Electronic device with automatic mode switching

• US 8,184,423 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2011
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W
• Application Number:
  US13/012,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20110116201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 361/173
• US Class Current: 361/173
• 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 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/022 Knowledge engineering; Knowledge acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/006 Switches operated by mechanical overload condition, e.g. transmitted force or torque becoming too high
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/00 Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An automatic hold switch is disclosed. The automatic hold switch provides a means for automatically switching a hold feature on and off. When the hold feature is on, one or more input devices of a portable electronic device are disabled or prevented from providing input signals. When the hold feature is off, one or more input devices of a portable electronic device are enabled or allowed to provide input signals. Because the user no longer has to manually control the hold feature, the number of actions that need to be taken by the user is reduced. In one example, the automatic hold switch is embodied with light sensors that detect when the device is in a dark environment and when the device is in a light environment. A dark environment indicates to the portable electronic device that the user wishes not to input and therefore the hold feature is turned on. A lighted environment indicates to the portable electronic device that the user wishes to input and therefore the hold feature is turned off.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising;

a control mechanism that provides a first mode and a second mode for the portable electronic device; and

one or more sensors that provide cues for automatically switching between the first and second modes based on the sensor output, wherein the one or more sensors includes at least one of the following;

a force sensor configured to measure a force exerted on an outer surface of the portable electronic device and an orientation sensor configured to sense whether the portable electronic device is upside down or right side up.

2. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first mode is an input mode and the second mode is a hold mode.

3. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more input devices for inputting into the portable electronic device.

4. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 3, wherein automatically switching between the first mode and the second mode comprises automatically switching between an input mode where all or a select number of input devices are unlocked and a hold mode where all or a select number of input devices are locked based on the sensor output.

5. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first mode is a first music mode where a first playlist is initiated and the second mode is a second music mode where a second playlist is initiated.

6. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors further includes a motion sensor and wherein the first mode is a play mode and the second mode is a pause mode, wherein the pause mode is initiated when the motion decreases a certain amount or reaches a predetermined or specified level.

7. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors further includes a motion sensor and wherein the portable electronic device is configured to turn off when the motion sensor detects no motion for a predetermined amount of time.

8. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors further includes a sensor for monitoring ambient noise level.

9. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein the first mode is a first ring mode at a first volume and the second mode is a second ring mode at a second volume.

10. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein the first mode is a first play mode at a first volume and the second mode is a second play mode at a second volume.

11. A method of operating a portable electronic device, comprising:

monitoring a condition of or surrounding the device, wherein monitoring includes monitoring a force exerted on an outer surface of the device or monitoring orientation of the device to determine whether the device is upside down or right side up;

determining whether a triggering event should be initiated based on the monitored condition; and

changing the portable electronic device from a first mode to a second mode when the triggering event is initiated.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein monitoring further includes monitoring ambient light level surrounding the portable electronic device.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein determining includes initiating the triggering event when the ambient light level reaches a certain level or when the ambient light level changes a certain amount.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the first mode is an input mode and the second mode is a hold mode.

14. A method of operating a portable electronic device, comprising:

monitoring a condition of or surrounding the device, wherein monitoring includes monitoring a force exerted on an outer surface of the device, monitoring motion of the device, or measuring an ambient condition surrounding the device;

determining whether a triggering event should be initiated based on the monitored condition; and

changing the portable electronic device from a first mode to a second mode when the triggering event is initiated, wherein changing the modes of the portable electronic device includes automatically switching between an input mode where all or a select number of input devices are unlocked and a hold mode where all or a select number of input devices are locked.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein monitoring is performed by a force sensor.

18. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the one or more input devices includes a clickable touch pad and a button disposed at a center of the clickable touch pad.

17. A method of operating a portable electronic device, comprising:

monitoring a condition of or surrounding the device, wherein monitoring includes monitoring a force exerted on an outer surface of the device, monitoring motion of the device, or measuring an ambient condition surrounding the device, wherein monitoring is preformed by an ambient condition sensor;

determing whether a triggering event should be initiated based on the monitored condition; and

changing the portable electronic device from a first mode to a second mode when the triggering event is initiated, wherein the first mode is a ring mode and the second mode is a vibrate mode.

19. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a control mechanism that provides a first mode and a second mode for the portable electronic device; and

one or more sensors that provide cues for automatically switching between the mode and the second mode based on the sensor output, wherein the one or more sensors includes at least one of the following;

a force sensor configured to measure a force exerted on an outer surface of the portable electronic device and an orientation sensor configured to sense whether the portable electronic device is upside down or right side up.

20. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein the first mode is an input mode where all or a select number of input devices are unlocked and the second mode is a hold mode where all or a select number of input devices are locked.

21. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein the one or more sensors further includes an ambient light sensor configured to measure a level of light that surrounds the portable electronic device.

22. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein the one or more sensors further includes an ambient noise sensor configured to measure a level of noise that surrounds the portable electronic device.

23. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein the one or more sensors further includes a time sensor.

24. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein the one or more sensors further includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature at a surface of the portable electronic device.