Over the holidays the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Samsung that reveals new grip sensing capabilities using pressure sensors that can recognize specific grip patterns. These grip patterns can act as another form of multitouch that could control device functionality like raising or lowering audio.
In Samsung's patent FIG. 3 noted below we're able to see an illustration of a future smartphone (or other smart device) with a distinct sensing area (#100b) around the edges that can determine various user gripping gestures to control specific functionality of the device.
According to Samsung, the device's controller may also detect various user inputs received through the camera module, the input/output module, a sensor module and the touch screen. The user input includes various kinds of information input to the device such as the user's gesture, the user's voice, the user's eye movements, the user's iris recognition, and a physiological signal from the user, as well as a touch operation.
This new feature will allow a user to control the device's audio, zooming, scrolling and other functions through various grip pressure gestures. The system will also allow for various swipe gestures to be made in the grip zone to control user gestures to unlock a device, rotate an image and beyond.
Samsung's patent FIGS. 12A-12B and 13A-13B noted above illustrate screens that are displayed when volume is controlled in an electronic device and when zoom-in/out is controlled.
A Note for Tech Sites covering our Report: We ask tech sites covering our report to kindly limit the use of our graphics to one image. Thanking you in advance for your cooperation.
Patently Mobile presents a detailed summary of patent applications with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application should be read in its entirety for full and accurate details. About Posting Comments: Patently Mobile reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments.
Comments