Electronic Device and Method for Detecting Presence

• US 20150069242A1
• Filed: 12/12/2013
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Alameh, Rachid Mohsen, Cauwels, Patrick J., Jiang, Jun, Paitl, Kenneth A.
• Application Number:
  US14/103,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20150069242A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/338.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0407 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. manifolds, windows, holograms, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0025 Living bodies ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0818 Waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/12 using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/34 using capacitors, e.g. pyroelectric capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/50 Systems of measurement based on relative movement of target
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

An electronic device for detecting presence includes a housing, an infrared (“IR”) sensor disposed in the housing, and a waveguide included in the housing. The waveguide is configured to collect heat or IR signal emitted by a person from outside of the housing and guide the collected IR signal to the IR sensor. The IR sensor is configured to receive the IR signal via the waveguide and generate a signal in response thereto.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

an infrared (“

IR”

) sensor disposed in the housing;

a waveguide included in the housing and configured to;

collect IR signal emitted by a person from outside of the housing; and

guide the collected IR signal to the IR sensor;

wherein the IR sensor is configured to;

receive the IR signal via the waveguide; and

generate a signal in response thereto.

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

a processor communicatively linked to the IR sensor and configured to carry out a function in response to the generated signal.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the function is selected from the group consisting of answering a call, dismissing a call, silencing a ringer, sending a call to voicemail, turning on a screen, waking up the electronic device, viewing the time, scrolling a screen, scrolling through photos, panning a map, performing power optimization to turn the device on or off, switching audio mode, setting audio level, steering audio toward the person'"'"'s location, steering camera toward the person'"'"'s location, altering device functionality based on distance between the person and the device, and magnifying a view.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the waveguide is disposed at a top portion of the housing.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the waveguide is disposed at a bottom portion of the housing.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the waveguide is disposed between a top portion and a bottom portion of the housing.

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

a second waveguide stacked on the waveguide, the second waveguide configured to;

collect IR signal emitted by the person from outside of the housing; and

guide the collected IR signal to the IR sensor.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the waveguide comprises a plurality of branches;

each branch having an opening disposed along a perimeter of the housing; and

each branch being oriented in a different direction than the other branches.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the waveguide is configured to guide IR signals having a wavelength that ranges between about 5 to about 100 micrometers.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the waveguide is formed of a high-density polyethylene material.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the IR sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of a thermopile sensor and a pyroelectric sensor.

12. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

an infrared (“

IR”

) sensor disposed in the housing;

a waveguide included in the housing and is configured as a ring that extends around a perimeter of the electronic device;

wherein the waveguide is configured to;

collect IR signal emitted by a person from outside of the housing; and

guide the collected IR signal to the IR sensor;

wherein the IR sensor is configured to;

receive the IR signal via the waveguide; and

generate a signal in response thereto.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the IR sensor is disposed in the path of the waveguide.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the IR sensor is optically coupled to the waveguide.

15. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the waveguide is configured to guide IR signals having a wavelength that ranges between about 5 to about 100 micrometers.

16. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the waveguide is formed of a high-density polyethylene material.

17. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the IR sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of a thermopile sensor and a pyroelectric sensor.

18. A method in an electronic device comprising a housing, an infrared (“

IR”

) sensor disposed in the housing, and a waveguide included in the housing, the method comprising;

receiving, via the waveguide, an IR signal emitted by a person from outside of the housing;

guiding, by the waveguide, the received IR signal to the IR sensor;

generating, by the IR sensor, a signal based on the received IR signal; and

detecting the presence of the person based on the generated signal.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

initiating a notification if the presence of the person is detected.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the initiating of the notification comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of displaying a notification on a display unit of the device, emitting a notification sound from the device, and vibrating the device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the detecting of the presence of the person comprises:

determining a distance between the person and the device based on the generated signal.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

adjusting a notification volume based on the determined distance between the person and the device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the adjusted notification volume does not exceed an initial notification volume.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

changing a type of notification based on the determined distance between the person and the device.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

repeating the initiated notification based on the determined distance between the person and the device.