Electronic device with automatic mode switching

• US 9,396,434 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2015
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W
• Application Number:
  US14/692,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20150227835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 361/170
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 electronic device for predicting or anticipating a user'"'"'s operational desires. The electronic device is ready to perform the anticipated function without input from the user by using sensors to sense environmental attributes. The sensors can include an ambient light sensor, a force sensor, a temperature sensor, an ambient noise sensor, and a motion sensor. The electronic device also includes a control mechanism for switching between modes for the device.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

at least one sensor associated with the portable electronic device and configured to measure one or more conditions comprising one or more of time, ambient noise, or ambient light; and

a control mechanism that is configured to adjust a mode of the portable electronic device in response to the one or more measured conditions.

2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the mode comprises activating or deactivating the portable electronic device.

3. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is configured to adjust a device volume in response to a measured condition that includes sensing an ambient noise level.

4. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is configured to adjust a device volume in response to a measured condition that includes sensing a time of day.

5. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is configured to adjust a device volume in response to a measured condition that includes sensing an elapsed time.

6. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is configured to switch between a first music mode and a second music mode in response to a measured condition that includes sensing an ambient light level.

7. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:

the sensors further include;

a device orientation sensor and a motion sensor; and

the control mechanism is configured to adjust a device volume based upon a sensed orientation using the device orientation sensor or a sensed motion using the motion sensor.

8. A portable electronic device comprising:

a housing;

an audio output device positioned within the housing;

an audio sensor positioned within the housing and configured to measure an ambient noise level; and

a control mechanism configured to change a volume an output of the audio output device in response to the ambient noise level.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the portable electronic device is a smartphone; and

the control mechanism is configured to change a ring volume based on the ambient noise level.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the portable electronic device is a media player; and

the control mechanism is configured to adjust a media play volume based the ambient noise level.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the portable electronic device is a smartphone; and

the control mechanism is configured to adjust a media play volume based the ambient noise level.

12. A portable electronic device comprising:

a clock associated with the portable electronic device and configured to perform a time measurement; and

a control mechanism for changing a volume of the portable electronic device in response to the time measurement.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein:

the portable electronic device is a smartphone; and

the control mechanism is configured to adjust a ring volume based on the time measurement.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein:

the portable electronic device is a media player; and

the control mechanism is configured to adjust a headphone volume in response to the time measurement.

15. A portable electronic device comprising:

a light sensor associated with the portable electronic device and configured to measure an ambient light level surrounding the portable electronic device; and

a control mechanism configured to change an audio mode of the portable electronic device in response to the measured ambient light level.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein:

the portable electronic device is a smartphone; and

the control mechanism is configured to adjust a ring volume based on the measured ambient light level.

17. The portable electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the control mechanism is configured to switch between a first music mode and a second music mode based on the measured ambient light level.

18. The portable electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the control mechanism is configured to switch between a ring mode and a vibrate mode based on the measured ambient light level.

19. The portable electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the control mechanism is configured to adjust a headphone volume based on the measured ambient light level.

20. The portable electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the control mechanism is configured to switch the portable electronic device from a hold mode to an input mode based on the measured ambient light level.

21. The portable electronic device according to claim 15, further comprising a device orientation sensor and a motion sensor, and wherein the control mechanism is configured to turn the portable electronic device on or off based upon a sensed orientation using the orientation sensor or a sensed motion using the motion sensor.