INPUT DEVICE

• US 20140016668A1
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sensirion AG (Sensirion Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Dominic Boni
• Inventors: Bni, Dominic, Gerner, Pascal, Rupprecht, Robert, Wuest, Andrea
• Application Number:
  US13/979,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20140016668A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/143
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/00 Measuring temperature based on the use of electric or magnetic elements directly sensitive to heat giving results other than momentary value of temperature G01K3/00 ; Power supply therefor, e.g. using thermoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• 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 3/017 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: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• 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

An input device for triggering a function of an electronic device comprises a temperature sensor (12), and a control unit (11). The control unit (11) analyzes a temperature signal (T) supplied by the temperature sensor (12) and provides a trigger signal (C) subject to the analysis of the temperature signal (T) for triggering the function of the electronic device (3). In such way, the function of the electronic device can simply be controlled by blowing at the input device (1).

Claims

1. Input device for triggering a function of an electronic device, comprising

a temperature sensor, and

a control unit for analyzing a temperature signal supplied by the temperature sensor and for providing a trigger signal subject to the analysis of the temperature signal for triggering the function of the electronic device.

2. Input device according to claim 1,

wherein the temperature sensor is provided for receiving an exhalation air flow of a user, and

wherein the control unit is adapted for providing the trigger signal subject to a characteristic of the temperature signal over time.

3. Input device according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit is adapted for providing the trigger signal subject to a change of the temperature signal within a time interval.

4. Input device according to claim 1,

comprising another sensor responsive to an exhalation air flow which other sensor is different from a temperature sensor, and

wherein the control unit is adapted for analyzing a sensor signal supplied by the other sensor and for providing the trigger signal subject to both the analysis of the temperature signal and the analysis of the sensor signal.

5. Input device according to claim 4,

wherein the control unit is adapted for providing the trigger signal if one or more of an increase of the temperature signal exceeds a threshold within a time interval and if an increase of the sensor signal exceeds another threshold within a time interval.

6. Input device according to claim 16,

wherein the control unit is adapted for setting a value of the threshold subject to one or more previously measured values of the temperature signal.

7. Input device according to claim 4,

wherein the other sensor is one of:

a humidity sensor,

an airflow sensor,

a pressure sensor, and

a chemical sensor.

8. Input device according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit is adapted for assigning the function to the trigger signal out of a set of functions subject to a characteristic of the temperature signal over time.

9. Input device according to claim 8,

wherein the control unit is adapted for assigning a first function to the trigger signal out of a set of functions if an increase of the temperature signal exceeds a threshold within a time interval and if after a decrease following the increase no new increase is monitored in the temperature signal within a given time window,

wherein the control unit is adapted for assigning a second function to the trigger signal out of the set of functions if an increase of the temperature signal exceeds a threshold within a time interval and if after a decrease following the increase a new increase is monitored in the temperature signal within the given time window.

10. Input device according to claim 1,

comprising a casing with an opening for exposing a sensitive element of the temperature sensor to an environment of the casing.

11. Input device according to claim 1,

wherein the temperature sensor is arranged separate from the control unit, and

wherein a wireless link is provided for enabling the temperature sensor to transmit the temperature signal to the control unit.

12. Input device according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit is adapted for providing a trigger signal for triggering one or more of:

accepting or denying a call,

a page up or page down operation,

confirming or denying an operation,

releasing a photo to be taken,

switching on or off a function,

opening or closing an application,

opening or closing a window on a screen,

opening or closing a menu on a screen.

13. Electronic device,

comprising an input device according to claim 1,

wherein the electronic device is one of:

a mobile phone,

a handheld computer,

an electronic reader,

a tablet computer,

a game controller,

a pointing device,

a photo or video camera,

a computer peripheral.

16. Input device according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit is adapted for providing the trigger signal, subject to an increase of the temperature signal exceeding a threshold within a time interval.

14. Method for triggering a function of an electronic device, comprising the steps of

analyzing a temperature signal supplied by a temperature sensor, and

triggering the function of the electronic device subject to the analysis of the temperature signal.

15. Computer program product, comprising a computer readable medium having computer program code means embodied therewith for implementing a method according to claim 14 when executed on a processing unit.