JP2020030528A - Information processing apparatus and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an information processing apparatus and a control method which can more surely detect a person having an intention to use the information processing apparatus.SOLUTION: The information processing apparatus comprises system hardware, a module operating independently of the system hardware, and an object detection unit which comprises a detection element for detecting a wave coming from an object to output a detection signal and is connected to the module. The module comprises: an approach analysis unit which determines a state that a detection object approaches and stays in front of the apparatus, as a preparatory state on the basis of a variation trend of the detection signal; and an operation control unit which activates operation of the system hardware in response to determining the preparatory state by the approach analysis unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing device and a control method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Some information processing apparatuses such as PCs (Personal Computers) include a proximity sensor (PS: Proximity Sensor) for detecting approach of a user. As the proximity sensor, for example, an infrared (IR) sensor is used. The user can activate the information processing apparatus only by approaching it without touching the information processing apparatus. Some information processing apparatuses include an authentication processing unit that performs face image recognition on an image captured by a camera in personal identification. The operation related to activation is reduced.

  For example, Patent Literature 1 describes a terminal processing device that displays an operation screen for terminal processing, detects a person in front of a display unit, and displays the operation screen in response to detection of the person. The terminal device performs a predetermined terminal process based on the received input operation while displaying the operation screen.

JP 2003-255922 A

  However, the person approaching the information processing device described above may include not only a person who intends to use the device but also a person who simply crosses in front of the information processing device. Therefore, the information processing device is activated every time a person approaching the information processing device is detected. Therefore, it has been expected to more reliably detect a person who has a will to use.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and an information processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes system hardware, a module that operates independently of the system hardware, and an A detection element for detecting a wave to be detected and outputting a detection signal, and an object detection unit connected to the module, wherein the module automatically detects a target object based on a change tendency of the detection signal. An approach analyzer that determines a state of stopping in front of the apparatus as a ready state, and an operation controller that activates the operation of the system hardware when the approach analyzer determines the ready state.

  According to the above aspect of the present invention, it is possible to more reliably detect a person who intends to use.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of hardware of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of an appearance of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a proximity sensor according to the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of start control according to the first embodiment. It is a top view showing an example of a person's motion. It is a figure showing an example of detection in a detecting element. It is a top view showing other examples of a person's motion. It is a figure showing other examples of detection in a detecting element. FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a use mode of the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating another example of a use mode of the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram showing an example of 1 composition of an information processor concerning a 3rd embodiment. FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram illustrating another configuration example of the information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment.

<First embodiment>
First, an information processing device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The information processing apparatus 1 may be realized in any form such as a notebook personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a notebook PC), a desktop PC, a tablet terminal device, a smartphone, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of an information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.
The information processing apparatus 1 includes a proximity sensor 10, a power supply unit 18, an EC (Embedded Controller) 20, a system hardware 30, a communication unit 44, a storage unit 46, a display unit 48, and an input device 50.
The information processing device 1 can transition at least between a standard operation state (power-on state) and a standby state as an operation state of the system. The standard operation state is an operation state in which the power consumption becomes a predetermined standard consumption. The standby state is an operation state in which the power consumption is lower than the standard operation state. The standby state includes a standby state, a sleep state, a hibernation state, and a power-off state. In the standby state, the activity is generally lower in activity than in the standard operation state.

In the standby state, the processing capacity of the processor is made lower than the standard operation state, and the power consumption of peripheral devices such as the communication unit 44, the storage unit 46, and the display unit 48 while maintaining the contents of the operating system memory 42 is reduced to the standard operation state. This is an operation state in which the number is reduced. A so-called modern standby corresponds to a standby state.
The sleep state is an operation mode in which power supply to devices other than the system memory 42, the EC 20, and the devices under the EC 20 is stopped, and the processor does not execute a program.
The hibernation state is a mode in which all information stored in the system memory 42 is saved in an auxiliary storage device that can be immediately accessed from the processor 11 in the sleep state, and thereafter, power supply to the system memory 42 is further stopped. . Therefore, when starting the boot process from the hibernation state, the CPU 32 stores the information saved in the auxiliary storage device in the system memory 42.
The power-off state is a state in which power supply to the EC 20 and devices other than devices under the EC 20 is stopped.
The standby state, the sleep state, the hibernation state, and the power-off state correspond to the S0 state, the S3 state, the S4 state, and the S5 state of the sleeping model defined in ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface), respectively. In the following description, transition from the standby state to the power-on state may be referred to as activation unless otherwise specified. The transition from the sleep state, the hibernation state, or the power-off state to the power-on state may be called boot.

