{
  "patent_number": "US 10303266",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Screens Change What They Show Based on Your Hand Distance",
  "original_title": "Three-dimensional man/machine interface",
  "summary": "A method for changing the menu options shown on a screen depending on how close or far away your hand is hovering above it.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a way for a touch-sensitive interface to react to the 'hover' distance of a user's hand or finger. Instead of just knowing where you are touching, the system uses sensors to track the vertical distance (how far your hand is from the screen) and horizontal position (where your hand is over the screen). As you move your hand closer or further away, the interface automatically switches between different levels of a menu hierarchy. For example, if your hand is at a 'first distance,' the screen shows a high-level menu; if you move your hand to a 'second distance,' the screen replaces those options with more specific sub-commands without you ever needing to tap the glass.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover standard touchscreens that only detect contact (x,y coordinates) without measuring vertical distance (z-axis).",
    "Does not cover voice-activated command systems.",
    "Does not cover systems that rely solely on eye-tracking to determine menu selection.",
    "Does not cover simple proximity sensors that only turn a screen on or off without changing the displayed content hierarchy."
  ],
  "filed": "2012-01-30",
  "granted": "2019-05-28",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Quickstep Technologies LLC",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/quickstep-technologies-llc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Didier Roziere",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/didier-roziere"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 3,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "automotive",
    "mechanical"
  ],
  "abstract": "A method is provided for selecting controls, which implements a control interface, a display, and at least one sensor capable of detecting at least one control object, including a step (i) of obtaining information on the distance between the control object(s) and the control interface using the sensor(s), and a step (ii) of displaying, on the display, at least one symbol representing a control or set of controls according to a display mode, wherein the method further includes a step of using the distance information to determine the display mode of the symbol(s). A device is also provided for implementing the method and to an apparatus.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10303266/apple-pencil",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10303266/apple-pencil/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10303266",
  "relatedPatents": []
}