Electronic device with infrared sensor-based user input controls

摘要

An electronic device uses one or more infrared sensors to detect infrared light from a person's body (e.g., a user's finger) to initiate a function of the electronic device. According to an implementation, the housing of the electronic device includes a flexible portion that opens an aperture in response to external pressure (e.g., a user pressing down on the flexible portion) to allow infrared light from the person's body to reach an infrared sensor. When the infrared sensor detects the infrared light, it generates a signal in response. A processor of the electronic device receives the signal and, in response, initiates a function of the electronic device. The function may be any function that the electronic device is capable of performing, such as a power-on function, a camera function, changing the speaker volume, and launching an application.

主权项

1. An electronic device comprising:
an infrared sensor; a housing comprising a plurality of segments around a perimeter of the housing, wherein the plurality of segments comprises a rigid first segment, a flexible second segment, and a rigid third segment around the perimeter of the housing, and wherein the flexible second segment is positioned between the rigid first segment and the rigid third segment, the flexible second segment defining an aperture between the rigid first segment and the flexible second segment, wherein the flexible second segment is made of a deformable material, wherein the flexible second segment is configured to deform in response to an external pressure to change from a first configuration in which the flexible second segment keeps the aperture closed to block infrared light, to a second configuration in which the flexible second segment opens the aperture to permit a first amount of infrared light from a person's body to pass from an outside of the housing, through the aperture, to an inside of the housing and to the infrared sensor; wherein the infrared sensor is disposed within the housing and configured to:
detect a change from the first amount of infrared light to a second amount of infrared light occurring in response to a change in a size of the aperture occurring while the aperture is open, wherein the change from the first amount of infrared light to the second amount of infrared light corresponds to the change in the size of the aperture, andgenerate a signal in response to detecting the change from the first amount of infrared light to the second amount of infrared light occurring in response to the change in the size of the aperture; and a processor configured to:
receive the signal, andinitiate a function of the electronic device in response receiving to the signal.