PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8536507-B2
Application Number: US-75062510-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Integrated proximity sensor and light sensor

Abstract:
Apparatuses and methods to sense proximity and to detect light. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an emitter of electromagnetic radiation and a detector of electromagnetic radiation; the detector has a sensor to detect electromagnetic radiation from the emitter when sensing proximity, and to detect electromagnetic radiation from a source other than the emitter when sensing visible light. The emitter may be disabled at least temporarily to allow the detector to detect electromagnetic radiation from a source other than the emitter, such as ambient light. In one implementation, the ambient light is measured by measuring infrared wavelengths. Also, a fence having a non-IR transmissive material disposed between the emitter and the detector to remove electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter. Other apparatuses and methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus to sense proximity and to sense light, the apparatus comprising:
 an emitter of electromagnetic radiation; 
 a detector of electromagnetic radiation, the detector having a sensor configured to detect electromagnetic radiation from the emitter when the apparatus is sensing proximity and configured to detect electromagnetic radiation from a source other than the emitter when the apparatus is sensing light, wherein the emitter is configured to emit IR light: 
 processing logic to distinguish between IR light emitted by the emitter and ambient IR light when the apparatus is sensing proximity. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 processing logic coupled to the emitter and to the sensor, the process logic configured to subtract the radiation from the source other than the emitter when the apparatus is sensing proximity. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the emitter is configured to emit IR light modulated with a first waveform at a first frequency, and further comprising:
 processing logic to distinguish between IR light modulated with the first waveform or at the first frequency and ambient IR light when the apparatus is sensing proximity. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the processing logic to distinguish comprises processing logic to one of time division multiplex, timeslice multiplex, frequency filter, and passband filter between IR light modulated by the first waveform or at the first frequency and ambient IR light when the apparatus is sensing proximity. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 processing logic coupled to the emitter and to the detector, the processing logic configured to turn off the radiation from the emitter when the apparatus is sensing light. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the sensor is a first sensor having a first bandpass filter that only passes infra-red (IR) light, the detector further comprising:
 a second sensor having a second passband filter that only passes both IR light and visible light. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the second passband filter is a cover over the first sensor and the second sensor, and further comprising:
 processing logic to scale and subtract ambient IR light detected by the first sensor from ambient visible light and ambient IR light detected by the second detector when the apparatus is sensing light. 
 
     
     
       8. An apparatus to sense proximity and to sense light, the apparatus comprising:
 an emitter of electromagnetic radiation; 
 a detector of electromagnetic radiation, the detector having a first sensor configured to detect electromagnetic radiation from the emitter when the apparatus is sensing proximity, the detector having a second sensor configured to detect electromagnetic radiation from a source other than the emitter when the apparatus is sensing light. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising:
 processing logic coupled to the emitter and to the detector, the process logic configured to subtract the radiation from the source other than the emitter when the apparatus is sensing proximity, the processing logic configured to one of subtract, turn off, and cover the radiation from the emitter when the apparatus is sensing light. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the emitter is configured to emit IR light modulated with a first waveform at a first frequency, and wherein the first sensor includes one of a processor, processing logic, a frequency filter, a waveform filter, and a time division multiplexer to distinguish between IR light having the first waveform or at the first frequency and ambient IR light having a different second waveform and at a different second frequency. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the emitter is configured to emit modulated IR light, wherein the first sensor comprises a first filter having a passband that only passes infra-red (IR) light, and wherein the first sensor comprises a waveform generator and a multiplexer configured to time-slice and multiplex between sensing the ambient IR light and the modulated emitted IR light. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the first sensor is configured to detect light having one of a modulation frequency of a modulated light signal emitted by the emitter and a waveform of the modulated light signal emitted by the emitter. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus to sense proximity and to detect light, the apparatus comprising:
 an emitter of electromagnetic radiation; 
 a detector of electromagnetic radiation, the detector being configured to detect electromagnetic radiation from the emitter when the apparatus is configured to sense proximity, wherein the detector is configured to detect electromagnetic radiation from a source other than the emitter when the apparatus is configured to sense light, the detector having a first bandpass filter that only passes infra-red (IR) light, and a second passband filter that only passes both IR light and visible light. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a covering over the emitter and detector; and 
 wherein the fence between the emitter and the detector is configured to prohibit electromagnetic radiation from the emitter that is refracted by the covering from entering the detector. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the covering comprises an anti-glare covering or hardcoat on the outside of the apparatus having refractive properties to cause IR from the emitter to reflect back into the detector, and wherein the fence comprises a non-IR transmissive material configured to prohibit IR light emitted by the emitter and refracted by the cover from reaching the detector. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the fence extends from a surface the emitter is mounted on to touch the covering. 
     
     
       17. An integrated proximity and ambient light sensor comprising:
 a proximity sensor to sense a proximity, the proximity sensor comprising an emitter of electromagnetic radiation and a detector of electromagnetic radiation from the emitter when sensing proximity; and 
 an ambient light sensor to detect electromagnetic radiation other than from the emitter when the proximity sensor is not sensing proximity. 
 
     
     
       18. The sensor of  claim 17 , wherein the emitter is configured to emit IR light; and further comprising processing logic to distinguish between IR light emitted by the emitter and ambient IR light when the apparatus is sensing proximity. 
     
     
       19. The sensor of  claim 17 , wherein the detector has a first bandpass filter that only passes infra-red (IR) light, and a second passband filter that only passes both IR light and visible light. 
     
     
       20. The sensor of  claim 17 , further comprising one of a filter to filter electromagnetic radiation from the emitter, and a controller to turn off the emitter. 
     
     
       21. A method of operating an integrated proximity and ambient light sensor comprising:
 using the sensor to detect electromagnetic radiation emitted from an emitter of the sensor when sensing proximity; and 
 using the sensor to detect electromagnetic radiation other than from the emitter when not sensing proximity. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein detecting electromagnetic radiation other than from the emitter comprises one of filtering electromagnetic radiation from the emitter, and turning off the emitter. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the sensor only passing infra-red (IR) light when sensing proximity, and the sensor passing both IR light and visible light when sensing ambient light. 
     
     
       24. A data processing system comprising:
 an integrated proximity and ambient light sensor configured to be a proximity sensor to sense a proximity and configured to be an ambient light sensor to detect electromagnetic radiation from a source other than an emitter of electromagnetic radiation of the proximity sensor, the proximity sensor comprising the emitter and a detector of electromagnetic radiation from the emitter when sensing proximity and wherein the proximity sensor and the ambient light sensor share the detector of electromagnetic radiation; 
 a display; 
 an input device; 
 at least one processor coupled to the input device and to the display and to the proximity sensor, the processor configured to determine, based upon data from the proximity sensor, whether to modify a setting of the data processing system. 
 
     
     
