Patent Publication Number: US-2023138244-A1

Title: Sensor input detection

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices, such as laptop computers, tablet computers, and smartphones, may include touchpads, displays, and keyboards. Touchpads, touchscreens, and keyboards may receive user input, such as clicks, scrolls, and/or taps. The touchpads and keyboards may be located on electronic device itself or be located on an electronic device external to the electronic device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. While several examples are described in connection with these drawings, the disclosure is not limited to the examples disclosed herein. 
         FIG.  1 A  illustrates an electronic device having a sensor to detect an input, according to an example; 
         FIG.  1 B  illustrates a laptop computer housing a sensor to detect an input, according to an example; 
         FIG.  2 A  illustrates an electronic device having a first sensor and a second sensor to detect an input, according to an example; 
         FIG.  2 B  illustrates a laptop computer housing a first sensor and a second sensor to detect an input, according to an example; 
         FIG.  3 A  illustrates an orientation for a sensor of zero degrees, according to an example; 
         FIG.  3 B  illustrates an orientation for a sensor of ninety degrees, according to an example; 
         FIGS.  4 A-D  illustrate operation modes for an electronic device with a sensor orientation of zero degrees, according to another example; 
         FIGS.  5 A-D  illustrate operation modes for an electronic device with a sensor orientation of zero degrees, according to another example; 
         FIGS.  6 A-C  is a illustrates a sensor rotation mechanism, according to another example; 
         FIG.  7 A  illustrates is a system of an electronic device and a stylus having a sensor to detect an input, according to another example; 
         FIG.  7 B  illustrates is a block diagram of a stylus having a sensor to detect an input, according to another example; and 
         FIG.  8    illustrates a method for operating an optical sensor, according to another example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An electronic device, such as a laptop computer, tablet computer, smartphone, etc., may include input devices to receive user inputs, such as a touchpad, a touchscreen, and/or a keyboard. However, implementing touchpads, touchscreens, and/or keyboards into electronic devices requires additional space in the electronic device. Furthermore, interacting with the input devices generally involves the user touching the electronic device with their fingers. This can cause the electronic device to collect additional composites on its surface where the input device is located. In some instances, the electronic device may even be damaged by composite buildup and/or external substances working their way to internal components of the electronic device. 
     Examples described herein provide an approach to detect inputs using a sensor. In an example, an electronic device may include a housing, an optical sensor to detect an input from a detection zone, and a rotatable housing mounted to a side of the housing, where the optical sensor is disposed in the rotatable housing. The electronic device may also include a direction sensor to detect an orientation of the rotatable housing relative to the housing. 
     In another example, an electronic device may include a housing and a first optical sensor to detect a first input from a first virtual touchpad. The first rotatable housing may be mounted to a first side of the housing, where the first sensor is disposed in the first rotatable housing. The electronic device may also include a second sensor to detect a second input from a second virtual touchpad and a second rotatable housing mounted to a second side of the housing, where the second sensor is disposed in the second rotatable housing. 
     In another example, a system may include an electronic device and an optical sensor to detect an input for the electronic device. The system may also include a stylus having a body and a tip, where the optical sensor is disposed in the body. In this example, the optical sensor may be oriented perpendicular to the tip, where the stylus is to transmit the input to the electronic device. 
       FIGS.  1 A- 1 B  illustrate an electronic device  100  having a sensor to detect an input, according to an example. Electronic device  100  may be, for example, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, etc. Electronic device  100  may include a housing  102  and a rotatable housing  104 . Electronic device  100  may also include an optical sensor  106  disposed in the rotatable housing  104 . Furthermore, electronic device  100  may include a direction sensor  108 , a controller  110 , and an orientation sensor  112 . 
     Housing  102  may be attached to rotatable housing  104  by a biasing member, such as a bi-stable spring, an example of which is shown in  FIG.  6   . Rotatable housing  104  may include an opening extending along the edge of rotatable housing  104 . The opening may allow optical sensor  106  to detect a user input by detecting a change in light and converting the change in light into an electrical signal. The electrical signal may then be processed by a processor to determine the user input. While this example includes an optical sensor, it should be noted that other sensors may be used to detect a user input, such as laser, soundwave, a magnetometer sensor, or some other sensor which may detect a gesture indicating a user input. 
     Electronic device  100  may further include direction sensor  108 . Direction sensor  108  may be located in rotatable housing  104  to determine a degree to which the front of optical sensor  106  is directed relative to the surface of the base of electronic device  100 . Orientation sensor  112  may also be used in electronic device  100  to determine a mode in which electronic device  100 . Orientation sensor  112  may be implemented using an accelerometer. Electronic device  100  may further include controller  110  to determine an operation mode of the optical sensor based on a determined direction of optical sensor  106  within rotatable housing  104  and an orientation mode of electronic device  100 . 
