METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DETECTING A HAND

• US 20140009172A1
• Filed: 07/05/2012
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Rizkallah, Gerard
• Granted Patent: US 9,363,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/654
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• 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

Methods and devices for detecting a hand in proximity to an electronic device are described. The electronic device includes a near field communications (NFC) antenna. In one aspect, the method includes: monitoring an induced voltage at the NFC antenna; and determining whether a hand is in proximity to the electronic device based on the induced voltage.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a hand in proximity to an electronic device, the electronic device including a near field communications (NFC) antenna, the method comprising:

monitoring an induced voltage at the NFC antenna; and

determining whether a hand is in proximity to the electronic device based on the induced voltage.

2. The method claim 1, wherein the NFC antenna generates an electro-magnetic carrier field, and wherein determining comprises:

detecting that a variation in the induced voltage is above a pre-determined threshold, wherein said variation is based on a change in load condition within the electro-magnetic carrier field due to the hand in proximity to the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the NFC antenna is located near a rear side of the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an orientation sensor, and wherein the method further comprises:

prior to determining that the hand is in proximity to the electronic device, obtaining orientation data from an orientation sensor, and wherein the determination of whether the hand is in proximity to the electronic device is made based on the induced voltage and the orientation data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an infrared sensor that emits infrared light, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a reflection of the emitted infrared light; and

determining whether a head is in proximity to the electronic device based on the reflection.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the electronic device includes a mobile antenna, and wherein the method further comprises:

adjusting a power output of the mobile antenna to a first power output state if it is determined that the hand and the head are in proximity to the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said adjusting is performed by one or more tunable capacitors for impedance matching of the mobile antenna to maximize the power output.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

adjusting the power output of the mobile antenna to a second power output state if it is determined that the head is in proximity to the electronic device and the hand is not in proximity to the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the infrared sensor is positioned on the electronic device to emit infrared light from a front side of the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

adjusting the power output of the mobile antenna to a third power output state if it determined that the hand and the head are not in proximity to the electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

adjusting the power output of the mobile antenna to a fourth power output state if it is determined the hand is in proximity to the electronic device and the head is not in proximity to the electronic device.

12. An electronic device comprising:

a memory;

a near field communications (NFC) antenna;

a processor coupled with the memory and the NFC antenna, the processor being configured to detect a hand in proximity to the electronic device by;

monitoring an induced voltage at an NFC antenna; and

determining that a hand is in proximity to the electronic device based on the induced voltage.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to generate an electro-magnetic carrier field using the NFC antenna, and determining that a hand is in proximity to the electronic device comprises:

detecting that a variation in the induced voltage is above a pre-determined threshold, wherein said variation is based on a change in load condition within the electro-magnetic carrier field due to the hand in proximity to the electronic device.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the NFC antenna is located near a rear side of the electronic device.

15. The electronic device of claim 12, further comprising an orientation sensor coupled to the processor, the processor being further configured to:

prior to determining that the hand is in proximity to the electronic device, obtain orientation data from the orientation sensor, and wherein the determination of whether the hand is in proximity to the electronic device is made based on the induced voltage and the orientation data.

16. The electronic device of claim 12, further comprising an infrared sensor coupled to the processor for emitting infrared light, the processor being further configured to:

receive a signal indicating a reflection of the emitted infrared light; and

determine whether a head is in proximity to the electronic device based on the reflection.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising a mobile antenna, the processor being further configured to:

adjust the power output of the mobile antenna to a first power output state if it determined that the hand and the head are in proximity to the electronic device.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, further comprising, one or more tunable capacitors coupled to the mobile antenna and to other components of a communication subsystem 211, and wherein adjusting the power output comprises adjusting the tunable capacitors.

19. The electronic device of claim 17, the processor being further configured to:

adjust the power output of the mobile antenna to a second power output state if it is determined that the head is in proximity to the electronic device and the hand is not in proximity to the electronic device.

20. A tangible computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for detecting a hand in proximity to an electronic device, the computer executable instructions including instructions for:

monitoring an induced voltage at a near field communications (NFC) antenna; and

determining that a hand is in proximity to the electronic device based on the induced voltage.