Electronic Device User Presence Detection via Sensor Fusion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing device management systems are inadequate as they rely on timer-based methods to detect user presence, leading to unwanted mode changes during activities like reading or watching videos, and fail to manage operating modes at a component or application level, resulting in inefficient power usage and limited user experience.
Innovation Solution
A device management module that utilizes a combination of idle-duration timers and non-operation-specific proximity data from various sensors to maintain or switch the operating mode of electronic devices, including individual components and applications, ensuring optimal power management and user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a timer-based system is used to detect user presence, then power consumption is reduced when no input is detected, but the system incorrectly switches to power-saving mode during activities like reading or watching videos where the user is present but not actively interacting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments user presence detection into multiple independent sensor channels (proximity sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer) rather than relying on a single timer-based input detection mechanism. Each sensor provides independent data about user presence, allowing the system to make a more reliable determination by combining multiple indicators rather than relying solely on the absence of input device activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces proximity sensors as intermediary detection mechanisms that can detect user presence without requiring active interaction. The proximity sensor acts as a mediator between the user and the system, providing continuous presence information even when the user is passively consuming content, thereby resolving the contradiction between power saving and accurate presence detection.
2Productivity
If the system switches to power-saving mode based on idle duration, then energy efficiency is improved, but user experience deteriorates due to unwanted mode changes during passive consumption activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic operating mode management that adapts to real-time sensor data rather than following a static timer-based schedule. The system continuously monitors multiple sensors and dynamically adjusts the operating mode based on the combined information, allowing it to remain in high-performance mode during passive consumption activities while still achieving power savings during genuine idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where sensor data continuously informs operating mode decisions. The proximity sensor, accelerometer, and other sensors provide ongoing feedback about user presence and device orientation, allowing the system to adjust power management in real-time based on actual usage conditions rather than predetermined time intervals.
3Device complexity
If traditional timer-based detection is used, then the system is simple to implement, but it cannot distinguish between genuine idle states and passive consumption states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data from multiple sensor sources (proximity sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer) into a unified user presence determination system. By combining these different types of sensor data, the system achieves high measurement precision in distinguishing between idle and passive consumption states while maintaining relatively simple implementation through integrated sensor processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the sensor system multi-functional by using the same set of sensors for both presence detection and activity characterization. The proximity sensor, accelerometer, and other sensors serve multiple purposes: detecting presence, determining device orientation, identifying consumption activities, and triggering appropriate operating modes, thereby achieving high detection accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a first input device; a second input device capable of operating in a first operating mode; and a system management module in communication with the first input device and the second input device. The system management module is configured for switching the second input device to a second operating mode in response to detecting, by the first input device, a presence of a user without receiving any operation-specific input from the user.