Patent Application
20130307769
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to the field of electronic devices and, more particularly, to mobile device activation by user grasp.
Mobile devices, including cellular phones, smart phones, mobile Internet devices (MIDs), handheld computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other similar devices, are will commonly be grasped in a hand for operation. In many circumstances, the holding of the device will be followed by an input into one or more applications or services.
However, conventional devices require certain actions, and potentially several actions, before the user can begin access in the appropriate application or service. For example, the user generally will be required to turn the device on or otherwise return the device to an operational state before any other action can be taken because the device will most likely be placed into an off or other low power state to reduce power usage. The operation of such a system results in time usage and repeated operations each time the mobile device is activated before the user is able to engage in actual operations.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements.
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to mobile device activation by user grasp.
As used herein:
“Mobile device” means a mobile electronic device or system including a cellular phone, smart phone, mobile Internet device (MID), handheld computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other similar devices.
“Touch sensor” means a sensor that is configured to provide input signals that are generated by the physical contact of a user, proximity of a user, or both (which may generally be referred to as contact with the touch sensor), including a sensor that detects contact by a thumb or other finger of a user of a device or system, including a mobile device. A touch sensor may include, but is not limited to, a capacitive sensor, which may detect the contact of a finger or hand on the capacitive sensor. A touch sensor may include a sensor used for multiple different purposes in the operation of a device or system.
“Side touch sensor” means a touch sensor that detects contact of a user, including a user's finger or hand, on at least one side of a device or system including a mobile device. A side touch sensor includes a touch sensor that is physically located at least in part on one at least one side of the mobile device, or a side touch sensor that detects contact with a user on the side of the mobile device without being physically located on the side on the mobile device.
“Activate” means to transition a device or system to activate, enable, or allow an operation or usage of the device or system. “Activation” includes turning a device or system on, unlocking the device or system, enabling a certain application or function of the mobile device, transitioning a device or system to a higher state of operation (including an operational or other higher power state), or otherwise activating an operation or usage of the device or system. Similarly, “deactivate” means to transition a device or system to deactivate, disable, or disallow an operation or usage of the device or system. “Deactivation” includes turning a device or system off, locking the device or system, disabling a certain application or function of the mobile device, transitioning a device or system to a lower state of operation (including a hibernation or other lower power state), or otherwise deactivating an operation or usage of the device or system.
In some embodiments, a mobile device includes a form factor including a touch sensor that allows a user to activate the mobile device for operation through a natural grasp of the mobile device by the contact of at least one finger with the touch sensor. Such touch sensor is generally referred to herein as an “activate touch sensor”. For simplicity the figures herein generally provided a device having a single activate touch sensor, but embodiments are not limited to this implementation, and may include one or more activate touch sensors. In addition, for simplicity the figures herein generally illustrate a finger pad touch sensor on a certain side of a mobile device, such as on a left side for contact when grasped by the right hand of a user, but embodiments are not limited to this implementation, and may include one or more activate touch sensors on either or both sides of a mobile device.
In some embodiments, a mobile device includes at least one concave indentation at a corner of the mobile device, the concave indentation including an activate touch sensor. In some embodiments, the concave indentation is located at a bottom corner of the mobile device, where the bottom of a mobile device is defined as the lower side of the mobile device when the mobile device is placed in its normal position for viewing and/or use by a user. In some embodiments, the concave indentation is placed and shaped such that the small finger of a user may fit at least in part within such indentation, and such that the mobile device may at least in part rest on such finger when the hand of the user is wrapped around the mobile device.
In some embodiments, a mobile device includes a cover also having at least one side with additional contours forming concave indentations that provide elements for placing fingers of a user when grasping the mobile device in a firm grasp. In some embodiments, a mobile device includes at one activate touch sensor placed in an area that may be reached by a finger of a user when the hand of the user is grasping the mobile device using the contours to direct the placement of the figures of the user. Such contours may exist on either or both sides of a mobile device.
In some embodiments, a mobile device provides a convenient and natural method for activating a mobile device, such as turning on (or returning the device to an operational power state), unlocking the mobile device, or both, while grasping the device in a secure and natural position. In some embodiments, the concave indentation in the device allows for activating the mobile device when the mobile device is intentionally grasped by the user, but provides a touch sensor that won't normally be contacted by a user in other circumstances.
