Techniques for adjusting operation of an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11516630-B2
Application number	US-202117398450-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2021
Priority date	May 13, 2016
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

Techniques for adjusting operation of an electronic device are described. In an example, while the electronic device is operating in a first operating mode according to a first parameter, a set of signals indicating an object in a room, and based on received reflected radar signals, are transmitted by a radar transceiver of the electronic device to one or more processors of the electronic device. By analyzing the set of signals to identify the object as a person, the one or more processors determine that the room is occupied. In accordance with determining that the room is occupied by the person, the electronic device is adjusted to operate in a second operating mode according to a second parameter suitable for sensing objects at a closer distance than the first parameter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of adjusting operation of an electronic device, the method comprising:
while the electronic device is operating in a first operating mode, transmitting, by a radar transceiver of the electronic device to one or more processors, a set of signals based on received reflected radar signals, wherein the first operating mode comprises operating according to a first parameter;
receiving, by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the set of signals, the set of signals indicating an object in a room;
determining, by the one or more processors, that the room is occupied by analyzing the set of signals to identify the object as a person; and
in accordance with determining that the room is occupied by the person, adjusting the electronic device to operate in a second operating mode, wherein the second operating mode comprises operating according to a second parameter, the second parameter being suitable for sensing objects at a closer distance than the first parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein while the electronic device is operating in the second operating mode, the method further comprises:
analyzing, by the one or more processors using machine learning, the set of signals to detect a gesture performed by the person; and
adjusting the operation of the electronic device according to the gesture performed by the person.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
while the electronic device is operating in the second operating mode, analyzing, by the one or more processors, the set of signals to determine that the person is approaching the electronic device; and
in accordance with determining that the person is approaching the electronic device, adjusting the electronic device to operate in a surface-input mode, wherein the second operating mode is the surface-input mode.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
analyzing, by the one or more processors, the set of signals to:
determine, based at least in part on a drop in noise in the set of signals, that a hand of the person is in contact with a casing of the electronic device, and
detect a contact gesture made by the hand of the person in contact with the casing; and

performing a function corresponding to the contact gesture.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
analyzing, by the one or more processors, the set of signals to:
determine, based at least in part on a lack of movement by a hand of the person along a particular axis relative to a casing of the electronic device, that the hand of the person is in contact with the casing, and
detect a contact gesture made by the hand of the person in contact with the casing; and

performing a function corresponding to the contact gesture.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is located in a room and operates in the first operating mode, and wherein the method further comprises:
analyzing, by the one or more processors, the set of signals to determine that a pet is approaching the electronic device, wherein in accordance with determining that the pet is approaching the electronic device, the electronic device remains in the first operating mode.

7. An electronic device comprising:
a radar transceiver configured to emit radar signals, receive reflected radar signals, and output a set of signals based on the reflected radar signals; and
one or more processors interfaced with the radar transceiver and configured to:
receive, from the radar transceiver, the set of signals, wherein the set of signals indicates an object in a room, wherein the set of signals is received while operating the electronic device in a first operating mode according to a first parameter,
determine that the room is occupied by analyzing the set of signals to identify the object as a person; and
in accordance with determining that the room is occupied by the person, adjust operation of the electronic device to a second operating mode, wherein:
the second operating mode comprises operating according to a second parameter, the second parameter being suitable for sensing objects at a closer distance than the first parameter.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein while the electronic device is operating in the second operating mode, the one or more processors is configured to:
analyze, by the one or more processors using machine learning, the set of signals to detect a gesture performed by the person, and
adjust the operation of the electronic device according to the gesture performed by the person.

9. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to:
while the electronic device is operating in the second operating mode, analyze the set of signals to determine that the person is approaching the electronic device, and
in accordance with determining that the person is approaching the electronic device, adjust the electronic device to operate in a surface-input mode, wherein the second operating mode is the surface-input mode.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a casing;
wherein the one or more processors is further configured to:
analyze the set of signals to:
determine, based at least in part on a drop in noise in the set of signals, that a hand of the person is in contact with the casing, and
detect a contact gesture made by the hand of the person in contact with the casing, and

perform a function corresponding to the contact gesture.

11. The electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a casing;
wherein the one or more processors is further configured to:
analyze the set of signals to:
determine, based at least in part on a lack of movement by a hand of the person along a particular axis relative to the casing, that the hand of the person is in contact with the casing, and
detect a contact gesture made by the hand of the person in contact with the casing, and

perform a function corresponding to the contact gesture.

12. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the electronic device is located in the room and operates in a first operating mode, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
analyze the set of signals to determine that a pet is approaching the electronic device, wherein in accordance with determining that the pet is approaching the electronic device, the electronic device remains in the first operating mode.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
while the electronic device is operating in a first operating mode, receiving a set of signals from a radar transceiver of the electronic device, the set of signals indicating an object in a room, wherein the first operating mode comprises operating according to a first parameter;
determining, by the one or more processors, that the room is occupied by analyzing the set of signals to identify the object as a person; and
in accordance with determining that the room is occupied by the person, adjusting operation of the electronic device to a second operating mode, wherein the second operating mode comprises operating according to a second parameter, the second parameter being suitable for sensing objects at a closer distance than the first parameter.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of 13 , wherein while the electronic device is operating in the second operating mode, the instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
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Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Silverstein Brian
• Sherry Eden

Classifications

• G05B15/02 Primary

  electric · CPC title

• G01S13/42

  Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates (indirect measurement G01S13/46) · CPC title

• H04W8/005

  Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals · CPC title

• H04W4/33 Primary

  for indoor environments, e.g. buildings · CPC title

• G01S13/878

  Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector (G01S13/874 takes precedence) · CPC title