# US 7,746,324 B2 · Device having a device managed input interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,746,324 B2 - Document ID: US7746324B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/657,345 - Filed: 2007-01-24 - Published: 2008-02-21 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2003-10-08 - Assignees: Universal Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Stephen Brian Gates; Jeremy K. Black - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7746324B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0383: {Signal control means within the pointing device} - G06F 1/32: Means for saving power - G06F 1/3206: Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality - G06F 1/3259: {Power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball} - G06F 3/0227: {Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer (G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence)} - G06F 3/03543: {Mice or pucks (G06F3/03541 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface} - G06F 3/038: Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry - G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus - G08C 2201/63: Redundant transmissions - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - 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 A device includes a sensor which generates a value representative of a position of the device relative to an object surface. The device then uses the value obtained from the sensor to automatically transition from a first state in which the input interface is enabled to a second state in which at least a portion of the input interface is inhibited. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hand-held device, comprising: a display having a touch sensitive, user input interface; a processing device in communication with the display having associated instructions for managing the touch sensitive, user input interface; and a sensor for providing to the processing device a signal indicative of a position of the hand-held device relative to an object surface; wherein the instructions associated with the processing device function to inhibit at least a portion of the touch sensitive, user input interface when the signal generated by the sensor is indicative of the hand-held device being positioned adjacent to the object surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hand-held device as recited in claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive, user input interface comprises indicia indicative of functions available to be performed via the hand-held device displayed within the display. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The hand-held device as recited in claim 2, wherein the instructions function to de-energize at least a portion of the display when the signal generated by the sensor is indicative of the hand-held device being positioned adjacent to the object surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The hand-held device as recited in claim 3, wherein the instructions function to de-energize at least a portion of the display upon expiration of a predetermined period of time without a sensed user interaction with the touch sensitive input interface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hand-held device as recited in claim 1, wherein the display comprises an electroluminescent display panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hand-held device as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions function to inhibit at least a portion of the touch sensitive input interface upon expiration of a predetermined period of time without a sensed user interaction with the touch sensitive input interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hand-held device as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions function to enable at least a portion of the touch sensitive, user input interface when the signal generated by the sensor is indicative of the hand-held device being positioned non-adjacent to the object surface. ### Claim 8 A method for managing a touch sensitive, user input interface presented in a display of a hand-held device, comprising: obtaining from a sensor associated with the hand-held device a value representative of a position of the hand-held device relative to an object surface; and using the value obtained from the sensor to cause the hand-held device to automatically transition from a first state in which the touch sensitive, user input interface presented in the display of the hand-held device is enabled to a second state in which at least a portion of the touch sensitive, user input interface presented in the display of the hand-held device is inhibited. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8, using the value obtained from the sensor to cause the hand-held device to automatically transition from the second state to the first state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8, comprising displaying indicia indicative of functions available to be performed via the hand-held device within at least a portion of the touch sensitive, user input interface presented in the display of the hand-held device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the second state comprises causing the display to consume less power relative to the first state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the second state comprises causing the at least a portion of the display to be dc-energized. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8, comprising using a measured time from a last user interaction with the touch sensitive, user input interface presented in the display of the hand-held device to cause the hand-held device to automatically transition from the first state to the second state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8, comprising causing an RF transmitter of the hand-held device to issue RE transmissions in response to user interactions with the touch sensitive, user input interface presented in the display of the hand-held device. ### Claim 15 A hand-held device, comprising: a display having a touch sensitive user input interface; a processing device in communication with the display having associated instructions for managing the touch sensitive, user input interface; and a sensor for providing to the processing device a signal indicative of a position of the hand-held device relative to an object surface; wherein the instructions associated with the processing device function to enable at least a portion of the touch sensitive, user input interface when the signal generated by the sensor is indicative of the hand-held device being positioned non-adjacent to the object surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The hand-held device as recited in claim 15, wherein the touch sensitive, user input interface comprises indicia indicative of functions available to be performed via the hand-held device displayed within the display. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hand-held device as recited in claim 16, wherein the instructions function to energize at least a portion of the display when the signal generated by the sensor is indicative of the hand-held device being positioned non-adjacent to the object surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The hand-held device as recited in claim 17, wherein the instructions function to dc-energize at least a portion of the display upon expiration of a predetermined period of time without a sensed user interaction with the touch sensitive input interface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The hand-held device as recited in claim 15, wherein the display comprises an electroluminescent display panel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The hand-held device as recited in claim 15, wherein the instructions function to inhibit at least a portion of the touch sensitive, user input interface upon expiration of a predetermined period of time without a sensed user interaction with the touch sensitive, user input interface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The hand-held device as recited in claim 15, comprising an RF transmitter associated with the processing device wherein user interactions with the touch sensitive, user input interface causes the RF transmitter to issue RF transmissions.