PROXIMITY DETECTOR IN HANDHELD DEVICE

• US 20140074426A1
• Filed: 11/14/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: HOTELLING, Steve P., HUPPI, Brian Q., KERR, Duncan Robert, CHAUDHRI, Imran, CHRISTIE, Greg, IVE, Jonathan P., KENNEDY, Peter J., FADELL, Anthony M., ROBBIN, Jeffrey L., STRICKON, Joshua A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,042,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/150
• 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:

a touch sensitive surface;

one or more proximity sensors configured for generating one or more proximity sensing fields above the touch sensitive surface; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the one or more proximity sensors, the processor capable of

receiving one or more proximity inputs from the one or more proximity sensors,

determining one or more objects hovering above the touch sensitive surface,

identifying a gesture from the determined one or more objects, and

determining an operation to be performed in accordance with the identified gesture.

2. The proximity detection system of claim 1, the processor further capable of determining movement of the one or more objects across the touch sensitive surface.

3. The proximity detection system of claim 1, the processor further capable of determining movement of the one or more objects orthogonal to the touch sensitive surface.

4. The proximity detection system of claim 1, the processor further capable of combining one or more proximity inputs and one or more touch inputs received from the touch sensitive surface to identify one or more combined proximity and touch gestures.

5. The proximity detection system of claim 1, the processor further capable of displaying a particular graphical user interface (GUI) element upon identification of the gesture.

6. The proximity detection system of claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive surface comprises a touch screen capable of displaying an image, and the processor is further capable of identifying a specific gesture correlated to the displayed image.

7. The proximity detection system of claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive surface comprises a touch screen capable of displaying an image, and the processor is further capable of changing the displayed image upon identification of a gesture.

8. The proximity detection system of claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive surface comprises a touch screen capable of displaying an image, and the processor is further capable of changing the displayed image based on a location of the identified gesture.

9. The proximity detection system of claim 1, the processor further capable of performing a particular action based on characteristics of disturbances to the one or more proximity sensing fields.

10. The proximity detection system of claim 1, wherein the proximity detection system is incorporated into a portable electronic device.

17. The proximity detection method of claim 1, further comprising changing the displayed image upon identification of a gesture.

11. A proximity detection method, comprising:

generating one or more proximity sensing fields above a touch sensitive surface;

receiving one or more proximity inputs;

determining one or more hovering objects;

identifying a gesture from the determined one or more objects, and

determining an operation to be performed in accordance with the identified gesture.

12. The proximity detection method of claim 11, further comprising determining movement of the one or more objects across the touch sensitive surface.

13. The proximity detection method of claim 11, further comprising determining movement of the one or more objects orthogonal to the touch sensitive surface.

14. The proximity detection method of claim 11, further comprising combining one or more proximity inputs and one or more touch inputs received from the touch sensitive surface to identify one or more combined proximity and touch gestures.

15. The proximity detection method of claim 11, further comprising displaying a particular graphical user interface (GUI) element upon identification of the gesture.

16. The proximity detection method of claim 11, further comprising identifying a specific gesture correlated to a displayed image.

18. The proximity detection method of claim 11, further comprising changing the displayed image based on a location of the identified gesture.

19. The proximity detection method of claim 11, further comprising performing a particular action based on characteristics of disturbances to the one or more proximity sensing fields.