The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 10, 2024
Filed:
Sep. 14, 2020
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Xiyu Duan, San Jose, CA (US);
Nicholas P. Allec, Champaign, IL (US);
Ueyn L. Block, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
Disclosed herein are electronic devices, detectors, systems, and methods for estimating a distance to an exterior object. Light pulses from an emitter on the electronic device or detector are received by at least one pair of light detectors positioned at different distances from the emitter. One or more ratios of strengths of signals of the light detectors are used to determine the object's distance. The ratios may be compared to a proximity curve to obtain the object's distance. If the ratio exceeds a critical distance value, a determination may be made that the exterior object has been separated from the electronic device. Wearable electronic devices, such as smart watches, may use the detectors, systems, and methods to determine if a user is wearing the electronic device.