Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

Apple Inc.

Ilya K Veygman

Pirooz Parvarandeh

Nicole Dorene Kerness

Christopher Francis Edwards

Anand K Chamakura

David Skurnik

Nevzat Akin Kestelli

Sunny Kweisun Hsu

Robert William Mayor

David Benjamin Millman

Brian Stephen Smith

Vitali Lovich

Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang

Richard I Olsen

Abhinav R Patel

Daniel S Christman

Vishnudev Ramakrishnan

Coarse location estimation for mobile devices is disclosed for detecting mobile device presence at general locations of interest and switching operating modes and services for one or more location context aware applications. In some implementations, sensor data is received from a plurality of data sources at a location. For each data source, a first probability is estimated that the mobile device is at the location based on sensor data from the data sources. A second probability is estimated that the mobile device is not at the location based on sensor data from the data sources. The first and second estimated probabilities are statistically combined to generate a third estimated probability that the mobile device is at the location.

Coarse location estimation for mobile devices

A gesture sensing device includes a multiple segmented photo sensor and a control circuit for processing sensed voltages output from the sensor. The control circuit processes the sensed voltage signals to determine target motion relative to the segmented photo sensor. The control circuit includes an algorithm configured to calculate one of more differential analog signals using the sensed voltage signals output from the segmented photo sensors. A vector is determined according to the calculated differential analog signals, the vector is used to determine a direction and/or velocity of the target motion.

Method for detecting gestures using a multi-segment photodiode and one or fewer illumination sources

A gesture sensing device includes a single light source and a multiple segmented single photo sensor, or an array of photo sensors, collectively referred to herein as segmented photo sensors. A light modifying structure relays reflected light from the light source onto different segments of the segmented photo sensors. The light modifying structure can be an optical lens structure or a mechanical structure. The different segments of the photo sensor sense reflected light and output corresponding sensed voltage signals. A control circuit receives and processes the sensed voltage signals to determine target motion relative to the segmented photo sensor.

Optical gesture sensor having a light modifying structure

Techniques are described to furnish a touchless joystick-type controller in a portable electronic device. The techniques may be implemented within an electronic device that comprises one or more sensors configured to detect a target at a distance from the sensor and provide a signal in response thereto. The signal is received in response to the sensor detecting a target within a field of view of the sensor. A position of the target relative to a point of reference is then determined based on the signal. Movement of the target may be tracked based on changes in the determined position relative to the point of reference. In embodiments, the target comprises a thumb or a finger of a hand of a user of the electronic device and the determined position to furnish a joystick-type control input.

Integrated touchless joystick-type controller

A method for gesture determination (e.g., discerning complex gestures) via an electronic system (e.g., a gesture sensing system) including an array of optical sensors is described herein. The method includes detecting a plurality of sub-gestures (e.g., simple gestures provided by a target located proximate to the system) via the array of optical sensors. The sensors generate signals based upon the detected (e.g., received) sub-gestures and transmit the signals to a processor of the gesture sensing system. The processor processes the signals to obtain data associated with the sub-gestures and analyzes the sub-gesture data to determine if the sub-gestures collectively constitute a gesture (e.g., complex gesture). When the analyzing indicates that the sub-gestures collectively constitute a complex gesture, the gesture sensing system detects the complex gesture.

System and method for discerning complex gestures using an array of optical sensors

An electronic device with gesture activation includes a body having at least one infrared (IR) transmissive window, an IR gesture detection sensor aligned with the transmissive window, a processor coupled to the gesture detection sensor and digital memory coupled to the processor. The digital memory includes code segments executable on the processor for starting a timer if a first gesture of an activation gesture sequence including an ordered plurality of gestures is received while at least one process of the electronic device is in an inactive mode, and for activating the at least one process of the electronic device if the remainder of ordered plurality of gestures is received before the timer has elapsed.

Method and apparatus for activating electronic devices with gestures

Optical gesture sensor using a single illumination source

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Ilya K Veygman