Input detection system for a portable electronic device

• US 20080074400A1
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gettemy, Shawn, Wong, Yoon
• Application Number:
  US11/986,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20080074400A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A proximity input detection system for an electronic device. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes an inductive field sensor to detect a change in a magnetic field when an input device with a coil is within a threshold distance. In another embodiment, the present invention utilizes a capacitive sensor which can locate the position of an electrically conductive object which is within a threshold distance. The capacitive sensor can also be used, for example, as a switch to activate the device if a user picks it up. The present invention allows user inputs to be detected without actually touching the electronic device. The present invention can also be used to detect inputs through intervening non-metallic layers such as a protective cover or another display of the device without using additional input sensors.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a processor disposed within said housing;

a memory disposed within said housing;

a sensor disposed within said housing and for sensing handling of said housing by a user; and

a display physically coupled to said housing for displaying graphical objects, said display further for reorienting said display of said graphical objects in response to said handling of said housing.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a touch screen sensor operable to detect finger gestures of a user, and wherein said processor is further operable to manipulate said display of said graphical objects in response to said detected finger gestures.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1 further comprising:

a touch screen sensor for detecting user inputs.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1 further comprising:

a port for communicating with a cradle, said cradle operable to physically interface with said housing.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a bezel-less design.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said processor is further for enabling communication over a telephone network.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said processor is further for enabling transmission and reception of data over a wireless network.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said processor is further for communicating with at least one other computer system over the Internet.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein said communicating with at least one other computer system comprises accessing a web site.

10. A method for interacting with a user of a portable electronic device, said method comprising:

displaying graphical objects in a first orientation on a display of said portable electronic device;

detecting handling of said portable electronic device by a user; and

in response to said handling, displaying said graphical objects in a second orientation on said display of said portable electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

detecting user inputs to said portable electronic device using a touchscreen sensor of said portable electronic device.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

communicating with a cradle using a port of said portable electronic device, said cradle operable to physically interface with said portable electronic device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said portable electronic device comprises a mobile phone, and wherein said method further comprises:

communicating over a telephone network using said portable electronic device.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

transmitting data over a wireless network using said portable electronic device; and

receiving data over said wireless network using said portable electronic device.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

communicating, using said portable electronic device, with at least one other computer system over the Internet.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said communication with at least one other computer system comprises accessing a web site.

17. A portable electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a processor disposed within said housing;

a memory disposed within said housing;

a display physically coupled to said housing;

a touchscreen sensor disposed within said housing and for sensing handling of said housing by a user, said touchscreen sensor further for detecting user inputs; and

wherein said processor is operable to power up said portable electronic device in response to said handling of said housing by said user.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein said touchscreen sensor is further operable to sense when said housing is not handled by a user, and wherein said processor is further operable to power down said portable electronic device in response thereto.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein said touchscreen sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein said touchscreen sensor comprises an inductive sensor.

21. The portable electronic device of claim 17 further comprising:

a second display physically coupled to said housing, wherein said processor is further operable to selectively activate an active display in response to a user input detected by said touchscreen sensor, and wherein said active display is selected from a group consisting of said display and said second display.

22. The portable electronic device of claim 17 further comprising:

a protective cover for interfacing with said housing.

23. The portable electronic device of claim 22, wherein said touchscreen display is further operable to detect user inputs and sense handling of said portable electronic device with said protective cover in place.

24. The portable electronic device of claim 17 further comprising:

at least one button for activation by a user.