# US 10,310,624 B2 · Electronic apparatus, method for controlling electronic apparatus, and control program for the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,310,624 B2 - Document ID: US10310624B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/535,987 - Filed: 2015-11-19 - Published: 2018-10-11 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-17 - Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Inventors: Takeshi Kato; Masashi Mizukane - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310624B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)} - G02B 27/0172: {characterised by optical features} - G06F 3/01: Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer (G06F3/16 takes precedence) - G09G 5/00: Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators (image data processing or generation, in general G06T) - G09G 5/003: {Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto (specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092)} - H04N 5/74: Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor - G02B 2027/014: {comprising information/image processing systems} - G09G 2354/00: Aspects of interface with display user - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An electronic apparatus includes a proximity sensor to detect an object, a device, and a control circuit to control the device. The control circuit executes a first mode which executes a first control for the device or the control circuit in response to an output of the proximity sensor corresponding to a first movement of the object and a second mode which skips the first control for an output of the proximity sensor corresponding to the first movement. The control circuit switches from the second mode to the first mode or from the first mode to the second mode based on an output of the proximity sensor corresponding to a second movement of the object different from the first movement. The second movement is a movement in which the object stays at a detection region for a first time, and then leaves the detection region within a second time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic apparatus, comprising: a proximity sensor to detect an object on a detection region within a proximity range and to create an output; at least one device controlled based on a control signal; and a control circuit to create a control signal to control the at least one device, wherein the control circuit is able to execute a first mode which executes a first control with respect to the at least one device or the control circuit itself in response to an output of the proximity sensor corresponding to a first movement of the object relative to the proximity sensor and a second mode that skips the first control for an output of the proximity sensor corresponding to the first movement, wherein the control circuit switches from the second mode to the first mode or from the first mode to the second mode based on an output of the proximity sensor corresponding to a second movement of the object, different from the first movement, relative to the proximity sensor, wherein the second movement is a movement in which the object stays at the detection region for a first time, and thereafter, leaves the detection region from there within a second time, and wherein the proximity sensor detects a direction in which the object enters the detection region and a direction in which the object leaves the detection region, and, when the control circuit determines based on an output of the proximity sensor such that at least a part of the object has entered the detection region from a first direction, has stayed for the first time or more, and then, has left the detection region in a second direction within the second time, the control circuit switches from the second mode to the first mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic apparatus described in claim 1, wherein the control circuit switches from the second mode to the first mode based on an output of the proximity sensor corresponding to the second movement of the object. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic apparatus described in claim 2, wherein after the second mode has been switched to the first mode, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the first movement has been detected lastly, the control circuit switches from the first mode to the second mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic apparatus described in claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor detects a direction in which the object enters the detection region and a direction in which the object leaves the detection region, and, the control circuit executes a first control with respect to the at least one device or the control circuit itself in the first mode based on a combination of the first direction in which at least a part of the object enters the detection region and the second direction in which the object leaves the detection region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic apparatus described in claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor creates an output corresponding to a distance between the object and the proximity sensor within the detection region, and when the control circuit determines based on the output of the proximity sensor such that the object gradually approaches the proximity sensor within the detection region, the control circuit skips the switching from the first mode to the second mode or the switching from the second mode to the first mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic apparatus described in claim 1, wherein as the device, there is provided a display unit including a display member equipped with a screen capable of displaying an image, and the control circuit executes a control specified with respect to screen display of the display unit in the first control in the first mode, and skips a control specified with respect to the screen display of the display unit in the second mode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic apparatus described in claim 6, wherein when the control circuit determines based on an output of the proximity sensor that at least a part of the object has stayed at the detection region for the first time or more, the control circuit makes the display unit perform a first display on a screen thereof, and thereafter, when the control circuit determines that the at least a part of the object has left from the detection region within the second time, the control circuit makes the display unit perform a second display different from the first display on the screen thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The electronic apparatus described in claim 6, further comprising a wearing member to hold the display unit so as to place the display member in front of at least one of user's eyes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic apparatus described in claim 8, wherein the display member of the display unit is a see-through type. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronic apparatus described in claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor includes a light receiving section to detect invisible light rays emitted from or reflected on an object. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electronic apparatus described in claim 1, wherein the control circuit receives an instruction from a user, and is able to adjust at least one of the first time and the second time based on the instruction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electronic apparatus described in claim 1, wherein a movement of a users hand, or finger or an instruction tool moved based on an intention of a user is detected, and a control with respect to the at least one device or the control circuit is performed. ### Claim 13 A method of controlling an electronic apparatus equipped with a proximity sensor to detect an object on a detection region within a proximity range and to create an output, and at least one device controlled based on a control signal, comprising: being able to set by switching a first mode that executes a first control with respect to the at least one device or a control circuit itself in response to an output of the proximity sensor corresponding to a first movement of the object relative to the proximity sensor and a second mode that skips the first control for an output of the proximity sensor corresponding to the first movement; and switching from the second mode to the first mode or from the first mode to the second mode base on an output of the proximity sensor corresponding to a second movement of the object, different from the first movement, relative to the proximity sensor, wherein the second movement is a movement in which the object stays at the detection region for a first time, and thereafter, leaves the detection region within a second time from there, and wherein the proximity sensor detects a direction in which the object enters the detection region and a direction in which the object leaves the detection region, and, when the control circuit determines based on an output of the proximity sensor such that at least a part of the object has entered the detection region from a first direction, has stayed for the first time or more, and then, has left the detection region in a second direction within the second time, the control circuit switches from the second mode to the first mode. ### Claim 14 A non-transitory control program for an electronic apparatus equipped with a proximity sensor to detect an object on a detection region within a proximity range and to create an output, at least one device controlled based on a control signal, and a control circuit to create a control signal to control the device based on an output of the proximity sensor, comprising: controlling based on the control program the control circuit so as to be able to execute a first mode that executes a first control with respect to the at least one device or the control circuit itself in response to an output of the proximity sensor corresponding to a first movement of the object relative to the proximity sensor and a second mode that skips the first control for an output of the proximity sensor corresponding to the first movement; and switching from the second mode to the first mode or from the first mode to the second mode based on an output of the proximity sensor corresponding to a second movement of the object, different from the first movement, relative to the proximity sensor, wherein the second movement is a movement in which the object stays at the detection region for a first time, and thereafter, leaves the detection region within a second time from there, and wherein the proximity sensor detects a direction in which the object enters the detection region and a direction in which the object leaves the detection region, and, when the control circuit determines based on an output of the proximity sensor such that at least a part of the object has entered the detection region from a first direction, has stayed for the first time or more, and then, has left the detection region in a second direction within the second time, the control circuit switches from the second mode to the first mode.