Method and apparatus for adjusting a graphical user interface on an electronic device

• US 9,971,496 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2014
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Navsariwala, Umesh, Patel, Deepesh
• Primary Examiner(s): SUN, LI P
• Application Number:
  US14/450,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20160034140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method for adjusting a graphical user interface on an electronic device includes receiving, from a detection element positioned at a backside of an electronic device, first data generated when a hand is positioned at the backside of the electronic device. Further, a one-handed or two-handed operation of the electronic device is determined based on the first data. A displaying of a graphical user interface on the electronic device is adjusted when the one-handed operation is determined.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

outputting, by an electronic device and for display, a graphical user interface;

receiving, by the electronic device, from at least one sensor positioned at a backside of the electronic device, first data generated when at least a portion of a hand is positioned at the backside of the electronic device, wherein the at least one sensor includes a near-field communication antenna coupled to a switch that connects one of a near-field communication integrated circuit or a capacitive sensing integrated circuit to the near-field communication antenna, the near-field communication integrated circuit being configured to measure a field strength of the near-field communication antenna, and the capacitive sensing integrated circuit being configured to measure a capacitance of the near-field communication antenna;

determining, by the electronic device and based on a comparison of the first data to a threshold value, whether the first data indicates a one-handed operation or a two-handed operation of the electronic device;

responsive to determining that the first data indicates the two-handed operation of the electronic device, determining, by the electronic device, at least one function performed in relation to the electronic device that indicates the one-handed operation of the electronic device; and

responsive to determining the at least one function that indicates the one-handed operation of the electronic device, adjusting, by the electronic device, the graphical user interface that is output for display by the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first data from the at least one sensor comprises receiving the first data from the near-field communication integrated circuit that is coupled to the near-field communication antenna via the switch.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

initiating a diagnostic mode of the near-field communication integrated circuit,

wherein, while in the diagnostic mode, the near-field communication integrated circuit measures the field strength from the near-field communication antenna, and

wherein determining that the first data indicates the two-handed operation of the electronic device comprises determining that the measured field strength is outside of a first range of field strength values.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first data from the at least one sensor comprises receiving the first data from the capacitive sensing integrated circuit that is coupled to the near-field communication antenna via the switch.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

switching the switch from the near-field communication integrated circuit to the capacitive sensor integrated circuit,

wherein determining that the first data indicates the two-handed operation of the electronic device comprises determining that the measured capacitance is outside of a first range of capacitance values.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one function that indicates the one-handed operation comprises determining a contact to a button on the electronic device, wherein the contact is determined within a time interval threshold of determining that the first data indicates the two-handed operation.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining the at least one function that indicates the one-handed operation, adjusting the threshold value to generate an adjusted threshold value;

after adjusting the threshold value, receiving, from the at least one sensor, further data generated when at least the portion of the hand is positioned at the backside of the electronic device; and

determining, based on a comparison of the further data to the adjusted threshold value, whether the further data indicates the one-handed or the two-handed operation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the graphical user interface comprises at least one of:

shifting, in at least one of a horizontal direction or a vertical direction, at least one of a keyboard, an icon, or an area displayed at a touchscreen of the electronic device;

or

adjusting, by compressing toward a center of the touchscreen of the electronic device, at least one of the keyboard, the icon, or the area displayed at the touchscreen.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining at least one of whether the at least one sensor is already in use or whether a wireless charging component is operating on the electronic device, outputting a default graphical user interface.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a set of characteristics of the electronic device; and

determining, based on the set of characteristics of the electronic device, whether there is the one-handed operation of the electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the set of characteristics of the electronic device comprises at least one of:

an orientation of the electronic device;

a size of the electronic device;

a screen size of the electronic device;

or

a location of the at least one sensor on the backside of the electronic device.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

at least one sensor disposed on a backside of the electronic device, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to generate first data in response to at least a portion of a hand being positioned at the backside of the electronic device, wherein the at least one sensor includes a near-field communication antenna coupled to a switch that is configured to connect one of a near-field communication integrated circuit or a capacitive sensing integrated circuit to the near-field communication antenna, the near-field communication integrated circuit being configured to measure a field strength of the near-field communication antenna, and the capacitive sensing integrated circuit being configured to measure a capacitance of the near-field communication antenna; and

a processor coupled to the at least one sensor, wherein the processor is configured to;

output, for display, a graphical user interface;

receive the first data;

determine, based on a comparison of the first data to a threshold value, whether the first data indicates a one-handed operation or a two-handed operation of the electronic device;

responsive to determining that the first data indicates the two-handed operation of the electronic device, determine at least one function performed in relation to the electronic device that indicates the one-handed operation of the electronic device; and

responsive to determining the at least one function that indicates the one-handed operation of the electronic device, adjust the graphical user interface that is output for display by the electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the switch is configured to connect the one of the capacitive sensing integrated circuit or the near-field communication integrated circuit to the near-field communication antenna under control of the processor.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, further comprising an orientation sensor coupled to the processor and configured to determine an orientation of the electronic device, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether there is the one-handed operation of the electronic device based on the orientation of the electronic device.

15. The electronic device of claim 12, further comprising a touchscreen coupled to the processor and configured to display the graphical user interface, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the graphical user interface output for display at the touchscreen by at least one of:

shifting a position of at least one of a keyboard, an icon, or an area of the graphical user interface;

or

decreasing a dimension of at least one of the keyboard, the icon, or the area of the graphical user interface.