In some embodiments, a mobile device includes at least one additional touch sensor, the additional touch sensor being a side touch sensor that is operated by the contact with a finger of the user. In some embodiments, the side touch sensor is on an opposite side as the activate touch sensor, such as a circumstance in which the side touch sensor is operated by a thumb of a user. While the figures herein generally illustrate a mobile device having a side touch sensor on a certain side of the mobile device, embodiments are not limited to this implementation, and may include a side touch sensor for either or both sides of a mobile device. In some embodiments, the activate touch sensor operates in conjunction with the side touch sensor for at least certain operations.
In some embodiments, the activate touch sensor further provides a function of activating the operation of the side touch sensor. In some embodiments, subsequent to the activation of a mobile device utilizing the activate touch sensor, the side touch sensor is activated when a finger of the user is in contact with the activate touch sensor, and is deactivated when a finger of the user is not in contact with the activate touch sensor.
In some embodiments, a mobile device is operable to be activated if both the activate touch sensor and the side touch sensor are engaged at the same time, such as when a finger of a user is in contact with the activate touch sensor and the thumb of the user is in contact with the side touch sensor.
In some embodiments, when the activate touch sensor detects contact with a user's finger, the activate touch sensor provides a signal that results in the mobile device automatically activating itself (such as automatically unlocking the mobile device and/or returning the mobile device to an operational power state). In some embodiments, the contact of the finger of a user provides a substitute for the need to reach the power button (or other button) on a mobile device in order to unlock it. In some embodiments, the physical arrangement of the touch sensor and the shape of the mobile device assist in preventing the mobile device from being inadvertently triggered when the mobile device is, for example, being removed from a pocket or purse.
In some embodiments, in addition to operating to activate the mobile device, either by itself or in conjunction with a side touch sensor, the activate touch sensor may also operate to activate and deactivate the side touch sensor of a mobile device. In some embodiments, the side touch sensor may only be active when a finger of the user is in contact with the activate touch sensor, thus removing the need for the side touch sensor to be active at all times, and thus reducing likelihood that there will be unexpected behavior if the side touch sensor is contacted inadvertently.
In some embodiments, the activate touch sensor may be used in cooperation with time out conditions for the mobile device. In some embodiments, the activate touch sensor may be utilized such that the mobile device will not time out (and return to a deactivated state) as long as there is contact detected on the activate touch sensor, with, for example, the time out period not beginning to run until the user releases the activate touch sensor. In an example, the activate touch sensor may optionally be used to reduce the amount of time for a mobile device time out condition, with the mobile device being locked more quickly after releasing the activate touch sensor than a time out for a conventional mobile device, thereby increasing the security of data held on the mobile device. In some embodiments, the activate touch sensor may be used in cooperation with power saving methods of the mobile device. In an example, the activation mechanism will direct the device to enter a low power mode faster than a time out mechanism.
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the mobile device 300 includes a concave indentation 320, such as the indentation 220 illustrated in
In some embodiments, the mobile device 300 may include one or more additional concave elements 310 on a same side of the mobile device as the concave indentation 320 for use in placing other fingers of the user when grasping the mobile device. The additional concave elements may or may not be evenly spaced along the side of the mobile device 300.
In some embodiments, the mobile device 400 further includes one or more processors 430 for the processing of signals and commands. In some embodiments, the mobile device 400 includes an activation module or algorithm 435 that receives signals from the first touch sensor, or both the first and second touch sensors, and provides for activation of the mobile device when contact is made with the first touch sensor 415 or when contact is made with both the first touch sensor and the second touch sensor.
The mobile device may further include, for example, one or more transmitters and receivers 406 for the wireless transmission and reception of data, as well as one or more antennas 404 for such data transmission and reception; a memory 440 for the storage of data; a user interface 442, including a graphical user interface (GUI), for communications between the mobile device 400 and a user of the device; a display circuit or controller 444 for providing a visual display to a user of the mobile device 400; and a location circuit or element, including a (GPS) circuit or element 446.
