Controlling user input devices based upon detected attitude of a handheld electronic device

• US 8,400,404 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2011
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Badali, Anthony, Lazaridis, Mihal
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, DUC Q
• Application Number:
  US13/295,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20120062386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345169-173
• US Class Current: 345/169
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• 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 1/1694 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 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• 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

Abstract

A wireless handheld electronic device configured to send and receive text messages. A microprocessor for receiving, processing and outputting data is located within the handheld device. A display screen in data-communication with the microprocessor presents information for user observation based upon data output from the microprocessor. A sensor is provided within the handheld device that detects the attitude of the device as held by the user. The sensor communicates data that is indicative of the detected attitude of the device to the microprocessor. The microprocessor is further enable to disable a user input device when the detected attitude of the device matches a predetermined attitude criteria.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a processor-based control means;

a user input means communicatively coupled with said control means and through which information is input, wherein said user input means comprises at least one of a telephone keypad, a navigational tool, an auxiliary user input device, a touchscreen, a keyboard and a user input key;

an attitude sensing means communicatively coupled with said control means, said attitude sensing means adapted to detect the attitude of the device, wherein said attitude sensing means is adapted to communicate data indicative of the detected attitude of the device to said control means;

said control means adapted to receive the communicated data, compare the detected attitude with a predetermined attitude, and disable the user input means from receiving information in the event that the predetermined attitude substantially matches the predetermined attitude criteria for a predetermined period of time; and

a user informing means communicatively coupled with said control means, said user informing means adapted to output a notification signal when said user input means is disabled from receiving information, said notification signal indicating said user input means is disabled.

2. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a top portion and a bottom portion and wherein said predetermined attitude criteria is an upside down attitude.

3. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said attitude sensing means is one of a tilt sensor, an inclinometer, an accelerometer, and a gravimeter.

4. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said notification signal vibrates said device.

5. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said notification signal is an audible sound.

6. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said user input means includes a keyboard.

7. The electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated and wherein at least a portion of the individual keys have multiple letters associated therewith.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a display screen communicatively coupled with said processor;

a user input device communicatively coupled with said processor and through which information is input, wherein said user input device comprises at least one of a telephone keypad, a navigational tool, an auxiliary user input device, a touchscreen, a keyboard, and a user input key;

a sensor communicatively coupled with said processor, said sensor adapted to detect the attitude of the device, wherein said sensor is adapted to communicate data indicative of the detected attitude of the device to said processor;

said processor adapted to receive the communicated data, compare the detected attitude with a predetermined attitude, and disable the user input device from receiving information in the event that the predetermined attitude substantially matches the predetermined attitude criteria for a predetermined period of time; and

a user informing device communicatively coupled with said microprocessor, said user informing device adapted to output a notification signal when said user input device is disabled from receiving, said notification signal indicating said user input device is disabled.

9. The electronic device as recited in claim 8, further comprising a top portion and a bottom portion and said predetermined attitude criteria being an upside down attitude.

10. The electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein said sensor is one of a tilt sensor, an inclinometer, an accelerometer, and a gravimeter.

11. The electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein said sensor is further adapted to communicate data indicative of the detected attitude of the device to said microprocessor and said microprocessor is further adapted to receive and process the communicated data from the sensor.

16. The electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein said notification signal vibrates said device.

17. The electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein said notification signal is an audible sound.

18. The electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein said user input device includes a keyboard.

19. The electronic device as recited in claim 18, wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated and wherein at least a portion of the individual keys have multiple letters associated therewith.

12. A method for disabling at least one user input device on an electronic device comprising:

detecting, at a sensor of the electronic device, an attitude of an electronic device;

determining, at a processor of the electronic device, that the data indicative of the detected attitude matches a predetermined attitude criteria for a predetermined period of time;

wherein said sensor is adapted to communicate data indicative of the detected attitude of the device to said processor and wherein said processor is adapted to receive and process the communicated data from the sensor;

disabling a user input device from receiving information in response to the data indicative of the detected attitude matching the predetermined attitude criteria and in response to the period of time that the detected attitude matches the predetermined attitude criteria being at least equal to the predetermined period of time, wherein said user input device comprises at least one of a telephone keypad, a navigational tool, an auxiliary user input device, a touchscreen, a keyboard and a user input key; and

providing a notification signal when said user input means is disabled from receiving information in response to the data indicative of the detected attitude matching the predetermined attitude criteria and in response to the period of time that the detected attitude matches the predetermined attitude criteria being at least equal to the predetermined period of time, said notification signal indicating said user input device is disabled.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the predetermined attitude criteria is an upside down attitude and wherein determining the data indicative of the detected attitude matches the predetermined attitude criteria comprises:

determining the electronic device has a top portion and a bottom portion; and

determining the bottom portion is positioned above the top portion.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein providing said notification signal comprises vibrating said device.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein providing said notification signal comprises providing an audible sound.