Method and display device for mobile communication

Abstract

One example provides a display device comprising a display panel, a touch sensor, an ambient light sensor, a processor, and storage. The storage includes instructions executable by the processor to monitor an ambient light signal received from the ambient light sensor, detect a threshold change in the ambient light signal in conjunction with a call event, the threshold change indicating that the display device is proximate to a user's body, and modify operation of the display device based at least on detecting the threshold change in the ambient light signal.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] Mobile communication devices may include proximity sensors to determine when a user brings the device close to their face during a call. Such proximity data can be used to control device operation when the device is near the user's face. For example, a mobile device may disable the display touch sensor and / or reduce display brightness based on proximity data during a call. The proximity sensor is typically located behind a bezel that at least partially surrounds the device's display screen. Summary of the Invention

[0002] Examples involving proximity detection using an ambient light sensor are disclosed. One example provides a display device including a display panel, a touch sensor, an ambient light sensor, a processor, and storage. The storage includes instructions executable by the processor to: monitor an ambient light signal received from the ambient light sensor; detect a threshold change in the ambient light signal in conjunction with a call event, the threshold change indicating that the display device is approaching a user's body; and modify the operation of the display device at least based on the detected threshold change in the ambient light signal.

[0003] This disclosure is provided to introduce, in a simplified form, a selection of concepts also described in the detailed description. This disclosure is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to the implementation of solutions to any or all the shortcomings mentioned in any part of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0004] Figure 1 An example display device including an ambient light sensor is shown.

[0005] Figure 2 A block diagram of an example display device is shown.

[0006] Figure 3 A graph is shown depicting an example ambient light sensor signal as a function of proximity to a user's face in a bright room setting.

[0007] Figure 4 A graph is shown depicting an example ambient light sensor signal as a function of proximity to a user's face in a dark room setting.

[0008] Figure 5 The diagram shows experimental ambient light sensor signals at selected wavelengths in a bright room setting as the device, including the sensor, is moved closer to and further away from the user's face.

[0009] Figure 6The diagram shows a graph depicting the experimental ambient light sensor signal at a selected wavelength in a darkroom setting as the device, including the sensor, is moved closer to and further away from the user's face.

[0010] Figure 7 A flowchart depicting an example method for detecting proximity between a user and a display device is shown.

[0011] Figure 8 A block diagram of an example computing system is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0012] As mentioned above, proximity sensors can be located behind the display bezel of mobile communication devices. However, mobile communication devices are evolving towards increasingly smaller bezels (or even bezel-less) to achieve a larger effective display area. With the space behind the bezel constantly decreasing, sensors are increasingly being mounted behind the display. However, positioning proximity sensors behind the display can present various challenges. For example, when located behind an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, proximity sensors utilizing infrared (IR) emitters may produce unwanted flicker artifacts due to the interaction of IR light with the OLED emitter and / or the emitter driving circuitry. These flicker artifacts occur in tandem with the operation of the IR proximity sensor. In some examples, the pulse width of the IR emitter can be adjusted, or multiple lower-voltage IR emitters can be used instead of a single higher-voltage IR emitter to help reduce flicker effects. However, such solutions do not completely eliminate flicker artifacts.

[0013] Therefore, this document discloses examples of using an ambient light sensor for proximity detection in a mobile communication device including a display, without using a separate proximity sensor and thus without using an IR emitter. The term "display device" is used herein to refer to a mobile communication device including a display, as well as other display devices that can utilize an ambient light sensor in the manner described herein. Using an ambient light sensor for proximity sensing avoids flicker artifacts caused by the IR emitter of a proximity sensor located behind an OLED display. Furthermore, using an ambient light sensor for proximity detection can help save power, reduce production costs, and allow for a smaller overall device size, regardless of the display type, compared to devices that include a proximity sensor. The ambient light sensor can be located behind the OLED display or behind the device display bezel.

