US 12,561,416 B1Granted

Automated user-identification systems

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsEvan Perillo, Maxwell Wei Xuan, Baomin Wang, Brendan Pratt, Yufei Jia, Abhinav Kashyap

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Abstract

This disclosure describes a user-recognition system configured to target a location of a palm of a user at a wide variety of distances without the need to illuminate and/or capture an entire field of view (FOV) at all times. The user-recognition system comprising a first sensor for capturing an image of the palm, a first mirror disposed with the first sensor, a projector disposed with the first mirror, and a second mirror disposed with the first mirror. The second mirror being displaceable and configured to reflect light, projected from the projector and reflected from the first mirror, in a direction toward the palm, and reflect received light, reflected from the palm to the first mirror and to the first sensor.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A device comprising:

a near infrared (NIR) camera for capturing an image of a palm of a user;
a lens;
a pickoff mirror having a triangular shape and comprising a first reflective surface on a first side of the triangular shape and a second reflective surface on a second side of the triangular shape, wherein the first side and the second side share a common edge, and further wherein the first reflective surface is disposed adjacent to the lens;
a near infrared (NIR) projector disposed adjacent to the second reflective surface of the pickoff mirror, wherein the NIR camera and the NIR projector are disposed on opposite sides of the pickoff mirror;
an actuator;
a mirror coupled to the actuator, wherein the mirror is rotated responsive to the actuator and is configured to:
reflect infrared light, projected from the NIR projector, using the second reflective surface, in a direction toward the palm, and
reflect received infrared light to the NIR camera using the first reflective surface;
a visible light red-green-blue (RGB) camera configured to detect a presence of the palm of the user within a field of view (FOV) of the NIR camera as reflected by the mirror;
one or more processors;
and
one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
determining that a corresponding image acquired by the RGB camera depicts the palm within the FOV;
causing the NIR projector to project infrared light;
causing the actuator to rotate the mirror to direct the infrared light toward the palm within the FOV;
and
causing the NIR camera to generate image data, the image data representing the image of the palm within the FOV.

14 more elements

A device comprising:

a first mirror comprising a first reflective surface on a first side and a second reflective surface on a second side, wherein the first side and the second side share a common edge;
a first sensor having a field of view (FOV), wherein the first sensor is disposed adjacent to the first reflective surface of the first mirror and the FOV is directed toward the first reflective surface;
a projector disposed adjacent to the second reflective surface of the first mirror, wherein infrared light emitted from the projector is directed toward the second reflective surface and further wherein the projector and the first sensor are disposed on opposite sides of the first mirror;
a second mirror disposed adjacent to the common edge, wherein the second mirror:
rotates with regard to a single axis,
reflects infrared light from the projector that is reflected from the second reflective surface of the first mirror in a first direction, and
reflects received light to the first sensor using the first reflective surface;
an actuator coupled to the second mirror, wherein the actuator during operation rotates the second mirror with regard to the single axis;
a second sensor configured to detect a presence of a palm of a user within the FOV of the first sensor as reflected by the second mirror;
one or more processors;
and
one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:
determine that sensor data acquired by the second sensor depicts the palm of the user within the FOV;
cause the projector to project the infrared light;
operate the actuator to rotate the second mirror to direct the infrared light toward the palm within the FOV;
and
cause the first sensor to generate image data, the image data representing the palm within the FOV.

14 more elements

A device comprising:

a first mirror comprising a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface;
a first sensor comprising an image sensor;
a lens that is between the first reflective surface and the first sensor;
a projector that, during operation, directs infrared light toward the second reflective surface, wherein the projector and the first sensor are disposed on opposite sides of the first mirror;
an actuator;
a second mirror coupled to the actuator, wherein the second mirror is rotatable, and further wherein the second mirror is disposed adjacent to the first mirror such that:
infrared light reflected from the second reflected surface is reflected by the second mirror, and
received light is reflected from the second mirror to the first reflective surface;
a second sensor for detecting a presence of a palm within a field of view (FOV) of the first sensor as reflected by the second mirror;
one or more processors;
and
one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
receiving an indication that the second sensor has detected the palm of a user within the FOV;
causing the projector to project infrared light;
causing the actuator to rotate the second mirror to direct the infrared light toward the palm within the FOV;
and
causing the first sensor to generate image data, the image data representing the palm within the FOV.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/064,161Filed 9 Dec 2022
Granted: 24 Feb 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

G06F 21/32
User authentication: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
G01T 1/2978
Measurement of spatial distribution of radiation: hybrid imaging systems, e.g. using a position sensitive detector to determine the distribution…
G02B 7/09
With mechanism for focusing or varying magnification: adapted for automatic focusing or varying magnification
G02B 27/283
For polarising: used for beam splitting or combining