IP Library Granted Patent US 9,823,746
Granted Patent B2
US 9,823,746 · App. 14/589,242 · Granted Nov 21, 2017

Method for controlling function and electronic device thereof

Inventors: Kyung-Jung Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Se-Jun Song (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
G06F3/014G06F1/16G08B21/02G08B21/182
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,823,746
App. No.
14/589,242
Granted
Nov 21, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of controlling a function of an electronic device is provided. The method includes determining whether a human body of a user is in contact with the electronic device, and performing a corresponding function if the human body of the user is in contact with the electronic device. The determination of whether the human body of the user is in contact with the electronic device is based at least in part on whether an image pattern of the human body of the user, which is detected by the image sensor, a temperature pattern of the electronic device, which is detected by the temperature sensor, and a resistance pattern of the human body of the user, which is detected by the body conductivity sensor, respectively correspond to a reference image pattern, a reference temperature pattern, and a reference resistance pattern.

Claims (55)

1. A method of a wearable device, the method comprising:

determining, based on information sensed by a sensor module of the wearable device, whether a user of the wearable device is in contact with the wearable device; and

switching, in response to determining that the user is in contact with the wearable device, a synchronization period of at least one application stored in the wearable device from a first period to a second period,

wherein the synchronization period is a frequency updating data associated with the at least one application program such that the data associated with the at least one application program corresponds to other data associated with the at least one application program of an external electronic device, and

wherein the second period is shorter than the first period.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

switching, in response to determining that the user is in non-contact with the wearable device, an operation mode of the wearable device from a normal power mode to a low power mode.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor module comprises one or more of a proximity sensor, a illumination sensor, a humidity sensor, or an image sensor of the wearable device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying, in response to determining that the user is in contact with the wearable device, whether an output mode of the wearable device is a vibration mode; and

switching, in response to identifying that the output mode of the wearable device is the vibration mode, a vibration strength of the wearable device from a first strength to a second strength,

wherein the second strength is greater than the first strength.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

measuring, in response to determining that the user is in contact with the wearable device, a temperature of the wearable device;

controlling, in response to determining that the measured temperature is greater than or equal to a first threshold, to transform a shape of the wearable device such that the wearable device separated or detached from the user; and

outputting, in response to determining that the measured temperature is less than the first threshold and is greater than a second threshold, an alert message.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the shape of the wearable device is changed by controlling a bimetal disposed on a side of the wearable device.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

acquiring an image pattern by using an image sensor included in the sensor module,

wherein the determining whether the user of the wearable device is in contact with the wearable device comprises:

determining whether the user of the wearable device is in contact with the wearable device by comparing the acquired image pattern with a reference image pattern, and

wherein the reference image pattern comprises one or more of a skin color, skin texture, body hair, sweat pore, pore arrangement, iris, or face image of the user.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

measuring, in response to determining that the user is in contact with the wearable device, a temperature change value of the wearable device during a specific period;

controlling, in response to determining that the measured temperature change value is greater than or equal to a first threshold, to transform a shape of the wearable device such that the wearable device separated or detached from the user; and

outputting, in response to determining that the measured temperature change value is less than the first threshold and is greater than a second threshold, an alert message.

9. A wearable device comprising:

a sensor module;

a memory; and

a processor configured to:

determine, based on information sensed by the sensor module of the wearable device, whether a user of the wearable device is in contact with the wearable devices, and

switch, in response to determining that the user is in contact with the wearable device, a synchronization period of at least one application program stored in the wearable device from a first period to a second period,

wherein the synchronization period is a frequency updating data associated with the at least one application program such that the data associated with the at least one application program corresponds to other data associated with the at least one application program of an external electronic device, and

wherein the second period is shorter than the first period.

10. The wearable device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

switch, in response to determining that the user is in non-contact with the wearable device, an operation mode of the wearable device from a normal power mode to a low power mode.

11. The wearable device of claim 9 , wherein the sensor module comprises one or more of a proximity sensor, a illumination sensor, a humidity sensor, or an image sensor of the wearable device.

12. The wearable device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify, in response to determining that the user is in contact with the wearable device, whether an output mode of the wearable device is a vibration mode; and

switch, in response to identifying that the output mode of the wearable device is the vibration mode, a vibration strength of the wearable device from a first strength to a second strength,

wherein the second strength is greater than the first strength.

13. The wearable device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

measure, in response to determining that the user is in contact with the wearable device, a temperature of the wearable device;

control, in response to determining that the measured temperature is greater than or equal to a first threshold, to transform a shape of the wearable device such that the wearable device is separated or detached from the user; and

output, in response to determining that the measured temperature is less than the first threshold and is greater than a second threshold, an alert message.

14. The wearable device of claim 13 , wherein the shape of the wearable device is changed by controlling a bimetal disposed on a side of the wearable device.

15. The wearable device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

acquire an image pattern by using an image sensor included in the sensor module, and

determine whether the user of the wearable device is in contact with the wearable device by comparing the acquired image pattern with a reference image pattern, and

wherein the reference image pattern comprises one or more of a skin color, skin texture, body hair, sweat pore, pore arrangement, iris, or face image of the user.

16. The wearable device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

measure, in response to determining that the user is in contact with the wearable device, a temperature change value of the wearable device during a specific period;

control, in response to determining that the measured temperature change value is greater than or equal to a first threshold, to transform a shape of the wearable device such that the wearable device is separated or detached from the user; and

output, in response to determining that the measured temperature change value is less than the first threshold and is greater than a second threshold, an alert message.

17. A non-transient computer readable recording medium storing one or more programs including instructions for allowing a wearable device to perform a method of claim 1 , when executed by the wearable device.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 13, 2015
From: STEM CENTRX, INC.
To: STEMCENTRX, INC.
Reel/Frame 037108/0952 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2015
From: KIM, KYUNG-JUNG; SONG, SE-JUN
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034633/0817 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2014-0001770 · Jan 7, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150192994A1 · Jul 9, 2015