[0014] Figure 1An example display device 100 in the form of a smartphone is shown, having a display panel 102 and an ambient light sensor 104. The ambient light sensor can be configured to detect ambient light levels and / or ambient color intensity at one or more selected wavelengths or bands, and can be located behind the display panel 102, behind a bezel, or at another location. In some examples, the display device may include more than one ambient light sensor. The ambient light sensor may take the form of a photoresist, a photodiode, a phototransistor, and / or any other suitable light-sensing technology.

[0015] During an incoming or outgoing call, as the display device 100 moves toward the user's face, the display device 100 can be configured to detect a threshold change in an ambient light signal that indicates the proximity of the display device 100 to the user. The term "threshold change" as used herein refers to any suitable change in the ambient light signal that exceeds a defined threshold. In some examples, the threshold change includes a change in the ambient light signal value that meets or falls below, or meets or exceeds, the threshold. Similarly, in some examples, the threshold change indicates a change in which the value after the change meets or exceeds a threshold difference or percentage change compared to the value before the change. Once the user ends the call and moves the display device 100 away from the face, the ambient light sensor signal can also be used to determine that the display device 100 has moved away from the user's face. Using an ambient light sensor for proximity detection allows for the omission of a separate proximity sensor, thereby helping to avoid flicker caused by the excitation of OLED display pixels by the proximity sensor emitter. Furthermore, omitting the proximity sensor can also help achieve smaller size, lower power consumption, and lower manufacturing costs compared to devices that include a proximity sensor. Although ambient light sensors are disclosed in the context of OLED display devices, they can also be used to detect proximity in other types of display devices, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) devices.

[0016] Figure 2 A block diagram of an example display device 200 suitable for use as display device 100 is shown. Display device 200 includes a display panel 202, an ambient light sensor 204, and a display circuitry system 206. The display panel 202 may be, for example, an OLED display panel. The display circuitry system 206 is configured to control the display of an image by controlling the light emission of the pixels of the display panel 202, and may include any suitable circuitry system.

[0017] The display device 200 also includes a display touch sensor 208. The display touch sensor 208 may be positioned in front of the display panel 202 from the user's perspective, or integrated into the display panel 202. The display device 200 also includes a controller 210 configured to control the operation of the ambient light sensor 204, the display circuitry system 206, and the display touch sensor 208, and to receive signals from the ambient light sensor 204 and the display touch sensor 208. The controller 210 may be implemented via a processor, microprocessor, FPGA, ASIC, or other suitable logic computing device.

[0018] Figure 3 A graph 300 is shown, representing the example ambient light sensor signal strength (in arbitrary units) as a function of the distance (in millimeters) between a user and a display device including the sensor in a bright room setting over time. The display device can be a smartphone, and the distance can represent the distance from the user's face to the smartphone. The intensity of the ambient light signal decreases as the user moves the display device toward their face, for example, from 1500 mm to 10 mm. Similarly, the intensity of the ambient light signal increases as the user moves the display device away from their face. These effects are due to the fact that when the display device is close to the user's face, ambient light is blocked by the user's body, allowing less light to reach the ambient light sensor on the display device, and similarly, more ambient light is allowed to reach the ambient light sensor when the device is away from the face. Given this effect, the display device can be configured to detect a decrease in the threshold of the ambient light signal to determine whether the device is at a threshold distance from the user's face.

[0019] exist Figure 3 In the example, the signal from the ambient light sensor decreases as the device approaches the user. Conversely, in a dark setting, the ambient light signal can increase as the display device approaches the user's face. Figure 4 A graph 400 is shown illustrating the variation of an example ambient light sensor signal strength (in arbitrary units) over time, as sensed by the ambient light sensor in a darkroom setting. Here, as a user moves the display device toward their face, for example from 1500 mm to 10 mm, the ambient light signal increases with decreasing distance. Similarly, as the user moves away from the display device, the ambient light signal decreases with increasing distance. In a darkroom with low ambient light levels, light from the display can be reflected back toward the device from the user's body, causing the ambient light sensor to detect more light. Here, an increase in the threshold of the ambient light signal can indicate that the user's body is approaching the display device. Thus, depending on the ambient light conditions in the current environment, a decrease or increase in the threshold of the ambient light signal can be used to determine that the user's body is approaching the display device.

