User detection apparatus, systems, and methods

• US 10,656,691 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2017
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kosugi, Kazuhiro, Sugai, Yuhsaku, Yoshiyama, Noritoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US15/647,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20180018005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 9/005 by thermal methods, e.g. after generation of heat by chemical reactions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A user detection apparatus includes a processor for an information handling device and a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The code is executable by the processor to detect a user in a user space that is proximate to the information handling device in response to an airflow being detected in the user space and, in response to detecting the user, resume or begin operations in the information handling device.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor of an information handling device; and

a memory that stores code executable by the processor to;

detect movement of air molecules in a user space that is proximate to the information handling device,

determine whether one of a user and an airflow device caused the movement of air molecules within the user space based on one or more characteristics of the movement of air molecules that correspond with a human or an airflow device,

in response to determining that the user caused the movement of air molecules within the user space, one of;

resume operations in the information handling device, and

begin operations in the information handling device, and

in response to determining that the airflow device caused the movement of air molecules within the user space, maintain the information handling device in a standby state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to:

determine a presence of the user in the user space in response to detecting a first temperature in a first direction within the user space being lower than a second temperature detected in a second direction within the user space at a same time, the first temperature being lower as a result of the user causing the movement of air molecules by moving within the user space.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of temperature sensor elements coupled to the processor,

wherein the movement of air molecules is detected in response to a temperature difference detected by a first temperature sensor element and a second temperature sensor element.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a heat generation element that heats air in the user space,

wherein;

the heat generation element, the first temperature sensor element, and the second temperature sensor element are disposed on a sensor plane in the user space, and

the temperature difference includes a difference in temperature in a first direction and a second direction along the sensor plane.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the sensor plane is a two-dimensional plane;

the first temperature sensor element is disposed along a horizontal axis in a first direction; and

the second temperature sensor element is disposed along one of a second direction along the horizontal axis and a third direction along a vertical axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a third temperature sensor element disposed on the sensor plane,

wherein;

the sensor plane is a three-dimensional plane,

the first temperature sensor element is disposed along a horizontal axis in a direction,

the second temperature sensor element is disposed along a different direction along the horizontal axis, and

the third temperature sensor element is disposed along a vertical axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to:

determine that a different movement of air molecules detected in a predetermined direction within the user space is noise; and

in response to detecting the noise, determine that the airflow device caused the different movement of air molecules.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to:

determine that a different movement of air molecules detected in a vertical direction within the user space is noise; and

in response to detecting the noise, determine that the airflow device caused the different movement of air molecules.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to:

determine that a different movement of air molecules detected in a predetermined direction within the user space is noise; and

in response to detecting the noise, determine that the airflow device caused the different movement of air molecules.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to:

detect a tilt of the plurality of sensors along a sensor plane; and

in response to detecting the tilt;

measure an amount of the tilt, and

correct a first flow rate vector based on the tilted sensor plane to a second flow rate vector,

wherein;

the movement of air molecules is based on the second flow rate vector, and

the second flow rate vector is based on the sensor plane being horizontal.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of temperature sensor elements coupled to the processor,

wherein the code is further executable by the processor to detect the movement of air molecules in response to a temperature difference detected by a first plurality of temperature sensor elements and a second plurality of temperature sensor elements.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to:

calculate a flow rate vector from the temperature difference detected by the first plurality of temperature sensor elements and the second plurality of temperature sensor elements.

13. A method, comprising:

detecting, by use of a processor, movement of air molecules within a user space that is proximate to an information handling device;

determining whether one of a user and an airflow device caused the movement of air molecules within the user space based on one or more characteristics of the movement of air molecules that correspond with a human or an airflow device;

in response to determining that the user caused the movement of air molecules within the user space, one of;

resuming operations in the information handling device, and

beginning operations in the information handling device; and

in response to determining that the airflow device caused the movement of air molecules within the user space, maintaining the information handling device in a standby state.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining a presence of the user in response to detecting a first temperature in a first direction within the user space being lower than a second temperature detected in a second direction within the user space at a same time, the first temperature being lower as a result of the user causing the movement of air molecules by moving within the user space.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

detecting the movement of air molecules in response to a temperature difference detected by a plurality of temperature sensor elements.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

calculating a flow rate vector from the temperature difference detected by a first temperature sensor element and a second temperature sensor element; and

in response to the flow rate vector being from a predetermined direction, determining that the movement of air molecules is noise and the user is not present within the user space.

17. A program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium that stores code executable by a processor, the executable code comprising code to perform:

detecting, by use of a processor, movement of air molecules within a user space that is proximate to an information handling device;

determining whether one of a user and an airflow device caused the movement of air molecules within the user space based on one or more characteristics of the movement of air molecules that correspond with a human or an airflow device;

in response to determining that the user caused the movement of air molecules within the user space, one of;

resuming operations in the information handling device, and

beginning operations in the information handling device; and

in response to determining that the airflow device caused the movement of air molecules within the user space, maintaining the information handling device in a standby state.

18. The program product of claim 17, wherein the executable code further comprises code to perform:

determining a presence of the user within the user space in response to detecting a first temperature in a first direction within the user space being lower than a second temperature detected in a second direction within the user space at a same time, the first temperature being lower as a result of the user causing the movement of air molecules by moving within the user space.

19. The program product of claim 17, wherein the executable code further comprises code to perform:

detecting the movement of air molecules in response to a temperature difference detected by a plurality of temperature sensor elements.

20. The program product of claim 19, wherein the executable code further comprises code to perform:

calculating a flow rate vector from the temperature difference detected by a first temperature sensor element and a second temperature sensor element; and

in response to the flow rate vector being from a predetermined direction, determining that the movement of air molecules is noise and the user is not present within the user space.