Proximity detector in handheld device

• US 20060161870A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Huppi, Brian Q., Chaudhri, Imran, Ive, Jonathan P., Christie, Greg, Ording, Bas, Fadell, Anthony M., Kennedy, Peter J., Robbin, Jeffrey L., Kerr, Duncan Robert, Strickon, Joshua A., Hotelling, Steve P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,381,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/16 for measuring distance of clearance between spaced objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

Proximity based systems and methods that are implemented on an electronic device are disclosed. The method includes sensing an object spaced away and in close proximity to the electronic device. The method also includes performing an action in the electronic device when an object is sensed.

Claims

1. A method for initiating floating controls on an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting the presence of an object above and spaced away from a surface of the electronic device; and

displaying a particular graphical user interface element on a display of the electronic device when the object is detected above the surface of the electronic device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the particular graphical user interface element includes one or more control options that can be selected by the object via a touch based input means.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the touch based input means is a touch screen disposed over the display.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising generating a control signal when one of the control options is selected by the object.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the control signal modifies the functionality of the electronic device.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the control signal modifies a graphical user interface element.

7. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the particular graphical user interface element is a virtual scroll wheel.

8. A user interface method, comprising:

detecting an object in space;

determining a user interface mode when an object is detected in space; and

displaying and enabling one or more GUI elements based on the user interface mode; and

9. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein the user interface mode is based on one or more applications and wherein different applications indicate different user interface modes.

10. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein the user interface mode is based on a current state of an application and wherein different states of the application indicate different user interface modes.

11. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein the user interface mode is based on one or more proximity characteristics of the detected object and wherein different proximity characteristics of the object indicate different modes.

12. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein the user interface mode is based on only one condition, the condition being selected from application, a state of an application, a proximity characteristic of the detected object.

13. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein the user interface mode is based on multiple conditions, the conditions being selected from one or more applications, one or more states of an application, one or more proximity characteristics of the detected object.

14. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein only one GUI element is displayed.

15. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein multiple GUI elements are displayed.

16. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein the user interface mode is a scroll mode, and wherein the GUI element is a virtual scroll wheel.

17. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein the user interface mode is selected from a data entry mode where the GUI element is a virtual keyboard, an edit mode where the GUI element is a tool bar or virtual keyboard, a control mode where the GUI element is a control panel, an information mode where the GUI element is a window.

18. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein the GUI element is displayed over a previously existing graphical image.

19. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein the GUI element is configured to displace a previously existing graphical image.

20. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein the GUI element is presented in the vicinity of the detected object.

21. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein the GUI element is presented at a predetermined location.

22. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein enabling the GUI element includes monitoring a touch event relative to the GUI element, and performing actions associated with the touch event.

23. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 further comprising:

determining whether or not to deactivate the GUI element, deactivation including disabling the functionality of the GUI element and removing the GUI element from display.

24. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein displaying the GUI element includes implementing a transition effect that transitions the GUI element from a first state to a second state, and wherein the step of removing the displayed GUI element includes implementing a reverse transition effect that transitions the GUI element from the second state to the first state.

25. The user interface method as recited in claim 8 wherein determining the user interface mode comprises:

determining a current application;

determining a current state of the current application; and

determining proximity characteristics associated with the detected object.

26. A method for scrolling through media items, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of media items at a surface;

detecting an object spaced away from the surface and over at least one of the media items that are displayed;

activating a virtual scroll wheel when the object is detected over the displayed media items;

detecting a touch on the surface and over the virtual scroll wheel;

determining if a touch event is performed on the surface and over the virtual scroll wheel; and

scrolling through the group of media items when a scrolling touch event is performed.

27. The method as recited in claim 26 wherein activating the virtual scroll wheel includes displaying and enabling the functionality of the virtual scroll wheel, the virtual scroll wheel providing a touch region where a user swirls their finger in order to traverse through the group of media items

28. The method as recited in claim 27 further comprising:

deactivating the virtual scroll wheel when the object is no longer detected, the deactivation of the virtual scroll wheel including disabling the functionality of the virtual scroll wheel and removing the virtual scroll wheel from display.

29. The method as recited in claim 26 wherein scrolling includes moving a selector bar linearly through the group of media items in accordance with the touch event occurring on the virtual scroll wheel.

30. The method as recited in claim 26 wherein the virtual scroll wheel provides one or more virtual buttons, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining if a selection touch event is performed relative to the one or more virtual buttons of the virtual scroll wheel; and

implementing an action associated with a particular button when the selection touch event is performed on the particular button.

31. A computer implemented method, comprising:

presenting graphical information on a display having a display surface;

detecting an object in space above display surface and over the display;

expanding an area of the graphical information proximate the location of the object when the object is detected in space above display surface and over the display.

32. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein the step of expanding includes visually expanding a localized portion of the presented graphical information in the region of object touch relative to the remaining portions of the presented graphical information outside the region of the object.

33. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein the step of expanding occurs when the object is detected for a predetermined amount of time.

34. The method as recited in claim 31 further comprising:

detecting a second object over the display;

expanding a second area of the display proximate the location of the second object.

35. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein the second object is detected at the same as the first object, and wherein the first and second areas are expanded simultaneously.

36. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein the expanded area is a localized area of any portion of the graphical information.

37. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein the expanded area corresponds to a particular image embedded in the graphical information.

38. The method as recited in claim 31 the amount of expansion is based on a z characteristic of the object relative to the display surface.

39. The method as recited in claim 38 the wherein the amount of expansion increases when the object is moved towards the display surface, and wherein the amount of expansion decreases when the object is moved away from the display surface.