MULTIUSE 3D IR FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20160246382A1
• Filed: 02/24/2015
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Alameh, Rachid M, Slaby, Jiri
• Granted Patent: US 10,289,820 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints

Abstract

A system and method for iris authentication in an electronic device employ an array of steered gesture recognition IR (infrared) LEDs (light emitting diodes) to provide illumination suited for each of a number of device operational modes. The gesture recognition IR LEDs are steered via mirror steering in an embodiment. One or more device operational state sensors detect user contact, device orientation, and device motion to determine the device operational mode and the gesture recognition IR LEDs are steered in accordance with the determined mode.

Claims

1. A method of IR illumination in an electronic device having a gesture recognition system comprising a plurality of IR LEDs and an IR receiver, the method including:

detecting a presence of a user;

sensing device operational parameters;

determining a device operational mode based on the sensed device operational parameters;

driving the plurality of IR LEDs to provide IR illumination from each IR LED; and

while driving the plurality of IR LEDs, directing the IR illumination of each IR LED in a direction selected based at least partly on the determined device operational mode.

2. The method of IR illumination in accordance with claim 1, wherein the determined device operational mode is one of an approach mode wherein the device operational parameters indicate that the device is lying still horizontally and is locked, an iris mode wherein the device operational parameters indicate that the device is handheld and tilted within an inclination range, and a gesture mode wherein the device operational parameters indicate that the device is in neither the approach mode nor the iris mode.

3. The method of IR illumination in accordance with claim 2, wherein directing the IR illumination of each IR LED in a direction selected based at least partly on the determined device operational mode comprises directing each IR LED angularly away from a vertical device axis centered on the device when the device operational mode is the approach mode.

4. The method of IR illumination in accordance with claim 3, wherein directing the IR illumination of each IR LED in a direction selected based at least partly on the determined device operational mode comprises directing each IR LED in one of a direction parallel to the vertical device axis and angularly inward toward the vertical device axis when the device operational mode is the gesture mode.

5. The method of IR illumination in accordance with claim 4, wherein directing the IR illumination of each IR LED in a direction selected based at least partly on the determined device operational mode comprises directing each IR LED at an angle such that the angles of the IR LEDs intersect at a point that is within one foot of the device when the device operational mode is the iris mode.

6. The method of IR illumination in accordance with claim 1, wherein sensing device operational parameters comprises determining at least one of device orientation, device motion and device lock state.

7. The method of IR illumination in accordance with claim 6, wherein determining device orientation comprises employing one of an inclinometer and a gravity sensor.

8. The method of IR illumination in accordance with claim 6, wherein determining device motion comprises employing one of an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

9. The method of IR illumination in accordance with claim 6, wherein directing the IR illumination of each IR LED comprises steering the IR illumination of each IR LED via a respective microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror.

10. The method of IR illumination in accordance with claim 9, wherein each MEMS mirror is one of a bi-axial control mirror and a single axial control mirror.

11. The method of IR illumination in accordance with claim 10, wherein directing the IR illumination of each IR LED further comprises using at least one of a lens and a light guide to direct the IR illumination of each IR LED.

12. The method of IR illumination in accordance with claim 1, wherein driving the plurality of IR LEDs to provide IR illumination from each IR LED comprises driving the IR LED in a repeating sequence, with each IR LED driven at a duty cycle less than 100 percent and at a peak power less than a rated peak power of the IR LED.

13. An electronic device providing approach sensing, iris authentication and gesture recognition, the electronic device comprising:

a user presence detector;

a gesture recognition system comprising a plurality of IR LEDs and an IR receiver;

at least one device operational state sensor system configured to sense device operational parameters; and

a controller configured to determine a device operational mode based on the sensed device operational parameters, drive the plurality of IR LEDs to provide IR illumination from each IR LED and while driving the plurality of IR LEDs, direct the IR illumination of each IR LED in a direction selected based at least partly on the determined device operational mode.

14. The electronic device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the determined device operational mode is one of an approach mode wherein the device is lying still horizontally and is locked, an iris mode wherein the device is handheld and tilted within an inclination range, and a gesture mode wherein the device is in neither the approach mode nor the iris mode.

15. The electronic device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to direct the IR illumination of each IR LED in a direction selected based at least partly on the determined device operational mode by directing each IR LED angularly away from a vertical device axis centered on the device when the device operational mode is the approach mode.

16. The electronic device in accordance with claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to direct the IR illumination of each IR LED in a direction selected based at least partly on the determined device operational mode by directing each IR LED in one of a direction parallel to the vertical device axis and angularly inward toward the vertical device axis when the device operational mode is the gesture mode.

17. The electronic device in accordance with claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to direct the IR illumination of each IR LED in a direction selected based at least partly on the determined device operational mode by directing each IR LED at an angle such that the angles of the IR LEDs intersect at a point that is within one foot of the device when the device operational mode is the iris mode.

18. The electronic device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the device operational state sensor system comprises at least one of an inclinometer, a gravity sensor, an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

19. The electronic device in accordance with claim 13, wherein directing the IR illumination of each IR LED comprises steering the IR illumination of each IR LED via a respective microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror that is one of a bi-axial control mirror and a single axial control mirror.

20. A portable electronic device comprising:

a device housing and a plurality of IR LEDs mounted and configured to emit IR illumination outward from the device housing;

one or more light-steering elements associated with each IR LED;

a device state sensor system configured to sense device parameters reflective of a device state; and

a controller configured to;

determine a device mode based on the sensed device parameters, wherein the device mode is one of an approach mode wherein the device is lying still horizontally and locked, an iris mode wherein the device is handheld and tilted within an inclination range, and a gesture mode wherein the device is in neither the approach mode nor the iris mode; and

drive the IR LEDs and the light-steering elements associated with each IR LED to direct IR illumination angularly away from a vertical device axis centered on the device when the device mode is the approach mode, to direct IR illumination in one of a direction parallel to the vertical device axis and angularly inward toward the vertical device axis when the device mode is the gesture mode, and to direct IR illumination to a point that is within one foot of the device when the device mode is the iris mode.