Systems and methods for detecting gesture events in a hazard detection system

• US 9,892,623 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2016
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Dixon, Michael, Matsuoka, Yoky, Minich, Allen Joseph, Modi, Yash
• Primary Examiner(s): BEE, ANDREW W.
• Application Number:
  US15/249,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20170052597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• 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: G06V 40/103 Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/00 Checking or monitoring of signalling or alarm systems; Prevention or correction of operating errors, e.g. preventing unauthorised operation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204

Abstract

Hazard detection systems and methods according to embodiments described herein are operative to enable a user to interface with the hazard detection system by performing a touchless gesture. The touchless gesture can be performed in a vicinity of the hazard detection system without requiring physical access to the hazard detection system. This enables the user to interact with the hazard detection system even if it is out of reach. The hazard detection system can detect gestures and perform an appropriate action responsive to the detected gesture. In one embodiment, the hazard detection system can silence its audible alarm or pre-emptively turn off its audible alarm in response to a detected gesture. Gestures can be detected by processing sensor data to determine whether periodic shapes are detected.

Claims

1. A detection system, comprising:

a first sensor for obtaining first sensor data;

a first processor operative to monitor the sensor data obtained by the first sensor to determine occurrence of a first event;

a second sensor for obtaining second sensor data; and

a second processor,

wherein the detection system operates in a relatively low power mode that consumes less than or equal to 0.05 mW prior to the occurrence of the first event,

wherein after the occurrence of the first event the detection system operates in a relatively high power mode in which both the first and second processors are active for a fixed period of time, and

wherein in the relatively high power mode, the second processor is operative to process the second sensor data to determine whether a gesture event occurs within the fixed period of time.

2. The detection system of claim 1, wherein in the relatively low power mode, the second processor is inactive.

3. The detection system of claim 1, wherein in response to the occurrence of the first event, an audible alarm is sounded, and wherein in response to the occurrence of the gesture event, the second processor is operative to silence the audible alarm.

4. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is a passive infrared (PIR) sensor.

5. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the second processor is operative to use a shape matching algorithm to determine if the gesture event exists in the second sensor data.

6. The detection system of claim 5, wherein the second processor is operative to use the shape matching algorithm to:

calculate a non-wave score based on a sample set of the second sensor data;

calculate a wave score based on the sample set; and

use the non-wave score and the wave score to determine if the gesture event exists in the sample set.

7. The detection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third sensor for obtaining third sensor data, wherein the second processor is operative to process the second and third sensor data to determine whether the gesture event occurs within the fixed period of time.

8. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the gesture event is a waving event.

9. The detection system of claim 1, wherein in the high power mode, the detection system consumes more than 0.05 mW.

10. A method implemented in a device comprising first and second sensors and first and second processors, the method comprising:

obtaining first sensor data from the first sensor;

monitoring, at the first processor, the sensor data obtained by the first sensor to determine occurrence of a first event;

obtaining second sensor data from the second sensor; and

operating the device in a relatively low power mode that consumes less than or equal to 0.05 mW prior to the occurrence of the first event;

after the occurrence of the first event, operating the device in a relatively high power mode in which both the first and second processors are active for a fixed period of time; and

wherein in the relatively high power mode, processing, at the second processor, the second sensor data to determine whether a gesture event occurs within the fixed period of time.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein in the relatively low power mode, the second processor is inactive.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein in response to the occurrence of the first event, sounding an audible alarm, and wherein in response to the occurrence of the gesture event, silencing the audible alarm.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the second sensor is a passive infrared (PIR) sensor.

14. The method of claim 10, using a shape matching algorithm to determine if the gesture event exists in the second sensor data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein using the shape matching algorithm comprises:

calculating a non-wave score based on a sample set of the second sensor data;

calculating a wave score based on the sample set; and

using the non-wave score and the wave score to determine if the gesture event exists in the sample set.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the device further comprises a third sensor for obtaining third sensor data, the method further comprising processing, at the second processor, the second and third sensor data to determine whether the gesture event occurs within the fixed period of time.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the gesture event is a waving event.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein in the high power mode, the device consumes more than 0.05 mW.