Methods and Systems for Altering Virtual Button Arrangements Presented on One or More Displays of an Electronic Device

Abstract

An electronic device includes a device housing and one or more displays presenting one or more user actuation targets defining one or more virtual buttons in a predefined arrangement relative to a first end of the device housing. One or more sensors detect a condition of the electronic device, such as an approaching object, change in the direction of gravity, or an object tapping or pushing the electronic device. One or more processors cause, in response to the one or more sensors detecting the condition, the one or more displays to present the one or more user actuation targets defining the one or more virtual buttons in another predefined arrangement that is different from the predefined arrangement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a device housing;   one or more displays causing a presentation of one or more user actuation targets relative to a first end of the device housing;   one or more sensors detecting an object approaching a portion of the device housing; and   one or more processors, operable with the one or more sensors, the one or more processors causing, when the portion of the device housing is a distal portion of the device housing from the first end of the device housing, the one or more displays to alter the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , the one or more processors further detecting an operating mode of the electronic device, wherein the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets is altered as a function of the operating mode. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets is altered to an opposite arrangement. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , the one or more displays presenting the one or more user actuation targets along one or more minor faces of the device housing. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , the one or more displays comprising a single display. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , the single display comprising a unitary glass fascia defining at least one major surface spanning a major face of the device housing and one or more curved contours spanning one or more minor faces of the device housing. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 6 , the single display presenting the one or more user actuation targets along the one or more curved contours. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , the portion of the device housing comprising a second end of the device housing separated from the first end of the device housing by a major face of the device housing. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , the one or more displays presenting the one or more user actuation targets along minor faces of the electronic device situated between the first end of the device housing and the second end of the device housing. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , the one or more sensors detecting the object approaching the portion of the device housing when the electronic device is in a pocket-enclosed condition. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , the one or more processors precluding the one or more displays from altering the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets when the one or more sensors detect the object approaching the portion of the device housing while a wired headset is coupled to the electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a device housing;   one or more displays presenting one or more user actuation targets;   one or more sensors detecting a rotation of the electronic device relative to a direction of gravity; and   one or more processors, operable with the one or more sensors, the one or more processors causing, in response to the one or more sensors detecting the rotation of the electronic device relative to the direction of gravity, the one or more displays to alter presentation of the one or more user actuation targets.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , the one or more processors precluding the one or more displays from altering the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets when the one or more sensors detecting the rotation while the electronic device is in an enclosed condition. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , the one or more processors precluding the one or more displays from altering the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets when the one or more sensors detect the rotation while a wired headset is coupled to the electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , the one or more processors causing the one or more displays to alter the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets only when the one or more sensors detect the rotation occurring relative to a major face of the device housing. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , the one or more processors further detecting an operating mode of the electronic device, wherein the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets is altered as a function of the operating mode. 
     
     
         17 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a device housing having an end and a distal end;   one or more displays presenting one or more user actuation targets defining one or more virtual buttons;   one or more sensors detecting an object moving a portion of the device housing along a direction of gravity; and   one or more processors, operable with the one or more sensors, the one or more processors causing, when the portion of the device housing is the distal end of the device housing, the one or more displays to alter presentation of the one or more user actuation targets.   
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 17 , the one or more processors precluding the one or more displays from altering the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets when the one or more sensors detect the object moving the portion while a wired headset is coupled to the electronic device. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 17 , the one or more displays comprising a glass fascia defining at least one major surface spanning a major face of the device housing. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 17 , the end of the electronic device and the portion of the electronic device separated by at least one curved contour.