       25. The data processing system of  claim 24  wherein the processor is configured to modify another setting of the data processing system in response to data from the ambient light sensor.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/650,117, filed Jan. 5, 2007, titled “INTEGRATED PROXIMITY SENSOR AND LIGHT SENSOR”; which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/600,344, filed Nov. 15, 2006 titled “INTEGRATED PROXIMITY SENSOR AND LIGHT SENSOR”, of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/241,839, filed Sep. 30, 2005, titled “PROXIMITY DETECTOR IN HANDHELD DEVICE” and of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/240,788, filed Sep. 30, 2005, titled “PROXIMITY DETECTOR IN HANDHELD DEVICE”, which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of portable devices and, in particular, to systems and methods for sensing or determining user activities and responding to the user&#39;s activities. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Portable devices, such as cell phones, are becoming increasingly common. These portable devices have grown more complex over time, incorporating many features including, for example, MP3 player capabilities, web browsing capabilities, capabilities of personal digital assistants (PDAs) and the like. 
     Some of these portable devices may include multiple sensors which are used to detect the environment or context associated with these portable devices. For example, U.S. patent application publication no. 2005/0219228 describes a device which includes many sensors, including a proximity sensor and a light sensor. The outputs from the sensors are processed to determine a device context. The light sensor detects ambient light levels and the proximity sensor detects a proximity to an object, such as a user&#39;s ear or face. In this case, there are two separate sensors which require two openings in the housing of the device. This is shown in  FIG. 1 , which shows a device  10 . The device  10  includes a proximity sensor  12  mounted on a surface of the device  10  and an ambient light sensor  14  also mounted on the surface of the device  10 . Each of these sensors is distinct from the other, and separate openings in the surface are needed for each sensor. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION 
     The various apparatuses and methods described herein relate to an apparatus which senses proximity and detects light, such as ambient light, and to systems, such as data processing systems, which use an apparatus which senses proximity and also detects light, such as ambient light. 
     According to one embodiment of the inventions, an apparatus, which both senses proximity and detects light, includes an emitter of electromagnetic radiation and a detector of electromagnetic radiation. The detector is configured to detect electromagnetic radiation, such as infrared (IR) light, emitted from the emitter when the apparatus is configured to sense proximity. The emitter may be disabled at least temporarily to allow the detector to detect electromagnetic radiation from a source other than the emitter. In this case, the emitter may be disabled by turning power off for the emitter or by closing a shutter on the emitter to block radiation from being emitted to the environment or by other implementations which prevent the emitter&#39;s radiation from being detected by the detector. In an alternative implementation, rather than disabling the emitter, the output from the detector may be processed, using known signal processing algorithms, to subtract the effect of the radiation detected from the emitter in order to produce a resultant signal which represents the radiation from sources other than the emitter. This may involve measuring proximity first to determine an amplitude and phase of a known signal from the emitter (e.g. a square wave signal with a known frequency and pulse width) and then subtracting this known signal from a detected signal from the detector. Alternatively, if the emitter has sufficiently long “on” and “off” pulses during its square wave signal, the detector may be configured to measure ambient light during one or more of the “off” pulses without having to turn off the emitter. 
     According to another embodiment of the inventions, a data processing system includes a proximity sensor to sense a proximity and to detect electromagnetic radiation when the proximity sensor is not sensing proximity. The proximity sensor includes an emitter of electromagnetic radiation (e.g. IR light) and a detector of electromagnetic radiation from the emitter when the sensor is sensing proximity. The data processing system also may include at least one of a display or an input device and also may include at least one processor which is coupled to the proximity sensor and which is configured to determine, based at least upon data from the proximity sensor, whether to modify a state (e.g. a setting) of the data processing system. The data from the proximity sensor may include data relating to proximity and data relating to ambient light measurements or other light measurements. The processor may modify the state of the data processing system automatically in response to a user activity, relative to the system, as indicated by the data from the proximity sensor, including both proximity data and ambient light data. 
     According to another embodiment of the inventions, a method of operating a proximity sensor, which provides light sensor capabilities, includes emitting light from an emitter of the proximity sensor, detecting, through a detector of the proximity sensor, light from the emitter, and sensing light, from a source other than the emitter, at the detector. The detector is configured, in a proximity sensing mode, to detect light from the emitter to determine proximity. The detector may sense light from a source other than the emitter by having the emitter disabled or by having its output signal processed to remove the effect of light from the emitter. 
     Embodiments of the inventions may also provide apparatus, systems, methods of use, and software related to a combined proximity sensor and ambient light sensor (ALS). The combined sensor may include a proximity sensor portion that overlaps with an ALS sensor portion. The ALS portion of the combined sensor may include two sensors (e.g., phototransistors), one with a filter having a passband that only passes infrared (IR) (e.g., IR light), and one with a filter having a passband that passes both IR and visible light (VL). The output of the IR sensor may then be subtracted from the output of the IR and VL sensor to produce a passband that only passes VL. This subtracted value may be used to detect ambient light. The proximity sensor portion of the combined sensor may be comprised of an IR emitting diode and a phototransistor having a filter having a passband that only passes IR. According to some embodiments, the phototransistor and filter for the proximity sensor portion are the same phototransistor and filter (having a passband that only passes IR) that is used by the ALS portion of the sensor. 
     Embodiments of the inventions may also include an anti-reflective fence for the ambient light sensor portion and/or the proximity sensor portion. For example, a “fence” having a non-IR transmissive surface or material may be disposed between the IR emitter and one or both of the phototransistors. The fence may extend to an anti-glare covering or hardcoat above the emitter (e.g., a covering on the very outside of the sensor or device the sensor is a part of) having refractive properties that cause IR from the emitter to reflect back into one or both of the phototransistors causing erroneous readings for the proximity sensor and/or ALS. 
     Other apparatuses, data processing systems, methods and machine readable media are also described. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  shows an example of a prior art device which includes two separate sensors; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portable device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portable device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portable device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a portable device in a first configuration (e.g. in an open configuration) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the portable device of  FIG. 5A  in a second configuration (e.g. a closed configuration) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a system in which embodiments of the present invention can be implemented; 
         FIG. 7A  is a schematic side view of a proximity sensor in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7B  is a schematic side view of an alternative proximity sensor in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7C  is a flow chart which shows a method of operating a proximity sensor which is capable of detecting light from a source other than the emitter of the proximity sensor; 
         FIG. 7D  shows an example of a proximity sensor with associated logic; 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram of inputs and outputs for logic, such as artificial intelligence logic, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 9A-C  are views of user activities in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart of a method that includes automated responses to user activity in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 11A-F  are flow charts of combinations of sensing to determine user activity and performing automated responses in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is a block diagram of a digital processing system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic side view of a combined proximity sensor and ambient light sensor in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic top view of a combined proximity sensor and ambient light sensor in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 15A  is a graph showing transmissivity verse wavelength for a cover in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15B  is a graph showing transmissivity verse wavelength for an infrared passband filter in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15C  is a graph showing intensity versus wavelength for a visible light and infrared sensor output in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15D  is a graph showing intensity versus wavelength for an infrared sensor output in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15E  is a graph showing intensity versus wavelength for a subtractor output of processing logic in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a graph showing intensity versus frequency for an infrared and visible light sensor output in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a graph showing intensity verse time for modulated emitter radiation and ambient light in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a flowchart which shows a method of operating a combined proximity sensor and ambient light sensor which is capable of detecting proximity of an object and visible light in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments and aspects of the inventions will be described with reference to details discussed below, and the accompanying drawings will illustrate the various embodiments. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Numerous specific details are described to provide a through understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of embodiments of the present inventions. 
     Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are presented in terms of algorithms which include operations on data stored within a computer memory. An algorithm is generally a self-consistent sequence of operations leading to a desired result. The operations typically require or involve physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. 
     It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or “determining” or “displaying” or the like, can refer to the action and processes of a data processing system, or similar electronic device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the system&#39;s registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the system&#39;s memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. 
     The present invention can relate to an apparatus for performing one or more of the operations described herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may comprise a general purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a machine (e.g. computer) readable storage medium, such as, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMS), erasable programmable ROMs (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable ROMs (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and each coupled to a bus. 
     A machine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a machine-readable medium includes read only memory (“ROM”); random access memory (“RAM”); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices; electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.); etc. 
     At least certain embodiments of the present inventions include one or more sensors to monitor user activity. At least certain embodiments of the present inventions also include automatically changing a state of the portable device based on user activity, such as, for example, automatically activating or deactivating a backlight of a display device of the portable device or setting an input device of the portable device to a particular state, based on certain predetermined user activities. 
     At least certain embodiments of the inventions may be part of a digital media player, such as a portable music and/or video media player, which may include a media processing system to present the media, a storage device to store the media and may further include a radio frequency (RF) transceiver (e.g., an RF transceiver for a cellular telephone) coupled with an antenna system and the media processing system. In certain embodiments, media stored on a remote storage device may be transmitted to the media player through the RF transceiver. The media may be, for example, one or more of music or other audio, still pictures, or motion pictures. 
     The portable media player may include a media selection device, such as a click wheel input device on an iPod® or iPod Nano® media player from Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., a touch screen input device, pushbutton device, movable pointing input device or other input device. The media selection device may be used to select the media stored on the storage device and/or the remote storage device. The portable media player may, in at least certain embodiments, include a display device which is coupled to the media processing system to display titles or other indicators of media being selected through the input device and being presented, either through a speaker or earphone(s), or on the display device, or on both display device and a speaker or earphone(s). Examples of a portable media player are described in published U.S. patent application numbers 2003/0095096 and 2004/0224638, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Embodiments of the inventions described herein may be part of other types of data processing systems, such as, for example, entertainment systems or personal digital assistants (PDAs), or general purpose computer systems, or special purpose computer systems, or an embedded device within another device, or cellular telephones which do not include media players, or devices which combine aspects or functions of these devices (e.g., a media player, such as an iPod®, combined with a PDA, an entertainment system, and a cellular telephone in one portable device). 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a portable device  30  according to one embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2  shows a wireless device in a telephone configuration having a “candy-bar” style. In  FIG. 2 , the wireless device  30  may include a housing  32 , a display device  34 , an input device  36  which may be an alphanumeric keypad, a speaker  38 , a microphone  40  and an antenna  42 . The wireless device  30  also may include a proximity sensor  44  and an accelerometer  46 . It will be appreciated that the embodiment of  FIG. 2  may use more or fewer sensors and may have a different form factor from the form factor shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The display device  34  is shown positioned at an upper portion of the housing  32 , and the input device  36  is shown positioned at a lower portion of the housing  32 . The antenna  42  is shown extending from the housing  32  at an upper portion of the housing  32 . The speaker  38  is also shown at an upper portion of the housing  32  above the display device  34 . The microphone  40  is shown at a lower portion of the housing  32 , below the input device  36 . It will be appreciated that the speaker  38  and microphone  40  can be positioned at any location on the housing, but are typically positioned in accordance with a user&#39;s ear and mouth, respectively. The proximity sensor  44  is shown at or near the speaker  38  and at least partially within the housing  32 . The accelerometer  46  is shown at a lower portion of the housing  32  and within the housing  32 . It will be appreciated that the particular locations of the above-described features may vary in alternative embodiments. 
     The display device  34  may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) which does not include the ability to accept inputs or a touch input screen which also includes an LCD. The input device  36  may include, for example, buttons, switches, dials, sliders, keys or keypad, navigation pad, touch pad, touch screen, and the like. 
     Any well-known speaker, microphone and antenna can be used for speaker  38 , microphone  40  and antenna  42 , respectively. 
     The proximity sensor  44  may detect location (e.g. at least one of X, Y, Z), direction of motion, speed, etc. of objects relative to the wireless device  30 . A location of an object relative to the wireless device can be represented as a distance in at least certain embodiments. The proximity sensor may generate location or movement data or both, which may be used to determine the location of objects relative to the portable device  30  and/or proximity sensor  44 . An example of a proximity sensor is shown in  FIG. 7A . 
     In addition, a processing device (not shown) is coupled to the proximity sensor(s)  44 . The processing device may be used to determine the location of objects relative to the portable device  30  or proximity sensor  44  or both based on the location and/or movement data provided by the proximity sensor  44 . The proximity sensor may continuously or periodically monitor the object location. The proximity sensor may also be able to determine the type of object it is detecting. 
     Additional information about proximity sensors can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/241,839, titled “PROXIMITY DETECTOR IN HANDHELD DEVICE,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/240,788, titled “PROXIMITY DETECTOR IN HANDHELD DEVICE;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/165,958, titled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTELY DETECTING PRESENCE,” filed Jun. 23, 2005; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,583,676, titled “PROXIMITY/TOUCH DETECTOR AND CALIBRATION CIRCUIT,” issued Jun. 24, 2003, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     According to one embodiment, the accelerometer  46  is able to detect a movement including an acceleration or de-acceleration of the wireless device. The accelerometer  46  may generate movement data for multiple dimensions, which may be used to determine a direction of movement of the wireless device. For example, the accelerometer  46  may generate X, Y and Z axis acceleration information when the accelerometer  46  detects that the portable device is moved. In one embodiment, the accelerometer  46  may be implemented as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Alternatively, the accelerometer  46  may be a KGF01 accelerometer from Kionix or an ADXL311 accelerometer from Analog Devices or other accelerometers which are known in the art. 
