IP Library Granted Patent US 8,537,137
Granted Patent B2
US 8,537,137 · App. 12/558,853 · Granted Sep 17, 2013

Input device and information processing apparatus for entering an energy-saving mode

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,537,137
App. No.
12/558,853
Granted
Sep 17, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An input device includes light-emitting units, which are arranged around a display, and configured to emit an inspection light, light-receiving units, which are arranged around the display, and configured to receive the inspection light, and a control unit configured to determine whether an input is valid or not based on an intensity of light received by the light-receiving units, and transit to an energy-saving mode when the input is not valid.

Claims (37)

1. An input device provided in an information processing apparatus having a display, comprising:

light-emitting units, which are arranged around the display, and configured to emit an inspection light;

light-receiving units, which are arranged around the display, and configured to receive the inspection light; and

a control unit configured to determine whether an input is valid or not based on an intensity of light received by the light-receiving units, and transit to an energy-saving mode when the input is not valid;

wherein the control unit determines whether the input is valid based on whether a rate of a number of the light-receiving units among a total number of the light-receiving units which are arranged in a horizontal direction and receive received light having intensity higher than a first threshold value exceeds a second threshold value,

wherein the light-receiving units are arranged in horizontal and vertical directions on sides of the display, and

the control unit determines whether the input is valid or not based on whether a product of a rate of the number of the light-receiving units among the total number of the light-receiving units, which are arranged in the horizontal direction and receive light having intensity higher than a first threshold value, and a rate of the light-receiving units among the total number of the light-receiving units, which are arranged in the vertical direction receive light having intensity higher than a second threshold value, exceeds a third threshold value.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the light-receiving units are arranged in the horizontal direction on one side of the display, and in a vertical direction on another side of the display.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit turns off at least some of the light receiving units in the energy-saving mode.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit turns off the display in the energy-saving mode.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit darkens the backlight of the display in the energy-saving mode.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit detects a three-dimensional position of an object as an input position with reference to the display when the input is valid, based on the intensity of the received light.

7. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a display; and

an input device which includes:

light-emitting units, which are arranged around the display, and configured to emit an inspection light;

light-receiving units, which are arranged around the display, and configured to receive the inspection light; and

a control unit configured to determine whether an input is valid or not based on an intensity of light received by the light-receiving units, and transit to an energy-saving mode when the input is not valid,

wherein the control unit determines whether the input is valid based on whether a rate of a number of the light-receiving units among a total number of the light-receiving units which are arranged in a horizontal direction and receive received light having intensity higher than a first threshold value exceeds a second threshold value,

wherein the light-receiving units are arranged in horizontal and vertical directions on sides of the display, and

the control unit determines whether the input is valid or not based on whether a product of a rate of the number of the light-receiving units among the total number of the light-receiving units, which are arranged in the horizontal direction and receive light having intensity higher than a first threshold value, and a rate of the light-receiving units among the total number of the light-receiving units, which are arranged in the vertical direction receive light having intensity higher than a second threshold value, exceeds a third threshold value.

8. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a display; and

an input device which includes:

light-emitting units, which are arranged around the display, and configured to emit an inspection light;

light-receiving units, which are arranged around the display, and configured to receive the inspection light; and

a control unit configured to determine whether an input is valid or not based on an intensity of light received by the light-receiving units, and transit to an energy-saving mode when the input is not valid,

wherein the control unit determines whether the input is valid based on whether a rate of a number of the light-receiving units among a total number of the light-receiving units which are arranged in a horizontal direction and receive received light having intensity higher than a first threshold value exceeds a second threshold value,

wherein the light-receiving units are arranged in horizontal and vertical directions on sides of the display, and

the control unit determines whether the input is valid or not based on whether a product of a rate of the number of light-receiving units, which are arranged in the horizontal direction, and receive light having intensity lower than a first threshold value, and a rate of the number of light-receiving units, which are arranged in the vertical direction, and receive light having intensity lower than a second threshold value, exceeds a third threshold value.

9. An input device provided in an information processing apparatus having a display, comprising:

light-emitting units, which are arranged around the display, and configured to emit an inspection light;

light-receiving units, which are arranged around the display, and configured to receive the inspection light; and

a control unit configured to determine whether an input is valid or not based on an intensity of light received by the light-receiving units, and transit to an energy-saving mode when the input is not valid;

wherein the control unit determines whether the input is valid based on whether a rate of a number of the light-receiving units among a total number of the light-receiving units which are arranged in a horizontal direction and receive received light having intensity higher than a first threshold value exceeds a second threshold value,

wherein the light-receiving units are arranged in horizontal and vertical directions on sides of the display, and

the control unit determines whether the input is valid or not based on whether a product of a rate of the number of light-receiving units, which are arranged in the horizontal direction, and receive light having intensity lower than a first threshold value, and a rate of the number of light-receiving units, which are arranged in the vertical direction, and receive light having intensity lower than a second threshold value, exceeds a third threshold value.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2015
From: FUJITSU MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED
To: GODO KAISHA IP BRIDGE 1
Reel/Frame 036111/0434 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 16, 2013
From: FUJITSU TOSHIBA MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED
To: FUJITSU MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 029645/0093 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2010
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: FUJITSU TOSHIBA MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 025433/0713 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2009
From: KINUGASA, HIROSHI
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 023229/0306 →