In some embodiments, the mobile device may then perform functions pursuant to received commands 530. In some embodiments, the mobile device may also determine whether contact is detected with the activate touch sensor 520, and, if so, the side touch sensor is enabled to receive commands 525.
In some embodiments, upon receiving a command to lock the mobile device or to place the device in a low power (such as off) state, or upon a time out or other condition (such as a certain period of time when the no commands have been received and the touch sensor is not contacted), the mobile may be transitioned back to a locked or other deactivated state 545, then returning to the deactivated state 500.
In some embodiments, the device 600 includes one or more touch sensors 670. In some embodiments, the touch sensors 670 may includes capacitive sensors, and may include one or more other sensors, such as optical sensors. The touch sensors 670 include an activate touch sensor 672, such as activate touch sensor 315 illustrated in
In some embodiments, the device 600 further comprises a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device or element as a main memory 614 for storing information and instructions to be executed by the processors 610. RAM memory includes dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which requires refreshing of memory contents, and static random access memory (SRAM), which does not require refreshing contents, but at increased cost. DRAM memory may include synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), which includes a clock signal to control signals, and extended data-out dynamic random access memory (EDO DRAM). In some embodiments, memory of the system may include certain registers or other special purpose memory. The device 600 also may comprise a read only memory (ROM) 616 or other static storage device for storing static information and instructions for the processors 610. The device 600 may include one or more non-volatile memory elements 618 for the storage of certain elements.
The device 600 may also be coupled via the interconnect 605 to an output display 640. In some embodiments, the display 640 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) or any other display technology, for displaying information or content to a user. In some environments, the display 640 may include a touch-screen that is also utilized as at least a part of an input device, and which may be activated when the mobile device is grasped by a user of the device. In some environments, the display 640 may be or may include an audio device, such as a speaker for providing audio information.
One or more transmitters or receivers 645 may also be coupled to the interconnect 605. In some embodiments, the device 600 may include one or more ports 650 for the reception or transmission of data. The device 600 may further include one or more antennas 655 for the reception of data via radio signals.
The device 600 may also comprise a power device or system 660, which may comprise a power supply, a battery, a solar cell, a fuel cell, or other system or device for providing or generating power. The power provided by the power device or system 660 may be distributed as required to elements of the device 600.
In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form. There may be intermediate structure between illustrated components. The components described or illustrated herein may have additional inputs or outputs which are not illustrated or described.
Various embodiments may include various processes. These processes may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in computer program or machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor or logic circuits programmed with the instructions to perform the processes. Alternatively, the processes may be performed by a combination of hardware and software.
Portions of various embodiments may be provided as a computer program product, which may include a computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer program instructions, which may be used to program a computer (or other electronic devices) for execution by one or more processors to perform a process according to certain embodiments. The computer-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical disks, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), and magneto-optical disks, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnet or optical cards, flash memory, or other type of computer-readable medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. Moreover, embodiments may also be downloaded as a computer program product, wherein the program may be transferred from a remote computer to a requesting computer.
Many of the methods are described in their most basic form, but processes can be added to or deleted from any of the methods and information can be added or subtracted from any of the described messages without departing from the basic scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many further modifications and adaptations can be made. The particular embodiments are not provided to limit the invention but to illustrate it. The scope of the embodiments of the present invention is not to be determined by the specific examples provided above but only by the claims below.
If it is said that an element “A” is coupled to or with element “B,” element A may be directly coupled to element B or be indirectly coupled through, for example, element C. When the specification or claims state that a component, feature, structure, process, or characteristic A “causes” a component, feature, structure, process, or characteristic B, it means that “A” is at least a partial cause of “B” but that there may also be at least one other component, feature, structure, process, or characteristic that assists in causing “B.” If the specification indicates that a component, feature, structure, process, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, process, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, this does not mean there is only one of the described elements.
An embodiment is an implementation or example of the present invention. Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments. The various appearances of “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” or “some embodiments” are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments. It should be appreciated that in the foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims are hereby expressly incorporated into this description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US11/54375 | 9/30/2011 | WO | 00 | 8/5/2013 |