     In addition, a processing device (not shown) is coupled to the accelerometer(s)  46 . The processing device may be used to calculate a direction of movement, also referred to as a movement vector of the wireless device  30 . The movement vector may be determined according to one or more predetermined formulas based on the movement data (e.g., movement in X, Y and Z) provided by accelerometer  46 . The processing device may be integrated with the accelerometer  46  or integrated with other components, such as, for example, a chipset of a microprocessor, of the portable device. 
     The accelerometer  46  may continuously or periodically monitor the movement of the portable device. As a result, an orientation of the portable device prior to the movement and after the movement may be determined based on the movement data provided by the accelerometer attached to the portable device. 
     Additional information about accelerometers can be found in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/986,730, filed Nov. 12, 2004, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     The data acquired from the proximity sensor  44  and the accelerometer  46  can be combined together, or used alone, to gather information about the user&#39;s activities. The data from the proximity sensor  44 , the accelerometer  46  or both can be used, for example, to activate/deactivate a display backlight, initiate commands, make selections, control scrolling or other movement in a display, control input device settings, or to make other changes to one or more settings of the device. 
       FIG. 3  shows an alternative portable device  30   a , which is similar to the portable device  30  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The portable device  30   a  shown in  FIG. 3  can differ from the portable device  30  shown in  FIG. 2  in that the proximity sensor  44   a  ( FIG. 3 ) is located at or near the microphone  40 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a portable device  50  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The portable device  50  may include a housing  52 , a display/input device  54 , a speaker  56 , a microphone  58  and an optional antenna  60  (which may be visible on the exterior of the housing or may be concealed within the housing). The portable device  50  also may include a proximity sensor  62  and an accelerometer  64 . The portable device  50  may be a cellular telephone or a device which is an integrated PDA and a cellular telephone or a device which is an integrated media player and a cellular telephone or a device which is both an entertainment system (e.g. for playing games) and a cellular telephone, or the portable device  50  may be other types of devices described herein. In one particular embodiment, the portable device  50  may include a cellular telephone and a media player and a PDA, all contained within the housing  52 . The portable device  50  may have a form factor which is small enough that it fits within the hand of a normal adult and is light enough that it can be carried in one hand by an adult. It will be appreciated that the term “portable” means the device can be easily held in an adult user&#39;s hands (one or both); for example, a laptop computer and an iPod are portable devices. 
     In one embodiment, the display/input device  54  may include a multi-point touch input screen in addition to being a display, such as an LCD. In one embodiment, the multi-point touch screen is a capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches (e.g., blobs on the display from a user&#39;s face or multiple fingers concurrently touching or nearly touching the display) or near touches (e.g., blobs on the display) that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches. Additional information about multi-point input touch screens can be found in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,862, filed May 6, 2004 (see published U.S. patent application 20060097991), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A multi-point input touch screen may also be referred to as a multi-touch input panel. 
     A processing device (not shown) may be coupled to the display/input device  54 . The processing device may be used to calculate touches on the touch panel. The display/input device  54  can use the detected touch (e.g., blob or blobs from a user&#39;s face) data to, for example, identify the location of certain objects and to also identify the type of object touching (or nearly touching) the display/input device  54 . 
     The data acquired from the proximity sensor  62  and the display/input device  54  can be combined to gather information about the user&#39;s activities as described herein. The data from the proximity sensor  62  and the display/input device  54  can be used to change one or more settings of the portable device  50 , such as, for example, change an illumination setting of the display/input device  54 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the display/input device  54  occupies a large portion of one surface (e.g. the top surface) of the housing  52  of the portable device  50 . In one embodiment, the display/input device  54  consumes substantially the entire front surface of the portable device  50 . In another embodiment, the display/input device  54  consumes, for example, at least 75% of a front surface of the housing  52  of the portable device  50 . In alternative embodiments, the portable device  50  may include a display which does not have input capabilities, but the display still occupies a large portion of one surface of the portable device  50 . In this case, the portable device  50  may include other types of input devices such as a QWERTY keyboard or other types of keyboard which slide out or swing out from a portion of the portable device  50 . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a portable device  70  according to one embodiment of the invention. The portable device  70  may be a cellular telephone which includes a hinge  87  that couples a display housing  89  to a keypad housing  91 . The hinge  87  allows a user to open and close the cellular telephone so that it can be placed in at least one of two different configurations shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . In one particular embodiment, the hinge  87  may rotatably couple the display housing to the keypad housing. In particular, a user can open the cellular telephone to place it in the open configuration shown in  FIG. 5A  and can close the cellular telephone to place it in the closed configuration shown in  FIG. 5B . The keypad housing  91  may include a keypad  95  which receives inputs (e.g. telephone number inputs or other alphanumeric inputs) from a user and a microphone  97  which receives voice input from the user. The display housing  89  may include, on its interior surface, a display  93  (e.g. an LCD) and a speaker  98  and a proximity sensor  84 ; on its exterior surface, the display housing  89  may include a speaker  96 , a temperature sensor  94 , a display  88  (e.g. another LCD), an ambient light sensor  92 , and a proximity sensor  84 A. Hence, in this embodiment, the display housing  89  may include a first proximity sensor on its interior surface and a second proximity sensor on its exterior surface. The first proximity sensor may be used to detect a user&#39;s head or ear being within a certain distance of the first proximity sensor and to cause an illumination setting of displays  93  and  88  to be changed automatically in response to this detecting (e.g. the illumination for both displays are turned off or otherwise set in a reduced power state). Data from the second proximity sensor, along with data from the ambient light sensor  92  and data from the temperature sensor  94 , may be used to detect that the cellular telephone has been placed into the user&#39;s pocket. 
     In at least certain embodiments, the portable device  70  may contain components which provide one or more of the functions of a wireless communication device such as a cellular telephone, a media player, an entertainment system, a PDA, or other types of devices described herein. In one implementation of an embodiment, the portable device  70  may be a cellular telephone integrated with a media player which plays MP3 files, such as MP3 music files. 
     Each of the devices shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 A and  5 B may be a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone, and may include a plurality of components which provide a capability for wireless communication.  FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of a wireless device  100  which includes the capability for wireless communication. The wireless device  100  may be included in any one of the devices shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 A and  5 B, although alternative embodiments of those devices of  FIGS. 2-5B  may include more or fewer components than the wireless device  100 . 
     Wireless device  100  may include an antenna system  101 . Wireless device  100  may also include a digital and/or analog radio frequency (RF) transceiver  102 , coupled to the antenna system  101 , to transmit and/or receive voice, digital data and/or media signals through antenna system  101 . 
     Wireless device  100  may also include a digital processing system  103  to control the digital RF transceiver and to manage the voice, digital data and/or media signals. Digital processing system  103  may be a general purpose processing device, such as a microprocessor or controller for example. Digital processing system  103  may also be a special purpose processing device, such as an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or DSP (digital signal processor). Digital processing system  103  may also include other devices, as are known in the art, to interface with other components of wireless device  100 . For example, digital processing system  103  may include analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters to interface with other components of wireless device  100 . Digital processing system  103  may include a media processing system  109 , which may also include a general purpose or special purpose processing device to manage media, such as files of audio data. 
     Wireless device  100  may also include a storage device  104 , coupled to the digital processing system, to store data and/or operating programs for the wireless device  100 . Storage device  104  may be, for example, any type of solid-state or magnetic memory device. 
     Wireless device  100  may also include one or more input devices  105 , coupled to the digital processing system  103 , to accept user inputs (e.g., telephone numbers, names, addresses, media selections, etc.) Input device  105  may be, for example, one or more of a keypad, a touchpad, a touch screen, a pointing device in combination with a display device or similar input device. 
     Wireless device  100  may also include at least one display device  106 , coupled to the digital processing system  103 , to display information such as messages, telephone call information, contact information, pictures, movies and/or titles or other indicators of media being selected via the input device  105 . Display device  106  may be, for example, an LCD display device. In one embodiment, display device  106  and input device  105  may be integrated together in the same device (e.g., a touch screen LCD such as a multi-touch input panel which is integrated with a display device, such as an LCD display device). Examples of a touch input panel and a display integrated together are shown in U.S. published application No. 20060097991. The display device  106  may include a backlight  106   a  to illuminate the display device  106  under certain circumstances. It will be appreciated that the wireless device  100  may include multiple displays. 
     Wireless device  100  may also include a battery  107  to supply operating power to components of the system including digital RF transceiver  102 , digital processing system  103 , storage device  104 , input device  105 , microphone  105 A, audio transducer  108 , media processing system  109 , sensor(s)  110 , and display device  106 . Battery  107  may be, for example, a rechargeable or non-rechargeable lithium or nickel metal hydride battery. 
     Wireless device  100  may also include audio transducers  108 , which may include one or more speakers, and at least one microphone  105 A. 
     Wireless device  100  may also include one or more sensors  110  coupled to the digital processing system  103 . The sensor(s)  110  may include, for example, one or more of a proximity sensor, accelerometer, touch input panel, ambient light sensor, ambient noise sensor, temperature sensor, gyroscope, a hinge detector, a position determination device, an orientation determination device, a motion sensor, a sound sensor, a radio frequency electromagnetic wave sensor, and other types of sensors and combinations thereof. Based on the data acquired by the sensor(s)  110 , various responses may be performed automatically by the digital processing system, such as, for example, activating or deactivating the backlight  106   a , changing a setting of the input device  105  (e.g. switching between processing or not processing, as an intentional user input, any input data from an input device), and other responses and combinations thereof. 
     In one embodiment, digital RF transceiver  102 , digital processing system  103  and/or storage device  104  may include one or more integrated circuits disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB). 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate exemplary proximity sensors in accordance with embodiments of the invention. It will be appreciated that, in alternative embodiments, other types of proximity sensors, such as capacitive sensors or sonar-like sensors, may be used rather than the proximity sensors shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . In  FIG. 7A , the proximity sensor  120  includes an emitter  122 , a detector  124 , and a window  126 . The emitter  122  generates light in the infrared (IR) bands, and may be, for example, a Light Emitting Diode (LED). The detector  124  is configured to detect changes in light intensity and may be, for example, a phototransistor. The window  126  may be formed from translucent or semi-translucent material. In one embodiment, the window  126  is an acoustic mesh, such as, for example, a mesh typically found with a microphone or speaker of the portable device. In other embodiments, the window  126  may be MicroPerf, IR transparent strands wound in a mesh, or a cold mirror. 
     During operation, the light from the emitter  122  hits an object and scatters when the object is present above the window  126 . The light from the emitter may be emitted in square wave pulses which have a known frequency, thereby allowing the detector  124  to distinguish between ambient light and light from emitter  122  which is reflected by an object, such as the user&#39;s head or ear or a material in a user&#39;s pocket, back to the detector  124 . At least a portion of the scattered light is reflected towards the detector  124 . The increase in light intensity is detected by the detector  124 , and this is interpreted by a processing system (not shown in  FIG. 7A ) to mean an object is present within a short distance of the detector  124 . If no object is present or the object is beyond a certain distance from the detector  124 , an insufficient or smaller amount of the emitted light is reflected back towards the detector  124 , and this is interpreted by the processing system (not shown in  FIG. 7A ) to mean that an object is not present or is at a relatively large distance. In each case, the proximity sensor is measuring the intensity of reflected light which is related to the distance between the object which reflects the light and detector  124 . 
     In one embodiment, the emitter  122  and detector  124  are disposed within the housing of a portable device, as described above with reference to  FIGS. 2-5B . 
     In  FIG. 7B , the emitter  122  and detector  124  of the proximity sensor are angled inward towards one another to improve detection of the reflected light, but the proximity sensor of  FIG. 7B  otherwise operates in a manner similar to the proximity sensor of  FIG. 7A . 
     A proximity sensor in one embodiment of the inventions includes the ability to both sense proximity and detect electromagnetic radiation, such as light, from a source other than the emitter of the proximity sensor. One implementation of this embodiment may use an emitter of IR light and a detector of IR light to both sense proximity (when detecting IR light from the emitter) and to detect IR light from sources other than the emitter. The use of IR light for both the emitter and the detector of the proximity sensor may be advantageous because IR light is substantially present in most sources of ambient light (such as sunshine, incandescent lamps, LED light sources, candles, and to some extent, even fluorescent lamps). Thus, the detector can detect ambient IR light, which will generally represent, in most environments, ambient light levels at wavelengths other than IR, and use the ambient IR light level to effectively and reasonably accurately represent ambient light levels at wavelengths other than IR. 
     A method of operating a proximity sensor which includes the ability to both sense proximity and detect light is shown in  FIG. 7C  and an example, in block diagram form, of such a proximity sensor is shown in  FIG. 7D . The method of  FIG. 7C  may use the proximity sensor shown in  FIG. 7D  or other proximity sensors. The method includes operation  135  in which electromagnetic radiation (e.g. IR light) is emitted from the emitter of the proximity sensor. The emitter may emit the radiation in a known, predetermined pattern (e.g. a train of square wave pulses of known, predetermined pulse width and frequency) which allows a detector to distinguish between ambient radiation and radiation from the emitter. In operation  137 , the detector of the proximity sensor detects and measures light from the emitter when the detector is operating in proximity sensing mode. A processor coupled to the detector may process the signal from the detector to identify the known predetermined pattern of radiation from the emitter and to measure the amount of radiation from the emitter. In operation  139 , the detector is used in a mode to sense radiation (e.g. ambient IR light) from a source other than the emitter; this operation may be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, the emitted light from the emitter may be disabled by a shutter (either a mechanical or electrical shutter) placed over the emitter or the emitter&#39;s power source may be turned off (thereby stopping the emission of radiation from the emitter). Alternatively, known signal processing techniques may be used to remove the effect of the emitter&#39;s emitted light which is received at the detector in order to extract out the light from sources other than the emitter. These signal processing techniques may be employed in cases where it is not desirable to turn on and off the emitter and where it is not desirable to use a shutter. It will be appreciated that operations  135 ,  137  and  139  may be performed in a sequence which is different than the sequence shown in  FIG. 7C ; for example, operation  139  may occur before operations  135  and  137 . 
