Devices and methods of sensing

• US 9,494,995 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kitchens, Jack Conway II, Schneider, John Keith, Burns, David William, Ganti, Suryaprakash
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Viet
• Application Number:
  US14/137,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20140354608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/204
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52085 Details related to the ultrasound signal acquisition, e.g. scan sequences control of medical diagnostic ultrasound devices A61B8/54
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133514 Colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/52 RGB geometrical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/256 of results relating to different input data, e.g. multimodal recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041661 using detection at multiple resolutions, e.g. coarse and fine scanning; using detection within a limited area, e.g. object tracking window
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/811 the classifiers operating on different input data, e.g. multi-modal recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1318 using electro-optical elements or layers, e.g. electroluminescent sensing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/066 Lens
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A method is disclosed, including detecting a signal representative of an object with a piezoelectric device. A display is powered up from a sleep mode based upon the detected signal. The display can be powered up based upon a comparison of the signal to a threshold value. The threshold value can be a predetermined value or based upon a previous signal detected by the piezoelectric device or a previous signal detected by the piezoelectric device.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a display, comprising:

detecting a signal representative of an object with a piezoelectric device, the piezoelectric device including an ultrasonic transmitter;

powering up a display from a sleep mode based on the signal;

transmitting an ultrasonic signal with the ultrasonic transmitter;

detecting an ultrasonic signal reflected from a surface of the display with the piezoelectric device;

wherein the piezoelectric device and the display are located on a TFT array.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display is powered up based upon a comparison of the signal to a threshold value.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the threshold value is a predetermined value or based upon a previous signal detected by the piezoelectric device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is an infrared signal or an ultrasonic signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, prior to transmitting the ultrasonic signal, the ultrasonic transmitter is brought from a sleep state to an active state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is positioned on or away from a surface of the display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric device includes a sensor array, and wherein detecting the signal corresponds to a scan conducted by the sensor array.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining a location of the object relative to the display based upon the signal;

and

conducting a second scan with the sensor array based upon the location of the object.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric device includes a sensor array, and wherein detecting the signal corresponds to a partial scan conducted by the sensor array.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the partial scan includes selectively addressing a portion of sensors of the sensor array in response to an event.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the event corresponds to detecting an object touching a surface of the display.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the portion of sensors are closer to the event than other sensors of the sensor array.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the partial scan includes selectively processing information from a portion of sensors of the sensor array in response to an event.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the information is selectively processed by reading out image information from substantially all sensors of the sensor array and transferring a portion of the information corresponding to the portion of sensors to an image processor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the event corresponds to detecting an object touching a surface of the display.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the portion of sensors are closer to the event than other sensors of the sensor array.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the information is selectively processed by reading out and transferring image information from substantially all sensors of the sensor array to an image processor, and selectively processing information from the portion of sensors with the image processor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the portion of sensors are closer to the event than other sensors of the sensor array.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal corresponds to an acoustic emission.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the acoustic emission corresponds to one or more of the following:

a user tapping a surface of the display and a user rubbing the surface of the display.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the acoustic emission corresponds to a user touching a surface of the display.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is an infrared signal that corresponds to heat from the object.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

detect a signal representative of an object with a piezoelectric device; and

power up a display from a sleep mode based on the signal;

wherein the piezoelectric device includes a sensor array, and wherein the processor is configured to selectively process information by reading out image information from substantially all sensors of the sensor array and transferring a portion of the information corresponding to a portion of sensors of the sensor array to an image processor;

wherein the piezoelectric device and the display are located on a TFT array.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the piezoelectric device includes a sensor array, and wherein the processor is configured to selectively address a portion of sensors of the sensor array in response to an event.

25. An apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a signal representative of an object with a piezoelectric device; and

means for powering up a display from a sleep mode based on the signal;

means for selectively processing information by reading out image information from substantially all sensors of the piezoelectric device and transferring, to an image processor, a portion of the information corresponding to a portion of the sensors;

wherein the piezoelectric device and the display are located on a TFT array.