Method and Apparatus for Activating a Function of an Electronic Device

• US 20120154292A1
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zhao, Hong, Olley, Michael F., Valentine, Mark F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,866,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 1/1694 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 2200/1636 Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A method and apparatus for activating a function of the electronic device is disclosed herewith. The method includes detecting a first input by a motion sensor. Further, the method activates a touch sensor of the electronic device in response to detecting the first input. The method then detects a second input by the motion sensor within a predetermined time period from the first input. Next, the method determines, in response to detecting the second input, whether contact has occurred at the touch sensor and activates a function of the electronic device in response to determining that contact has occurred at the touch sensor when the second input is detected.

Claims

1. A method for activating a function of an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting a first input by a motion sensor;

activating a touch sensor of the electronic device in response to detecting the first input;

detecting a second input by the motion sensor within a predetermined time period from the first input;

determining, in response to detecting the second input, whether contact has occurred at the touch sensor; and

activating a function of the electronic device in response to determining that contact has occurred at the touch sensor when the second input is detected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is an accelerometer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is associated with a touch-sensitive screen of the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether contact has occurred at the touch sensor includes determining whether the contact has occurred at the touch sensor since activating the touch sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether contact has occurred at the touch sensor includes determining whether a touch data buffer associated with the touch sensor indicates that contact has occurred at the touch sensor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining whether a touch data buffer associated with the touch sensor indicates that contact has occurred at the touch sensor includes determining whether a quantity of data stored by the buffer is above a threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

activating a function of the electronic device in response to determining that the quantity of data stored by the buffer is above the threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating a proximity sensor of the electronic device in response to detecting the first input; and

determining, in response to detecting the second input, whether activity has occurred in proximity of the proximity sensor,

wherein activating a function of the electronic device includes activating the function of the electronic device in response to determining that the contact has occurred at the touch sensor and no activity has occurred in proximity of the proximity sensor.

9. An activation circuit for activating an electronic device, the activation circuit comprising:

a touch-sensitive screen;

a motion sensor for detecting a first input and a second input at the touch-sensitive screen, wherein the second input is detected within a predetermined time period from the first input;

a touch sensor being activated in response to the motion sensor detecting the first input; and

a microcontroller, coupled to the motion sensor and the touch sensor, the microcontroller activating a function of the electronic device on determining that a contact has occurred at the touch sensor when the second input is detected.

10. The activation circuit of claim 9, wherein the motion sensor is an accelerometer.

11. The activation circuit of claim 9, wherein the touch sensor is associated with the touch-sensitive screen of the electronic device.

12. The activation circuit of claim 9, wherein the microcontroller activating a function of the electronic device on determining that a contact has occurred at the touch sensor includes determining whether the contact has occurred at the touch sensor since activating the touch sensor.

13. The activation circuit of claim 9, wherein microcontroller further comprises:

a touch data buffer, associated with the touch sensor, wherein determining whether the contact has occurred at the touch sensor includes determining whether the touch data buffer indicates that contact has occurred at the touch sensor.

14. The activation circuit of claim 13, wherein the microcontroller is further configured to determine whether a quantity of data stored by the touch data buffer is above a threshold.

15. The activation circuit of claim 14, wherein the microcontroller is further configured to activate a function of the electronic device in response to determining that the quantity of data stored by the touch data buffer is above the threshold.

16. The activation circuit of claim 9, further comprising:

a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor being activated in response to detecting the first input;

wherein the microcontroller is further configured to;

determine, in response to detecting the second input, whether activity has occurred in proximity of the proximity sensor,

wherein activating a function of the electronic device includes activating the function of the electronic device in response to determining that the contact has occurred at the touch sensor and no activity has occurred in proximity of the proximity sensor.