       FIG. 7D  shows an embodiment of a range sensing IR proximity sensor  145  which includes the ability to sense and measure proximity and to detect and measure ambient light levels. The proximity sensor  145  includes an IR emitter  147  (e.g. an IR LED) and an IR detector  149 . An optional shutter (e.g. an LCD electronic shutter) may be disposed over the emitter  147 . The IR emitter  147  and the IR detector  149  may be coupled to a microcontroller  151  which may control switching between proximity sensing mode and ambient light sensing mode by either closing and opening an optional shutter or by turning on and off the power to the IR emitter  147 . The output from the IR detector  149  may be provided from the microcontroller  151  to the microprocessor  153  which determines, from data from the proximity sensor  145 , at least one proximity value and determines at least one ambient light level value. In an alternative embodiment, the microprocessor may be coupled to the IR emitter  147  and to the IR detector  149  without an intervening microcontroller, and the microprocessor may perform the functions of the microcontroller (e.g. the microprocessor may control switching between proximity sensing mode and ambient light sensing mode). The microprocessor  153  may be coupled to other components  155 , such as input (e.g. keypad) or output (e.g. display) devices or memory devices or other sensors or a wireless transceiver system, etc. For example, the microprocessor  153  may be the main processor of the wireless device  100  shown in  FIG. 6 . In those embodiments in which a shutter over the IR emitter is not used and IR emissions from the IR emitter  147  are received at the IR detector  149  while the IR detector  149  is measuring ambient light levels, the microprocessor  153  (or the microcontroller  151 ) may filter out the known predetermined pattern of IR light from the IR emitter  147  in order to extract a signal from the IR detector  149  representing the IR light level from sources other than the IR emitter  147 . 
       FIG. 13  is a schematic side view of a combined proximity sensor and ambient light sensor in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 13  shows combined sensor  1320  including emitter  1322 , detector  1324  and covering  1326 , such as to detect the proximity of an object to the sensor and an ambient light level or intensity at the sensor.  FIG. 13  also shows logic  1330 , such as a processor and/or processing logic for controlling, receiving, scaling, subtracting, and/or determining outputs of components of sensor  1320  (e.g., emitter  1322 , detector  1324 , logic  1330  and components thereof) to determine proximity and/or ambient light.  FIG. 13  also shows fence  1310 , such as a fence that is antireflective or non-transmissive for radiation of emitter  1322 . Fence  1310  may be disposed between the emitter and the detector, extending all the way up to covering  1326 , to minimize erroneous readings caused by the detector receiving emitted radiation (e.g., radiation  1370 ) refracted by the cover (e.g., radiation  1372 ). According to some embodiments, fence  1310  may be excluded or not present in sensor  1320  (e.g., optional). Covering  1326  may or may not be a covering similar to covering  126 , emitter  1322  may or may not be an emitter similar to emitter  122  as described above for  FIGS. 7A through 7D . 
     Covering  1326  may have the same or different transmissivity properties for different wavelengths, wavelength bands (e.g., visible light and IR light), signal wavelength peaks, frequencies, frequency bands and/or signal frequency peaks of electromagnetic radiation. In some cases, covering  1326  may be described as a filter having a passband transmissivity for visible light and infrared light, such as to pass visible and IR light from incandescent bulbs and fluorescent bulb, as well as radiation  1370  and  1374 . Covering  1326  may be described as passing emitted radiation  1370  or reflected radiation  1374  with a transmissivity similar or equal to that for which it passes ambient IR. According to embodiments, covering  1326  may pass only visible and IR light (e.g., only radiation in the visible light and IR band). Moreover, the transmissivity of covering  1326  may be a result of, caused by, or based on radiation passing through a coating of the covering, such as coating  1328 . Coating  1328  may be a film, “hardcoat”, ink, spray of dark or black color, and the like on the inside and/or outside surface of covering  1326 .  FIG. 15A  shows an example transmissivity for covering  1326 . 
     Emitter  1322  is showing emitting emitted radiation  1370  which may be refracted as refracted radiation  1372  by covering  1326 . Refracted radiation  1372  may be a portion of the intensity of radiation  1370  refracted back towards detector  1324  (and/or emitter  1322 ) by covering  1326 , such as by inner surface  1327  and/or coating  1328 . Emitter  1322  may be an infrared (IR) light emitter or transmitter, and may emit IR light modulated at a modulation frequency. Thus, radiation  1370  may be an emission of the IR light modulated with a modulation frequency to form a modulated frequency signal (e.g., a combined or modulated signal that has a modulated frequency that is the emitter IR light modulated with the modulation signal). The modulated frequency signal may have a signal frequency peak (such as in the frequency domain, according to a Fourier Transform) at the frequency of the IR light of radiation  1370  (e.g., light emitted by a diode or LED in an having an IR peak and/or in an IR bandwidth) as well as at the modulation frequency. 
     Also, radiation  1370  may be reflected by object  1388  such as shown by reflected emitter radiation  1374 , which may be received by detector  1324 . That is, detector  1324  may receive radiation  1374  incident upon the outer surface of covering  1326  and passing through (or filtered by) covering  1326  and incident upon detector  1324 . Object  1388  may be an object located distal to or outside of the outer surface of covering  1326 , such as an object having a light and/or an IR light reflective surface, like an ear, a finger, a mouth, a material on the inside of a pant or shirt pocket, hair, surface of a person&#39;s face, and the like. 
     Object  1388  is shown having proximity D to combined sensor  1320 . Proximity may be described as the straight line distance between an object and combined sensor  1320 . For instance,  FIG. 13  shows object  1388  distance D from the outer surface of covering  1326  of combined sensor  1320 . It can be appreciated that determining distance D (e.g., the “proximity” of object  1388  to combined sensor  1320 ) may be performed by determining (e.g., using processing logic and sensor outputs) or calculating the distance from object  1388  to a surface of covering  1326  and/or detector  1324 . In some cases, determining distance D may include detecting the power of the reflected radiation received by the deflector (e.g., as compared to the power of the emitted radiation  1370 ). Similarly, determining distance D may include determining a distance that radiation emitted by emitter  1322  travels from the emitter to the object and from the object from to the detector (e.g., approximately 2D) after being reflected by the object. 
     In addition, detector  1324  may receive ambient radiation  1372  incident upon the outer surface of covering  1326  and passing through (or filtered by) covering  1326  and incident upon detector  1324 . The term “radiation” as used herein may describe electromagnetic radiation, light, fluorescent light, incandescent light, visible light, ambient light (visible and/or IR), and/or infrared (IR) light (e.g., ambient IR light, emitted IR light, reflected IR light, refracted IR light, modulated IR light and/or emitted modulated IR light). 
     For instance,  FIG. 13  shows ambient radiation  1372  which may include ambient infrared and/or ambient visible light. Ambient light (e.g., ambient radiation  1372 ) may be described as electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength, frequency, and an intensity (e.g., an amplitude, a level, or a magnitude) of ambient incandescent light, fluorescent light, visible light, and/or infrared (IR) light. Ambient light may include electromagnetic radiation in a visible light spectrum (e.g., having visible light wavelength and/or frequency) and electromagnetic radiation in an IR light bandwidth (e.g., having IR light wavelength and/or frequency). For electromagnetic radiation, frequency is inversely proportional to wavelength. Thus, herein the term “bandwith” (or “band” for short) may be used to refer to a bandwidth of frequency or a spectrum of wavelength related to such bandwith. The infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum may cover the range from roughly 300 GHz (1 mm) to 400 THz (750 nm). The visible light spectrum may include what a typical human eye will respond to, such as wavelengths from 400 to 700 nm, although some people may be able to perceive wavelengths from 380 to 780 nm. 
     It can be appreciated that, ambient visible light and ambient infrared light may be emitted by a fluorescent type light bulb, such as a bulb that uses an arc of electrical energy thought a gas to produce a larger amount of visible light (e.g., visible light photons) than IR light at a low heat. Comparatively, ambient visible light and ambient infrared light may be emitted by an incandescent type light bulb, such as a bulb that uses a heated filament to produce a larger amount of IR light than visible light at a high heat. Specifically, the incandescent type bulb emits a greater intensity of IR radiation (and heat) from a filament by using an electrical current running through the resistive filament, as compared to a lesser intensity of IR radiation emitted from gas molecule electrons dropping quantum excitation states in a fluorescent bulb using an electrical voltage arc to excite the electrons. Thus, an intensity of ambient visible light may be proportional to, related to, based on, determined from, calculated from, or otherwise derived from an intensity or level of ambient IR light from an ambient of fluorescent light bulbs and/or incandescent light bulbs. More particularly, such ambient light may have electromagnetic radiation in or at visible light and IR light wavelength peaks, spectrums and/or bandwidths. In some cases, a visible light wavelength bandwidth may be separated from an IR light wavelength bandwidth by a threshold wavelength or frequency. The threshold may be described as dividing the two bandwidths; and may be included in either, both, or neither bandwidth. 
       FIG. 13  shows detector  1324  including sensor  1350 , sensor  1352 , and filter  1356 . Filter  1356  may have transmissivity properties for different wavelengths, wavelength bands (e.g., visible light and IR light), wavelength peaks, frequencies, frequency bands and/or frequency peaks of electromagnetic radiation. In some cases, filter  1356  may be a filter with a coating having transmissivity properties that filter out visible light, or pass only infrared light. Filter  1356  may have a coating such as described above for covering  1326  (e.g., a coating similar to coating  1328 ), but having the transmissivity properties described above for filter  1356 . Filter  1356  may have the transmissivity properties described for  FIG. 15B . 
     Filter  1356  may be described as a passband filter for IR light, but not passing visible light, such as to pass IR light from incandescent bulbs and fluorescent bulb, as well as radiation  1370  and  1374 , but not to pass visible light from incandescent bulbs and fluorescent bulb. According to embodiments, filter  1356  may pass only IR light (e.g., only radiation in the IR band). 
     Sensor  1350  may be described as a sensor configured to detect electromagnetic radiation from emitter  1322 , and ambient radiation  1372 . For example, sensor  1350  may be able to detect radiation  1374  and radiation  1372  as filtered by covering  1326 . Thus, sensor  1350  may be described as configured to detect electromagnetic radiation from emitter  1322 , and/or ambient radiation  1372  when combined sensor  1320  or detector  1324  is configured to sense light, ambient light, and/or visible light. 
     Specifically, being “configured to detect” as described herein may describe the capability of a sensor to detect or sense different wavelengths, wavelength bands (e.g., visible light and IR light), wavelength peaks, frequencies, frequency bands and/or frequency peaks of electromagnetic radiation depending on the wavelengths of emitted radiation, modulation of emitted radiation, and transmissivity of filters between the electromagnetic radiation and the sensor. Moreover, the terms “processing logic” as described herein may describe an apparatus, an electronic device, a processor, processing logic, passive circuitry, active circuitry, electronic hardware, software, a system, a module, a component, a processor, a memory, registers and/or a combination of any or all of the above. Similarly, the term “sensor” may include the above descriptions for processing logic. Also, use of the term “detect” and derivations therefrom may be similar to that described herein for use of the term “sense” and derivations thereof, and vice versa. Moreover, use of the term “scale” or “scaling” may describe using a scale value or scalar stored in a memory, logic, processing logic, register, or scaler to multiply, increase, or decrease the amplitude or intensity of a signal or value (e.g., such as a detected or sensed intensity or amplitude). In some cases, scaling may describe attenuating or amplifying a signal (such as an output of a sensor or photodiode) to apply a “gain” to the signal, such as using processing logic, software, and the like. Likewise, a “scaler” may describe a signal attenuator, resistor, divider or amplifier. 
     According to some embodiments, sensor  1350  may be configured to detect electromagnetic radiation from a source other than emitter  1322  when combined sensor  1320  is sensing visible light, such as by covering  1326  allowing the visible light to be detected or sensed by sensor  1350 . For example, when sensing light, such as ambient light, sensor  1350  may be configured to detect ambient radiation  1372  including ambient visible light and ambient IR light, but not to detect radiation  1374 , because emitter  1322  is not emitting, is not turned on, is covered, is not exposed, or is filtered out of the signal detected by sensor  1350  (such as by being filtered out by logic  1330 ). In this case, sensor  1350  may be described as an ambient visible light and ambient IR light sensor. Sensor  1350  may be used to sense ambient light, ambient visible light, and/or to perform ALS. 
     Logic  1330  may be coupled to detector  1324  and emitter  1322  by couplings such as signal lines, electronic wires, electronic traces, cables, and the like for sending and receiving power, grounding, signals and the like between logic  1330  and emitter  1322  and/or detector  1324 . In some cases, the coupling  1332  between logic  1330  and emitter  1322  may allow logic  1330  to modulate the emitter IR light and/or to turn the emitter on and off. Also, coupling  1332  may allow logic  1330  to control or sense when emitter  1322  is emitting, not emitting, and/or modulating radiation  1370 . For example, see  FIGS. 16 and 17 . 
     Sensor  1352  may be a sensor as described above for sensor  1350 , except that sensor  1352  is covered with or has filter  1356  disposed between sensor  1352  and radiation  1370 ,  1374 , and  1372 . Thus, sensor  1352  may detect electromagnetic radiation from radiation  1370 , radiation  1374 , and/or ambient IR radiation from radiation  1372 , but may not receive, detect, or sense visible light from radiation  1372 . 
     According to some embodiments, sensor  1352  is configured to detect radiation  1372 , but not radiation  1370 , or radiation  1374  (e.g., by emitter  1322  not emitting, not being turned on or being covered). In this case, although sensor  1352  receives ambient IR light, but does not receive light from radiation  1372  and  1374 . In this case, sensor  1352  may be described as an ambient IR light sensor. Sensor  1352  may be used to sense ambient light, ambient IR light, and/or to perform ALS. 
     In some cases, sensor  1352  is configured to detect radiation  1370  or radiation  1374  (e.g., by emitter  1322  emitting radiation  1370  which is reflected by object  1388 ), but not radiation  1372  (e.g., by subtracting or filtering out ambient visible and infrared light from radiation  1372 ). In this case, although sensor  1352  may receive IR light from radiation  1372  and  1374 , the IR light from radiation  1372  may be filtered out by logic  1330 . For instance, radiation  1370  may be IR radiation modulated at a frequency of a modulation signal, such as a square wave, sine waver, or other modulation signal waveform (such as by being modulated by a modulation signal at a frequency between 1 Hz and 300 KHz, such as 5 KHz or 200 KHz). Thus, IR light from radiation  1372  may be filtered out by determining a modulation frequency or waveform of radiation  1374  and subtracting ambient IR from radiation  1372  from modulated radiation  1374 . This subtraction may be performed by bandpass filtering to pass signals at the modulation frequency and/or modulated frequency of modulated radiation  1374 , but not to pass the frequency of the ambient light. In this case, sensor  1352  may be described as a transmitted or emitted IR light sensor. Sensor  1352  may be used to sense proximity of the object to combined sensor  1320 . 
     Thus, sensor  1352  may be described as configured to detect radiation from emitter  1322  by being configured with covering  1326 , filter  1356 , and logic  1330 , when combined sensor  1320  is sensing proximity. However, in this instance, sensor  1352  is not configured to detect or sense either visible light or ambient IR light. 
       FIG. 14  is a schematic top view of a combined proximity sensor and ambient light sensor in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 14  also shows output switch  1465  for distinguishing or switching between output  1432  between scaler  1464  and proximity logic  1467 , such as by using time domain multiplexing (TDM). This may be described as filtering to pass signals at the modulation frequency. For example, during proximity mode, switch  1465  may switch output  1432  to proximity logic  1467 . Alternatively, during ALS mode or ambient visible light sensing mode, switch  1465  may switch output  1432  to scaler  1464 . Switch  1465  may include logic and circuitry described for logic  1330 . In some cases, switch  1465  may include a multiplexer coupled to generator  1460 , such as by a coupling similar to coupling  1332 , to switch output  1432  to scaler  1464  when emitter  1322  is turned off (e.g., in ambient light sensing mode) and to proximity logic  1467  (e.g., in proximity sensing mode). Specifically, switch  1465  may be used to time-slice and multiplex output  1432  by sending output  1432  to logic  1467  during the slice of time when emitter  1322  is emitting IR, and by sending output  1432  to scaler  1464  during the slice of time when emitter  1322  is not emitting IR. Switch  1465  may be optional as output  1432  may be split (having equal amplitude) to be received by logic  1467  and scaler  1464  in both modes. 
       FIG. 14  shows combined sensor  1320  from above, including emitter  1322 , fence  1310 , cover  1326 , detector  1324 , and logic  1330 . As described above for  FIG. 13 , diode  1422  of emitter  1322  may be turned on and off by logic  1330 , or otherwise controlled to emit IR or modulated IR, such as described below for  FIGS. 16 and 17 . It can be appreciated that although logic  1330  is shown beside sensors  1350  and  1352 , logic  1330  may be disposed at different locations adjacent to, or underneath those sensors. For instance, logic  1330  may be part of processing logic or circuitry disposed on or below surface  1342  and/or surface  1344 , at a location other than where it is shown in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 14  shows emitter  1322  including IR diode  1422  (e.g., an IR LED) for emitting radiation  1370 . 
