Electronic Device and Method for Detecting Presence and Motion

• US 20160021241A1
• Filed: 08/04/2014
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cauwels, Patrick J., Steuer, Paul R., Alameh, Rachid M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,122,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 housing having an interior and an exterior, the housing having therein an opening from the interior to the exterior;

an infrared (“

IR”

) sensor located within the housing interior, the IR sensor being configured to generate a first indication signal when the IR sensor detects a first IR signal;

a mirror disposed within the housing interior, the mirror having an unobstructed optical path to the exterior via the opening and being oriented to direct the first IR signal towards the IR sensor; and

a processor configured to receive the first indication signal from the IR sensor when the first IR signal is sensed by the IR sensor and to modify a behavior of the electronic device in response to the first indication signal.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mirror is a segmented mirror having a plurality of segments oriented to receive incoming IR signals from the opening at 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 continuously curved mirror is segmented into a plurality of mirror segments, the plurality of mirror segments oriented to receive incoming IR signals from the opening at mutually distinct angles.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mirror includes 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 mutually distinct angle for receiving incoming IR signals from the opening.

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

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to detect the presence of a person based on the first indication signal.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the IR sensor is configured to generate a second indication signal when the IR sensor detects a second IR signal and the processor is further configured to determine motion based on the first and second indication signals.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the IR sensor is a thermopile sensor.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to carry out a function in response to the first indication signal.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein altering the behavior of the electronic device includes at least one 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, alerting of messages, magnifying a view, switching audio mode, setting audio level, steering audio toward the person'"'"'s location, steering camera toward the person'"'"'s location, and altering device functionality based on distance between the person and the device.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a housing, the housing including a first corner defining a first opening and a second corner defining a second opening;

a first IR sensor, the first IR sensor positioned within the housing and proximate to the first corner;

a first mirror disposed proximate to the first corner and having an unobstructed path and line of sight to outside of the electronic device via the first opening and oriented to direct IR signals towards the first IR sensor;

a second IR sensor, the second IR sensor positioned within the housing and proximate to the second corner; and

a second mirror disposed proximate to the second corner and having an unobstructed path and line of sight to outside of the electronic device via the second opening and oriented to direct IR signals towards the second IR sensor.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the housing further comprises a third corner having a third opening and a fourth corner having a fourth opening and the electronic device further comprises:

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

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

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

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

15. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a processor, the processor configured to receive at least one of a first indication signal from the first IR sensor when a first IR signal is sensed by first IR sensor and a second indication signal from the second IR sensor when a second IR signal is sensed by the second IR sensor.

16. A method for detecting a person by an electronic device, the electronic device including a housing, the housing defining an opening, an infrared (“

IR”

) sensor located within the housing, 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 a processor, the method comprising;

reflecting, by the mirror, an IR signal associated with the person towards the IR sensor;

receiving the IR signal at the IR sensor;

generating an indication signal, by the IR sensor, the indication signal indicating presence of the person; and

detecting presence of the person based on the indication signal.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising initiating a function based on the presence of the person.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the function includes at least one 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, alerting of messages, magnifying a view, switching audio mode, setting audio level, steering audio toward the person'"'"'s location, steering camera toward the person'"'"'s location, and altering device functionality based on distance between the person and the device.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining the position of the person with respect to the device based on the indication signal.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining a distance between the person and the electronic device based on the indication signal.