AMBIENT TEMPERATURE REPORTING THROUGH INFRARED FACIAL RECOGNITION

• US 20180336398A1
• Filed: 05/18/2017
• Published: 11/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Shenoy, Sukesh
• Granted Patent: US 11,830,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/324 by lowering clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10004 Still image; Photographic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10048 Infrared image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/194 involving foreground-background segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/90 Determination of colour characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/143 Sensing or illuminating at different wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Various methods an apparatus to use facial recognition in a computing device are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of controlling a component of a computing device is provided. The method includes taking an IR image of a user and a background with an IR sensor of a computing device. The computing device is in a location. The IR image is segmented into user image data and background image data. An ambient temperature of the location is determined using the background image data. An aspect of the component is controlled based on the ambient temperature.

Claims

1. A method of computing, comprising:

taking an IR image of a user and a background with an IR sensor of a computing device, the computing device being in a location;

segmenting the IR image into user image data and background image data; and

determining an ambient temperature of the location using the background image data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the segmenting comprises performing facial recognition on the IR image.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising using the facial recognition to authenticate the user to the computing device.

4. The method of claim 2, comprising using the facial recognition to authenticate the user to an application running on the computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising controlling an aspect of the computing device based on the determined ambient temperature.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein computing device comprises a processor and a cooling fan, the controlled aspect comprises processor power or fan movement.

7. A method of controlling a component of a computing device, comprising:

taking an IR image of a user and a background with an IR sensor of a computing device, the computing device being in a location;

segmenting the IR image into user image data and background image data;

determining an ambient temperature of the location using the background image data; and

controlling an aspect of the component based on the ambient temperature.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the segmenting comprises performing facial recognition on the IR image.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising using the facial recognition to authenticate the user to the computing device.

10. The method of claim 8, comprising using the facial recognition to authenticate the user to an application running on the computing device.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the component comprises a processor, the controlled aspect comprises clock speed or core voltage.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the component comprises a cooling fan, the controlled aspect comprises fan movements.

13. The method of claim 7, comprising calculating a skin temperature margin based on the ambient temperature.

14. A computing device, comprising:

an IR sensor configured to take an IR image of a user and a background, the computing device being in a location; and

a processor programmed to segmenting the IR image into user image data and background image data and determine an ambient temperature of the location using the background image data.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the segmenting comprises performing facial recognition on the IR image.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the facial recognition is configured to authenticate the user to the computing device.

17. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the facial recognition is configured to authenticate the user to an application running on the computing device.

18. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the processor is programmed to control an aspect of the computing device based on the determined ambient temperature.

19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein computing device comprises a cooling fan, the controlled aspect comprises fan movement.

20. The computing device of claim 18, wherein controlled aspect comprises processor clock speed or core voltage.