     In some examples, the determined direction of optical sensor  106  within rotatable housing  104  may be zero degrees, wherein an opening of rotatable housing  104  disposing optical sensor  106  is directed outward from electronic device  100 . In this scenario, a plane for the user input detection for optical sensor  106  is positioned parallel to the surface of the base of electronic device  100 . Based on this determination, various operation modes may be determined. The operation modes may include a mode in which the user input is interpreted, such as a user input on a virtual touchpad, an upward or downward surface scroll gesture, a tapping air gesture, etc. Various example operation modes for a sensor orientation of zero degrees are described in  FIGS.  4 A- 4 D . 
     The operation modes may further be determined based on an orientation mode of electronic device  100  as determined by orientation sensor  112 . For example, the orientation modes of electronic device  100  may indicate whether electronic device  100  is in a notebook mode, a tent mode, a tablet mode, a stand mode, or a book mode. A notebook mode may occur when electronic device  100  is opened approximately ninety degrees to a clamshell position which allows a user to place the base of electronic device  100  on an external surface. A tablet mode may occur when electronic device  100  is opened approximately 180 degrees which allows the base and/or top surface of electronic device  100  to be placed on an external surface. A tent mode may occur when electronic device  100  is opened more than 180 degrees to a tent position which allows the front edge of the base and the front edge of the top of electronic device  100  to be placed on the external surface. A stand mode may occur when electronic device  100  is opened more than 180 degrees which allows the top portion of the base of electronic device  100  to be placed on the external surface. A book mode may occur when electronic device  100  is opened more than approximately ninety degrees to an open book position which allows a side edge of the base and a side edge of the top of electronic device  100  to be placed on the external surface. 
     The different operation modes may be used by controller  110  to map and interpret various gestures received by optical sensor  106 . The different operation modes may detect a slider motion by the user, such as an up-and-down slider motion or a left-and-right slider motion. For example, when electronic device  100  is in one operation mode, optical sensor  106  may detect a user motion starting from a location to the left of an external surface and ending at a location to the right on the external surface. Other operation modes may detect an air gesture, such as a user motion starting a point lower in the air and ending at a point higher in the air above optical sensor  106 . Additional example operation modes may be used to detect a tap (either air or on an external surface) by the user, an air pointer gesture by the user, or a virtual touchpad input by the user. For example, if electronic device  100  includes a sensor orientation of zero degrees relative to the base surface of electronic device  100 . When electronic device  100  is in a notebook mode or a tablet mode, optical sensor  106  is to detect a virtual touchpad input while in a first operation mode. The virtual touchpad is used by allowing the user to move around their finger or other selection tool (e.g., a stylus) on a surface external to electronic device  100 . Optical sensor  106  may then detect the movement in the line of sight of the optical sensor and interpret the user input instructions. 
     In some examples, the orientation of sensor  106  within rotatable housing  104  may be ninety degrees, wherein an opening of rotatable housing  104  disposing optical sensor  106  is directed perpendicular to the surface of the base of electronic device  100 . In this scenario, a plane for the user input detection for optical sensor  106  is positioned perpendicular to the surface of the base of electronic device  100 . Based on this determination, various operation modes may be determined. Various example operation modes for a sensor orientation of ninety degrees are described in  FIGS.  5 A- 5 D . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1 B , electronic device  100  may include physical keyboard  114 , physical touchpad  116 , and display  118 . In some example scenarios, optical sensor  106  may be located to the side of physical keyboard  114 , as shown in  FIG.  1 B . However, in other examples, optical sensor  106  may be located on a front edge of electronic device  100 , such as below the space bar of physical keyboard  114  or below physical touchpad  116  of electronic device  100 . In other example, electronic device  100  may include a display and the optical sensor may be located to the side of the display. 
       FIGS.  2 A-B  illustrate an electronic device  200  having a first sensor  206  and a second sensor  212  to detect an input, according to an example. Electronic device  200  includes a first housing  202  and a first rotatable housing  204 . Electronic device  200  also includes a second housing  208  and a second rotatable housing  210 . Furthermore, electronic device  200  includes physical keyboard  214 , physical touchpad  216 , and display device  218 . 
     The first sensor  206  may be used to detect a first input from a first virtual touchpad. Furthermore, the first rotatable housing  206  may be mounted to a side of the first housing  202 . As illustrated in  FIG.  2 B , the first sensor  206  is disposed in the first rotatable housing  204 . The second sensor  212  may be used to detect a second input from a second virtual touchpad is disposed in the second rotatable housing  210 . The second rotatable housing  210  may be mounted to the side of the second housing  208 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  2 A-B , the first rotatable housing  204  disposing the first sensor  206  is mounted to the front edge of electronic device  200 , such as below the space bar of physical keyboard  214  or below physical touchpad  216 . Further in this example, the second rotatable housing  210  disposing the second sensor  212  is mounted to the side of physical keyboard  214 . 
