# US 10,504,361 B2 · Portable electronic device with dual, diagonal proximity sensors and mode switching functionality > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,504,361 B2 - Document ID: US10504361B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/154,575 - Filed: 2018-10-08 - Published: 2019-02-07 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-13 - Assignees: Motorola Mobility LLC - Applicants: Motorola Mobility LLC - Inventors: Rachid Alameh; Patrick J Cauwels; Paul Steuer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10504361B2 ## CPC - G08C 19/16: in which transmission is by pulses - G08C 23/04: using light waves, e.g. infrared - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) ## Abstract An electronic device includes a housing and one or more processors. At least one proximity sensor component is operable with the one or more processors and can include an infrared signal receiver to receive an infrared emission from an object external to the housing. The one or more processors can operate the at least one proximity sensor component at a first sensitivity until the infrared signal receiver receives the infrared emission from the object, and then operate the at least one proximity sensor component at a second sensitivity after the infrared signal receiver receives the infrared emission from the object. A motion detector can be actuated when the infrared signal receiver receives the infrared emission from the object at the first distance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device, comprising: a housing; one or more processors; at least one proximity sensor component operable with the one or more processors and comprising an infrared signal receiver receiving an infrared emission from an object external to the housing; the one or more processors: operating the infrared signal receiver at a first sensitivity until the infrared signal receiver receives the infrared emission from the object; transitioning the infrared signal receiver from the first sensitivity to a second sensitivity in response to the infrared signal receiver receiving the infrared emission from the object; and operating the infrared signal receiver at the second sensitivity after the infrared signal receiver receives the infrared emission from the object; the second sensitivity less than the first sensitivity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a motion detector operable with the one or more processors, the one or more processors activating the motion detector when the at least one proximity sensor component operates at the first sensitivity and the infrared signal receiver receives the infrared emission. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, the one or more processors operating the infrared signal receiver at the second sensitivity only after the motion detector detects motion of the electronic device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, the motion detector comprising an accelerometer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more processors transitioning the infrared signal receiver from the first sensitivity to the second sensitivity by reducing a gain of the infrared signal receiver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more processors transitioning the infrared signal receiver from the first sensitivity to the second sensitivity by increasing a detection threshold of the infrared signal receiver. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more processors transitioning the infrared signal receiver from the second sensitivity to the first sensitivity when the infrared emission is not received for a predetermined amount of time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, the first sensitivity detecting the infrared emission from greater than five feet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, the second sensitivity detecting the infrared emission from less than one foot. ### Claim 10 An electronic device, comprising: a housing; one or more processors; at least one proximity sensor component operable with the one or more processors and comprising an infrared signal receiver to receive an infrared emission from an object external to the housing; and the one or more processors: causing the at least one proximity sensor component to be operable to receive the infrared emission from a first distance; upon the infrared signal receiver receiving the infrared emission from the object causing the at least one proximity sensor component to receive the infrared emission from a second distance; the second distance less than the first distance. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, further comprising a motion detector and a microphone, each operable with the one or more processors, the one or more processors, upon the motion detector detecting movement of the housing, actuating the microphone. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, further comprising a motion detector and a display, each operable with the one or more processors, the one or more processors, upon the motion detector detecting movement of the housing, actuating the display. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electronic device of claim 12, the one or more processors causing the display to enter a low power or sleep mode when the infrared signal receiver is not receiving the infrared emission. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The electronic device of claim 12, the one or more processors operating the at least one proximity sensor component while the display is in a low-power or sleep mode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, the one or more processors receiving user input controlling one or more functions of the electronic device from the infrared emission received from the second distance. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, further comprising an accelerometer operable with the one or more processors. ### Claim 17 A method in an electronic device, the method comprising: receiving, with at least one proximity sensor component comprising an infrared signal receiver operating at a first sensitivity, an infrared emission from an object external to a housing; actuating a motion detector in response to receiving the infrared emission; and in response to detecting motion with the motion detector, transitioning the infrared signal receiver to a second sensitivity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising controlling the electronic device with the infrared emission when the infrared signal receiver is operating at the second sensitivity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising, in response to detecting motion with the motion detector, actuating one or more of a display or a microphone. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising transitioning the at least one proximity sensor component from the second sensitivity to the first sensitivity in absence of the infrared emission.