Control method of an apparatus for activating one or more functionalities of the same

A computer program product storable in a control unit of an apparatus usable by a user and operatively coupled to:

• a proximity sensor configured to detect, when the user is in a field of view of the proximity sensor, a first distance of the user from the proximity sensor correlated to a second distance of the user from the apparatus;
• and
• a charge variation sensor configured to detect an electric or electrostatic charge variation caused by the presence of the user in a detection region of the charge variation sensor,
• said computer program, when executed, causes the control unit to implement a control method of the apparatus for activating one or more functionalities of the apparatus, the control method including:
• acquiring, by the control unit and through the charge variation sensor, a charge variation signal indicative of the presence or absence of the user in the detection region;
• generating, by the control unit, one or more charge variation parameters as a function of the charge variation signal;
• determining, by the control unit, whether a condition on charge variation parameters is verified, the condition on charge variation parameters being indicative of the presence of the user in the detection region;
• in response to the condition on charge variation parameters being verified, activating the proximity sensor and acquiring, by the control unit and through the proximity sensor, a proximity signal indicative of the presence or absence of the user in the field of view of the proximity sensor and of the first distance;
• generating, by the control unit, one or more proximity parameters as a function of the proximity signal;
• determining, by the control unit, whether a condition on proximity parameters is verified, the condition on proximity parameters being indicative of the user being in the field of view of the proximity sensor and in a use position of the apparatus;
• and
• in response to the condition on proximity parameters being verified, activating, by the control unit, said one or more functionalities of the apparatus.

A control unit for an apparatus usable by a user,

• the control unit being operatively coupled to:
• a proximity sensor configured to detect, when the user is in a field of view of the proximity sensor, a first distance of the user from the proximity sensor correlated to a second distance of the user from the apparatus;
• and
• a charge variation sensor configured to detect an electric or electrostatic charge variation caused by the presence of the user in a detection region of the charge variation sensor,
• the control unit being configured to:
• acquire, through the charge variation sensor, a charge variation signal indicative of the presence or absence of the user in the detection region;
• generate one or more charge variation parameters as a function of the charge variation signal;
• determine whether a condition on charge variation parameters is verified, the condition on charge variation parameters being indicative of the presence of the user in the detection region;
• in response the condition on charge variation parameters being verified, activate the proximity sensor and acquire, through the proximity sensor, a proximity signal indicative of the presence or absence of the user in the field of view of the proximity sensor and of the first distance;
• generate one or more proximity parameters as a function of the proximity signal;
• determine whether a condition on proximity parameters is verified, the condition on proximity parameters being indicative of the user being in the field of view of the proximity sensor and in a use position of the apparatus;
• and
• in response to the condition on proximity parameters being verified, activate one or more functionalities of the apparatus.

An apparatus usable by a user and comprising a control unit operatively coupled to:

• a proximity sensor configured to detect, when the user is in a field of view of the proximity sensor, a first distance of the user from the proximity sensor correlated to a second distance of the user from the apparatus;
• and
• a charge variation sensor configured to detect an electric or electrostatic charge variation caused by the presence of the user in a detection region of the charge variation sensor,
• the control unit being configured to:
• acquire, through the charge variation sensor, a charge variation signal indicative of the presence or absence of the user in the detection region;
• generate one or more charge variation parameters as a function of the charge variation signal;
• determine whether a condition on charge variation parameters is verified, the condition on charge variation parameters being indicative of the presence of the user in the detection region;
• in response to the condition on charge variation parameters being verified, activate the proximity sensor and acquire, through the proximity sensor, a proximity signal indicative of the presence or absence of the user in the field of view of the proximity sensor and of the first distance;
• generate one or more proximity parameters as a function of the proximity signal;
• determine whether a condition on proximity parameters is verified, the condition on proximity parameters being indicative of the user being in the field of view of the proximity sensor and in a use position of the apparatus;
• and
• in response to the condition on proximity parameters being verified, activate one or more functionalities of the apparatus.