  The proximity sensor 10 is a sensor for detecting an object (for example, a person) located in a predetermined area near the own unit. In the following description, an area where an object can be detected is referred to as a detection area. The angle indicating the range of the detection area is called a viewing angle (FoV: Field of View). The proximity sensor 10 includes an infrared (IR) sensor that detects infrared rays coming from the surface of the object. The proximity sensor 10 is installed, for example, on the front of the housing of the information processing device 1. The proximity sensor 10 outputs a detection signal obtained by the detection to the EC 20. An example of the proximity sensor 10 will be described later.

  The power supply unit 18 is supplied with power according to the operation state of each unit of the information processing device 1. The power supply unit 18 supplies power to each unit according to a power supply category defined in association with the operation state indicated by the operation state notification input from the operation control unit 24, for example. The amount of power of each unit is defined for each power supply category. The power supply unit 18 includes a DC (Direct Current) / DC converter. The DC / DC converter converts a voltage of DC power supplied from an AC (Alternate Current) / DC adapter or a battery pack into a voltage required by each unit.

The EC 20 operates independently of the system hardware 30, controls the operation of the system hardware 30, and manages its operation state. The EC 20 is a microcomputer including, for example, a CPU, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and an input / output (I / O) logic circuit. The proximity sensor 10 and the input device 50 are connected to the EC 20.
The CPU of the EC 20 reads a control program stored in advance in its own ROM, executes the read control program, and exhibits its function. In the following description, executing a program means executing a process specified by an instruction described in the program. The EC 20 has the functions of an approach analysis unit 22 and an operation control unit 24 as its functions.

The approach analysis unit 22 sets the detection state of the detection target (for example, a person) based on the strength of the detection signal as the detection target approaches, and thereafter keeps the detection target within a predetermined distance from the own device in front of the own device. It is detected whether or not the time has stopped. The approach analysis unit 22 determines this state as a start preparation state of the system hardware 30 of the own apparatus. The approach analysis unit 22 outputs detection state information indicating the detection state to the operation control unit 24.
The operation control unit 24 activates the system hardware 30 when the detection state information input from the approach analysis unit 22 indicates the activation preparation state of the system hardware 30. More specifically, the operation control unit 24 causes the power supply unit 18 to supply power required for the operation of each unit of the information processing device 1 when activating the system hardware 30. Thereafter, the operation control unit 24 outputs a start signal for instructing the system hardware 30 to start.
The operation control unit 24 may receive an operation state notification from the CPU 32 included in the system hardware 30 in some cases. By the operation state notification, an operation state (for example, sleep state) having a different activity level from the operation state at that time (for example, standard operation state) is instructed. In that case, the operation control unit 24 transfers the operation state notification to the power supply unit 18. Thereby, the operation control unit 24 can control the supply of power from the power supply unit 18 according to the transition of the operation state of the system hardware 30.

The system hardware 30 includes a CPU 32, a GPU (Graphic Processing Unit) 34, a memory controller 36, an I / O (Input-Output) controller 38, and a system memory 42. Various types of operating systems (OS: Operating System) are provided. Works with other application software. The CPU 32 and the GPU 34 may be collectively referred to as a processor.
The CPU 32 is in the standby state at that time, and when an activation signal is input from the EC 20, the CPU 32 changes the operation state at that time to the standard operation state.
When the operation state at that time is a sleep state, a hibernation state, or a power-off state, when the power is supplied from the power supply unit 18 and a start signal is input from the EC 20, the CPU 32 starts the start processing. The CPU 32 detects and initializes the minimum devices such as the system memory 42 and the storage unit 46 in the startup process (preboot). The CPU 32 loads the system firmware from the storage unit 46 to the system memory 42, and detects and initializes other devices such as the communication unit 44 and the display unit 48 (post processing). The initialization includes processing such as setting initial parameters. In the transition (resume) from the sleep state to the standard operation state, a part of the post processing may be omitted. After the startup process is completed, the CPU 32 starts execution of the OS and other software (startup).
The CPU 32 resumes the execution of the software whose execution has been stopped when the operation state at that time is the standby state and a start signal is input from the EC 20.