[0020] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The representation shown has a step in intensity, indicating, for example, movement of the device toward the user, followed by a pause at a distance shown on the x-axis, such as a user scanning the display from a certain distance, then bringing the display closer to examine it more closely, and then answering a phone call by bringing the device close to or against their face. A graph representing a smoother movement of the device toward the face can have a different intensity profile.

[0021] In some examples, additional data can be used in conjunction with threshold changes in the ambient light signal to determine whether to adjust the operating state of the display device. For example, the display device can detect threshold changes in the ambient light signal in conjunction with touch interactions with a telephone user interface displayed on the monitor, image data from the device's camera indicating that the device is moving toward the user, and / or other peripheral sensors (such as AGMBs, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and barometers) that can indicate that the telephone is moving in different directions or at different heights.

[0022] In response to a threshold change in the detected ambient light signal, any suitable alteration can be made to the operating state of the display device. Examples include reducing the brightness of the display, disabling the display, disabling the touch sensor (to save power and prevent unintentional touch input), and / or reducing the strength of radio frequency communication signals emitted by the display device.

[0023] In some examples, ambient light sensors can sense light at multiple channels corresponding to different wavelengths. Multi-channel sensing can help provide more consistent and / or more accurate proximity sensing in different lighting environments. For example, natural sunlight is full-spectrum, while different forms of artificial lighting may emit light at specific wavelengths. Sensing light at different selected wavelengths can help detect changes in light intensity under many different lighting conditions more accurately than sensing in a single wavelength.

[0024] Figure 5 Graph 500 is shown, depicting the multi-channel ambient light signal observed in a bright room setting as a device including an ambient light sensor approaches and then moves away from a user's body. Line 502 represents a wide visible-spectrum transparent channel, 504 represents a reference wide-spectrum (including IR) channel, 506 represents the red channel, 508 represents the green channel, 510 represents the blue channel, and 512 represents leakage / crosstalk measurements across all channels. The vertical axis represents signal strength, and the horizontal axis represents time. In some examples, a second IR channel may be used for ambient light detection as an alternative or supplement.

[0025] These data show that as the ambient light sensor moves closer to the user, the ambient light signal intensity decreases across all channels as the user blocks the sensor. In this example, the decrease occurs due to the varying distance between the user and the display device, ranging from 10 cm to 1 cm. The large spikes in signal 504 across the wide spectrum (including IR) channels may be related to the presence and operation of the proximity sensor in the tested device.

[0026] Figure 6 A graph is shown depicting the multi-channel ambient light signal observed in a darkroom setting as a device, including an ambient light sensor, approaches and then moves away from the user's body. Again, the vertical axis represents signal strength, and the horizontal axis represents time. Figure 6 In the diagram, line 602 represents the broad visible-spectrum transparent channel, 604 represents the reference broad-spectrum (including IR) channel, 606 represents the red channel, 608 represents the green channel, 610 represents the blue channel, and 612 represents the leakage measurement across all channels. In a dark room, as the ambient light sensor moves closer to the user's body, light emitted from the display device is reflected back to the ambient light sensor. As shown in each of these graphs, an increase in light signal is detected across all channels when the user moves from 10 cm to 1 cm from the display device.