       FIG. 14  also shows sensor  1350  including phototransistor  1450 , and sensor  1352  including phototransistor  1452 . Phototransistors  1450  and  1452  may be similar phototransistors, such as phototransistors capable of sensing visible light and radiation  1374  with equal or substantially equal sensitivity. However, as noted above for  FIG. 13 , those phototransistors may be configured by or controlled by filter  1356 , covering  1326 , and/or logic  1330  to only sense ambient light, ambient visible light, ambient IR and/or radiation  1374 . According to embodiments, phototransistors may convert photons of incident ambient light and emitted radiation (e.g., reflected and refracted IR light) into an electrical signal output (e.g., having data, frequencies, and/or wavelengths proportional, equal or according to the frequencies, and/or wavelengths of the light and radiation received). 
       FIG. 14  shows logic  1330  including scaler  1462 , scaler  1464 , subtractor  1466  and scaler  1468 .  FIG. 14  shows sensor output  1430  output by sensor  1350  and received by scaler  1462 . Similarly, sensor output  1432  is output by sensor  1352  and received by scaler  1454 . Scaler output  1434  is output by scaler  1462  and received by subtractor  1466 . Similarly, scaler output  1436  is output by scaler  1464  and received by subtractor  1466 . Subtractor output  1438  is output by subtractor  1466  and received by scaler  1468 . Finally, scaler output  1440  is output by scaler  1468 . 
     Scaler  1462  is shown including scale value S 1 , such as a value for scaling output  1430  to determine, create or calculate value  1434 . Similarly, scaler  1464  is shown including scale value S 2 , such as a value for multiplying or scaling output  1432  to determine, create or calculate value  1436 . Scalers  1462  and  1464  may include processing logic as described herein. Similarly, scale value S 1  and scale value S 2  may be stored, written to, or saved in memory, registers and/or processing logic as described herein. Thus, scaler  1462 ,  1464 , value S 1  and/or value S 2  may be used to scale the outputs of sensors  1350  and  1352  so that the ambient IR detected by both sensors can be scaled to an equal intensity (e.g., equal with respect to an amplitude at one or more similar wavelengths) or substantially equal intensity. Herein, the ten “substantial” may refer to 100 percent or all of value, or, in some cases, a range within 1, 2 or 5 percent of that value. Conversely, the term “insubstantial” may refer to a zero or null valued, or, in some cases, a range within 1, 2 or 5 percent of that value. 
     Subtractor  1466  may be used to subtract outputs  1434  and  1436 . For example, where the ambient infrared received by sensors  1350  and  1352  are scaled to equal intensities or levels, subtractor  1466  may subtract output  1436  from output  1434  to determine, create or calculate output  1438  that excludes the ambient infrared signals detected and/or includes only the ambient visible light. Thus, because the IR transmissive link (e.g., filter  1356  and/or covering  1326 ) has drastically different properties depending on the type of light (fluorescent, incandescent, etc.), different gains (e.g., scaling) can be applied to the output of each sensor (e.g., scaling of one or more of sensor outputs  1430  and/or  1432 ) before the outputs can be subtracted (e.g., by subractor  1466 ). Subtractor  1466  may include processing logic as described herein. 
     It is contemplated that the scaling and subtracting described above for combined sensor  1320 , detector  1324 , covering  1326 , filter  1356 , sensor  1350 , sensor  1352 , scaler  1462 , scaler  1464 , value S 1 , value S 2 , and/or subtractor  1466  may also be applied during emission, sensing and detection of radiation  1370  and  1374 . Specifically, the concepts described above apply during emission of radiation  1370  and detection of radiation  1374 , even when combined sensor  1320  is sensing ambient light or visible light. Thus, in addition to being able to subtract ambient infrared light, combined sensor  1320  is able to subtract emitted light from the ambient or visible light. 
     Scaler  1468  may scale or multiply subtractor output  1438  by value S 3  to create scaler output  1440 . For example, scaler  1468  may include processing logic to multiply output  1438  to scale down value  1438  when the amount of ambient IR received is greater than the amount of visible light (e.g., when the ratio of output  1438 /output  1436  is greater than 1). This scaling may reduce the visible light determined or calculated by the sensor in instances where that value is overestimated because the ambient infrared is a greater portion of radiation  1372  than the ambient visible light. 
     Logic  1330  also includes waveform generator  1460  for generating a modulation signal or frequency to modulate IR light transmitted by emitter  1322 . Waveform generator  1460  may generate a modulation signal as described for coupling  1332 , sensor  1352 , intensity D of  FIG. 16 , and/or intensity E of  FIG. 17 . 
     It is considered that proximity logic  1467  may determine a proximity of object  1388  from the distinguished reflected modulated light (e.g., from output  1433  from radiation  1374  distinguished from ambient IR by it&#39;s modulation frequency) when in proximity mode by comparing the distinguished reflected modulated light to one or more threshold values (e.g., using one or more comparators of logic  1467 , such as to compare output  1433  to the values). A setting of a display illuminator may be decreased if the distinguished reflected modulated light is greater than the threshold value (e.g., indicating the sensor is close to the object) to save power or battery life. 
     Also, it is considered that logic  1330  may determine a visible light intensity of ambient radiation  1372  from the visible light detected (e.g., from output  1438  or  1440 ) when in ALS mode by comparing the visible light detected to one or more threshold values (e.g., using a comparator of logic  1330 , such as to compare output  1440  to the values). A peak intensity (e.g, the highest amplitude within the visual wavelength band), average intensity (e.g, average of the amplitude within the visual wavelength band), area under the intensity curve (e.g., area under intensity B, scaled or not scaled by S 3 ) within the visual wavelength band (e.g., determined by a sum of the intensity values, integration, and/or processing logic, such as a capacitor integrator) may be compared to the threshold value. A setting of a display illuminator may be decreased if the visible light detected is less than the threshold value (e.g., indicating the sensor is close to the object) to save power or battery life. 
     It can be appreciated that according to some embodiments, combined sensor  1320  may be a combined proximity sensor and ALS able to sense proximity and the ALS using only a single emitter (emitter  1322 ) and only two sensors or phototransistors. To this end, combined sensor  1320  may be described as having ALS portion and a proximity sensor portion which overlap or share at least a cover, a fence, a sensor (e.g., phototransistor), a filter, and/or processing logic). The ALS portion (see PALS of  FIGS. 13-14 ) may include two sensors or phototransistors (e.g., sensors  1350  and  1352 , or phototransistors  1450  and  1452 ), one with a filter (e.g., filter  1356  and optionally cover  1326 ) having a passband that only passes IR, and one with a filter (e.g., cover  1326 ) having a passband that passes both IR and visible light (VL). Proximity sensor portion (see PP 1  and PP 2  of  FIGS. 13-14  which combine to form the proximity sensor portion) of the combined sensor may include IR emitting diode  1422  and one of the same sensors or phototransistors as the ALS portion (e.g., sensor  1352 , or phototransistor  1452 ) having a filter having a passband that only passes IR. The phototransistor and filter used to sense proximity (e.g., radiation  1374 ) by the proximity portion during a proximity sensing mode may also be the same phototransistor and filter (having a passband that only passes IR) used by the ALS portion of the sensor to sense ambient visible light (e.g., by sensing ambient IR to be subtracted from the ambient IR and visible light of radiation  1372 ) during a light sensing mode. Thus, the proximity sensor portion overlaps the ALS sensor portion (e.g., by using the same sensor  1352  (or phototransistor  1452 ), circuit board area, traces or signal lines, fence, and related circuitry. 
     As noted above, Emitter  1322  may be an infrared (IR) light emitter emitting radiation  1370 , a portion of which passes through cover  1326  (e.g., some of which may become radiation  1374  incident upon the cover), and another portion which is refracted by cover  1326  as radiation  1372 . Thus, fence  1310  may be used to prohibit, remove or reduce a substantial amount of emitted radiation  1370  from being refracted into a proximity sensor and the ALS, or combined proximity sensor and ALS (e.g., by physically subtracting, inhibiting, reducing the wavelength of light emitted from passing through the fence). Fence  1310  may be described as removing the emitted radiation  1370  from reaching the detector, prior to the emitted radiation passing through cover  1326 . Fence  1310  may extend from the covering (e.g., surface  1327 ) to below a location where the emitter radiation refracted by the covering would reach either of sensors  1350  or  1352  (e.g., phototransistors  1450  or  1452 ), to minimize reflection of the refracted radiation into those sensors. 
       FIG. 14  shows fence  1310  having width W. Width W may be a width of between 1 millimeter and 30 millimeters.  FIG. 13  also shows fence  1310  having height H and thickness TH. Height H may be a height between 1 millimeter and 10 millimeters. Thickness TH may be a thickness between 0.01 millimeters and 2 millimeters. It can be appreciated that other dimensions for height H, thickness TH, and width W may be used as appropriate for fence  1310 . 
     Fence  1310  is shown extending into groove  1312  below surface  1342  and surface  1344  and up to inner surface  1327  of covering  1326 . Surface  1342  may be a surface on which emitter  1322  is disposed or mounted. Surface  1344  may be a surface upon which detector  1324  is disposed or mounted. Surface  1342  and surface  1344  may be parallel surfaces or surfaces that are not parallel but have different heights with respect to the bottom of groove  1312 . 
     Fence  1310  may be coupled to groove  1312  such as by being attached, bonded, adhered, glued, removably attached, permanently attached (e.g., such as being removed only by damaging surface  1342 ,  1344 , and or groove  1312 ) to groove  1312 . Specifically, fence  1310  may be coupled to groove  1312  by an adhesive, bonding, heat processing (such as to melt or combine the material of fence  1310  and/or groove  1312 ), and/or mechanically disposed to be retained in groove  1312  (e.g., such as by having size tolerances with respect to thickness TH and height H that maintain fence  1310  in groove  1312  even during flexing of surfaces  1342 ,  1344 , groove  1312  and/or surfaces of covering  1326 ). 
     Fence  1310  may be coupled to inner surface  1327  (or a groove in the inner surface) of covering  1326  similarly to the description above for fence  1310  being coupled to groove  1312 . In addition, fence  1310  may be adjacent to, or touching, inner surface  1327  of covering  1326 . In some cases, adhesive used to attach or couple fence  1310  to surface  1327  and/or groove  1312  may be adhesive or other material extending outward from surface  1327 ,  1342  and/or  1344  adjacent to fence  1310  to form a ridge to retain the fence in position (e.g., such as without having the adhesive dry while touching the fence). 
     Also, it is considered that during use of combined sensor  1320 , and insubstantial gap may exist between fence  1310  and surface  1327 , such as a gap through which an insubstantial amount of radiation  1370  is refracted by surface  1327  and received by detector  1324 . For example, an amount of refracted radiation  1372  may be received by detector  1324  which effects proximity distance and/or ambient light determinations or calculations by less than five percent. Such a gap may occur during flexing of surface  1342 , groove  1312 , surface  1344  and/or surface  1327 . 
     According to embodiments, a coupling similar to that described for coupling fence  1310  to groove  1312 , may also exist at surface  1327 . Similarly, a coupling such as described above between fence  1310  and surface  1327  may exist between fence  1310  and surface  1342  and/or  1344 . Also, the couplings shown may be reversed. In some cases, the couplings to a groove or a surface described may exist between one or both ends of width W of fence  1310  and a sidewall surface. 
     Fence  1310  may comprise a plastic, metal, alloy, organic, inorganic, semiconductor, conductive, or non-electrically conductive material. Moreover, in some cases, the material of fence  1310  may be the same material as that of surface  1327 ,  1342  and/or  1344 . For example, fence  1310  may be an extension of the material that forms surface  1342  and/or surface  1344 . Likewise, fence  1310  may be an extension of the material that forms covering  1326  and/or surface  1327 . 
     Fence  1310  may have transmissivity properties that do not allow for any, prohibit, or substantially reduce reflection or refraction of radiation  1327  by surface  1327 , covering  1326  or coating  1328 . For example, fence  1310  may be 100% non-transmissive for radiation  1370  or infrared light. It can be appreciated, that the material of fence  1310  or a coating on the material of fence  1310  may provide the transmissivity properties of fence  1310 . For example, fence  1310  may be coated with a film, spray, or other coating as described above for covering  1326  (e.g., a coating similar to coating  1328 , but on the outside surface of fence  1310 ), but having the transmissivity properties described above for fence  1310 . 
     In accordance with embodiments having a proximity detector separate from an ambient light sensor (ALS), a fence similar to fence  1310  may be disposed between the proximity emitter and the proximity sensor, and another such fence may be disposed between the proximity emitter and the ALS. For example, the emitter and sensors may be in a linear relationship where the proximity sensor is between the emitter and the ALS, and a fence is between the proximity sensor and each of the emitter and the ALS. In this case, the ALS may be an ALS as known in the art, such as an ALS that does not have sensors to determine proximity or receive radiation  1370  or  1374 . 
       FIG. 15A  is a graph showing transmissivity verse wavelength for a cover in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 15A  shows transmissivity  1502  of cover  1326  or coating  1328  with respect to threshold wavelength (W IR ), visible light bandwidth  1510 , and IR bandwidth  1530 . For example, threshold wavelength (W IR ) may be a wavelength (e.g., corresponding to a “cutoff” wavelength or frequency) between an upper threshold wavelength of visible light bandwidth  1510  and a lower threshold wavelength of IR bandwidth  1530 . Within bandwidth  1510  transmissivity  1502  is approximately 10%. After wavelength W IR , transmissivity  1502  rapidly increases to approximately 60%. Within bandwidth  1530  transmissivity  1502  is approximately 60%. Other values are contemplated for transmissivity  1502 , such as values approximately 5%, 15%, or 20% within bandwidth  1510 ; and/or approximately 40%, 50%, 70% or 80% within bandwidth  1530 . The term “approximately” may refer to the specific valued noted herein, or, in some cases, a range within 1, 2 or 5 percent of that value. Thus, cover  1326  may be described as a passband filter for passing ambient light including ambient visible light and ambient IR. Cover  1326  may also be described as a passband for passing emitted radiation  1370  and  1374 . 
     It can be appreciated that wavelengths in bandwidth  1510  (e.g., below W IR    1520 ) may be described as a wavelength band of visible light, such as a band including the wavelength peak for visible light from various incandescent light, filament light, and fluorescent light bulbs. Also, the wavelengths in bandwidth  1530  (e.g., above W IR    1520 ) may be described as a wavelength band of ambient infrared light as well as radiation  1370 . For instance, the wavelength above W IR  may include peak frequencies for ambient IR emitted by various fluorescent type and incandescent type light bulbs, as well as IR wavelengths for radiation  1370 . 
       FIG. 15B  is a graph showing transmissivity verse wavelength for an infrared passband filter in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 15B  shows transmissivity  1504  of filter  1356 . Transmissivity  1504  is approximately 0% in bandwidth  1510  (e.g., below W IR    1520 ), but increases rapidly (e.g., approximately at W IR    1520 ) to approximately 40% in bandwidth  1530  (e.g., above W IR    1520 ). Other values are contemplated for transmissivity  1504 , such as values approximately 1%, 2%, or 5% within bandwidth  1510 ; and/or approximately 20%, 30%, 50% or 60% within bandwidth  1530 . Thus, filter  1356  may be described as a passband for ambient IR, and IR of radiation  1370 . However, filter  1356  may be described as having no or substantially zero transmissivity for visible light and/or visible light wavelengths (e.g., those below the infrared bandwidth). 
       FIG. 15C  is a graph showing intensity versus wavelength for a visible light and infrared sensor output in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 15C  shows an example of intensity A for sensor output  1430 . For instance,  FIG. 15C  shows an example of the intensity or amplitude of radiation  1374 , and/or  1372  received by sensor  1350  through covering  1326  and output at  1430 . Intensity A includes radiation (e.g., ambient visible light) in visible light bandwidth  1510 , radiation at threshold wavelength (W IR ), and radiation within bandwidth  1530 . Also, in cases where emitter  1322  is emitting, intensity A may include IR light of radiation  1374  within bandwidth  1530 . Since the light received by sensor  1350  is filtered by covering  1326 , intensity A may have a lower amplitude below wavelength  1520  as compared to that above wavelength  1520  for equal amplitudes of ambient IR and visible light incident upon covering  1326 . 
       FIG. 15D  is a graph showing intensity versus wavelength for an infrared sensor output in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 15D  shows an example of intensity B of sensor output  1432 . For example, intensity B may be an example of radiation  1372  received by sensor  1352  through covering  1326  and filter  1356  sensed by sensor  1352  and output at output  1432 . Since filter  1356  has substantially zero transmissivity below wavelength  1520  but passes IR above wavelength  1520 , the ambient visible light of intensity B will be substantially filtered out, while the ambient IR above wavelength  1520  will be present, although attenuated as compared to that for intensity A. In the IR band, intensity B is less than intensity A by a percent equal to that for transmissivity  1504 , because filter  1356  filters the light received by sensor  1352 , but does not filter the light received by sensor  1350 . 
     Thus, by scaling the ambient IR of intensity B to have an amplitude (e.g., peak amplitude BP) similar to the peak amplitude of intensity A (e.g., peak AP) it is possible to subtract the scaled value of intensity B from intensity A to remove the ambient IR and determine (e.g., using processing logic and sensor outputs) or calculate the ambient visible light. It can be appreciated, this scaling and subtraction may also remove or subtract out radiation  1370  or  1374  from the ambient visible light. For example, the visible light may be equal to intensity A minus (x·intensity B), or determined according to the equation:
 
