Progressive radar assisted facial recognition

• US 10,102,419 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Allyn, Mark A
• Primary Examiner(s): Bythrow, Peter M
• Application Number:
  US14/927,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20170124384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4013 involving adjustment of the transmitted power
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/143 Sensing or illuminating at different wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements

Abstract

System and techniques for progressive radar assisted facial recognition are described herein. An image may be obtained from a camera of the security device. A facial target in the image may be identified. The facial target may include a non-empty set of positive facial indicators and also be missing a non-empty set of facial indicators used for identification. In response to identifying the facial target, a power level of a millimeter wave radar may be increased at least until a threshold number of members of the set of facial indicators are observed. Then, the members of the set of facial indicators that are observed may be combined with the set of positive indicators of the face to create a composite image.

Claims

1. A component for controlling a security device, the component comprising:

a camera interface to obtain an image from a camera of the security device;

an image processor to identify a facial target in the image, the facial target comprising a non-empty set of positive facial indicators and a non-empty set of missing facial indicators used for identification, the set of missing facial indicators being a difference between the of positive facial indicators and a number and type of facial indicators for successful facial recognition as defined by a parameter set;

a radar controller to increase, in response to identifying the facial target, a power level of a millimeter wave radar at least until a threshold number of members of the set of missing facial indicators are observed from radar images by at least one of the image processor, the radar controller, or an image compositor; and

the image compositor to combine the members of the set of facial indicators that pare observed with the set of positive indicators of the face to create a composite image.

2. The component of claim 1, wherein the radar controller is to maintain an output power level of the millimeter wave radar when not increasing the power level.

3. The component of claim 2, wherein to maintain the output power level includes the radar controller to turn off emissions of the millimeter wave radar.

4. The component of claim 1, wherein the component, camera, and the millimeter wave radar are packaged together in a composite device.

5. The component of claim 1, wherein the image processor is to obtain a plurality of images including the image, the plurality of images comprising a set of camera images obtained from the camera and a set of radar images obtained by the millimeter wave radar.

6. The component of claim 5, wherein the set of camera images and the set of radar images are in sequence, and wherein to obtain the plurality of images includes the image;

processor to register members of the set of camera images and members of the set of radar images to each other in time.

7. The component of claim 1, wherein the set of positive facial indicators includes at least one of a shape, relative position of features, surface composition, or reflectivity.

8. The component of claim 7, wherein the set of positive facial indicators includes a member that is a combination of another member of the set of positive facial features.

10. The method of claim 3, comprising maintaining an output power level of the millimeter wave radar when not increasing the power level.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein maintaining the output power level includes turning off emissions of the millimeter wave radar.

9. A method for controlling a security device, the method comprising:

obtaining an image from a camera of the security device;

identifying a facial target in the image, the facial target comprising a non-empty set of positive facial indicators and a non-empty set of missing facial indicators used for identification, the set of missing facial indicators being a difference between the of positive facial indicators and a number and type of facial indicators for successful facial recognition as defined by a parameter set;

increasing, in response to identifying the facial target, a power level of a millimeter wave radar at least until a threshold number of members of the set of missing facial indicators are observed from radar images by at least one of an image processor, a radar controller, or an image compositor; and

combining the members of the set of facial indicators that are observed with the set of positive indicators of the face to create a composite image.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the camera and the millimeter wave radar are packaged together in a composite device.

13. The method of claim 9, comprising obtaining a plurality of images including the image, the plurality of images comprising a set of camera images obtained from the camera and a set of radar images obtained by the millimeter wave radar.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the set of camera images and the set of radar images are in sequence, and wherein obtaining the plurality of images includes registering members of the set of camera images and members of the set of radar images to each other in time.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the set f positive facial indicators includes at least one of a shape, relative position of features, surface composition, or reflectivity.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the set of positive facial indicators includes a member that is a combination of another member of the set of positive facial features.

17. At least one non-transitory machine readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations to control a security device, the operations comprising:

obtaining an image from a camera of the security device;

identifying a facial target in the image, the facial target comprising a non-empty set of positive facial indicators and missing a non-empty set of facial indicators used for identification, the set of missing facial indicators being a difference between the of positive facial indicators and a number and type of facial indicators for successful facial recognition as defined by a parameter set;

increasing, in response to identifying the facial target, a power level of a millimeter wave radar at least until a threshold number of members of the set of missing facial indicators are observed from radar images by at least one of an image processor, a radar controller, or an image compositor; and

combining the members of the set of facial indicators that are observed with the set of positive indicators of the face to create a composite image.

18. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 17, wherein the operations comprise maintaining an output power level of the millimeter wave radar when not increasing the power level.

19. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 18, wherein maintaining the output power level includes turning off emissions of the millimeter wave radar.

20. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 17, wherein the camera and the millimeter wave radar are packaged together in a composite device.

21. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 17, wherein the operations comprise obtaining a plurality of images including the image, the plurality of images comprising a set of camera images obtained from the camera and a set of radar images obtained by the millimeter wave radar.

22. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 21, wherein the set of camera images and the set of radar images are in sequence, and wherein obtaining the plurality of images includes registering members of the set of camera images and members of the set of radar images to each other in time.

23. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 17, wherein the set of positive facial indicators includes at least one of a shape, relative position of features, surface composition, or reflectivity.

24. The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein the set of positive facial indicators includes a member that is a combination of another member of the set of positive facial features.