Systems and methods for providing human interface device information via a camera sensor

A method of providing environmental information to an electronic device, the method comprising:

• at the electronic device:
• receiving ambient light from a surrounding environment of the electronic device with a camera sensor that includes a pixel array in data communication with a processor;
• capturing a raw pattern with the camera sensor, wherein the raw pattern includes light intensity information and light spectrum information and wherein capturing the raw pattern includes using less pixels than the entire pixel array;
• deriving at least one ambient light value from the light intensity information and light spectrum information;
• and
• providing the ambient light value to the processor of the electronic device.