Portable electronic device and method therefor

摘要

An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display, and a plurality of piezoelectric patch transducers disposed beneath the display. A controller is configured to switch each of the transducers between a tactile feedback mode to provide tactile feedback via the touch-sensitive display, and an object detection mode to provide acoustic detection of a contactless position of an object relative to the device. The object is free of contact with the device at the contactless object position. Using the same transducers to provide tactile feedback and object detection provides these features without additional costs associated with adding further components. A microphone of the device can receive ultrasonic signals, emitted from the transducers and via associated acoustic ports, and the device can process the received signals to determine a contactless three-dimensional gesture that is performed, for example above the display.

主权项

1. A portable electronic device comprising:
a capacitive touch-sensitive display; a plurality of piezoelectric patch transducers disposed beneath the display; and a controller, in communication with the plurality of transducers, configured to switch each of the transducers between a tactile feedback mode to provide a tactile feedback via the plurality of transducers through the capacitive touch sensitive display, and a contactless object detection mode to provide acoustic detection of contactless position of an object relative to the device by switching the acoustic frequency of each of the transducer from a first frequency in the tactile feedback mode to a second frequency in the contactless object detection mode, wherein the second frequency is higher than the first frequency, wherein the tactile feedback mode is activated in response to a touch detection by the capacitive touch-sensitive display; and wherein the controller switches the plurality of piezoelectric patch transducers to operate in the object detection mode in response to absence of a touch detection on the capacitive touch-sensitive display for a predefined time period.