Abstract:
A method for operating an electronic device. The method includes receiving an electrical signal from a sensor attached to the device and determining whether the device is being handled by a user based on the signal. The method includes switching the device from an inactive state to an active state in response to determining that the device is being handled.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to activating devices. 
     A set of batteries can power a portable consumer device longer if the device is only turned on during periods of actual use. For example, one set of batteries can operate a television remote control for several months. The controller turns on each time that one of its function buttons is pressed and turns off after performing the function for the pressed button. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect, the invention provides a method for operating an electronic device. The method includes receiving an electrical signal from a sensor attached to the device and determining whether the device is being handled by a user based on the signal. The method includes switching the device from an inactive state to an active state in response to determining that the device is being handled. 
     In a second aspect, the invention provides an apparatus that performs a function. The apparatus includes a function circuit to perform the function and a monitoring module to control the function circuit. The monitoring module activates the function circuit in response to determining that the device is being handled. 
     In a third aspect, the invention provides an apparatus having an electronic device and a monitoring module. The monitoring module is coupled to activate the device in response to determining that the device is being handled by a user. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     According to various embodiments of the present invention: 
     FIG. 1 shows a device that activates in response to being handled; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device that activates in response to being handled; 
     FIG. 3 is a flow chart for a method of activating a device; and 
     FIG. 4 is a flow chart for a method of deactivating a device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable device  10  that activates in response to being handled by a human user. Handling includes user acts like picking up, holding, carrying, or grabbing any part of the device  10 . These acts “implicitly” show that the user wants to use the device  10 . The device  10  activates without an “explicit” act directed at activating the device  10 , e.g., pushing an “on” button  10  or touching a particular feature on the device  10 . 
     The device  10  activates and is ready for use more rapidly than conventional devices, because the user does not look for and push an “on” button to activate the device. The user simply picks up or starts handling the device  10  as if he is going to use it, and the device  10  becomes active. 
     The device  10  has function circuits  12  for performing any of a variety of consumer-oriented functions. For example, the function circuits  12  could implement an Internet access device, a computer, audio or video component, e.g., a player or receiver, or a portable light. 
     The device  10  has an active state and a deactivated state. In the active state, a battery pack  14  powers the function circuits  12 , a monitoring module  16 , and sensors  18 - 20 . The function circuits perform the primary functions of the device  10 , e.g., data processing for a computer. The device  10  is ready to perform its intended functions in the active state. In the deactivated state, the battery pack  14  powers the monitoring module  16  and sensors  18 - 20 . The monitoring module  16  and sensors  18 - 20  determine whether a user is handling the device  10 . 
     In the active state, the function circuits  12  of the device  10  may not be performing any functions. Nevertheless, these circuits  12  are powered and thus, ready to perform functions. In the deactivated state, the function circuits  12  are not powered and are thus, not ready to perform functions. 
     The monitoring module  16  activates the device  10  by using a switch  21 , e.g., a transistor, which is connected between the battery pack  14  and the function circuit  12 . In the active state, the switch  21  is closed and enables current from the battery pack  14  to power the function circuit  12 . 
     Generally, powering the function circuits  12  consumes more power than powering the monitoring module  16  and sensors  18 - 20 . Thus, deactivating the function circuits  12 , when not in use, saves substantial battery lifetime. 
     FIG. 2 shows an embodiment  22  of the device  10  of FIG. 1 in which each sensor  18 - 20  includes one or more conductive paint spots  26 - 28  located on the outer surface of a case  24 . There may be more or less sensors  18 - 20  and/or paint spots  26 - 28  in different embodiments. Each paint spot  26 - 28  covers a portion of the surface of the case  24  of the portable device  10 . Together, the paint spots  26 - 28  cover enough of the case  24  so that a person grabbing, holding or picking up the device  10  will touch one of the spots  26 - 28 . One conductive paint, which can be used to make the spots  26 - 28 , is manufactured by Chemtronics at 8125 Cobb Center Drive, Kennesaw, Ga. 30152 USA. Other types of conductive paint may also be used for the spots  26 - 28 . The paint spots  26 - 28  are capacitive elements that connect to the monitoring module  18 . 