 VL=A−xB   a)
 
     In the example described for  FIGS. 15 through 15D , “x” may be equal to 2.5, or the inverse of transmissivity  1504  in the IR band. It can be appreciate that other values can be used depending on transmissivity  1502 , transmissivity  1504 , and/or ambient light sensing properties of sensors  1350  and  1352 . Thus, the ratio of S 2 /S 1  would be 2.5 in this example. In some cases, scaler  1462  and scale value S 1  may be removed, such as where output  1430  is equal to output  1434 . For instance, S 2 =“x” in this case. Specifically, where the above ratio is 2.5, value S 2  may be equal to 2.5 and scaler  1462  may be removed from logic  1330  (e.g., see  FIG. 14 ). 
       FIG. 15E  is a graph showing intensity versus wavelength for a subtractor output of processing logic in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 15E  shows intensity C of subtractor output  1438  for processing logic  1330 , such as where a scaled value of intensity B is subtracted from intensity A to determine, calculate or create intensity C. As the scaled value of the IR band has been subtracted out, intensity C includes the ambient visible light detected by combined sensor  1320  but does not include ambient IR. Moreover, intensity C does not include radiation  1370  or radiation  1374 , as radiation  1370  or radiation  1374  are subtracted out by subtractor  1466  as well. 
     In addition, in some embodiments, the result of the subtraction may optionally be further scaled depending on the ration of ambient IR light to ambient visible light received by the detector. For instance, in some embodiments, intensity C may be further scaled depending on the amount of ambient infrared light detected by combined sensor  1320 , such as to account for an amount that the detector overestimates what a person&#39;s eye sees or perceives of the incandescent visual ambient light, such as compared to florescent light. Thus, intensity C may be scaled down when the received ambient light is primarily for incandescent light as opposed to florescent or other non-incandescent light (e.g., a sort of auto-white balancing). In some cases, intensity C (e.g., output  1438 ) may be scaled by scaler  1468  (e.g., by scale value S 3 ) to determine, create or calculate output scaled visible light (VL′) (e.g., output  1440 ). Specifically, intensity C may be scaled by (e.g., scale value S 3  may be) an incandescent light factor (X I ) or a fluorescent light factor (X F ) depending on the ratio of intensity ambient IR (IR A ) to ambient visible light (VL A ). According to embodiments, the ratio of IR A  to VL A  may be equal to or determined by the ratio of total power (e.g., summed or integrated over the entire frequency range), or the peak power (e.g., at a peak power frequency) of intensity B/intensity C. Also, the ratio of IR A  to VL A  may be equal to or determined by the ratio of total power (e.g., summed or integrated over the entire frequency range), or the peak power (e.g., at a peak power frequency) of the visual light bandwidth of intensity A over the IR bandwidth of intensity A. For example, when IR A /VL A ≦1, the scaled visible light (VL′) may be scaled or determined according to the equation:
 
