Electronic device and method for detecting presence and motion

• US 10,122,847 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2014
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Alameh, Rachid M, Cauwels, Patrick J, Steuer, Paul R
• Primary Examiner(s): Taningco, Marcus
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malevic, Djura
• Application Number:
  US14/450,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20160021241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/09 Multifaceted or polygonal mirrors , e.g. polygonal scanning mirrors; Fresnel mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for detecting presence and motion by an electronic device are disclosed. In an example device, the device includes a housing defining an opening, an infrared (“IR”) sensor located within the housing and generating an indication signal when the IR sensor detects an IR signal. The example device may further include a mirror disposed within the housing and having an unobstructed path and line of sight to outside of the electronic device via the opening and oriented to direct the first IR signal towards the IR sensor.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a display screen;

a housing having an interior and an exterior, the housing having therein an opening from the interior to the exterior;

an infrared sensor located within the interior of the housing, the infrared sensor being configured to generate a first indication signal responsive to detecting a first infrared signal, and to generate a second indication signal responsive to detecting a second infrared signal different from the first infrared signal;

a mirror disposed within the interior of the housing, the mirror having an unobstructed optical path to at least a portion of the exterior of the housing via the opening, the mirror also being oriented to direct incoming infrared signals received via the opening, including the first infrared signal and the second infrared signal, towards the infrared sensor, wherein the mirror includes a plurality of portions that are oriented to reflect at least some of the incoming infrared signals towards the infrared sensor at mutually distinct angles; and

a processor configured to;

receive the first indication signal from the infrared sensor responsive to the infrared sensor detecting the first infrared signal;

receive the second indication signal from the infrared sensor responsive to the infrared sensor detecting the second infrared signal;

determine, based on an analysis of the first indication signal and the second indication signal, position of a person with respect to the electronic device; and

alter, based on the position of the person with respect to the electronic device, an orientation of display elements that are output for display at the display screen of the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of portions of the mirror comprises a plurality of segments, and wherein the mirror is a segmented mirror having the plurality of segments oriented to receive the at least some of the incoming infrared signals via the opening at the mutually distinct angles.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mirror is a continuously curved mirror.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of portions of the continuously curved mirror comprises a plurality of mirror segments, the plurality of mirror segments oriented to receive the at least some of the incoming infrared signals via the opening at the mutually distinct angles.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of portions of the mirror comprises a series of dished reflecting surfaces.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein each member of the series of dished reflecting surfaces is configured to cover a respective mutually distinct angle of the mutually distinct angles for receiving the at least some of the incoming infrared signals via the opening.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mirror is oriented such that it forms substantially a 45 degree angle with respect to a plane of positioning of the infrared sensor.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine, based on the analysis of the first indication signal and the second indication signal, a motion of the person with respect to the electronic device.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the infrared sensor is a thermopile sensor.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing that includes a first corner defining a first opening and a second corner defining a second opening, wherein the first corner is disposed substantially diagonally opposite from the second corner;

a first infrared sensor positioned within the housing and proximate to the first corner, wherein the first infrared sensor has a first detection coverage area around the electronic device in a horizontal plane, the first detection coverage area being represented by a first angle formed by the first opening at the first corner;

a first mirror disposed proximate to the first corner and having a first unobstructed path and line of sight to an outside of the electronic device via the first opening and oriented to direct a first group of incoming infrared signals received via the first opening towards the first infrared sensor, wherein the first mirror includes a plurality of portions that are oriented to reflect at least some of the first group of incoming infrared signals towards the first infrared sensor at mutually distinct angles and in non-parallel directions;

a second infrared sensor positioned within the housing and proximate to the second corner, wherein the second infrared sensor has a second detection coverage area around the electronic device in the horizontal plane, the second detection coverage area being represented by a second angle formed by the second opening at the second corner;

a second mirror disposed proximate to the second corner and having a second unobstructed path and line of sight to the outside of the electronic device via the second opening and oriented to direct a second group of incoming infrared signals towards the second infrared sensor; and

a processor configured to;

receive a first indication signal from the first infrared sensor responsive to the first infrared sensor detecting a first infrared signal included in the first group of incoming infrared signals;

receive a second indication signal from the second infrared sensor responsive to the second infrared sensor detecting a second infrared signal included in the second group of incoming infrared signals;

determine, based on an analysis of the first indication signal and the second indication signal, at least one of a distance of a person from the electronic device or a position of the person with respect to the electronic device; and

alter, based on the at least one of the distance of the person from the electronic device or the position of the person with respect to the electronic device, functionality of the electronic device by at least one of adjusting a volume associated with a notification that is output by the electronic device or orienting display elements that are output for display by the electronic device.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the housing further comprises a third corner having a third opening and a fourth corner having a fourth opening, wherein the third corner is disposed substantially diagonally opposite from the fourth corner and wherein the electronic device further comprises:

a third infrared sensor positioned within the housing and proximate to the third corner;

a third mirror disposed proximate to the third corner and having a third unobstructed path and line of sight to the outside of the electronic device via the third opening and oriented to direct a third group of incoming infrared signals towards the third infrared sensor;

a fourth infrared sensor positioned within the housing and proximate to the fourth corner; and

a fourth mirror disposed proximate to the fourth corner and having a fourth unobstructed path and line of sight to the outside of the electronic device via the fourth opening and oriented to direct a fourth group of incoming infrared signals towards the fourth infrared sensor.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the second mirror includes a plurality of portions that are oriented to reflect at least a portion of the second group of incoming infrared signals towards the second infrared sensor at mutually distinct angles.

13. The electronic device of claim 10,

wherein the first angle is in a range of approximately 90 to 180 degrees, and

wherein the second angle is in the range of approximately 90 to 180 degrees.

14. The electronic device of claim 10,

wherein the first detection coverage area further includes a first elevation detection coverage area represented by a first elevation angle associated with the first infrared sensor and the first mirror, and

wherein the second detection coverage area further includes a second elevation detection coverage area represented by a second elevation angle associated with the second infrared sensor and the second mirror.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, by an electronic device, a first indication signal generated by at least one infrared sensor responsive to the at least one infrared sensor detecting a first infrared signal associated with a person;

receiving, by the electronic device, a second indication signal generated by the at least one infrared sensor responsive to the at least one infrared sensor detecting a second infrared signal associated with the person, wherein the electronic device includes a housing defining at least one opening, wherein the at least one infrared sensor is located within the housing, wherein the electronic device further includes at least one mirror within the housing that has at least one unobstructed optical path and line of sight to an outside of the electronic device via the at least one opening, wherein the at least one mirror is oriented to direct incoming infrared signals received via the at least one opening, including the first and second infrared signals associated with the person, towards the at least one infrared sensor, and wherein the at least one mirror includes a plurality portions that are oriented to reflect at least a portion of the incoming infrared signals towards the at least one infrared sensor at mutually distinct angles; and

determining, by the electronic device, based on an analysis of the first indication signal and the second indication signal, a position of a person with respect to the electronic device; and

altering, by the electronic device, based on the position of the person with respect to the electronic device, an orientation of display elements that are output for display by the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining a distance between the person and the electronic device.