[0027] Figure 7An example method 700 for detecting proximity between a display device and a user based on ambient light sensor signals is illustrated. Method 700 can be implemented on display devices such as display devices 100 and 200. Method 700 includes monitoring an ambient light sensor signal received from an ambient light sensor at 702. As shown at 704, in some examples, this signal can be continuously monitored, while in other examples, monitoring can be triggered by an event such as an incoming or outgoing telephone call. Method 700 also includes, at 706, detecting a threshold change in the ambient light signal indicating proximity of the display device to a user's body in conjunction with a call event (e.g., an incoming or outgoing telephone call). The term "threshold change" as used herein refers to any suitable change in the ambient light signal that exceeds a defined threshold. In some examples, the threshold change includes a change in the ambient light signal value that meets or falls below, or meets or exceeds, the threshold. Similarly, in some examples, the threshold change indicates a change in which the value after the change meets or exceeds a threshold difference or percentage change compared to the value before the change. The threshold change can be an increase in the threshold at 708 or a decrease in the threshold at 710. As described above, in a dark room setting, the ambient light sensor can detect an increase in the threshold of the ambient light signal to indicate that a user is approaching the display device. In a bright room setting, the ambient light sensor can detect a decrease in the threshold of the ambient light signal to indicate that a user is approaching the display device. In some examples, the display device can determine whether to utilize an increase or decrease in the threshold of the ambient light signal based on ambient light data sampled, for example, when an incoming or outgoing call occurs. The sensed ambient light level indicates whether a bright room setting or a dark room setting is applied, and an appropriate threshold can be selected based on the sensed ambient light level. In other examples, the display device can compare the ambient light signal to these two thresholds.

[0028] Method 700 also includes modifying the operation of the display device at 712, at least based on a threshold change in the detected ambient light signal. The modification may include disabling the touch sensor at 714, reducing the brightness of the display or disabling the display at 716, and / or reducing the strength of the radio frequency signal output by the display device at 718. Such modifications can help save device power. Furthermore, disabling the touch sensor can also help avoid unintentional touch input. In other examples, any other suitable operating states of the display device may be modified.

[0029] In some examples, additional data can be used in conjunction with ambient light sensor signals to determine whether a display device is close to a user's body. For example, touch sensor data associated with a call event (e.g., a touch to initiate an outgoing call, answer an incoming call, or the shape of a user's ear or face (e.g., large patches) detected by the touch sensor when it is close to the user's face) can be used.

[0030] Method 700 further includes, at 720, detecting a second threshold change in the ambient light signal, such as a change indicating that the user's body is no longer close to the display device, and restoring the display device to its previous operating state. For example, the display device may enable the touch sensor, restore the brightness of the display or enable the display, and / or restore the radio frequency output signal.

[0031] In some examples, the methods and processes described herein may be associated with a computing system of one or more computing devices. Specifically, such methods and processes may be implemented as computer applications or services, application programming interfaces (APIs), libraries, and / or other computer program products.

[0032] Figure 8 A non-limiting embodiment of a computing system 800 capable of performing one or more of the methods and processes described above is illustrated schematically. The computing system 800 is shown in a simplified form. The computing system 800 may take the form of one or more of the following: a personal computer, a server computer, a tablet computer, a home entertainment computer, a network computing device, a gaming device, a mobile computing device, a mobile communication device (e.g., a smartphone), and / or other computing devices.

[0033] The computing system 800 includes a logic machine 802 and a memory machine 804. The computing system 800 may optionally include a display subsystem 806, an input subsystem 808, a communication subsystem 810, and / or... Figure 8 Other components not shown.

[0034] Logic machine 802 includes one or more physical devices configured to execute instructions. For example, logic machine 802 may be configured to execute instructions as part of one or more of the following: applications, services, programs, routines, libraries, objects, components, data structures, or other logical constructs. Such instructions may be implemented to perform tasks, implement data types, change the state of one or more components, achieve technical effects, or otherwise obtain desired results.

[0035] Logic machine 802 may include one or more processors configured to execute software instructions. Alternatively, logic machine 802 may include one or more hardware or firmware logic machines configured to execute hardware or firmware instructions. The processor of logic machine 802 may be single-core or multi-core, and the instructions executed thereon may be configured for serial, parallel, and / or distributed processing. The individual components of logic machine 802 may optionally be distributed among two or more separate devices, which may be located remotely and / or configured for collaborative processing. Various aspects of logic machine 802 may be virtualized and executed by remotely accessible networked computing devices configured with cloud computing capabilities.

