US20160224235A1

Filed by Elliptic Laboratories AS

This invention introduces a new way of interacting with touchscreen devices by revealing the user interface (UI) only when needed. The system keeps the screen clean and focused on content—free from distracting menus or buttons—until the user’s hand or finger approaches. As the hand moves toward the screen, the interface elements appear, either gradually or all at once, depending on the distance and motion.

At the heart of the invention is a touchless sensing system, based on ultrasonic signals, that continuously tracks the proximity and movement of an input object. When the system detects a hand moving toward the screen, especially along a direction perpendicular to the display, it responds by dynamically changing the UI. For example, scrollbars, buttons, or toolbars can fade in, grow in size, or sharpen in focus as the user prepares to interact.

This approach introduces a novel mode of interaction:

• When viewing content, the screen remains distraction-free.
• When intending to interact, the UI is revealed, based on proximity and motion towards the screen.

This enhances the user experience, particularly on devices where screen space is limited or where the context demands a clean visual layout, such as in reading apps, media players, or professional tools.

The UI behavior can be fine-tuned: appearing only within specific distance thresholds, responding only to motion from certain directions, or requiring minimum motion speed to avoid accidental activation. Once the user completes the interaction, the UI can fade out again, returning the screen to its uncluttered state.

The invention bridges the gap between touchless gestures and direct touch input, allowing for fluid transitions between browsing and interaction. It has broad application potential across smartphones, tablets, kiosks, and any display device where user intent can be expressed through motion.