 VL′=X   I   VL,   b)
 
     Also, when IR A /VL A &gt;1, the scaled visible light (VL′) may scaled or determined according to the equation:
 
 VL′=X   F   VL   c)
 
     In the example described, X F  may be greater than X I , such as by a factor of 1.2 to 2.0 times greater. In some cases, X F  may be 0.9 and X I  may be 0.5. 
     For instance, as described above, an incandescent type bulb emits a greater intensity of IR radiation (and heat), as compared to a lesser intensity of IR radiation emitted from a fluorescent bulb. Thus, where more ambient IR light is detected than visible IR light, intensity C may be reduced in scale to accurately represent that the ambient light includes more visible light from incandescent type bulbs than from fluorescent type bulbs. In other words, the visible light from the incandescent bulbs does not appear as brighter to the human eye as the visible light determined or calculated (e.g., the intensity C or output  1438  is overestimated and can be scaled down). Alternatively, where the ratio of ambient IR to ambient visible light is equal to or less than 1, intensity C may be scaled down by less or not be scaled (or may not be reduced relative to scaling noted above) to accurately represent that the ambient light includes more visible light from fluorescent type bulbs than from incandescent type bulbs, which appears as bright to the human eye as the visible light determined or calculated. Scaler  1468  may provide such scaling. 
     As noted, radiation  1370  may be IR radiation modulated at a frequency, such as a frequency between 1 Hz and 300 KHz. For instance IR light of radiation  1370  (e.g., light emitted by a diode or LED in an having an IR peak and/or in an IR bandwidth) may be transmitted at a modulation frequency of 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, or a range between any two of those numbers in KHz. For instance,  FIG. 16  is a graph showing intensity versus frequency for an infrared and visible light sensor output in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 16  shows intensity D of sensor output  1430 , such as an intensity when sensor  1430  is receiving radiation  1374  and radiation  1372 .  FIG. 16  shows modulator frequency F EM    1620 , at which intensity D has a peak. Intensity D also includes an amplitude for the ambient at and near direct current (DC) frequency  1610 . 
     Thus, IR light from radiation  1372  may be filtered out or distinguished from ambient light by determining a modulation frequency or waveform of radiation  1374  and subtracting ambient IR from radiation  1372  from modulated radiation  1374 . For instance, TDM, a passband filter, a frequency filter, or other processing logic may be used to distinguish emitted IR light  1370  modulated with a first waveform at frequency F EM    1620  from ambient IR light (e.g., IR light having a different second waveform and/or at a different second frequency). Distinguishing the modulated signal from ambient IR may be performed according to processes known in the art for bandpassing modulated signals. Moreover, coupling  1332  between logic  1330  and emitter  1322  may allow logic  1330  to turn diode  1422  on and off according to the frequency of F EM . 
       FIG. 17  is a graph showing intensity verse time for modulated emitter radiation and ambient light in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 17  shows intensity E of modulated emitted radiation  1370 . Intensity E includes a squarewave modulation at frequency F EM =1/(wavelength T 2 −T 0 ), of IR light emitted by emitter  1322 . Intensity E includes 100% of the emitted IR amplitude or emitted IR  1740  (e.g., diode  1422  turned on by forward biasing the diode using coupling  1332 ) during the time between TO and T 1 . During this period, logic  1330  may turn on or activate emitter  1322  and may use sensor  1352 , filtering, scaling, subtraction, etc. to select radiation  1374  to sense proximity D of object  1388 . Also, Intensity E includes 0% of the emitted IR amplitude or the absence of emitted IR  1740  (e.g., diode  1422  turned off by zero or reverse biasing the diode using coupling  1332 ) during the time between T 1  and T 2 . During this period, logic  1330  may turn off or deactivate emitter  1322  and may use sensor  1350 , sensor  1352 , filtering, scaling, subtraction, etc. to select visible light of ambient radiation  1372 . 
     Thus, the emitter, waveform generator (e.g., modulation frequency), and processing logic (e.g., logic  1467 ) for detecting proximity may be shut down, powered off, or otherwise not operating or used during a light sensing mode (e.g., the period between T 1  and T 2 ). Alternatively, processing logic for detecting visible or ambient light (e.g., scaler  1462 , scaler  1464 , scaler  1468 , and subtractor  1466 ), and sensor  1350  may be shut down, powered off, or otherwise not operating or used during a proximity sensing mode (e.g., the period between T 0  and T 1 ). Specifically, switch  1465  may be used to time-slice and multiplex the operation or output of sensor  1352  by slicing or switching time T (see  FIG. 17 ) between emitted IR  1740  (sending output  1432  to logic  1467 ) and emitted IR off  1744  (sending output  1432  to scaler  1464 ), such as using the square waveform of modulation  1742 . 
     The period between T 0  and T 1  may or may not be equal to the period between T 1  and T 2 . Thus, modulation  1742  shows a squarewave of modulated emitter radiation  1370 , such as a signal emitted by emitter  1322  and sensed during the period T 0  to T 1  to detect proximity, while ALS is detected during the period between T 1  and T 2 . It is considered that this switching may occur in cases where the ALS portion (e.g., time T 1  to T 2 ) takes approximately 500 ms to react in low light conditions, and the proximity sensor portion is shut down during this time. 
     Distinguishing the emitted IR from ambient IR by detecting for emitted IR during one time period and for ambient IR during another may be described as TDM, timeslicing and multiplexing, and/or using a waveform filter. Also, although the use of intensity D and/or E to modulate emitted radiation  1370  describe processes for distinguishing the emitted IR from the ambient IR, it can be appreciated that other processes can be used. 
     Combined sensor  1320  may be defined by having portions of a proximity sensor that overlap with portions of an ambient light sensor. According to embodiments, a “combined sensor” include the description above for an integrated sensor. Thus, at least certain embodiments may provide the benefit of a combined sensor  1320  able to sense ALS and proximity using only two sensors and a single emitter, such as to reduce cost, complexity, processing logic, surface area use (e.g., the footprint of combined sensor  1320  on surface  1342  and  1344 ), the number of components that may fail, and/or the like. In addition, at least certain embodiments may use overlapping portions of the same sensor to sense ALS and proximity to reduce power consumption by having fewer components (e.g., sensors, phototransistors, circuit board area, traces length, and related circuitry), to reduce processing power consumption (e.g., by requiring less processing logic for the combined components), and thus may extend battery life by using less power to sense proximity and ALS. Also, at least certain embodiments may use overlapping portions to reduce power consumption by more accurately determining when to attenuate or change illumination levels of a display device and at what light level to illuminate the display, such as by providing a single sensor location from which to sense proximity and ALS. Specifically, at least certain embodiments may only require the cost to purchase, space to use, power to activate and use, and processing logic for two sensors (e.g., sensors, phototransistors, circuit board area, traces length, and related circuitry) to sense ALS and proximity instead of the three sensors required for a separate ALS and proximity sensor. 
     Moreover, it can be appreciated that at least certain embodiments of the combined sensor may provide proximity and/or ALS data to a processor or processing logic of an electronic device, a display device, or a data processing system. Thus, at least certain embodiments of the processor or processing logic can determine, based upon the data, whether to modify a setting of the data processing system. For instance, the processor or processing logic may compare the data from the proximity sensor to a threshold value and/or compare the data from the ALS to a threshold value (e.g., in order to interpret the data to predict activity of a user relative to the data processing system. Specifically, the comparison may be used to determine when and by how much to modify (e.g., by adjusting, increasing, decreasing, turning on, turning off, or leaving status quo) at least one of a setting of a display illuminator, a setting of a sound input or output parameter, a setting of processing of inputs from an input device, and/or a setting of a mode of the data processing system. In some cases, the data from the proximity sensor and/or ALS may indicate that the device or data processing system is proximate to a user&#39;s ear, hair, face or mouth, such as by sensing a very close proximity (e.g., 0-2 cm) at the earpiece/speaker, close proximity (e.g., 1 mm-15 cm) at the mouthpiece/microphone, normal or equal ALS mouthpiece/microphone and at the side of the device away from the user (e.g., to indicate the device is not in a pocket, case, or device holder), and/or very low ALS at the earpiece/speaker. In the cases where the device of data processing system is proximate to a user&#39;s ear, hair, face or mouth, the processor or processing logic may decrease or turn off the setting of a display illuminator, a setting of a sound input or output parameter, a setting of processing of inputs from an input device, and/or a setting of a mode of the data processing system. 
       FIG. 18  is a flowchart which shows a method of operating a combined proximity sensor and ambient light sensor which is capable of detecting proximity of an object and visible light in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 18  shows process  1800  which may be a process similar to that described above for  FIG. 7C . Moreover, process  1800  may include using a single sensor or phototransistor to sense proximity, and to be combined with a second phototransistor to sense ambient or visual light. Hence, block  1835 ,  1837  and  1839  of  FIG. 18  may correspond to blocks  135 ,  137  and  139  of  FIG. 7C , respectively. 
     At block  1835 , radiation from an emitter of a proximity portion of a combined sensor may be emitted, when the combined sensor is in proximity sensing mode. For example, block  1835  may describe emitter  1322  of proximity portion PP 1  (e.g., see  FIGS. 13 and 14 ) emitting radiation  1370  during the period between T 0  and T 1  (see  FIG. 17 ) (e.g., during radiation  1740  or proximity sensing mode). 
     At block  1837 , the radiation from the emitter is detected when in proximity sensing mode, by using a sensor of the proximity sensor portion that overlaps a light sensing portion of the combined sensor. Block  1837  may include detecting radiation  1374  (e.g., the reflection or refraction of radiation  1370  reflected and/or refracted by object  1388 ) during the period between and T 0  and T 1  (see  FIG. 17 ) by using sensor  1352  of proximity sensing portion PP 2  and overlapping light sensing portion PALS of sensor  1320  (see  FIGS. 13 and 14 ). Specifically, phototransistor  1452  (e.g., having filter  1356  and covering  1326  between radiation  1374  and sensor  1352 ) may be used to sense radiation from emitter  1322  (e.g., radiation  1374 ). 
     At block  1839  radiation other than from the emitter is detected, when in light sensing mode, by using the sensor of the proximity sensing portion that overlaps the light sensing portion of the combined sensor. For example, block  1839  may include detecting radiation other than from emitter  1322  (e.g., detecting radiation other than radiation  1374 ) during the period between T 1  and T 2  (e.g., during light sensing mode) by using sensor  1352  (e.g., phototransistor  1452  having filter  1356  and coating  1326  between ambient radiation  1372  and filter  1356 ) of proximity sensing portion PP 2  and overlapping light sensing portion PALS (as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 ). For example, the light other than from the emitter may be ambient radiation  1372  and light sensing mode may be described as a mode that is not or that is other than proximity sensing mode. Also, light sensing mode may be described as a period when emitted IR  1740  or radiation  1370  is not emitted. Thus, it can be appreciated that the same phototransistor or sensor (e.g., phototransistor  1452  or sensor  1352 ) can be used by combined sensor  1320  to sense proximity as well as ambient light, such as by switching between or intermittently switching between proximity sensing mode (e.g., when emitter is emitting IR according to modulating frequency F EM ) and light sensing mode (e.g., such as when emitter  1322  is not emitting IR according to modulating frequency F EM ). 
     Moreover, it can be appreciated that although sensor  1352  has filter  1356  to band pass only IR radiation to the sensor, in alternate embodiments the concepts described for process  1800  may also apply to using sensor  1350  to sense both proximity and ambient light. For example, the output of sensor  1350  can be used at block  1837  to detect IR radiation from the emitter, and at block  1839  to detect radiation other than from the emitter, such as to detect IR radiation and visual light radiation during both modes. In this embodiment, sensor  1350  is part of portion PP 2  and sensor  1352  is not. Thus, in this embodiment, at block  1837 , the sensor of the portions may detect the radiation from the emitter but not detect (e.g., such as by subtracting or filtering out) ambient light radiation. Alternatively, at block  1839 , the sensor of the portions may detect ambient light radiation but not detect (e.g., such as by not receiving because the emitter is not emitting or turned on, by subtracting out, or by filtering out) the emitter radiation. 
     In addition, according to embodiments, descriptions herein with respect to portable devices (e.g., see  FIGS. 1-6 ), proximity, light levels (e.g., ambient light), generating detection of proximity and/or light levels (e.g., see  FIGS. 7A-7D ), using artificial intelligence (AI) logic on inputs from sensors to take actions (e.g., see  FIG. 8 ), determining user activities based on input receive from sensors (e.g., see  FIG. 9 ), automated responses to user activity based on input receive from sensors (e.g., see  FIGS. 10-11F ), and digital processing systems for sensors (e.g., see  FIG. 12 ) apply to combined sensor  1320 , portions, components, logic, emitters and sensors thereof. Moreover, according to embodiments, descriptions herein with respect to placement and location of sensors; use of sensor data and determinations; and multiple sensors also apply to combined sensor  1320 . For example, a combined sensor can be used at locations identified herein for a proximity and/or light level sensor, such as to substitute one combined sensor to take the place of two sensors (e.g, one proximity sensor and one light level sensor). Thus, each such substitution requires the reduced space, power, processing, and openings in the surface of the portable device of one combined sensor, as compared to the two sensors. 
     It will be appreciated that at least some of the sensors which are used with embodiments of the inventions may determine or provide data which represents an analog value. In other words, the data represents a value which can be any one of a set of possible values which can vary continuously or substantially continuously, rather than being discrete values which have quantum, discrete jumps from one value to the next value. Further, the value represented by the data may not be predetermined. For example, in the case of a distance measured by a proximity sensor, the distance is not predetermined, unlike values of keys on a keypad which represent a predetermined value. For example, a proximity sensor may determine or provide data that represents a distance which can vary continuously or nearly continuously in an analog fashion; in the case of such a proximity sensor, the distance may correspond to the intensity of reflected light which originated from the emitter of the proximity sensor. A temperature sensor may determine or provide data that represents a temperature, which is an analog value. A light sensor, such as an ambient light sensor, may determine or provide data that represents a light intensity which is an analog value. A motion sensor, such as an accelerometer, may determine or provide data which represents a measurement of motion (e.g. velocity or acceleration or both). A gyroscope may determine or provide data which represents a measurement of orientation (e.g. amount of pitch or yaw or roll). A sound sensor may determine or provide data which represents a measurement of sound intensity. For other types of sensors, the data determined or provided by the sensor may represent an analog value. 
       FIG. 8  shows a diagram of various inputs from sensors that can be used and actions that can be performed in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. Any one of the devices described herein, including the devices shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 A and  5 B, may operate in accordance with the use of artificial intelligence as represented by  FIG. 8 . One or more inputs on the left side of  FIG. 8  are received from various sensors of a device and are input into the artificial intelligence (AI) logic. One or more actions on the right side of  FIG. 8  may be implemented by the AI logic automatically in response to any combination of the inputs. In one implementation of this embodiment, the actions are implemented substantially immediately after the data is sensed by one or more sensors. 
     Exemplary inputs of  FIG. 8  may include, for example, proximity data, proximity data and blob detect data (e.g., from a multipoint touch input screen), proximity data and accelerometer data, accelerometer data and blob detect data, proximity data and temperature data, proximity data and ambient light data, and numerous other possible combinations. 
     Exemplary actions of  FIG. 8  may include, for example, turning off the backlight of the portable device&#39;s display, suppressing the user&#39;s ability to input at the user interface (e.g., locking the input device), changing the telephone&#39;s mode, and the like. It will be appreciated that combinations of the above actions may also be implemented by the AI logic. For example, the AI logic may both turn off the display&#39;s backlight and suppress the user&#39;s ability to input at the user interface. As another example, the proximity data from a proximity sensor may be used to adjust the frequency response of the output of a receiver&#39;s amplifier section. This adjustment would allow the amplifier section to compensate for the variation of frequency response which occurs as a result of the variation of the distance between a speaker and a user&#39;s ear. This variation is caused by the variation of signal leakage introduced by a varying distance between the speaker and the user&#39;s ear. For example, when the ear is close (in close proximity) to the speaker, then the leak is low and the base response is better than when the ear is not as close to the speaker. When the speaker is farther removed from the ear, the degraded base response may be improved, in at least certain embodiments, by an equalizer which adjusts the base relative to the rest of the output signal in response to the distance, measured by the proximity sensor, between the user&#39;s ear and the speaker which provides the final output signal. 
     AI logic of  FIG. 8  performs an AI (artificial intelligence) process. In certain embodiments, the AI process may be performed without a specific, intentional user input or without user inputs having predetermined data associated therewith (e.g., key inputs). The artificial intelligence process performed by the AI logic of  FIG. 8  may use a variety of traditional AI logic processing, including pattern recognition and/or interpretation of data. For example, the AI logic may receive data from one or more sensors and compare the data to one or more threshold values and, based on those comparisons, determine how to interpret the data. In one embodiment, a threshold value may represent a distance which is compared to a value derived from a light intensity measurement in a proximity sensor. A light intensity measurement which represents a distance larger than the threshold value indicates that the object (which reflected the emitter&#39;s light) is not near, and a light intensity measurement which represents a distance smaller than the threshold value indicates that the object is near. Further, the input data may be subject to at least two interpretations (e.g. the data from a proximity sensor indicates that the user&#39;s head is near to the sensor, so turn off the back light, or the data from the proximity sensor indicates the user&#39;s head is not near, so leave the backlight under the control of a display timer), and the AI process attempts to select from the at least two interpretations to pick an interpretation that predicts a user activity. In response to the interpretation (e.g. the selection of one interpretation), the AI logic causes an action to be performed as indicated in  FIG. 8 , wherein the action may modify one or more settings of the device. In at least certain embodiments, the AI logic may perform an AI process which interprets the data from one or more sensors (which interpretation requires the AI process to select between at least two possible interpretations) and which selects an action (e.g. modifying a setting of the device) based on both the interpretation of the sensor data and the current state of the device; the method shown in  FIG. 11A  is an example of the use of information about the current state of the device (e.g. whether the user is currently communicating through the telephone in the device) along with an interpretation of sensor data (proximity data in the case of  FIG. 11A ). 
     In certain embodiments, the AI process may perform traditional methods of pattern recognition on the sensor data. For example, the rate of change of the distance between the device and the user&#39;s ear may have a pattern (e.g. revealing a deceleration as the user moves the device closer to their ear), and this pattern in the rate of change of distance may be detected by a pattern matching algorithm. The phrase “artificial intelligence” is used throughout to mean that a conclusion (whether explicit or implicit) can be drawn from data available from one or more sensors about a mode of usage by the user of the device. This conclusion may or my not be expressed in the device (e.g., “the user is talking on the phone”) but it will be mapped to specific actions or settings for the device that would be appropriate if the user was using the device in that way. For example, a telephone may be pre-programmed such that whenever it detects (1) a voice being spoken into the microphone, (2) that the phone is connected to a network, and (3) the proximity sensor is active, then the screen backlight will be dimmed. Such pre-programming may involve simple logic (e.g. simple combinatorial logic), but would nonetheless be within the scope of artificial intelligence as used herein. While learning, statistical analysis, iteration, and other complex aspects of AI can be used with the present invention, they are not required for the basic artificial intelligence contemplated. Likewise, the word “analyze” does not imply sophisticated statistical or other analysis, but may involve observation of only a single threshold or datum. 
     The AI processing, in at least certain embodiments, may be performed by a processor or processing system, such as digital processing system  103 , which is coupled to the one or more sensors that provide the data which form the inputs to the AI process. It will be appreciated that an AI process may be part of one or more of the methods shown in FIGS.  10  and  11 A- 11 F. 
