Patent ID: 8619029

Claim:
A method for interpreting at least two consecutive gestures, wherein each gesture is a specified pattern of movement of an external object relative to an electronic device, the method comprising: providing as part of the electronic device 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 angular direction with respect to the others; controlling emission of infrared light by each of the phototransmitters during each of a plurality of time periods; for each of the plurality of 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 a first gesture; controlling the electronic device in response to the identification of the first gesture according to a first mode of operation of the electronic device; determining a parameter of a second gesture; and controlling the electronic device in response to the determined parameter of the second gesture according to a second mode of operation.