Determining whether a wearable device is in use

• US 8,686,924 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2013
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Braun, Max, Geiss, Ryan, Ho, Harvey, Starner, Thad Eugene, Taubman, Gabriel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAH, PRIYANK J
• Application Number:
  US13/769,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20130154906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 2/61, 2/66, 2/9, 241/0, 242/2, 242/3, 242/4, 345/7, 345/8, 345/9, 348/E5.145, 348/E13.036, 348/E13.041, 348/53, 351/41, 351/124, 351/131, 351/132, 351/136, 359/618, 359/629, 359/630, 359/642, 359/643, 359/811, 359/815, 359/13, 362/103, 362/105, 455/343.1, 349/11
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/325 Power saving in peripheral device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Systems and methods for selecting an action associated with a power state transition of a head-mounted display (HMD) in the form of eyeglasses are disclosed. A signal may be received from a sensor on a nose bridge of the eyeglasses indicating if the HMD is in use. Based on the received signal, a first power state for the HMD may be determined. Responsive to the determined first power state, an action associated with a power state transition of the HMD from an existing power state to the first power state may be selected. The action may be selected from among a plurality of actions associated with a plurality of state transitions. Also, the action may be a sequence of functions performed by the HMD including modifying an operating state of a primary processing component of the HMD and a detector of the HMD configured to image an environment.

Claims

1. A wearable computing device, comprising:

an input device configured to receive input for interacting with a display coupled to the wearable computing device;

an infrared proximity sensor configured to provide an output that is indicative of whether the wearable computing device is being worn;

a computing system; and

instructions stored in a memory of the computing system and executable by at least one processor of the computing system to perform functions comprising;

receiving an output from the infrared proximity sensor,

based on the received output, determining a first power state for the computing system,

determining that the first power state is a different power state than an existing power state of the computing system, and

in response to determining that the first power state is a different power state than the existing power state, modifying an operating state of the computing system, wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises opening or closing an application of the computing system.

2. The wearable computing device of claim 1:

wherein the wearable computing device comprises an eyewear device, and

wherein the infrared proximity sensor is coupled to an inner side of the eyewear device.

3. The wearable computing device of claim 2:

wherein the eyewear device comprises a modular device coupled to an extending side-arm of a head-mounted structure, the modular device having a frame and a single lens element, and

wherein the infrared proximity sensor is positioned on an inner side of the frame.

4. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the first power state is a power-on state.

5. The wearable computing device of claim 1:

wherein the first power state comprises a power-save state, and

wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises providing instructions to the computing system to enter a sleep-mode.

6. The wearable computing device of claim 1:

wherein the first power-state comprises a power-off state, and

wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises providing instructions to the computing system to power off.

7. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein determining the first power state for the computing system comprises:

comparing the received output to a threshold, and

determining the first power state based on the comparison.

8. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the infrared proximity sensor is configured to emit infrared radiation and provide the output based on an intensity of infrared radiation scattered back to the infrared proximity sensor.

9. A method comprising:

receiving an output from an infrared proximity sensor of a wearable computing device, wherein the infrared proximity sensor is coupled to an inner side of the wearable computing device, and wherein the output is indicative of whether the wearable computing device is being worn;

based on the received output, determining a first power state for a computing system of the wearable computing device;

determining that the first power state is a different power state than an existing power state of the computing system; and

in response to determining that the first power state is a different power state than the existing power state, modifying an operating state of the computing system of the wearable computing device, wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises opening or closing an application of the computing system.

10. The method of claim 9:

wherein the wearable computing device comprises an eyewear device, and

wherein the infrared proximity sensor is coupled to an inner side of the eyewear device.

11. The method of claim 10:

wherein the eyewear device comprises a modular device coupled to an extending side-arm of a head-mounted structure, the modular device having a frame and a single lens element, and

wherein the infrared proximity sensor is positioned on an inner side of the frame.

12. The method of claim 9:

wherein the first power state is a power-on state, and

wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises providing instructions to a display system to provide a display on a lens element of the wearable computing device.

13. The method of claim 9:

wherein the first power state comprises a power-save state, and

wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises providing instructions to the computing system to enter a sleep-mode.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions, that when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform functions comprising:

receiving an output from an infrared proximity sensor of a wearable computing device, wherein the infrared proximity sensor is coupled to an inner side of the wearable computing device, and wherein the output is indicative of whether the wearable computing device is being worn;

based on the received output, determining a first power state for the computing system;

determining that the first power state is a different power state than an existing power state of the computing system; and

in response to determining that the first power state is a different power state than the existing power state, modifying an operating state of the computing system, wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises opening or closing an application of the computing system.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14:

wherein the wearable computing device comprises an eyewear device, and

wherein the infrared proximity sensor is coupled to an inner side of the eyewear device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15:

wherein the eyewear device comprises a modular device coupled to an extending side-arm of a head-mounted structure, the modular device having a frame and a single lens element, and

wherein the infrared proximity sensor is positioned on an inner side of the frame.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14:

wherein the first power state is a power-on state, and

wherein the modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises providing instructions to a display system to provide a display on a lens element of the wearable computing device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14:

wherein the first power state comprises a power-save state, and

wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises providing instructions to the computing system to enter a sleep-mode.