[0036] The memory 804 includes one or more physical devices configured to hold instructions executable by a logic machine to implement the methods and procedures described herein. When implementing these methods and procedures, the state of the memory 804 can be changed—for example, to retain different data.

[0037] Storage unit 804 may include removable and / or built-in devices. Storage unit 804 may include optical memory (e.g., CD, DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-ray disc, etc.), semiconductor memory (e.g., RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, etc.), and / or magnetic memory (e.g., hard disk drive, floppy disk drive, tape drive, MRAM, etc.), etc. Storage unit 804 may include volatile, non-volatile, dynamic, static, read / write, read-only, random access, sequential access, location-addressable, file-addressable, and / or content-addressable devices.

[0038] As will be understood, the memory 804 includes one or more physical devices. However, aspects of the instructions described herein may alternatively be propagated via a communication medium (e.g., electromagnetic signals, optical signals, etc.) that are not held by the physical device for a finite duration.

[0039] Various aspects of the logic machine 802 and the memory machine 804 can be integrated together into one or more hardware logic components. Such hardware logic components may include, for example, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (PASICs / ASICs), application-specific standard products (PSSPs / ASSPs), systems-on-a-chip (SoCs), and complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs).

[0040] When the display subsystem 806 is included, it can be used to present a visual representation of the data held by the memory 804. This visual representation may take the form of a graphical user interface (GUI). Since the methods and processes described herein change the data held by the memory and thus transform the state of the memory, the state of the display subsystem 806 can also be transformed to visually represent changes in the underlying data. The display subsystem 806 may include one or more display devices utilizing substantially any type of technology. Such display devices may be combined with the logic machine 802 and / or the memory 804 in a shared enclosure, or they may be peripheral display devices.

[0041] When an input subsystem 808 is included, the input subsystem 808 may include one or more user input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, or game controller, or interface with such user input devices. In some embodiments, the input subsystem may include or interface with selected Natural User Input (NUI) components. Such components may be integrated or peripheral, and the transduction and / or processing of input actions may be handled on-board or off-board. Example NUI components may include a microphone for speech and / or voice recognition; infrared, color, stereo, and / or depth cameras for machine vision and / or gesture recognition; head trackers, eye trackers, accelerometers, and / or gyroscopes for motion detection and / or intent recognition; and electric field sensing components for assessing brain activity.

[0042] When a communication subsystem 810 is included, the communication subsystem 810 may be configured to communicatively couple the computing system 800 to one or more other computing devices. The communication subsystem 810 may include wired and / or wireless communication devices compatible with one or more different communication protocols. As a non-limiting example, the communication subsystem 810 may be configured to communicate via a wireless telephone network, or a wired or wireless local area network or wide area network. In some embodiments, the communication subsystem may allow the computing system 800 to send messages to and / or receive messages from other devices via a network such as the Internet.

[0043] Another example provides a display device configured for mobile communication, the display device including: a display panel, a touch sensor, an ambient light sensor, a processor, and storage, the storage including instructions executable by the processor to: monitor an ambient light signal from the ambient light sensor; detect a threshold change in the ambient light signal in conjunction with a call event, the threshold change indicating that the display device is near a user's body; and modify the operation of the display device at least based on the detected threshold change in the ambient light signal. Alternatively, the instructions may be executable to modify the operation of the display device by disabling the touch sensor. Alternatively, the instructions may be executable to modify the operation of the display device by reducing the brightness of the display or disabling the display. Alternatively, the instructions may be executable to modify the operation of the display device by reducing the strength of an RF signal output by the display device. Alternatively, the threshold change may include increasing the threshold of the ambient light signal. Alternatively, the threshold change may include decreasing the threshold of the ambient light signal. Alternatively, the display panel may include an OLED display panel. As a supplement or alternative, the instructions can be executed to detect a threshold change in ambient light signal in conjunction with a touch detected via a touch sensor, the touch being associated with a call event.