  Note that the CPU 32 changes the operation state according to the CPU usage rate and the data input / output state. The transition condition from the standard operation state to the standby state is, for example, a state in which the CPU usage rate is lower than a predetermined usage rate (for example, 1 to 3%), the input / output of data to / from the storage unit 46, and the input device. This is when the continuation time in a state where there is no data input from 50 continues for a predetermined time (for example, 3 to 5 minutes). The transition condition from the standby state to the sleep state is, for example, when the standby state continues for a predetermined time (for example, 3 to 5 minutes). The transition condition from the standby state or the sleep state to the standard operation state is, for example, when data input from the input device 50 is detected. Therefore, when the user is away from the information processing apparatus 1 due to leaving the seat or the like, the operation state may transition to the standby state or the sleep state.

The transition condition from the standard operation state, the standby state, or the sleep state to the hibernation state is, for example, when the electromotive force of the battery pack that supplies power to the power supply unit 18 is equal to or less than a predetermined electromotive force threshold.
The transition condition from the standard operation state to the power-off state is, for example, when operation stop data for instructing power-off (shutdown) is input from the input device 50. When the operation stop data is input, the CPU 32 performs an operation stop process. In the operation stop processing, the CPU 32 stops the processing instructed by the program being executed, and thereafter stops power supply except for the EC 20 and devices under the EC 20.

The GPU 34 is connected to the display unit 48. The GPU 34 executes image processing based on the control of the CPU 32 to generate display data. The GPU 34 outputs the generated display data to the display unit 48.
Note that the CPU 32 and the GPU 34 may be integrally formed as a single core, or the load may be shared between the CPU 32 and the GPU 34 formed as individual cores. The number of processors is not limited to one, but may be plural.

The memory controller 36 controls reading and writing of data from the system memory 42, the storage unit 46, and the like by the CPU 32 and the GPU 34.
The I / O controller 38 controls input and output of data from the communication unit 44, the display unit 48, and the EC 20.
The system memory 42 is used as a read area for an execution program of the processor and a work area for writing processing data.

The communication unit 44 is communicably connected to other devices wirelessly or by wire, and transmits and receives various data.
The storage unit 46 is configured to include a storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), and a read only memory (ROM). The HDD stores various programs such as an OS, a device driver, and an application, and various data acquired by the operation of the programs. The secure NVRAM stores authentication data used for authentication of each user. In the authentication data, the identification information of each user and the authentication information are stored in association with each other. The secure NVRAM is protected (locked) so that it cannot be accessed from the operating environment of the OS via the I / O controller 38. However, the lock is released when the CPU 32 is powered on or reset, and the lock is started by executing the system firmware at the end of the pre-boot.
The display unit 48 displays display information based on display data input from the GPU 34. The display unit 48 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).
The input device 50 receives a user operation and outputs operation data instructed by the operation to the EC 20 or the system hardware 30 via the EC 20.

Next, a configuration example of the external appearance of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of an external appearance of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which the information processing apparatus 1 is a notebook PC, but the information processing apparatus 1 may be configured as a foldable mobile phone.
The information processing device 1 includes a first housing 101, a second housing 102, and a hinge mechanism 121. The first housing 101 and the second housing 102 are connected along a back surface thereof using a hinge mechanism 121. The first housing 101 is relatively rotatable around a rotation axis formed by the hinge mechanism 121 with respect to the second housing 102. The direction of the rotation axis is parallel to the side surfaces 101c and 102c on which the hinge mechanism 121 is installed.