     In at least certain embodiments, the device, which operates according to any of those methods, may have at least one input device (e.g. a keypad or keyboard or touch input panel) which is designed to receive intentional user inputs (e.g. which specify a specific user entry) in addition to one or more sensors which are distinct and separate from the at least one input device and which sensors are not designed to receive intentional user inputs. In fact, a user may not even be aware of the presence of the one or more sensors on the device. 
       FIGS. 9A-C  illustrate exemplary user activities that can be determined based on input data acquired by the one or more sensors of the portable device. Exemplary user activities include, but are not limited to, the user looking directly at the portable device ( FIG. 9A ), the user holding the portable device at or near their ear ( FIG. 9B ), the user putting the portable device in a pocket or purse ( FIG. 9C ), and the like. 
     Additional information about user activities and/or gestures that can be monitored in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/903,964, titled “GESTURES FOR TOUCH SENSITIVE INPUT DEVICES,” filed Jul. 30, 2004, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/038,590, titled “MODE-BASED GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACES FOR TOUCH SENSITIVE INPUT DEVICES,” filed Jan. 18, 2005, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating a method  200  for automatically responding to certain user activities with respect to a portable device. In one embodiment, method  200  includes, but is not limited to, gathering sensor data designed to indicate user activity with respect to a portable device, and executing machine-executable code to perform one or more predetermined automated actions in response to the detection of the user activity. 
     The method  200  may be performed by any one of the devices shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 A,  5 B,  6  and  12  and may or may not use the artificial intelligence process shown in  FIG. 8 . Operation  202  gathers sensor data, from one or more sensors; the sensor data provides information about user activity. For example, a proximity sensor may indicate whether the device is near the user&#39;s ear; a temperature sensor, an ambient light sensor (or a differential ambient light sensor) and a proximity sensor may together indicate that the device is in the user&#39;s pocket; a gyroscope and a proximity sensor may together indicate that the user is looking at the device. In operation  204 , the data from the one or more sensors is analyzed; this analysis may be performed by one or more processors within the device, including a processor within one or more of the sensors. The analysis attempts to predict user activity based on the sensor data. It will be appreciated that a prediction from this analysis may, in some cases, be wrong. For example, if a user places a finger over a proximity sensor when the user holds the device, this may cause the analysis to incorrectly conclude that the device is near the user&#39;s head or ear. In operation  206 , one or more device settings may be adjusted based upon, at least in part, the analysis of the data from the one or more sensors. This adjusting may include changing an illumination setting of the device or other actions described herein. 
       FIGS. 11A-F  illustrate exemplary methods for sensing data and automatically responding to the sensed data, and these methods may be performed by any one of the devices shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 A,  5 B,  6  and  12  and may or may not use the artificial intelligence process shown in  FIG. 8 . It will be appreciated that several variations can be made to the illustrated methods, including variations to the data sensed, analysis of the data and the response(s) to the sensed data. 
     The method of  FIG. 11A  includes optional operation  220  in which the device determines if the user is communicating through the telephone within the device. This may be performed by conventional techniques known in the art which can sense when a telephone call is in progress or when the user is otherwise communicating through the telephone or other communication device. In operation  222 , proximity sensor data is received from one or more proximity sensors on the device. Then in operation  224 , the proximity sensor data is analyzed. For example, the data is analyzed to determine whether an object, such as the user&#39;s ear or head, is near the device. This analysis is used to decide whether and how to adjust the device&#39;s settings as shown in operation  226 . One or more settings of the device may be automatically adjusted based on the analysis of the proximity sensor data and optionally based on whether or not the user is communicating through the telephone or other communication device. For example, if the proximity sensor indicates that the device is near the user&#39;s head or ear and it has been determined that the user is communicating through the telephone, then the device determines that the user is talking or otherwise communicating on the telephone or other communication device by having the device next to the user&#39;s ear as shown in  FIG. 9B . In this situation, the device automatically changes the manner in which data from one or more input devices is processed, such as suppressing a user&#39;s ability to make intentional inputs on an input device, such as a keypad or a touch input panel on the device. In addition to suppressing intentional inputs, the device may automatically adjust a power setting of one or more displays of the device. If, on the other hand, the device determines that the user is not communicating though the telephone while the proximity sensor data indicates that an object is near to the device, the device may decide not to modify an illumination setting of the display and to not suppress the user&#39;s ability to enter intentional user inputs on an input device. The suppressing of inputs may occur in one of a variety of ways. for example, inputs may be suppressed by turning off or reducing power to the input device such that it is not operational while in this mode; in another example, inputs may be suppressed while in this mode by not processing any inputs which are received by a fully powered input device; in yet another example, inputs are not processed as intentional inputs but are processed to confirm they are “blobs” resulting from touches or near touches on the input device. In the last example, even though an input appears to be an activation of a key (the “3” button on a keypad) or other user interface item, the input is not processed as an activation of that key but rather is processed to determine whether it is a “blob.” 
       FIG. 11B  shows a method of an embodiment of the present inventions which relates to a technique for controlling when data from an input device is processed as an input and when it is ignored as an intentional user input. In operation  230 , the device receives movement data from one or more sensors. These sensors may include an accelerometer or a motion sensor or other types of sensors which indicate movement data. These sensors may be designed to distinguish between rapid movements and slow movements. This is particularly true if the movements involve high levels of acceleration. It is assumed in this embodiment that rapid movements may be so rapid that it is unlikely the user could be intending to enter a user input and hence the device may decide to ignore inputs which occur when such sensors indicate that the movement is faster than a threshold movement value. The movement data is analyzed in operation  232  to determine whether or not to automatically suppress a user&#39;s ability to input key inputs or other inputs based on the device&#39;s movement. In operation  234 , the device may automatically suppress a user&#39;s ability to enter inputs on an input device in response to the analysis in operation  232 . 
       FIG. 11C  relates to an embodiment of the present inventions in which data relating to a location of the device and data relating to movement of the device are analyzed to determine whether or not to adjust one or more settings of the device. In operation  260 , data relating to the location of the device is received; this data may, for example, be provided by a proximity sensor. In operation  262 , data relating to device movement is also received. This data may be from a motion sensor or from an accelerometer. In operation  264 , the data relating to location and the data relating to device movement are analyzed to determine whether or not to adjust a setting of the device. This analysis may be performed in a variety of different ways. For example, the data relating to device motion may show a pattern of movement which matches the movement which occurs when a user moves the device from the user&#39;s pocket to the user&#39;s head. The analysis may further determine that the proximity data or other data relating to location showed that the device was not near the user&#39;s head or another object until near the end of the movement. In such a situation, the analysis would determine that the user has pulled the device from their pocket and placed it against the user&#39;s ear. In operation  266 , one or more settings of the device are adjusted automatically, without any intentional user input, based upon the analysis. For example, an adjustment may be made in the manner in which data from an input device, such as a touch input panel, is processed. For example, inputs to the input device are not processed as intentional user inputs, effectively suppressing the inputs. In addition, a display&#39;s illumination setting may be adjusted. For example, if the analysis of operation  264  determines the user has moved the device from a location away from the ear to a location close to the ear then, in one embodiment, an illumination setting may be adjusted and the user&#39;s ability to enter intentional inputs into an input device may be suppressed. 
       FIG. 11D  shows an embodiment of the present inventions in which data relating to location and data relating to temperature is processed through an analysis to determine whether or not to adjust one or more device settings of the device. In operation  270 , data relating to location, such as data from a proximity sensor, is received. In operation  272 , data relating to temperature, such as temperature data or temperature differential data, is received. In operation  274 , the data relating to location and the data relating to temperature are analyzed to determine whether to adjust one or more settings of the device. In operation  276 , one or more device settings are adjusted in response to the analysis of operation  274 . 
       FIG. 11E  shows an embodiment of the present inventions in which data relating to location of a device and data relating to touches on a touch input panel of the device are analyzed to determine whether to adjust a setting of the device. In this embodiment, data relating to location of the device is received in operation  290  and data relating to touches on a touch input panel is received in operation  292 . The data relating to location may be from a proximity sensor. The data relating to touches on a touch input panel may be from a multi-point touch input panel which is capable of detecting multiple point touches which may occur when a user&#39;s face is pressed against or is otherwise near the touch input panel. In operation  294 , the data relating to location and the data relating to touches are analyzed to determine whether to adjust a setting of the device. As a result of this analysis, in operation  296 , one or more device settings are adjusted. For example, the adjustment may include automatically reducing power to the backlight of a display or changing the manner in which data from the touch input panel is processed, or both adjustments. 
     A mode of the device may be used in order to determine whether to or how to adjust a setting of the device. The mode of the device may include any one of a variety of modes or conditions, such as speakerphone mode or non-speakerphone mode, battery powered mode or not battery powered mode, call waiting mode or not call waiting mode, an alert mode in which the device may make a sound, such as the sound of an alarm, etc. The data relating to user activity (e.g. data from one or more sensors, such as a proximity sensor and/or a touch input panel, which is capable of detecting blobs from a face) is analyzed relative to the mode of the device and the analysis attempts to determine whether to adjust a setting of the device. One or more device settings may be adjusted based on the sensed user activity and the device mode. For example, the device may automatically switch from speakerphone mode to non-speakerphone mode when proximity data, and optionally other data (e.g. data from a motion sensor and an ambient light sensor) indicate the user has placed the device, which in this case may be a telephone, next to the user&#39;s ear. In this example, the device has automatically switched from speakerphone mode to non-speakerphone mode without any intentional input from the user which indicates that the switch should occur. Another method involves adjusting an alert or alarm volume depending on whether or not the device is near to the user&#39;s ear. In this example, if the data relating to user activity indicates that the device is adjacent to the user&#39;s ear and if the mode of the device is set such that alarms or alerts will cause the device to make a sound, then the device will automatically change the volume level for an alert or an alarm from a first level to a second level which is not as loud as the first level. 
       FIG. 11F  shows an embodiment of the inventions in which data from a device configuration detector, such as a hinge detector, is used to determine how to process data from one or more sensors on the device. In one embodiment, this method shown in  FIG. 11F  may be used with the device shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  (and the proximity sensor referred to in  FIG. 11F  may be proximity sensor  84  in  FIG. 5A ). In particular, a hinge detector which is coupled to the hinge  87  may detect whether the device is open as shown in  FIG. 5A  or closed as shown in  FIG. 5B . Other configuration detectors may indicate whether a slide out input device (e.g. a slide out keyboard) or other type of input device has been pulled out (or swung out) or not from a portion of the device. In operation  320 , the device determines whether data from a hinge detector shows that the device is open. If the device is not open, then in operation  322 , data from a proximity sensor is ignored if the proximity sensor is disposed on an interior surface of the device. Optionally, the power to the proximity sensor may be reduced by, for example, turning off the proximity sensor when the device is in a closed state. If it is determined in operation  320  that the device is open, then in operation  324 , data from the proximity sensor is processed to determine whether the device is placed near an object, such as the user&#39;s ear. If it is determined from the processing of operation  324  that the device is not near the user&#39;s ear, then a display timer, which controls the time that the display is illuminated, is allowed to continue to run in operation  326 . This display timer may be similar to a conventional display timer which begins counting down to a time out state in response to activating a backlight of a display. The display timer counts down to a time out state and, if no input resets the timer to its starting value while it counts down, then the timer reaches its time out state and causes, in response to the time out state, the display&#39;s backlight to be powered off (or otherwise have its power consumption state reduced). If, in operation  324 , it is determined that the device is near the user&#39;s ear, then in operation  328 , power to an illuminator of the display is reduced. This may be performed by setting the display timer&#39;s value to a time out state to thereby cause the display&#39;s illuminator to be powered off. It will be appreciated that the method of  FIG. 11F  may save additional battery life by reducing power to the illuminator of the display before the display timer runs out. 
     It will be appreciated that a method which uses a display timer, such as those known in the art, may be used in addition to at least certain embodiments of the inventions which adjust illumination settings. For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11A , a display timer which has been started may continue to count while the method shown in  FIG. 11A  is performed. The display timer will count, while the method of  FIG. 11A  is being performed, until its time out state is reached and, upon doing so, the display timer may cause the illumination setting to be changed before the method of  FIG. 11A  is completed. In this case, the illumination setting is controlled by both the display timer and one or more sensors of at least certain embodiments of the inventions which cause an adjusting of illumination settings based upon the analysis of data from one or more sensors. 
     The phrase “proximity sensor” is used throughout to mean a sensor, such as a capacitive, temperature, inductive, infrared or other variety of sensor, which is capable of detecting whether an object is present within a certain distance of the sensor. A primary object of this detecting may be the head of the user (or any other object that would present viewing of the display screen). 
     Any of the embodiments of the inventions may include one or more user interface controls which allow a user to override a result caused by one or more sensors. For example, a control, such as a button, may be pressed by the user to cause the display to return to full power after a proximity sensor has caused the display to enter a reduced power consumption state. In another example, the user interface control may be a sensor (or group of sensors), such as an accelerometer, which detects a user interaction with the device (e.g. shaking the device), and the user interaction has been set up to cause an overriding of a state caused by one or more sensors. 
     Certain embodiments of the inventions may employ one or more light sensors which provide data relating to light, which data is analyzed to determine whether or not to adjust one or more settings of a device, such as wireless device  100 . Ambient light level data may be provided by an ambient light sensor which indicates the level of light intensity surrounding that sensor. Ambient light differential data may be obtained from two or more ambient light sensors which are disposed at different positions on the device. For example, one ambient light sensor may be on one side of the device, and another ambient light sensor may be on another side of the device. A different in the light intensity levels may be determined by comparing the data from these two ambient light sensors on two different sides or surfaces of the device. There are a variety of possible uses of a light sensor. A light sensor may be used with a proximity sensor to determine when a device is placed in a pocket to cause the device to be set in vibrate mode only or vibrate mode with audible ringing. In another example, in response to a light sensor determining that the ambient light is very low, and optionally in response to a user having set the device to visibly light up to show an incoming call when the ambient light is very low, the device may automatically be put in a “light ring” mode when it is dark so that instead of an audible ring from the device, the display flashes visibly (e.g. by repeatedly turning on and off the backlight) to indicate an incoming call. Another exemplary use of a light sensor involves using it as an alarm indicating that a dark room (or environment) has become brighter (e.g. the sun has risen or a door to a darkened room is opened to let light into the room). A light sensor may also be used to cause a device to automatically act as a source of light (e.g. as a flashlight, in effect) upon sensing a low ambient light level. 
       FIG. 12  shows another example of a device according to an embodiment of the inventions. This device may include a processor, such as microprocessor  402 , and a memory  404 , which are coupled to each other through a bus  406 . The device  400  may optionally include a cache  408  which is coupled to the microprocessor  402 . This device may also optionally include a display controller and display device  410  which is coupled to the other components through the bus  406 . One or more input/output controllers  412  are also coupled to the bus  406  to provide an interface for input/output devices  414  and to provide an interface for one or more sensors  416  which are for sensing user activity. The bus  406  may include one or more buses connected to each other through various bridges, controllers, and/or adapters as is well known in the art. The input/output devices  414  may include a keypad or keyboard or a cursor control device such as a touch input panel. Furthermore, the input/output devices  414  may include a network interface which is either for a wired network or a wireless network (e.g. an RF transceiver). The sensors  416  may be any one of the sensors described herein including, for example, a proximity sensor or an ambient light sensor. In at least certain implementations of the device  400 , the microprocessor  402  may receive data from one or more sensors  416  and may perform the analysis of that data in the manner described herein. For example, the data may be analyzed through an artificial intelligence process or in the other ways described herein. As a result of that analysis, the microprocessor  402  may then automatically cause an adjustment in one or more settings of the device. 
     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20100330
Publication Date: 20130917
Grant Date: 20130917
Priority Date: 20050930
Inventors: FADELL ANTHONY M.
PANTFOERDER ACHIM
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04M1/72454", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72457", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72457", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72454", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0346", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/3203", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01J2001/4242", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0383", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/22", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/3231", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/027", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01J1/44", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/3203", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0245", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02D10/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02D10/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0245", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04883", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0346", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01J1/44", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M2250/12", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01J1/4228", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04808", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01J1/4228", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01J2001/4242", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0214", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02D30/70", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0485", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/22", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01J1/4204", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M2250/12", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0383", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04883", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04808", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02D30/70", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/027", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01J1/4204", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/3231", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0485", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0214", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 46328482