Abstract: An electronic device and method detects a predefined gesture. The electronic device includes a sensing assembly including at least one photoreceiver and a plurality of phototransmitters, where each phototransmitter is positioned to emit infrared light away from the electronic device about a corresponding central transmission axis, and where each central transmission axis is oriented in a different direction with respect to the others. Further, the emission of infrared light by each of the phototransmitters is controlled during each of a plurality of sequential time periods to facilitate detecting the gesture.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electronic device includes providing a display screen and a sensing assembly including at least one photoreceiver and phototransmitters. Emission of infrared light by the phototransmitters is controlled as an object moves in a first specified pattern of movement and then moves in a second specified pattern of movement, and measured signals are generated. The measured signals are evaluated to identify the first specified pattern, to detect a reference offset location, and to determine, for each of a group of time periods when the object is moving in the second specified pattern, a corresponding location of the object during that period. A centering operation is performed in response to the identification, wherein the centering operation moves an indicator to an initial predetermined reference location on the display screen; and sequential locations of the indicator are controlled in accordance with the corresponding determined locations.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method of operating a mobile device includes sensing either an orientation or a movement of the mobile device, determining a command based on the sensed orientation or sensed movement, sensing a proximity of an object in relation to at least a portion of the mobile device, and executing the command upon the proximity of the object being sensed. In another embodiment, a method of operating a mobile device governs a manner of interaction of the mobile device relative to one or more other mobile devices. In at least some embodiments, at least one of the mobile devices includes an accelerometer and an infrared proximity sensor, and operation of the mobile device is determined based upon signals from those components.

Abstract: A method (300) and apparatus (900) for altering the presentation of data (102) on a user interface such as a touch sensitive display (101) of an electronic device (100) are described. Alteration of the presentation of data (102) can include scrolling, paging, and so forth. Scrolling velocity can be selected based upon predetermined velocity data (108) stored in a memory (105). Velocity selection can be dependent upon displacement (109) of a user's finger (110) or stylus along a user interface. Deceleration of the data presentation alteration can be based upon contact duration and the velocity at which the data presentation is being altered when the user's finger (110) or stylus breaks contact with the user interface, as determined from predetermined deceleration data or overshoot curves (113,114,115) stored in memory (105).

Abstract: A method for interpreting at least two consecutive gestures includes providing a sensing assembly having at least one photoreceiver and a plurality of phototransmitters, wherein each phototransmitter is positioned to emit infrared light away from the electronic device about a corresponding central transmission axis, wherein each central transmission axis is oriented in a different direction with respect to the others, and controlling emission of infrared light by each of the phototransmitters during each of a plurality of time periods. During each of the plurality of phototransmitters and for each of the plurality of time periods, a corresponding measured signal is generated which is indicative of a respective amount of infrared light which originated from that phototransmitter during that time period and was reflected by the external object prior to being received by a photoreceiver.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electronic device includes providing as part of the electronic device a display screen for displaying content and a sensing assembly including at least one photoreceiver and a plurality of phototransmitters, wherein each phototransmitter is positioned to emit infrared light away from the electronic device about a corresponding central transmission axis, wherein each central transmission axis is oriented in a different direction with respect to the others. Emission of infrared light by each of the phototransmitters is controlled during each of a plurality of time periods as an external object moves in a first specified pattern of movement and then moves in a second specified pattern of movement which is offset from a generally centered position with respect to the sensing assembly, and measured signals are generated.

Abstract: Methods of operating mobile or other electronic devices so as to achieve a transmission of data between those devices, and related systems and components, are described. In one exemplary embodiment, a method of operating a first mobile device so as to achieve a transmission of data from the mobile device to an additional electronic device includes tracking a positional variation of an object situated proximate a display screen of the mobile device by determining locations of the object over time using a sensing assembly of the mobile device. The method further includes determining a point or region on the display screen based upon the tracked positional variation of the object, identifying an image portion corresponding to the point or region, where the data is associated with the image portion, and transmitting the data from the mobile device, whereby the data is capable of being received by the additional electronic device.

Abstract: An electronic device and method are described for detecting a predefined gesture that is a specified pattern of movement of an external object relative to the electronic device. The method includes providing as part of the electronic device a sensing assembly including at least one photoreceiver and a plurality of phototransmitters, wherein each phototransmitter is positioned to emit infrared light away from the electronic device about a corresponding central transmission axis, wherein each central transmission axis is oriented in a different direction with respect to the others. The emission of infrared light by each of the phototransmitters is controlled during each of a plurality of sequential time periods, and wherein the external, object moves in the specified pattern of movement during the plurality of sequential time periods.