[0044] Another example provides a method implemented on a display device configured for mobile communication, the display device including a display panel and an ambient light sensor, the method comprising: monitoring an ambient light signal received from the ambient light sensor; detecting a threshold change in the ambient light signal in conjunction with a call event, the threshold change indicating that the display device is near a user's body; and modifying the operation of the display device at least based on the detected threshold change in the ambient light signal. Alternatively, modifying the operation of the display device may include disabling a touch sensor. Alternatively, modifying the operation of the display device may include reducing the brightness of the display or disabling the display. Alternatively, modifying the operation of the display device may include reducing the strength of an RF signal output by the display device. Alternatively, the threshold change may include increasing or decreasing the threshold of the ambient light signal. Alternatively, the method may include detecting a threshold change in the ambient light signal in conjunction with detecting a touch via a touch sensor, the touch being associated with one or more of a call user interface and the shape of a user's ear or face. As a supplement or alternative, the method may include detecting threshold changes in ambient light signals in combination with one or more of accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, and barometer signals indicating movement of the display device.

[0045] Another example provides a display device configured for mobile communication, the display device including: a display panel, a touch sensor, an ambient light sensor, a processor, and storage, the storage including instructions executable by the processor to: monitor an ambient light signal received from the ambient light sensor, detect a threshold change in the ambient light signal, and disable the touch sensor at least based on the detected threshold change in the ambient light signal. The instructions may also be executed to detect a second threshold change in the ambient light signal and, in response, enable the touch sensor. Alternatively, the instructions may also be executed to reduce the brightness of the display or disable the display at least based on the detected threshold change in the ambient light signal. Alternatively, the threshold change may include an increase in the threshold of the ambient light signal. Alternatively, the threshold change may include a decrease in the threshold of the ambient light signal.

[0046] It should be understood that the configurations and / or methods described herein are exemplary in nature, and these specific embodiments or examples should not be considered limiting, as many variations are possible. The specific routines or methods described herein may represent one or more of any number of processing strategies. Thus, the various actions explained and / or described may be performed in the explained and / or described order, in a different order, in parallel, or omitted. Similarly, the order of the processes described above may be changed.

[0047] The subject matter of this disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various processes, systems and configurations disclosed herein, as well as other features, functions, actions and / or attributes, and any and all equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A display device configured for mobile communication, the display device comprising: Display panel; Touch sensor; Ambient light sensor; processor; as well as The storage includes instructions executable by the processor to perform the following operations: Monitor the ambient light signal from the ambient light sensor. The system determines whether the display device is in a dark room setting or a bright room setting. The dark room setting includes a setting that increases the intensity of the ambient light signal when the display device moves closer to the face, while the bright room setting includes a setting that decreases the intensity of the ambient light signal when the display device moves closer to the face. At least based on determining that the display device is in the darkroom setting, the increase in the ambient light signal is compared with an increase in a threshold, wherein the threshold increase is used to determine whether the increase in the ambient light signal indicates that the display device is moving closer to the face. At least based on determining that the display device is in the bright room setting, the decrease in the ambient light signal is compared with a threshold decrease, wherein the threshold decrease is a threshold used to determine whether the decrease in the ambient light signal indicates that the display device is moving closer to the face. A threshold change in the ambient light signal is detected in conjunction with a call event and at least based on an increase or decrease in the threshold, the threshold change indicating that the display device is approaching a user's body, wherein the threshold change includes an increase in the ambient light signal exceeding the threshold increase or a decrease in the ambient light signal exceeding the threshold decrease. The operation of the display device is modified based at least on a threshold change in the detected ambient light signal.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein, The instructions can be executed to modify the operation of the display device by reducing the brightness of the display panel or disabling the display panel.

