Detecting damage to an electronic device display

• US 9,760,151 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hou, Steven Xuefeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Mirza
• Application Number:
  US13/430,371
• Time in Patent Office: 1,996 Days
• Field of Search: 340540, 340546, 3409322, 340435, 345173, 345175, 345179, 345 87, 345102, 345 76, 345156, 345163, 345684, 345169, 345211, 345589, 345630, 178 1801- 1811, 715763, 715702, 715711, 715863, 715849
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Detecting potential damage to a touch sensitive display of an electronic device as a result of contact with one or more other objects. Different characteristics associated with contact of the display by object(s) can be determined. Based upon one or more of these characteristics, the electronic device can determine if potential damage to the display is occurring. If so, the electronic device can trigger an alert warning of the potential damage. The characteristics can include the number of contacts/time, the frequency of contacts, the duration of each contact, the area of contact, the number of simultaneous contacts, and/or the intensity of the contact(s). Other factors indicating that the electronic device is not in use, such as the light intensity proximate to the electronic device, the orientation, movement, and/or location of the electronic device, can be detected to confirm that the alert should be issued.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting a contact by an object with a display of an electronic device using a touch sensor of the electronic device, wherein the touch sensor produces an output signal in response to the object contacting the display;

monitoring the output signal from the touch sensor to determine, at least in part, at least one characteristic including one or more of;

a number of times that subsequent output signals are detected during a period of time;

or

a duration of the contact with the display by the object;

monitoring at least one condition of the electronic device, wherein the at least one condition comprises one or more of an orientation of the electronic device, a movement of the electronic device, or a geographical position of the electronic device;

determining that the contact by the object has caused possible damage to the display, based at least in part on a comparison of the at least one characteristic to a corresponding threshold for the at least one characteristic and that the at least one condition is inconsistent with the electronic device being used for an intended purpose;

causing an alert indicative of the possible damage to the display by the object;

receiving a user input associated with the alert indicative of the possible damage to the display, the user input indicating the alert is to be ignored; and

determining an adjusted threshold value based at least in part on the corresponding threshold value and the user input.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring an illumination level proximate to the electronic device;

determining that the illumination level is below an intensity threshold; and

causing an alert signal.

3. A method, comprising:

detecting a contact by one or more objects with a display of an electronic device;

determining, based at least in part on a threshold value, that the contact with the display by the one or more objects is inconsistent with an intended use of the electronic device, wherein the threshold value is determined based at least in part on an accumulation of prior use data;

monitoring at least one condition of the electronic device, wherein the at least one condition comprises one or more of an orientation of the electronic device, a movement of the electronic device, or a geographical position of the electronic device;

causing an alert indicating that the display is at risk of being damaged by the contact with the one or more objects, based at least in part on determining that the contact with the display by the one or more objects is inconsistent with the intended use and that the at least one condition is inconsistent with the electronic device being used for the intended use;

receiving a user input indicating that the alert is to be ignored; and

increasing the threshold value based at least in part on the user input indicating that the alert is to be ignored.

4. A method, comprising:

detecting, using a touch sensor of a display of an electronic device, a contact by an object with the display of the electronic device and in response to the contact, producing an output signal from the touch sensor that is indicative of the contact;

based at least in part upon the output signal from the touch sensor, determining at least one characteristic associated with the contact by the object with the display of the electronic device;

determining that the at least one characteristic has exceeded a threshold value;

monitoring at least one condition of the electronic device, wherein the at least one condition comprises one or more of an orientation of the electronic device, a movement of the electronic device, or a geographical position of the electronic device;

determining that the at least one condition is inconsistent with the electronic device being used for an intended purpose;

causing an alert indicating potential damage to the display by the object;

receiving a user input indicating the potential damage to the display by the object, the user input indicating the alert is to be ignored; and

determining an adjusted threshold value based at least in part on at least one of the user input or an accumulation of prior use data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the at least one characteristic comprises determining a number of times subsequent output signals are detected during a period of time.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the at least one characteristic comprises determining an intensity of the contact.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the at least one characteristic comprises determining an area of the contact on the display.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the at least one characteristic comprises determining a number of simultaneous contacts of the display by a plurality of objects that includes the object.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the at least one characteristic comprises determining a duration of the contact by the object with the display of the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

monitoring an illumination level proximate to the electronic device; and

determining that the illumination level is below a threshold;

and wherein the causing the alert occurs at least partly in response to determining that the illumination level is below the threshold.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the alert indicating the potential damage to the display comprises at least one of:

a message on the display of the electronic device that indicates the contact by the object with the display in a manner that suggests potential damage to the display;

an audible sound produced with the electronic device to alert a user to access the electronic device;

a text message transmitted to a receiving device that is accessible by the user, the text message indicating that the contact by the object with the display was in a manner that suggests potential damage to the display;

or

an email transmitted to the user indicating the contact by the object with the display was in a manner that suggests potential damage to the display.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the touch sensor is sensitive to infrared energy and uses the infrared energy to distinguish between the contact being made by inanimate objects and animate objects.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a memory storing machine executable instructions; and

one or more processors coupled to a display of an electronic device and to the memory, the one or more processors executing the machine executable instructions stored in the memory to implement a plurality of functions, including;

differentiating between a contact to the display by an animate object and an inanimate object;

determining at least one characteristic of the contact by the inanimate object with the display;

determining that the at least one characteristic exceeds a threshold value;

monitoring at least one condition of the electronic device, wherein the at least one condition comprises one or more of an orientation of the electronic device, a movement of the electronic device, or a geographical position of the electronic device;

determining that the at least one condition is inconsistent with the electronic device being used for an intended purpose;

causing an alert indicating a potential damage to the display due to the contact of the inanimate object with the display;

receiving a user input associated with the alert, the user input indicating the alert is to be ignored; and

determining an adjusted threshold value based at least in part on the user input.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors executing the machine executable instructions determine the at least one characteristic as including a number of times that output signals are detected in response to the contact by the inanimate object within a period of time.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors executing the machine executable instructions determine the at least one characteristic as including an intensity of the contact.

16. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors executing the machine executable instructions determine the at least one characteristic as including a duration of the contact by the inanimate object with the display of the electronic device.

17. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors executing the machine executable instructions determine the at least one characteristic as including an area of the contact on the display.

18. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors executing the machine executable instructions determine the at least one characteristic as including a number of simultaneous contacts with the display by a plurality of inanimate objects that include the inanimate object.

19. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a gyroscope to detect the at least one condition of the electronic device.

20. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising an accelerometer to detect a movement of the electronic device, wherein execution of the machine executable instructions causes the one or more processors to cause the alert indicating the potential damage to the display based at least in part on a determination that, in addition to the at least one characteristic exceeding the adjusted threshold value, the movement of the electronic device is inconsistent with the electronic device being used for the intended purpose.

21. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a light sensor for monitoring an illumination level proximate to the electronic device while a touch sensor detects each contact of another object with the display, wherein execution of the machine executable instructions causes the one or more processors to cause the alert indicating the potential damage to the display based at least in part on a determination that, in addition to the at least one characteristic exceeding the adjusted threshold value, the illumination level proximate to the electronic device is below a threshold at which an image on the display would not be visible or legible.

22. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a global position satellite system receiver to receive global position satellite signals wherein execution of the machine executable instructions causes the one or more processors to cause the alert indicating the potential damage to the display based at least in part on a determination that, in addition to the characteristic exceeding the adjusted threshold value, the electronic device is located at the geographical position, or is moving at a speed at which a use for which the electronic device is intended is unlikely.

23. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein execution of the machine executable instructions causes the one or more processors to produce the alert by implementing at least one of:

displaying a message on the display of the electronic device that indicates the contact with the display by the inanimate object in a manner that suggests potential damage to the display;

producing an audible sound with the electronic device to alert a user of the electronic device to access the electronic device;

transmitting a text message to a receiving device that is accessible by the user, the text message indicating that the contact by the inanimate object with the display suggests potential damage to the display;

or

transmitting an email to the user indicating that the contact by the inanimate object with the display suggests potential damage to the display.

24. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the differentiating comprises sensing.

25. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the machine instructions executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to respond to an output signal from a touch sensor to determine that the output signal is a result of the contact by the inanimate object and to determine the at least one characteristic associated with the contact between the inanimate object and the display, while the electronic device is in a suspend mode of operation.

26. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of an electronic device having a display to perform a plurality of functions, including:

detecting a contact by one or more inanimate objects with the display;

determining that the contact with the display by the one or more inanimate objects is inconsistent with an intended use of the electronic device;

monitoring at least one condition of the electronic device, wherein the at least one condition comprises one or more of an orientation of the electronic device, a movement of the electronic device, or a geographical position of the electronic device;

determining that the at least one condition is inconsistent with the electronic device being used for an intended purpose;

causing an alert indicating a potential damage to the display by the contact with the one or more inanimate objects;

receiving a user input indicating that the alert is to be ignored; and

determining an adjusted threshold value associated with the intended use of the electronic device based at least in part on the user input.

27. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform a plurality of functions, including:

determining at least one characteristic associated with a contact by an object with a display of an electronic device;

determining that the at least one characteristic has exceeded a threshold value, the threshold value being determined based at least in part on an accumulation of prior use data associated with a user of the electronic device, the prior use data including at least one of a past duration of contact of the display, a past contact intensity, or a number of times the display has previously been touched over a period of time;

monitoring at least one condition of the electronic device, wherein the at least one condition comprises one or more of an orientation of the electronic device, a movement of the electronic device, or a geographical position of the electronic device;

determining that the at least one condition is inconsistent with the electronic device being used for an intended purpose; and

causing an alert indicative of a potential damage to the display by the object.

28. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 27, wherein determining the at least one characteristic comprises determining a number of times that output signals are detected in response to the contact by the object within a period of time.

29. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 27, wherein determining the at least one characteristic comprises determining an intensity of the contact.

30. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 27, wherein determining the at least one characteristic comprises determining a duration of the contact by the object with the display of the electronic device.

31. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 27, wherein determining the at least one characteristic comprises determining an area of the contact on the display.

32. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 27, wherein determining the at least one characteristic comprises determining a number of simultaneous contacts of the display by a plurality of objects that includes the object.

33. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 27, wherein the plurality of functions further include monitoring an illumination level at the display while detecting the contact of the object with the display, and wherein the causing the alert is implemented based at least in part on a determination that, in addition to the at least one characteristic exceeding the threshold value, the illumination level at the display is below a threshold value.

34. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 27, wherein the monitoring the at least one condition comprises using global position satellite signals that are received by the electronic device, and wherein the causing the alert is implemented based at least in part on a determination that, in addition to the least one characteristic exceeding the threshold value, the electronic device is located at the geographical position, or is moving at a speed at which a use for which the electronic device is intended is unlikely.

35. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 27, wherein the alert indicative of the potential damage to the display comprises at least one of:

a message displayed on the display of the electronic device that indicates the contact by the object was in a manner that suggests potential damage to the display;

an audible sound produced with the electronic device to alert a user to access the electronic device;

a text message transmitted to a receiving device that is accessible by the user, the text message indicating that the contact to the display of the electronic device was in a manner that suggests potential damage to the display; and

an email transmitted to the user indicating that the contact to the display of the electronic device was in a manner that suggests potential damage to the display.