  The first housing 101 is also called an A cover or a display housing. The second housing 102 is also called a C cover or a system housing. In the following description, of the side surfaces of the first housing 101 and the second housing 102, the rear surfaces on which the hinge mechanism 121 is provided are referred to as side surfaces 101c and 102c, respectively. The side surfaces 101c and 102c correspond to the back surface. The front surfaces opposite to the side surfaces 101c and 102c are referred to as side surfaces 101a and 102a, respectively. The direction from the side surfaces 101a and 102a toward the side surfaces 101c and 102c is called "rear", and the direction from the side surfaces 101c and 102c toward the side surfaces 101a and 102a is called "front". The right side and the left side with respect to the rear are called "right" and "left", respectively. The left side surfaces of the first housing 101 and the second housing 102 are called side surfaces 101b and 102b, respectively, and the right side surfaces are called side surfaces 101d and 102d, respectively. Further, a state in which the first housing 101 overlaps the second housing 102 is referred to as a “closed state” or a “state in which the first housing is closed with respect to the second housing” and is completely closed. In this state, the direction in which the first housing 101 overlaps the second housing 102 is referred to as “up”, and the direction in which the first housing 101 is supported by the second housing 102 is “down”. Call.

  FIG. 2 illustrates a state in which the first housing 101 is opened with respect to the second housing 102 (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as an “open state”). In the opened state, the side surface 101a is apart from the side surface 102a. In the opened state, the inner surfaces of the first housing 101 and the second housing 102 appear, and it is expected that the information processing apparatus 1 can execute a normal operation. In the open state, the opening angle θ formed by the inner surface of the first housing 101 and the inner surface of the second housing 102 is typically 100 to 130 °. The inner surface of the first housing 101 corresponds to the back surface with respect to the front surface 101e of the first housing 101. A display 103 is mounted on the inner surface of the first housing 101. The display 103 corresponds to the display unit 48 described above.

  In addition, an infrared sensor module as an example of the proximity sensor 10 is disposed in a central region on the inner surface of the first housing 101. The central area is an area at the front center of the peripheral bezel of the display 103. The infrared sensor module detects infrared rays emitted from an object in a predetermined detection area. Therefore, when the first housing 101 is open, the direction facing the detection surface of the infrared sensor module installed on the inner surface of the first housing is the direction included in the detection area.

  On the inner surface of the second housing 102, a keyboard 107 and a touch pad 109 are mounted. The keyboard 107 and the touch pad 109 correspond to the input device 50 described above. As the input device 50, a touch sensor (not shown) may be further included, or a mouse (not shown) may be connected. The operation area where the touch sensor accepts the operation may overlap the display area where the display 103 displays information.

  When the first housing 101 is closed with respect to the second housing 102, the inner surfaces of the first housing 101 and the second housing 102 do not appear, the front surface 101e appears upward, and the second housing 102 is closed. The bottom surface 102e of the base 102 is in contact with the base supporting the second housing 102 from below. In the closed state, the infrared sensor module is covered by the inner surface of the second housing 102, and the information processing device 1 does not execute a normal operation. When the first housing 101 is completely closed with respect to the second housing 102, the opening angle θ is 0 °.

  When the information processing apparatus 1 is a notebook PC or a foldable mobile phone, the closed state of the first housing 101 and the second housing 102 is detected as a transition condition from the standard operation state to the standby state. May be included. Further, the transition condition from the standby state to the standard operation state may include a time when a state where the first housing 101 and the second housing 102 are open is detected. Therefore, a Hall sensor (not shown) is previously installed at a position closer to the side surface 101a than the side surface 101c on the surface of the first housing 101. The Hall sensor detects a magnetic field around the Hall sensor. In addition, a permanent magnet is installed in advance on a surface of the second housing 102 at a position facing the Hall sensor in a state where the first housing 101 is closed. The EC 20 receives a detection signal indicating the magnetic field strength detected from the Hall sensor, and when the state in which the magnetic field strength indicated by the detection signal is higher than the predetermined magnetic field strength continues for a predetermined time or more, the first casing 101 and the second housing It can be determined that the housing 102 is closed. The EC 20 can determine that the first housing 101 and the second housing 102 are open when the state where the magnetic field strength indicated by the detection signal is lower than the predetermined magnetic field strength continues for a predetermined time or more. Then, the EC 20 notifies the CPU 32 of open / closed state information indicating the open / closed state of the first housing 101 and the second housing 102. The CPU 32 can control the operation state based on the open / closed state information notified from the EC 20.

