Sensor Fusion for Human Presence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile electronic devices lack effective means to detect user presence and control access securely, especially in public environments where unauthorized access or privacy breaches can occur if the user steps away without logging out.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device equipped with a time-of-flight sensor, motion sensor, and audio sensor that processes signals to detect user proximity and intent, using a sensor fusion algorithm to control access and differentiate between intended use and passing by, thereby ensuring secure access only when the user is present and engaged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensors (time-of-flight, motion, audio) are used to detect user presence and intent, then security and measurement precision are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the user presence detection function into multiple independent sensor modules (time-of-flight sensor for distance, motion sensor for device movement, audio sensor for sound detection). Each sensor independently monitors a specific aspect of user presence, and their results are combined through sensor fusion to make access control decisions. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high reliability through multiple verification points while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor fusion system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it detects user presence, determines user intent (whether the user intends to use the device or is merely passing by), and controls access to the device. By making the sensor system multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate systems for each function, thereby improving security without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If sensor fusion algorithm processes multiple signals continuously, then user presence detection accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously processing all sensor signals, the system employs periodic sampling and event-triggered processing. The sensor fusion algorithm activates signal processing based on specific conditions (e.g., when the time-of-flight sensor detects an object within threshold distance, or when motion sensors detect significant movement). This periodic and conditional processing maintains high detection accuracy while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system processes sensor signals selectively rather than always processing all signals at full capacity. When user presence is detected, the system activates full sensor fusion processing to ensure accurate intent detection. When no presence is detected, the system reduces processing activity to minimal levels. This partial action approach maintains measurement precision when needed while reducing power consumption during idle periods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively enhances security and privacy by accurately detecting user presence and intent, preventing unauthorized access and reducing the risk of content exposure in public settings, while optimizing power consumption through adaptive sensor activation.
Implementation Method 1
a time-of-flight sensor that in operation generates a distance signal indicating a distance of an object from the electronic device
Implementation Method 2
A motion sensor generates a motion signal indicating motion of the electronic device
Implementation Method 3
an audio sensor that generates a sensed audio signal in response to acoustic signals received by the electronic device
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes sensing through time-of-flight measurements a distance of an object from an electronic device, sensing motion of the electronic device, sensing acoustic signals received by the electronic device, and detecting the presence of a human proximate the electronic device based on the sensed distance, motion and acoustic signals. Access to the electronic device is controlled based on whether a human is detected as being present.