PROXIMITY DETECTOR IN HANDHELD DEVICE

• US 20130154982A1
• Filed: 02/13/2013
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: STRICKON, Joshua A., KERR, Duncan Robert, CHAUDHRI, Imran, CHRISTIE, Greg, IVE, Jonathan P., ROBBIN, Jeffrey L., HOTELLING, Steve P., HUPPI, Brian Q., KENNEDY, Peter J., FADDELL, Anthony M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,612,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 proximity detection system, comprising:

one or more proximity sensing surfaces;

a plurality of proximity sensors configured for generating a plurality of proximity sensing fields over at least a portion of the one or more proximity sensing surfaces, each proximity sensing field having a sensing field height for sensing an object over the one or more proximity sensing surfaces; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the plurality of proximity sensors, the processor capable of

performing a first operation when one or more objects are detected by a first proximity sensing field having a first sensing field height, and

performing a second operation when one or more objects are detected by a second proximity sensing field having a second sensing field height.

2. The proximity detection system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of proximity sensors are further configured for generating the first proximity sensing field along a perimeter area of the one or more proximity sensing surfaces and generating the second proximity sensing field in an interior area of the one or more proximity sensing surfaces.

3. The proximity detection system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further capable of performing the second operation when the one or more objects are detected over a user interface element in the interior area.

4. The proximity detection system of claim 2, wherein the proximity sensing surface includes a display in the interior area, and wherein the processor is further capable of performing the second operation when the one or more objects are detected over a virtual user interface element appearing on the display.

5. The proximity detection system of claim 2, wherein the first sensing field height is greater than the second sensing field height for detecting the one or more objects passing through the perimeter area.

6. The proximity detection system of claim 2, wherein the second sensing field height is less than the first sensing field height for detecting an activation of a user interface element in the interior area by the one or more objects.

7. The proximity detection system of claim 1, wherein the first operation comprises activating a display within the one or more proximity sensing surfaces.

8. The proximity detection system of claim 1, wherein the second operation comprises selecting a user interface element on the one or more proximity sensing surfaces.

9. The proximity detection system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of proximity sensors are further configured for generating the first proximity sensing field over a first user interface element and generating the second proximity sensing field over a second user interface element.

10. A method for proximity detection, comprising:

generating a plurality of proximity sensing fields over at least a portion of one or more proximity sensing surfaces, each proximity sensing field having a sensing field height for sensing an object over the one or more proximity sensing surfaces;

performing a first operation when one or more objects are detected by a first proximity sensing field having a first sensing field height, and

performing a second operation when one or more objects are detected by a second proximity sensing field having a second sensing field height.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating the first proximity sensing field along a perimeter area of the one or more proximity sensing surfaces and generating the second proximity sensing field in an interior area of the one or more proximity sensing surfaces.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising performing the second operation when the one or more objects are detected over a user interface element in the interior area.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising performing the second operation when the one or more objects are detected over a virtual user interface element appearing on a display in the interior area.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first sensing field height is greater than the second sensing field height for detecting the one or more objects passing through the perimeter area.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the second sensing field height is less than the first sensing field height for detecting an activation of a user interface element in the interior area by the one or more objects.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the first operation comprises activating a display within the one or more proximity sensing surfaces.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the second operation comprises selecting a user interface element on the one or more proximity sensing surfaces.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating the first proximity sensing field over a first user interface element and generating the second proximity sensing field over a second user interface element.

19. A proximity sensing surface, comprising:

a plurality of proximity sensors configured for generating a plurality of proximity sensing fields of different heights in different areas of the proximity sensing surface;

wherein the plurality of sensing fields create a proximity sensing topography over the proximity sensing surface for detecting one or more objects in the different areas at the different heights to trigger different functions.

20. The proximity sensing surface of claim 19, wherein the plurality of proximity sensing fields surround one or more user interface elements on the proximity sensing surface.