     In other examples, electronic device  200  may include a first display device and a second display device. In this example, the first rotatable housing  204  disposing the first sensor  206  is mounted to the side of the first display device. Further in this example, the second rotatable housing  210  disposing the second sensor  212  is mounted to the side of the second display device. 
     In yet another example, electronic device  200  may include both physical keyboard  214  and display device  218 . In this example, first rotatable housing  204  disposing first sensor  206  may be located below the space bar of physical keyboard  214 . Further in this example, second rotatable housing  210  disposing second sensor  212  may be located on the side of display device  218 . In other examples, first rotatable housing  204  disposing first sensor  206  may be located below physical touchpad  216 . Further in this example, second rotatable housing  210  disposing second sensor  212  may be located on the side of display device  218 . 
     In some examples, a stylus communicatively may be coupled to the electronic device  200 . In this example, first sensor  206  may be disposed in the stylus. It should be noted that in this example, the rotatable housing  204  may be an outer structure of the stylus. Second sensor  212  disposed in second rotatable housing may then be located on electronic device  200 . In this example, a magnetic track may also be disposed in the stylus, along with first sensor  206 . The magnetic track may be used to provide an attracting force to hold a portion of the stylus in contact with first housing  202 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS.  3 A-B , a sensor orientation for a sensor of zero degrees and a sensor orientation for a sensor of ninety degrees may be determined, according to an example. Referring to  FIG.  3 A , a sensor orientation for a sensor having a detection field  300  of zero degrees is determined. Detection field  300  may be used to detect user motions or gestures within an input detection zone of an optical sensor, such as optical sensor  106 . The user motions or gestures may then be processed and mapped to interpret the user inputs and apply the appropriate command for an application running on an electronic device. The sensor orientation may be determined by measuring an angle of the direction that the sensor is facing and the base of the electronic device. The sensor orientation may be determined by a direction sensor, such as direction sensor  108 . As seen in  FIG.  3 A , the sensor is facing a direction parallel to the base of the electronic device. This allows detection field  300  to be parallel to the external surface and the sensor detect user inputs along a horizontal plane. The zero-degree angle between detection field  300  and the external surface is created by the sensor facing the direction parallel to the base of the electronic device creates sensor orientation of zero degrees. 
     Referring next to  FIG.  3 B , a sensor orientation of ninety degrees is determined, according to an example. Once again, the sensor orientation may be determined by measuring an angle of the detection field  302  and the external surface using a direction sensor, such as direction sensor  108 . The sensor orientation having ninety degrees may occur when the faces a direction perpendicular to the base of the electronic device. As seem in  FIG.  3 B , the sensor is facing a direction perpendicular to the base of the electronic device which creates detection field  302 . This allows the sensor to detect user inputs along a vertical plane. The ninety-degree angle between detection field  302  created by the sensor facing the direction perpendicular to the base of the electronic device creates the sensor orientation of ninety degrees. 
       FIGS.  4 A-D  illustrate operation modes for an electronic device  400  with a sensor orientation of zero degrees, according to another example. Referring first to  FIG.  4 A , a first operation mode is determined when the orientation of the sensor is at zero degrees and electronic device  400  is in a notebook mode. In this example, the detection field  402  is used to detect a virtual touchpad input in the first orientation mode. Referring next to  FIG.  4 B , a second operation mode is determined when the orientation of the sensor is at zero degrees and electronic device  400  is in a tent mode. In this example, the detection field  402  is used to detect an up-and-down slider motion or an up-and-down air gesture input in the second orientation mode. 
     Turning next to  FIG.  4 C , a third operation mode is determined when the orientation of the sensor is at zero degrees and electronic device  400  is in a stand mode. Here, the detection field  402  is used to detect a left-and-right slider motion or a left-and-right air gesture input in the third orientation mode. Finally,  FIG.  4 D  illustrates that a fourth operation mode may be determined when the orientation of the sensor is at is at zero degrees and electronic device  400  is in a book mode. Detection field  402  may be used to detect an air pointer or a tap input in the fourth orientation mode. 
       FIGS.  5 A-D  illustrate operation modes for an electronic device  500  with an orientation of the sensor is at ninety degrees, according to another example. Referring first to  FIG.  5 A , a first operation mode is determined when the orientation of the sensor is at ninety degrees and electronic device  500  is in a notebook mode. In this example, detection field  502  is used to detect an air pointer or a tap input in the first orientation mode. Referring next to  FIG.  5 B , a second operation mode is determined when the orientation of the sensor is at ninety degrees and electronic device  500  is in a tent mode. In this example, is used to detect a left-and-right slider motion or a left-and-right air gesture input in the second orientation mode. 