     The capacitances of the paint spots  26 - 28  change when touched by a human user. The monitoring module  18  measures such capacitance changes and can thereby determine whether a human user is touching one of the paint spots  26 - 28 . Capacitance changes in the paint spots  26 - 28  can be measured from delays that such changes induce in propagating alternating current (AC) signals, e.g., square waves. This method is discussed in more detail in “Touch-Sensing Input Devices”, by Ken Hinckley and Mike Sinclair, in Proceedings of the ACM CHI &#39;99, Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (May 15-20, 1999), page 223-230. Other methods of detecting capacitance changes exist. 
     In other embodiments, the sensors  18 - 20  may detect user handling of the device  10  by a different method. For example, the sensors  18 - 20  may detect accelerations or motion. Acceleration sensors and motion sensors, e.g., gyroscopes are well known in the art. Again, such sensors detect implicit user handling, e.g., picking up, carrying, holding, or grabbing, and not only actions particularly directed at activating the device  10 . 
     In various embodiments, sensor signals may respond to handling through different induced effects. The sensor signals may respond to the selected sensor  16 - 18  being touched by a user, e.g., through the capacitances of the spots  26 - 28 . The sensor signals may also respond to the device  10  accelerating or moving as a result of the device  10  being picked up by a user, e.g., through accelerometeric or gyroscopic sensors. 
     FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method  30  of activating the portable device  10  of FIG.  1 . The monitoring module  16  selects one of the sensors  18 - 20  (step  32 ). The sensors  18 - 20  continuously produce electrical signals responsive to user handling of the device  10 . 
     In response to selecting one of the sensors  18 - 20 , the monitoring module  16  receives the electrical signal produced by the selected sensor  18 - 20  (step  34 ). From the received sensor signal, the monitoring module  16  determines whether the portable device  10  is being handled, e.g., grabbed, picked up, or carried, by a human user (step  36 ). To determine whether the device  10  is being handled, the monitoring module  16  performs processing adapted to the form of the selected sensor  16 - 18 . For example, for the conductive paint spots  26 - 28 , the monitoring module  16  determines whether the value of the capacitance of the selected spot  26 - 28  has a value for a conductive paint spot touched by a human. 
     If the monitoring module  16  determines that the device  10  is being handled, the monitoring module  16  activates the device  10  (step  38 ). The device  10  is activated by supplying power to the function circuits  12  from the battery pack  14 . 
     Powering the function circuits  16  may result in automatic actions by the device  10 . For example, one embodiment of the device  10  is a television remote control. When the function circuits  16  for the remote control are powered, they automatically signal the television to turn on. 
     If the monitoring module  16  determines that the device  10  is not being handled, the monitoring module  16  selects another one of the sensors  18 - 20  (step  40 ). Then, the monitoring module  16  performs the same steps  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  for the newly selected sensor  18 - 20 . As long as the device  10  is not activated, the monitoring module  16  continues to select new ones of the sensors  18 - 20 , in round robin fashion, and to perform steps  34  to  40 . When the monitoring module  16  has checked the signal from each sensor  18 - 20 , the monitoring module  16  reselects the first sensor  18 - 20  and performs steps  34 ,  36 ,  38 , and  40  for that sensor. 
     The monitoring module  16  continually checks whether the device  10  is being handled. The continual checking for handling produces a very low drain on the battery pack  14 , because the monitoring module  16  and sensors  18 - 20  are low power apparatus. For periods of storage, the device  10  also has a manual switch  42  for cutting power to the monitoring module  16  and sensors  18 - 20 . 
     FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a method  50  for deactivating the device  10  when activated. The monitoring module  16  waits a predetermined time period after activating the device  10  (step  52 ). Then, the monitoring module  16  uses signals from the sensors  18 - 20  to determine whether the device  10  is still being handled (step  54 ). To determine whether the device  10  is being handled, the monitoring module  16  performs steps  34  and  36  of FIG. 3 for the various sensors  18 - 20 . If the signal from one of the sensors  18 - 20  indicates that the device  10  is being handled, the monitoring module  16  determines that the device  10  is still being handled. 
     If the monitoring module  16  determines that the device  10  is not still being handled, the monitoring module  16  deactivates the device  10  (step  56 ). The monitoring module  16  stops the flow of power from the battery pack  14  to the function circuits  12  to deactivate the device  10 . If the device  10  is still being handled, the monitoring module  16  returns to step  52 . Thus, the monitoring module  16  deactivates the device  10  in response to an absence of handling during a time about equal to the delay period of step  52 . 
     In various embodiments, the device  10  is capable of automatically activating in response to being handled and/or deactivating in response to not being handled for a predetermined time. 
     Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.