Proximity input detection system for an electronic device

• US 7,688,315 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gettemy, Shawn R., Wong, Yoon Kean
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tryder; Gregory J
• Application Number:
  US09/991,344
• Time in Patent Office: 3,052 Days
• Field of Search: 345 1801- 1811, 345 1901- 1907, 345156-183, 345/901, 345 87-104, 345211-213, 345690-692, 345/961, 361/681, 361/683, 361/686, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/566, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.05, 178/18.06, 178/18.07, 178/19.03, 178/18.09, 349 61- 64
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 Electronic book with display

Abstract

A proximity input detection system for an electronic device. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes an inductive field sensor to detect a change in a magnetic field when an input device with a coil is within a threshold distance. In another embodiment, the present invention utilizes a capacitive sensor which can locate the position of an electrically conductive object which is within a threshold distance. The capacitive sensor can also be used, for example, as a switch to activate the device if a user picks it up. The present invention allows user inputs to be detected without actually touching the electronic device. The present invention can also be used to detect inputs through intervening non-metallic layers such as a protective cover or another display of the device without using additional input sensors.

Claims

1. An input detection system for an electronic device comprising:

a first display component;

a second display component disposed above said first display component; and

a sensor component operable to detect inputs in proximity to a surface of said electronic device, wherein said sensor component is further operable to differentiate between respective heights of said inputs above said surface of said electronic device, and wherein said input component is further for detecting interaction with said first and second display components at said respective heights above said surface of said electronic device.

2. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensor component comprises a capacitive sensor.

3. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a control component; and

wherein said sensor component is further operable to detect handling of said electronic device, and wherein said control component is operable to activate said electronic device in response to said detection of said handling.

4. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensor component comprises an inductive sensor.

5. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a control component for detecting when said cover is in a closed position and in an open position, and wherein said control component is further operable to alter a detection threshold of said sensor component when said cover is in said open position.

6. The device as recited in claim 5, wherein said sensor component, responsive to said altered detection threshold, detects an indication above said surface of said electronic device and said control component registers said indication as an input to said electronic device.

7. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a second sensor component operable to detect an indication in proximity to but not in contact with said surface of said electronic device, and wherein said indication is registered as an input to said electronic device.

8. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a housing;

a cover coupled to said housing by a hinge; and

wherein said second display component is disposed within said cover having sufficient transparency to permit viewing of said first display component when said cover is in a closed position and when said second display component is disposed above said first display component.

9. The electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein said sensor component is operable to detect an input above said second display component when said cover is in a closed position above said first display component.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a first display component;

a second display component disposed above said first display component; and

a capacitive sensor component operable to detect inputs in proximity to a surface of said electronic device, wherein said capacitive sensor component is further operable to differentiate between respective heights of said inputs above said surface of said electronic device, and wherein said capacitive input component is further for detecting interaction with said first and second display components at said respective heights above said surface of said electronic device.

11. The electronic device as recited in claim 10 further comprising:

a control component for detecting when said cover is in a closed position and in an open position, and wherein said control component is further operable to alter a detection threshold of said capacitive sensor component when said cover is in said open position.

12. The electronic device as recited in claim 11, wherein said capacitive sensor component, responsive to said altered detection threshold, detects an indication above said surface of said electronic device and said control component registers said indication as an input to said electronic device.

13. The electronic device as recited in claim 10 further comprising:

a second capacitive sensor component operable to detect an indication in proximity to but not in contact with said surface of said electronic device, and wherein said indication is registered as an input to said electronic device.

14. The electronic device as recited in claim 10 further comprising:

a control component; and

wherein said capacitive sensor component is further operable to detect handling of said electronic device, and wherein said control component is operable to activate said electronic device in response to said detection of said handling.

15. The electronic device as recited in claim 10 further comprising:

a housing;

a cover coupled to said housing by a hinge; and

wherein said second display component is disposed within said cover having sufficient transparency to permit viewing of said first display component when said cover is in a closed position and when said second display component is disposed above said first display component.

16. The electronic device as recited in claim 15, wherein said capacitive sensor component is operable to detect an input above said second display component when said cover is in a closed position above said first display component.

17. An electronic device comprising:

a first display component;

a second display component disposed above said first display component; and

an inductive sensor component operable to detect inputs in proximity to a surface of said electronic device, wherein said inductive input component is further operable to differentiate between respective heights of said inputs above said surface of said electronic device, and wherein said inductive input component is further for detecting interaction with said first and second display components at said respective heights above said surface of said electronic device.

18. The electronic device as recited in claim 17 further comprising:

a control component for detecting when said cover is in a closed position and in an open position, and wherein said control component is further operable to alter a detection threshold of said inductive sensor component when said cover is in said open position.

19. The electronic device as recited in claim 18, wherein said inductive sensor component, responsive to said altered detection threshold, detects an indication above said surface of said electronic device and said control component registers said indication as an input to said electronic device.

20. The electronic device as recited in claim 17 further comprising:

a second inductive sensor component operable to detect an indication in proximity to but not in contact with said surface of said electronic device, and wherein said indication is registered as an input to said electronic device.

21. The electronic device as recited in claim 17 further comprising:

a housing;

a cover coupled to said housing by a hinge; and

wherein said second display component is disposed within said cover having sufficient transparency to permit viewing of said first display component when said cover is in a closed position and when said second display component is disposed above said first display component.

22. The electronic device as recited in claim 21, wherein said inductive sensor component is operable to detect an input above said second display component when said cover is disposed above said first display component.

23. The electronic device as recited in claim 17 further comprising:

a control component; and

wherein said inductive sensor component is further operable to detect handling of said electronic device, and wherein said control component is operable to activate said electronic device in response to said detection of said handling.