Sensor for detecting presence of material

Abstract

A device having one or more sensors configured to detect a material covering the device, and logic configured to detect one or more characteristics of the material and change an operating state of the device based on the detected one or more characteristics. In some examples, the one or more sensors can be ambient light sensors (ALS), proximity sensors and/or cameras. In some examples, the device can change the operating state of a processor, a touch panel and/or a display. In some examples, the device can detect a direction of coverage of the material, a color of the material and/or a usage state of the device. In some examples, the device can change its operating state based on a pattern of the one or more characteristics and/or information in addition to the one or more characteristics. In some examples, the device can receive the information from an external device.

1 . A device comprising:
 one or more sensors configured to detect a material covering the device; and   logic coupled to the one or more sensors, the logic configured to detect one or more characteristics of the material covering the device, and change an operating state of the device based on the detected one or more characteristics.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more ambient light sensors (ALS). 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more proximity sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more cameras. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor, wherein changing the operating state of the device comprises changing an operating state of the processor. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a touch panel, wherein changing the operating state of the device comprises changing an operating state of the touch panel. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a display, wherein changing the operating state of the device comprises changing an operating state of the display. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 detecting the one or more characteristics comprises detecting that the material is covering at least a portion of the device, and   changing the operating state comprises putting the processor in a low-power state.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein:
 detecting the one or more characteristics comprises detecting that the material is covering at least a portion of the touch panel, and   changing the operating state comprises turning off at least the portion of the touch panel.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 detecting the one or more characteristics comprises detecting that the material is covering at least a portion of the display, and   changing the operating state comprises reducing a brightness of at least the portion of the display.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 detecting the one or more characteristics comprises detecting that the material is covering at least a portion of the display, and   changing the operating state comprises turning off at least the portion of the display.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein detecting the one or more characteristics comprises detecting one or more wavelengths of light transmitted by the material to the one or more ALS. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the one or more characteristics comprises detecting a direction of coverage of the material. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the one or more characteristics comprises detecting a color of the material. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the logic is further configured to determine a usage state of the device based on the one or more characteristics. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the logic is further configured to detect a pattern of the one or more characteristics, and   changing the operating state of the device comprises changing the operating state of the device based on the pattern.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein changing the operating state of the device comprises changing the operating state of the device based on information in addition to the one or more characteristics. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising a communication interface coupled to the logic, the communication interface configured to receive the information from an external device. 
     
     
         19 . A device comprising:
 one or more sensors configured to detect a material covering the device;   a communication interface coupled to the one or more sensors, the communication interface configured to send one or more outputs from the one or more sensors to an external device, and receive one or more characteristics of the material from the external device; and   logic coupled to the communication interface, the logic configured to change an operating state of the device based on the one or more characteristics.   
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 detecting one or more characteristics of a material covering a device; and   changing an operating state of the device based on the detected one or more characteristics.   
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 sending, to a second device, one or more outputs from one or more sensors configured to detect a material covering a first device;   receiving, from the second device, one or more characteristics of the material; and   changing an operating state of the first device based on the one or more characteristics.   
     
     
         22 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a device, cause the device to perform a method comprising:
 detecting one or more characteristics of a material covering the device; and   changing an operating state of the device based on the detected one or more characteristics.   
     
     
         23 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a first device, cause the device to perform a method comprising:
 sending, to a second device, one or more outputs from one or more sensors configured to detect a material covering the first device;   receiving, from the second device, one or more characteristics of the material; and   changing an operating state of the first device based on the one or more characteristics.