IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,644,903
Granted Patent B2
US 11,644,903 · App. 17/373,058 · Granted May 9, 2023

Electronic device with gesture detection system and methods for using the gesture detection system

Inventors: Rachid Mohsen Alameh (Crystal Lake, IL); Patrick J. Cauwels (South Beloit, IL); Kenneth A. Paitl (West Dundee, IL)
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
G06F3/017G06F1/1684G06F1/3231G06F3/011G06F3/012G06F3/0325G06F3/0416G06F3/0421H04M1/72448G06F2203/04108H04M1/026H04M2250/12Y02D10/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,644,903
App. No.
17/373,058
Granted
May 9, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method in an electronic device, the method includes projecting infrared (“IR”) light from a plurality of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) disposed proximate to the perimeter of the electronic device, detecting, by a sensor, IR light originating from at least two of the plurality of LEDs reflected from off of a person, and carrying out a function based on the relative strength of the detected IR light from the LEDs.

Claims (37)

1. A method in an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting, using a sensor, light originating from a plurality of light sources that is reflected from a feature of a user of the electronic device;

generating a signal based on a plurality of determined characteristics of the detected light; and

carrying out a function on the electronic device based on the signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrying out a function on the electronic device comprises carrying out a function on the electronic device based on relative strength of the detected light originating from the plurality of light sources.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising reselecting at least one light source of the plurality of light sources if the detected light originating from at least one of the plurality of light sources becomes weaker than detected light originating from the at least one light source.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining, based on the relative strength of the detected light, a difference between detected light originating from at least one light source of the plurality of light sources having a stronger detected light and detected light originating from at least one light source of the plurality of light sources having a weaker detected light; and

causing an increased amount of light to be projected from the at least one light source from which the weaker detected light originated based on the determined difference.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of determined characteristics includes a strength of the detected light.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of determined characteristics includes an angle at which the detected light is detected.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of determined characteristics includes a direction from which the detected light is detected.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising reselecting at least one light source of the plurality of light sources based on the at least one signal indicating the direction from which the detected light is detected.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources is disposed proximate to the perimeter of the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a front facing camera of the electronic device.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a plurality of light sources;

a sensor for detecting light originating from one or more of the plurality of light sources; and

a hardware processor that is configured to:

detect, using a sensor, light originating from a plurality of light sources that is reflected from a feature of a user of the electronic device;

generate a signal based on a plurality of determined characteristics of the detected light; and

carry out a function on the electronic device based on the signal.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the carrying out a function on the electronic device comprises carrying out a function on the electronic device based on relative strength of the detected light originating from the plurality of light sources.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to reselect at least one light source of the plurality of light sources if the detected ligi originating from at least one of the plurality of light sources becomes weaker than detected light originating from the at least one light source.

14. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to:

determine, based on the relative strength of the detected light, a difference between detected light originating from at least one light source of the plurality of light sources having a stronger detected light and detected light originating from at least one light source of the plurality of light sources having a weaker detected light; and

cause an increased amount of light to be projected from the at least one light source from which the weaker detected light originated based on the determined difference.

15. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of determined characteristics includes a strength of the detected light.

16. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of determined characteristics includes an angle at which the detected light is detected.

17. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of determined characteristics includes a direction from which the detected light is detected.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to reselect at least one light source of the plurality of light sources based on the at least one signal indicating the direction from which the detected light is detected.

19. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of light sources is disposed proximate to the perimeter of the electronic device.

20. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the sensor is a front facing camera of the electronic device.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method in an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting, using a sensor, light originating from a plurality of light sources that is reflected from a feature of a user of the electronic device;

generating a signal based on a plurality of determined characteristics of the detected light; and

carrying out a function on the electronic device based on the signal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2026
From: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 075465/0894 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 16834422 · Mar 30, 2020
Continuation 16055637 · Aug 6, 2018
Continuation 15243696 · Aug 22, 2016
Continuation 14707991 · May 8, 2015
Continuation 14098884 · Dec 6, 2013
Provisional Application 61876691 · Sep 11, 2013
Related Publication 20210342009A1 · Nov 4, 2021