Electronic Device Gesture Control via Proximity Sensor State Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile terminals using proximity sensors can malfunction by recognizing unintended gestures, leading to incorrect input operations.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a controller that starts processing in response to a gesture based on the physical state of the device, including turning the proximity sensor on or off depending on predetermined conditions such as orientation and environmental brightness, to prevent malfunctioning and reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the proximity sensor is always on to detect gestures, then gesture detection capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegesture detection capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The proximity sensor's operating state is dynamically adjusted based on the device's physical state. The controller switches the sensor between active and inactive states according to real-time conditions such as whether the device is being held or placed on a surface, optimizing both detection capability and power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the proximity sensor by switching between different operating states (active/inactive) based on detected physical conditions. This parameter change allows the sensor to be more sensitive when needed and conserve energy when not required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If the proximity sensor is always active to detect gestures, then response speed is improved, but malfunction risk increases due to unintended gesture recognition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegesture response speedVSAvoidmalfunction prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs preliminary judgment on the physical state before the proximity sensor activates. By assessing conditions such as device orientation and holding state in advance, the system prevents unintended gesture recognition while maintaining quick response when legitimate gestures are detected

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Measurement precision

If the proximity sensor operates in high sensitivity mode to improve detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegesture detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of maintaining high sensitivity operation continuously, the system applies partial action by activating the proximity sensor only when the physical state indicates a need for gesture detection. This selective activation maintains detection accuracy when required while significantly reducing overall power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10613638B2Electronic device

Publication Date: 2020.04.07 KYOCERA CORP

AI summary

An electronic device includes a controller that executes processing in response to a gesture. The controller starts the processing in response to a gesture in accordance with the physical state of the electronic device.