3. The display device of claim 1, wherein, The instructions can be executed to modify the operation of the display device by reducing the strength of the RF signal output by the display device.

4. The display device of claim 1, wherein, The display panel includes an OLED display panel.

5. The display device of claim 1, wherein, The instructions can also be executed to detect threshold changes in the ambient light signal in conjunction with touch detection via the touch sensor, the touch being associated with the call event.

6. A method implemented on a display device configured for mobile communication, the display device including a display panel, an ambient light sensor, and a touch sensor, the method comprising: Monitor the ambient light signal received from the ambient light sensor. The system determines whether the display device is in a dark room setting or a bright room setting. The dark room setting includes a setting that increases the intensity of the ambient light signal when the display device moves closer to the face, while the bright room setting includes a setting that decreases the intensity of the ambient light signal when the display device moves closer to the face. At least based on determining that the display device is in the darkroom setting, the increase in the ambient light signal is compared with an increase in a threshold, wherein the threshold increase is used to determine whether the increase in the ambient light signal indicates that the display device is moving closer to the face. At least based on determining that the display device is in the bright room setting, the decrease in the ambient light signal is compared with a threshold decrease, wherein the threshold decrease is a threshold used to determine whether the decrease in the ambient light signal indicates that the display device is moving closer to the face. A threshold change in the ambient light signal is detected in conjunction with a call event and at least based on an increase or decrease in the threshold, the threshold change indicating that the display device is approaching a user's body, wherein the threshold change includes an increase in the ambient light signal exceeding the threshold increase or a decrease in the ambient light signal exceeding the threshold decrease. The operation of the display device is modified based at least on a threshold change in the detected ambient light signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, Modifying the operation of the display device includes disabling the touch sensor.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein, Modifying the operation of the display device includes reducing the brightness of the display panel or disabling the display panel.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein, Modifying the operation of the display device includes reducing the strength of the RF signal output by the display device.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein, It also includes detecting a threshold change in the ambient light signal in conjunction with detecting a touch via the touch sensor, the touch being associated with one or more of a call user interface, the shape of a user's ear, or the shape of a user's ear or face.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein, It also includes detecting threshold changes in the ambient light signal in conjunction with one or more of the signals from an accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, or barometer that indicate movement of the display device.

12. A display device configured for mobile communication, the display device comprising: Display panel; Touch sensor; Ambient light sensor; processor; as well as The storage includes instructions executable by the processor to perform the following operations: Monitor the ambient light signal received from the ambient light sensor. The system determines whether the display device is in a dark room setting or a bright room setting. The dark room setting includes a setting that increases the intensity of the ambient light signal when the display device moves closer to the face, while the bright room setting includes a setting that decreases the intensity of the ambient light signal when the display device moves closer to the face. At least based on determining that the display device is in the darkroom setting, the increase in the ambient light signal is compared with an increase in a threshold, wherein the threshold increase is used to determine whether the increase in the ambient light signal indicates that the display device is moving closer to the face. At least based on determining that the display device is in the bright room setting, the decrease in the ambient light signal is compared with a threshold decrease, wherein the threshold decrease is a threshold used to determine whether the decrease in the ambient light signal indicates that the display device is moving closer to the face. A threshold change in the ambient light signal is detected in conjunction with a call event and at least based on an increase or decrease in the threshold, the threshold change indicating that the display device is approaching a user's body, wherein the threshold change includes an increase in the ambient light signal exceeding the threshold increase or a decrease in the ambient light signal exceeding the threshold decrease. The touch sensor should be disabled based at least on a threshold change in the detected ambient light signal.

13. The display device of claim 12, wherein, The instruction can also be executed to detect a second threshold change in the ambient light signal and, in response, to enable the touch sensor.

14. The display device of claim 12, wherein, The instructions can also be executed to reduce the brightness of the display panel or disable the display panel, at least based on a threshold change in the detected ambient light signal.

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