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US 7,289,102 B2Granted
Method and apparatus using multiple sensors in a device with a display
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsKenneth P. Hinckley, Michael J. Sinclair, Jeffrey Scott Pierce, Eric J. Horvitz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a device having a display, at least one sensor signal is generated from a sensor in the device. One or more context values are then generated from the sensor signal. The context values indicate how the device is situated relative to one or more objects. At least one of the context values is then used to control the operation of one or more aspects of the device.
Claims25
A method in a device having a display, the method comprising:
- generating at least one sensor signal using at least one sensor in the device;
- generating a first display orientation context value for longer than a set period of time that indicates how the device is oriented based on the at least one sensor signal;
- generating a second display orientation context value for shorter than the set period of time after generating the first display orientation context value based on the at least one sensor signal, the second display orientation context value differing from the first display orientation context value;
- generating a third display orientation context value that indicates that the device is laying flat based on the at least one sensor signal after generating the second display orientation context value;
- and
- selecting an orientation for an image on the display while the device is laying flat by using the first display orientation context value instead of the second display orientation context value.
3 more elements
A method in a device having a display, the method comprising:
- generating at least one sensor signal using at least one sensor in the device that indicates the distance to an object without requiring the object to touch the device;
- generating a sequence of proximity context values based on the sensor signal that indicate the movement of an object relative to the device;
- and
- preventing the device from entering an idle mode because the sequence of proximity context values indicates that an object is moving relative to the device while allowing the device to enter an idle mode when the sequence of proximity context values indicate that an object is present but not moving relative to the device.
1 more element
A method in a device having a display, the method comprising:
- generating at least one sensor signal using at least one sensor in the device;
- generating a holding context value that indicates that the user is holding the device and at least one orientation context value that indicates that the device is in an orientation consistent with the user wanting to use the device based on the at least one sensor signal;
- and
- activating a sound capturing application based on the holding context value and the orientation context value.
1 more element
A device with a display, the device comprising:
- a sensor that generates a sensor signal;
- a context information server that:
- generates a first display orientation context value for longer than a set period of time that indicates how the device is oriented based on the sensor signal;
- generates a second display orientation context value for shorter than the set period of time after generating the first display orientation context value based on the sensor signal, the second display orientation context value differing from the first display orientation context value;
- and
- generates a third display orientation context value that indicates that the device is laying flat based on the sensor signal after generating the second display orientation context value;
- and
- an application that draws an image on the display while the device is laying flat by using the first display orientation context value instead of the second display orientation context value.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.