John E Kvam

US Patent:

20190212125, Jul 11, 2019

Filed:

Dec 18, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/224543

Inventors:

- Coppell TX, US
John E. KVAM - Palo Alto CA, US

International Classification:

G01B 11/02
G06K 9/00
G06T 7/521
H04N 5/232
G01C 3/02

Abstract:

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of controlling a facial recognition process by validating preconditions with a ranging sensor. The ranging sensor transmits a ranging signal that is reflected off of a user's face and received back at the ranging sensor. The received ranging signal can be used to determine distance between the user's face and the mobile device or to determine the reflectivity of the user's face. Comparing the distance to a range of distances corresponding to normal operation of the device or normal reflectivities associated with human skin tones can reduce the number of false positive activations of the facial recognition process. Furthermore, a multiple zone ranging sensor can produce a face depth map that can be compared to a stored face depth map or can produce a reflectivity map that can be compared to a stored face reflectivity map to further increase power efficiency and device security.