Patent ID: 8294105
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: G06F,H03K,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling an electronic device, the method comprising: providing as part of the electronic device a display screen for displaying content and a sensing assembly including at least one photoreceiver and a plurality of phototransmitters, wherein each phototransmitter is positioned to emit infrared light away from the electronic device about a corresponding central transmission axis, wherein each central transmission axis is oriented in a different direction with respect to the others; controlling emission of infrared light by each of the phototransmitters during each of a plurality of time periods as an external object moves in a first specified pattern of movement which is offset from a generally centered position with respect to the sensing assembly; for each of the phototransmitters and for each of the plurality of time periods, generating a corresponding measured signal indicative of a respective amount of infrared light which originated from that phototransmitter during that time period and was reflected by the external object prior to being received by a photoreceiver; evaluating the measured signals to identify the first specified pattern of movement of the object, and to detect a reference offset location corresponding to an end of the first specified pattern of movement of the object; performing a centering operation in response to the identification of the first specified pattern of movement, wherein the centering operation moves an indicator to a predetermined reference location on the display screen, wherein the predetermined reference location is then associated with the reference offset location; and subsequently controlling sequential locations of the indicator on the display screen in accordance with further determined locations of the object relative to the reference offset location.