Sensor controlled user interface for portable communication device

1. A portable communication device comprising:

a processing section to control operation of the portable communication device in response to an input signal;

a user interface comprising a touch sensitive input device coupled to the processing section, the touch sensitive input device actuatable to generate the input signal; and

a sensor coupled to the user interface, the sensor to disable communication of the input signal to the processing section when the portable communication device is positioned in close proximity to a user, thereby, preventing inadvertent actuation of the touch sensitive input device.

2. A portable communication device according to claim 1

further comprising a housing having a first side, the first side having an opening, the opening having an area no less than approximately twenty-five percent of an area of the first side; and

wherein the user interface further comprises a display and a keypad, the display is positioned in the opening, and the keypad is formed in the first side.

3. A portable communication device according to claim 2 wherein the touch sensitive input device comprises a touch screen integrated into the display.

4. A portable communication device according to claim 2 wherein the sensor is positioned on the first side.

5. A portable communication device according to claim 4 wherein the sensor is an infrared (IR) proximity detector, the IR proximity detector comprising an IR transmitting element, an IR receiving element and a visible light blocking IR lens beneath which the IR transmitting and receiving elements are positioned, the visible light blocking IR lens fit to the first side.

6. A portable communication device according to claim 1 wherein

the sensor is an infrared (IR) proximity detector comprising an IR transmitter and an IR receiver, the IR transmitter coupled to the processing section, the IR transmitter to transmit an IR transmission beam while receiving an enable signal from the processing section, the IR receiver to output a disable signal while receiving reflections of the IR transmission beam, and

the user interface further comprises a driver circuit for the touch sensitive input device, the driver circuit coupled to the IR receiver, the touch sensitive input device and the processing section, the driver circuit to communicate the input signal to the processing section in response to actuations of the touch sensitive input device, the driver circuit to halt communication of the input signal while the disable signal is received.

7. A portable communication device according to claim 6

further comprising a housing having a first side, first and second ends, a speaker bezel formed in the first side proximate to the first end and a microphone aperture formed in the first side proximate to the second end; and

wherein

the IR proximity detector comprises a visible light blocking IR lens fit to the first side,

the IR transmitter comprises an IR transmitting element positioned behind the visible light blocking IR lens, and

the IR receiver comprises an IR receiving element positioned behind the visible light blocking IR lens.

8. A portable communication device according to claim 7 wherein

the visible light blocking IR lens is further positioned in the speaker bezel,

the first side has an opening located between the speaker bezel and the microphone aperture, the opening having an area no less than approximately twenty-five percent of an area of the first side,

the user interface further comprises a display positioned in the opening, and

the touch sensitive input device is a touch screen integrated into the display.

9. A portable communication device according to claim 7 wherein

the IR transmitting element is set to a narrow IR transmission angle, and

the IR receiving element is set to have a wide receiving angle.

10. A portable communication device according to claim 1 wherein the sensor is an infrared (IR) proximity detector comprising an IR transmitter and an IR receiver, the IR transmitter to transmit an IR transmission beam comprised of IR pulses.

11. A portable communication device according to claim 10 wherein the IR transmitter comprises an oscillator section to generate a continuous wave signal at a first duty cycle and a pulse shaping section to transform the continuous wave signal into a pulsed signal at a second duty cycle, the second duty cycle less than the first duty cycle.

12. A portable communication device according to claim 11 wherein the pulsed signal comprises pulses and a separation period between consecutive pulses, each of the pulses having a first duration, the separation period no greater than 0.5 secs., the first duration no less than 50 ns.

13. A portable communication device according to claim 11 wherein the IR transmitter further comprises a transmit section, the transmit section to amplify a magnitude of pulses of the pulsed signal.

14. A portable communication device according to claim 10 wherein the IR receiver further comprises a high pass filter.

15. A portable communication device according to claim 1 wherein the portable communication device is a smartphone.

16. A smartphone comprising:

a housing having a first side and first and second ends;

a speaker bezel formed in the first side proximate to the first end;

a microphone aperture formed in the first side proximate to the second end;

a substantially rectangular opening formed in the first side between the speaker bezel and the microphone aperture, the substantially rectangular opening having an area no less than approximately twenty-five percent of an area of the first side;

a display positioned in the substantially rectangular opening, the display having first and second layers, the first layer comprising a touch screen, the second layer comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD), the first layer being substantially transparent to facilitate viewing of the LCD;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver section positioned in the housing;

a processing section positioned in the housing and coupled to the RF transceiver section, the processing section, in response to an input signal, to control the smartphone to perform one of a radiotelephone function and a personal computer or personal digital assistant function;

a touch screen driver circuit positioned in the housing and coupled to the processing section, the touch screen driver circuit to communicate the input signal to the processing section in response to an actuation of the touch screen; and

a sensor positioned on the first side, the sensor coupled to the processing section and the touch screen driver circuit, the sensor to disable the touch screen driver circuit from communicating the input signal to the processing section when the smartphone is positioned in close proximity to a user.

17. A smartphone according to claim 16 wherein the sensor is an infrared (IR) proximity detector comprising an IR transmitter coupled to the processing section and an IR receiver coupled to the touch screen driver circuit, the IR transmitter to transmit an IR transmission beam comprised of IR pulses.

18. A smartphone according to claim 17 wherein

the IR proximity detector comprises a visible light blocking IR lens fit to the first side,

the IR transmitter comprises an IR transmitting element positioned in the housing behind the visible light blocking IR lens, and

the IR receiver comprises an IR receiving element positioned in the housing behind the visible light blocking IR lens.

19. A smartphone according to claim 17 wherein the IR transmitter comprises an oscillator section to generate a continuous wave signal at a first duty cycle and a pulse shaping section to transform the continuous wave signal into a pulsed signal at a second duty cycle, the second duty cycle less than the first duty cycle.

20. A smartphone according to claim 19 wherein the pulsed signal comprises pulses and a separation period between consecutive pulses, each of the pulses having a first duration, the separation period no greater than 0.5 secs., the first duration no less than 50 ns.