IP Library Granted Patent US 12,086,628
Granted Patent B2
US 12,086,628 · App. 17/938,330 · Granted Sep 10, 2024

Electronic apparatus and control method

Inventors: Kazuhiro Kosugi (Kanagawa, JP); Masashi Nishio (Kanagawa, JP); Eri Shimizu (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
G06F9/48G06F11/3438G06V40/161G06F1/3203
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,086,628
App. No.
17/938,330
Granted
Sep 10, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic apparatus includes: a memory which temporarily stores a program of a system; a first processor which executes the program to implement functions of the system; a second processor which detects a face area with a face captured therein from an image captured by an imaging unit; and a third processor which switches between and executes first processing in which, when the face area is detected by the second processor, first information is output, while when the face area is not detected, second information is output, and second processing to output the first information despite detection of the face area by the second processor. When there is no operation input by a user over a certain period of time, the first processor restricts use of at least some of the functions of the system.

Claims (54)

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a memory which temporarily stores a program of a system;

a first processor which executes the program to implement functions of the system;

a second processor which detects a face area with a face captured therein from an image captured by an imaging unit; and

a third processor which switches between and executes

a first processing mode in which, when the face area is detected by the second processor, first information is output, while when the face area is not detected, second information is output, and

a second processing mode to output the first information regardless of whether the face area is detected by the second processor,

wherein the third processor switches between the first processing mode and the second processing mode based on a usage situation of the electronic apparatus,

wherein

when there is no operation input by a user over a certain period of time, the first processor restricts use of at least some of the functions of the system, and

when acquiring the second information from the third processor, the first processor restricts use of at least some of the functions of the system without waiting for the certain period of time.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the second processor determines whether or not an imaging direction of the imaging unit is blocked based on the image captured by the imaging unit, and

the usage situation is based on whether or not an imaging direction of the imaging unit is blocked,

when it is determined by the second processor that the imaging direction of the imaging unit is not blocked, the third processor executes the first processing mode, while when it is determined that the imaging direction of the imaging unit is blocked, the third processor executes the second processing mode.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first chassis having at least the imaging unit;

a second chassis having at least an input unit; and

a rotating mechanism which connects the first chassis and the second chassis in a manner to be rotatable relative to each other,

wherein the usage situation is based on a rotation angle of the first chassis relative to the second chassis,

wherein in a case where the rotation angle when the first chassis and the second chassis are rotated relative to each other is within a predetermined range, the third processor executes the first processing mode, while when the rotation angle is out of the predetermined range, the third processor executes the second processing mode.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising

an output interface which outputs display image data for displaying a display image based on the functions of the system on an external display,

wherein the usage situation is based on whether or not the external display displays the display image,

wherein in a state where the display image is not displayed on the external display, the third processor executes the first processing mode, while in a state where the display image is being displayed on the external display, the third processor executes the second processing mode.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the third processor repeatedly executes the first processing mode or the second processing mode in such a manner that a cycle of repeatedly executing the second processing mode is set longer than a cycle of repeatedly executing the first processing mode.

6. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a memory which temporarily stores a program of a system;

a first processor which executes the program to implement functions of the system;

a second processor which detects a face area with a face captured therein from an image captured by an imaging unit, and when detecting the face area, which detects a direction of a line of sight from eyes of the face included in the face area; and

a third processor which

outputs first information when the face area is detected by the second processor and the direction of the line of sight is within a predetermined range, or

switches between and executes

first processing mode to output second information when the face area is detected and the direction of the line of sight is out of the predetermined range or when the face area is not detected, and

second processing mode to output the first information despite the detection of the face area and the direction of the line of sight by the second processor,

wherein the third processor switches between the first processing mode and the second processing mode based on a usage situation of the electronic apparatus,

wherein

when there is no operation input by a user over a certain period of time, the first processor restricts use of at least some of the functions of the system, and

when acquiring the second information from the third processor, the first processor restricts use of at least some of the functions of the system without waiting for the certain period of time.

7. A control method for an electronic apparatus including: a memory which temporarily stores a program of a system; a first processor which executes the program to implement functions of the system; a second processor; and a third processor, the control method comprising:

a step of causing the second processor to detect a face area with a face captured therein from an image captured by an imaging unit;

a step in which when the face area is detected by the second processor, the third processor outputs first information, while when the face area is not detected, the third processor switches between and executes

a first processing mode to output second information and

a second processing mode to output the first information despite detection of regardless of whether the face area is detected by the second processor,

wherein the third processor switches between the first processing mode and the second processing mode based on a usage situation of the electronic apparatus;

a step in which when there is no operation input by a user over a certain period of time, the first processor restricts use of at least some of the functions of the system; and

a step in which when the second information is acquired from the third processor, the first processor restricts use of at least some of the functions of the system without waiting for the certain period of time.

8. A control method for an electronic apparatus including: a memory which temporarily stores a program of a system; and a first processor, a second processor, and a third processor which implement functions of the system by executing the program, the control method comprising:

a step of causing the second processor to detect a face area with a face captured therein from an image captured by an imaging unit, and when detecting the face area, causing the second processor to detect a line-of-sight direction from eyes of the face included in the face area;

a step in which when the face area is detected by the second processor and the line-of-sight direction is within a predetermined range, the third processor outputs first information, while when the face area is detected but the line-of-sight direction is out of the predetermined range, or when the face area is not detected, the third processor switches between and executes

a first processing mode to output second information and P 2 a second processing mode to output the first information despite detection of the face area and the line-of-sight direction by the second processor,

wherein the third processor switches between the first processing mode and the second processing mode based on a usage situation of the electronic apparatus;

a step in which when there is no operation input by a user over a certain period of time, the first processor restricts use of at least some of the functions of the system; and

a step in which when the second information is acquired from the third processor, the first processor restricts use of at least some of the functions of the system without waiting for the certain period of time.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 070266/0977 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 070269/0092 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2023
From: KOSUGI, KAZUHIRO; NISHIO, MASASHI; SHIMIZU, ERI
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 062315/0489 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-199297 · Dec 8, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230176897A1 · Jun 8, 2023