IP Library Granted Patent US 10,628,565
Granted Patent B2
US 10,628,565 · App. 15/063,618 · Granted Apr 21, 2020

Method and device

Inventor: Gunnar Klinghult (Lund, SE)
Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
G06F21/31G01J5/0025G01J5/025G01J5/0265G01J5/048G01J5/0846G01J5/34G06F1/1684G06F1/1696G06F3/041G06F21/32G06K9/0002H04M1/67G07C9/00158
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,628,565
App. No.
15/063,618
Granted
Apr 21, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and device for user authorization is presented herein. The authorization device may be integrated in a display interface configured to receive an infrared input signal. The device may include a means for converting the infrared signal into an electric signal. The device may further include a processor configured to analyze the electrical signal. The processor may further be configured to provide an authorization of a user based on the analysis of the electrical signal.

Claims (41)

1. A multimedia device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display configured to receive a user surface interaction, the touch-sensitive display comprising:

a touch sensing layer configured to generate a touch sensing signal caused by the user surface interaction, wherein the touch sensing signal is indicative of a location of the user surface interaction, and

an authorization sensing area configured to receive infrared energy emitted as heat by the user during the user surface interaction;

a converter that converts the infrared energy emitted by the user to an electrical signal; and

a processor configured to:

analyze the electrical signal produced as a result of the infrared energy,

determine the location of the user surface interaction based on the touch sensing signal, and

in response to the touch sensing signal, based on the analyzing and taking into account the determined location of the user surface interaction, biometrically authorizing an activation of a function of the multimedia device, the function being associated with the touch sensing signal.

2. The multimedia device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensing area covers the entire touch-sensitive display.

3. The multimedia device according to claim 1 , wherein the touch sensing layer and the authorization sensing area are integrated.

4. The multimedia device according to claim 1 , wherein the authorization sensing area comprises any number of sensors, wherein the sensors are pyroelectric, or a pyroelectric and piezoelectric, material based sensors.

5. The multimedia device according to claim 4 , wherein the converter that converts the infrared input signal to an electrical signal is comprised in the sensors.

6. The multimedia device according to claim 4 , wherein the sensors comprises piezoelectric plastic.

7. The multimedia device according to claim 1 , wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to receive the user surface interaction in the form of a finger interaction on, or in close proximity to the touch-sensitive display.

8. The multimedia device according to claim 1 , wherein the authorization is provided during activation of a restricted access function, wherein the restricted access function includes at least one of accessing emails, accessing a contact list, sending messages, starting the multimedia device, or accessing private or personal data.

9. The multimedia device according to claim 1 , wherein the authorization is provided during menu navigation.

10. The multimedia device according to claim 1 , wherein when analyzing, the processor is configured to perform the analyzing in a continuous or periodic manner.

11. The multimedia device according to claim 1 , wherein the multimedia device is a mobile telephone, media player, PDA, computer, or camera.

12. The multimedia device of claim 1 , wherein the infrared energy is black body radiation emitted from the user.

13. A method of controlling an electronic device, comprising:

receiving a user surface interaction on a touch-sensitive display as a touch sensing signal indicative of a location of the user surface interaction, the user surface interaction being indicative for carrying out a function of the electronic device;

during the receipt of the user surface interaction indicative for carrying out the function, receiving infrared energy emitted as heat by a user via an authorization sensing area having infrared sensing capability;

converting the infrared energy emitted by the user to an electrical signal;

analyzing the electrical signal;

determining the location of the user surface interaction based on the touch sensing signal; and

biometrically authorizing an activation of the function based on the analyzing and taking into account the determined location of the user surface interaction.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the act of receiving is performed continuously.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the act of receiving is performed periodically.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the user surface interaction is received in the form of a finger interaction on, or in close proximity to the touch-sensitive display.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the act of authorization is provided during activation of a restricted access function, wherein the restricted access function includes at least one of accessing emails, accessing a contact list, sending messages, starting the multimedia device, or accessing private or personal data.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the authorization is provided during menu navigation.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the infrared energy is black body radiation emitted from the user.

20. A non-transitory computer program product comprising a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by an electronic device having processing capabilities, is configured to:

receive a touch sensing signal corresponding to a user surface interaction on a touch-sensitive display, the user surface interaction being indicative for carrying out a function of the electronic device, wherein the touch sensing signal is indicative of a location of the user surface interaction;

during the receipt of the user surface interaction indicative for carrying out the function, receiving infrared energy emitted as heat by the user via an authorization sensing area having infrared sensing capability;

converting the infrared energy emitted by the user to an electrical signal;

analyzing the electrical signal;

determining the location of the surface interaction based on the touch sensing signal; and

biometrically authorizing an activation of the function based on the analyzing and taking into account the determined location of the user surface interaction.

21. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 20 , wherein the infrared energy is black body radiation emitted from the user.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2019
From: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048691/0134 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2019
From: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
To: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 048109/0727 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2019
From: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS INC.
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048110/0169 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2019
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 048110/0279 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2016
From: KLINGHULT, GUNNAR
To: SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
Reel/Frame 037918/0202 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 8, 2016
From: SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
To: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
Reel/Frame 038031/0196 →