FACIAL UNLOCK MECHANISM USING LIGHT LEVEL DETERMINING MODULE

• US 20150015688A1
• Filed: 07/09/2013
• Published: 01/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Yang, Kae-Cherng
• Application Number:
  US13/938,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20150015688A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/77
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/141 Control of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements

Abstract

An electronic device that can selectively enable a facial recognition unlock mechanism of the electronic device includes: a display screen, for displaying information to be viewed by a user; a camera, for capturing at least an image; a light level determining module, for determining ambient light levels; and a facial unlocking module, for comparing a captured image with a stored image and unlocking the electronic device when the captured image is determined to match the stored image. When the light level determining module determines that ambient light levels fall outside a predetermined range for performing a facial recognition function on a captured image, the display screen will inform the user via a display mechanism on the display screen.

Claims

1. An electronic device that can selectively enable a facial recognition unlock mechanism of the electronic device, comprising:

a camera, for capturing at least an image;

a light sensor, for detecting ambient light levels;

a light level determining module, for determining whether ambient light levels fall within a predetermined range; and

a facial unlocking module, configured to perform a facial unlock function;

wherein when the light level determining module determines that ambient light levels fall within a predetermined range, the camera will capture an image and the facial unlocking module will perform the facial unlock function by comparing the captured image with a stored image to unlock the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a display screen;

wherein when the light level determining module determines the detected ambient light levels fall outside the predetermined range, the display screen displays an error message.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the electronic device will further adjust at least a parameter of the electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the electronic device adjusts at least a light sensitivity of the camera.

5. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the electronic device at least adjusts sensitivity levels of the facial unlocking module.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device enters an alternative unlock mechanism when ambient light levels fall outside the predetermined range.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the alternative unlock mechanism comprises at least one of a password entry, a gesture entry, a signature entry, finger print recognition, and voice recognition.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a spotlight of the electronic device is activated when the light level determining module determines the detected ambient light levels fall below a lower threshold of the predetermined range.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the light sensor is activated when the electronic device is powered on or woken up; and

the camera is activated when the light level determining module determines the detected ambient light levels fall within the predetermined range.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the camera and the light sensor are activated when the electronic device is powered on or waked up.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the camera is activated earlier than the light sensor.

12. A method for selectively enabling a facial unlocking function of an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting ambient light levels with a light sensor of the electronic device;

determining whether detected ambient light levels fall within a predetermined range; and

when determining the ambient light levels fall within the predetermined range, capturing an image with a camera of the electronic device, and comparing the captured image with a stored image to activate a facial unlocking module for unlocking the electronic device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying an error message on a display screen of the electronic device when determining the ambient light levels fall outside the predetermined range.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the electronic device will further adjust at least a parameter of the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the electronic device adjusts at least a light sensitivity of the camera.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the electronic device at least adjusts sensitivity levels of the facial unlocking module.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic device further enters an alternative unlock mechanism.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the alternative unlock mechanism comprises at least one of a password entry, a gesture entry, a signature entry, fingerprint recognition, and voice recognition.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

activating a spotlight of the electronic device when determining the ambient light levels fall below a lower threshold of the predetermined range.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

activating the light sensor when detecting the electronic device is powered on or woken up; and

activating the camera when determining the ambient light levels fall within the predetermined range.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

activating the camera and the light sensor when detecting the electronic device is powered on or woken up.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the camera is activated earlier than the light sensor.

23. A computer programmable medium disposed in an electronic device for performing the steps of:

detecting ambient light levels with a light sensor of the electronic device;

determining whether detected ambient light levels fall within a predetermined range; and

when determining the ambient light levels fall within the predetermined range, capturing an image with a camera of the electronic device, and comparing the captured image with a stored image to activate a facial unlocking module for unlocking the electronic device.

24. The computer programmable medium of claim 23, further performing the steps of:

displaying an error message on a display screen of the electronic device when determining the ambient light levels fall outside the predetermined range.

25. The computer programmable medium of claim 24, wherein the electronic device will further adjust at least a parameter of the electronic device.

26. The computer programmable medium of claim 25, wherein the electronic device adjusts at least a light sensitivity of the camera.

27. The computer programmable medium of claim 25, wherein the electronic device at least adjusts sensitivity levels of the facial unlocking module.

28. The computer programmable medium of claim 23, wherein the electronic device further enters an alternative unlock mechanism.

29. The computer programmable medium of claim 28, wherein the alternative unlock mechanism comprises at least one of a password entry, a gesture entry, a signature entry, finger print recognition, and voice recognition.

30. The computer programmable medium of claim 23, further performing the steps of:

activating a spotlight of the electronic device when determining the ambient light levels fall below a lower threshold of the predetermined range.

31. The computer programmable medium of claim 23, further performing the steps of:

activating the light sensor when detecting the electronic device is powered on or woken up; and

activating the camera when determining the ambient light levels fall within the predetermined range.

32. The computer programmable medium of claim 23, further performing the steps of:

activating the camera and the light sensor when detecting the electronic device is powered on or woken up.

33. The computer programmable medium of claim 23, wherein the camera is activated earlier than the light sensor.