are received at the first device, and are used to characterise the motion of the object and thereby control a function of the first device.
12 Citations
55 Claims
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1. A method of operating a first handheld electronic device in the presence of a second handheld electronic device wherein the first and second devices are configured to transmit acoustic signals the for user input detection, the first device being configured to transmit first acoustic signals with a first signal characteristic, the method comprising:
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the first device determining the presence of the second device; when the second device is determined to be present, thereafter altering a transmission of the first device so as to transmit second acoustic signals from the first device, the second acoustic signals having a second signal characteristic, different from the first signal characteristic; receiving said second acoustic signals at the first device, the second acoustic signals comprising reflections of the transmitted second acoustic signals from an object; and using the received second signals to characterize the motion of the object and thereby to control a function of the first device, wherein the second signal characteristic gives a reduced interference between acoustic signals transmitted from the first and second devices respectively than the first signal characteristic. - 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, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A first handheld electronic device comprising:
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a transmitter adapted to transmit first acoustic signals for user input detection with a first signal characteristic; a receiver adapted to receive acoustic signals comprising reflections of the transmitted first acoustic signals of the first device from an object, wherein the electronic device is adapted; to determine the presence of a second handheld electronic device, the second device being configured to transmit acoustic signals; after determining the presence of the second device, to alter a transmission of the first device so as to transmit second acoustic signals with a second signal characteristic, different from the first signal characteristic, the receiver thereafter being adapted to receive said second acoustic signals comprising reflections of the transmitted second acoustic signals of the first device from the object; and to use the received second signals to characterize the motion of the object and thereby control a function of the first device, wherein the second signal characteristic gives a reduced interference between acoustic signals transmitted from the first and second devices respectively than the first signal characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51)
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48. A first portable handheld electronic device comprising:
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an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver and adapted to detect the presence of a second handheld device transmitting ultrasonic signals, the first portable handheld device being adapted to transmit ultrasonic signals for user input detection at a power level dependent on whether the second handheld device is detected, the first portable handheld device is adapted to receive ultrasonic reflections to characterize the motion of an object and thereby control a function of the first portable handheld device, wherein the power level reduces interference between transmissions of the first portable handheld device and the second handheld device.
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52. A non-transitory computer readable medium product configured, when run on a first handheld electronic device, to operate the device in the presence of a second handheld electronic device, wherein the first and second devices are configured to transmit acoustic signals for user input detection, comprising:
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instructions for transmitting first acoustic signals with a first signal characteristic; logic for determining the presence of the second device; instructions for altering a transmission of the first device after the presence of the second device is determined, so as to transmit second acoustic signals with a second signal characteristic, different from the first signal characteristic; logic for processing said second acoustic signals received at the first device comprising reflections of the transmitted second acoustic signals from an object; and logic adapted to use the received second signals to characterize the motion of the object and thereby control a function of the first device, wherein the second signal characteristic gives a reduced interference between acoustic signals transmitted from the first and second devices respectively than the first signal characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55)
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Specification