     Turning next to  FIG.  5 C , a third operation mode is determined when the orientation of the sensor is at zero degrees and electronic device  500  is in a stand mode. Here, is used to detect a virtual touchpad input in the third orientation mode. Finally,  FIG.  5 D  illustrates that a fourth operation mode may be determined when the orientation of the sensor is at zero degrees and electronic device  500  is in a book mode. Detection field  502  may be used to detect an up-and-down slider motion or an up-and-down air gesture input in fourth orientation mode. 
       FIGS.  6 A-C  is a illustrates a sensor rotation mechanism  600 , according to another example. Sensor rotation mechanism  600  may be used to rotate the sensor  606 , which is disposed in rotatable housing  604 . Rotatable housing  604  may be located inside of housing  602 . Sensor rotation mechanism  600  may be a biasing member which is used to attach rotatable housing  604  in housing  602 . In this example, sensor rotation mechanism  600  may include a bi-stable spring  608 . Referring first to  FIG.  6 A , sensor  606  has an orientation of ninety degrees. In this example, the bi-stable spring may be free which allows rotatable housing  604  to be locked in an upward facing direction within housing  602 . 
     Referring next to  FIG.  6 B , sensor  606  has an orientation of forty-five degrees. In this example, the bi-stable spring may be compressed which does not allow rotatable housing  604  to be locked in either an upward facing direction within housing  602  or a downward facing direction within housing  602 . Turning now to  FIG.  6 C , sensor  606  has an orientation of zero degrees. In this example, the bi-stable spring may be free which allows rotatable housing  604  to be locked in horizontal facing direction within housing  602 . 
       FIGS.  7 A-B  illustrates is a system of an electronic device and a stylus having a sensor to detect an input, according to another example. Referring to  FIG.  7 A , system  700  includes an electronic device  702  and a stylus  704 . Referring to  FIG.  7 B , stylus  704  include an optical sensor  706  to detect an input for the electronic device  702 . Stylus  704  also includes a body  712  and a tip  710 . As illustrated in  FIG.  7   , the optical sensor  706  is disposed in the body  712  of stylus  704 . Furthermore, optical sensor  706  may be oriented perpendicular to the tip of stylus  704 , which may create a detection field  708  to receive user inputs which may be transmitted to electronic device  702  using a wireless communication device  716  of stylus  704  and a wireless communication device of electronic device  702  (not shown for clarity). Wireless communication device  716  may be implemented using a transceiver. 
     In some examples, electronic device  702  may also include a stylus controller  714 . Stylus controller  714  may be used to direct optical sensor  706  disposed in stylus  704  to provide the virtual touchpad via detection field  708 . The virtual touchpad provided by detection field  708  may be provided in response to a selection to enable a touchpad mode of the stylus  704  and disable a pen mode of stylus  704 . Further in this example, stylus controller  714  may direct optical sensor  706  to detect the input for the virtual touchpad provided by detected field  708 . Stylus controller  714  may also direct wireless communication device  716  within stylus  704  to communicate the input for the virtual touchpad provided by detection field  708  to electronic device  702 . Stylus controller  714  may communicate the input for the virtual touchpad provided by detection field  708  by transmitting the input to electronic device  702  using wireless signaling, such as Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi®. 
       FIG.  8    illustrates a method  800  for operating an optical sensor in an electronic device, such as electronic device  100 , according to another example. Method  800  includes determining an orientation of an optical sensor, at  802 . For example, a direction sensor, such as direction sensor  108  of  FIG.  1   , may be used to determine whether the optical sensor has an orientation of zero degrees, ninety degrees, or some other orientation angle relative to the electronic device. Method  800  further includes determining a device orientation mode, at  804 . For example, a controller in the system may determine whether the device is in notebook mode, tablet mode, a stylus mode, etc. 
     Method  800  further includes determining an operation mode for the electronic device based on the direction of the optical sensor and the device orientation mode, at  806 . For example, based on a determination that the optical sensor has a direction of zero degrees and that the electronic device is in tent mode, it may be determined that the optical sensor is used to detect virtual inputs, according to a virtual touchpad operation mode. 
     Still referring to  FIG.  8   , method  800  further includes, in response to determining the operation mode, switching a mapping function of the optical sensor, at  808 . This allows the inputs to be mapped to their correct function, such as mapping a left-to-right motion as a scroll from left to right. Method  800  further includes receiving inputs at the optical sensor, at  810 . Method  800  further includes reporting the inputs to the electronic device, at  812 . The inputs may then be reported at the direction of a controller for the optical sensor. 
     It is appreciated that examples described may include various components and features. It is also appreciated that numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the examples. However, it is appreciated that the examples may be practiced without limitations to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the examples. Also, the examples may be used in combination with each other. 
     Reference in the specification to “an example” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one example, but not necessarily in other examples. The various instances of the phrase “in one example” or similar phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same example.