Next, a configuration example of the proximity sensor 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of the proximity sensor 10 according to the present embodiment.
The proximity sensor 10 is an infrared sensor module including a plurality of detection elements 110. The detection elements 110 are two-dimensionally arranged in a detection plane orthogonal to the optical axis. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the number of the detection elements 110 is four in each of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction on the detection surface, that is, 16 in total. Each detection element is an infrared sensor that detects infrared light coming from an object. The detection element outputs a detection signal having an intensity corresponding to the luminous intensity of the detected infrared ray to the EC 20. As a whole, the proximity sensor 10 can detect an infrared ray whose arrival direction is within a viewing angle FoV centered on the optical axis Ax (FIG. 5). The viewing angle means an angle of a detection range in which an object can be detected. The detection ranges of the individual detection elements 110 are arranged, for example, at regular intervals (for example, 5 ° to 7 °) in the horizontal and vertical directions on the detection surface, and their distribution is symmetric with respect to the optical axis Ax. Is done. In addition, a light emitting diode that emits infrared light is installed on the inner surface of the first housing 101 as a light source (not shown). However, the position of the light source is a position where infrared light from the light source does not directly reach the proximity sensor 10. Thereby, the proximity sensor 10 can detect the infrared light reflected on the surface of the object.

The proximity sensor 10 samples the light intensity detected by each detection element 110 at a predetermined sampling cycle (for example, 50 to 200 ms), and outputs a detection signal indicating the sampled light intensity to the EC 20. The viewing angle FoV only needs to be set at least in the horizontal direction. When the information processing device 1 is a notebook PC, the viewing angle FoV is, for example, 20 ° to 30 ° in the horizontal direction (corresponding to the left-right direction of the first housing 101). With this viewing angle, it is possible to detect a person who approaches the front of the information processing device 1 within a distance of about 1.0 m to 1.5 m.
Note that among the detection elements 110 included in the proximity sensor 10, at least one row of detection elements 110 in the horizontal direction (for example, elements a to d shown in the bottom row of FIG. 3) may be used for detecting an object. When the information processing apparatus 1 is a notebook PC and the opening angle θ is 90 ° to 130 °, the detection ranges of the elements a to d are closer to the absolute horizontal direction than other elements. The absolute horizontal direction means a direction in a horizontal plane orthogonal to the vertical direction, and is different from the horizontal direction on the detection surface. Therefore, it is convenient to detect a person approaching within a viewing angle FoV that spreads in an absolute horizontal direction without using other elements a to d. In the following description, an absolute horizontal direction is simply referred to as a horizontal direction unless otherwise specified.

Next, an example of the start control according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the start control according to the present embodiment.
(Step S102) The approach analysis unit 22 analyzes the detection signal input from the proximity sensor 10. The approach analysis unit 22 analyzes, for example, a change tendency of the luminous intensity of the infrared light received by each detection element 110. This makes it possible to distinguish between an object that is always installed and an object that has temporarily entered (a person may be included). Then, the process proceeds to step S104 (step S104). The approach analysis unit 22 determines whether an object that has entered the viewing angle has been detected. If detected (step S104: YES), the process proceeds to step S106. When no is detected (step S104: NO), the process returns to step S102.
(Step S106) The approach analysis unit 22 determines whether or not the detection target approaches and stays in front of the information processing apparatus 1 based on the analyzed tendency of the change in luminous intensity, that is, whether or not the system hardware 30 is ready to start. Is determined. If it is in the boot preparation state (step S106 YES), the process proceeds to step S108. If it is not in the startup preparation state (NO in step S106), the process returns to step S102.
(Step S108) The operation control unit 24 outputs an activation signal for instructing activation to the system hardware 30, and activates the system hardware 30 (system activation). At the same time, the operation control unit 24 causes the power supply unit 18 to supply power required for operation of each unit of the information processing device 1. After that, the process returns to the step S102.

Next, an example of detection by the approach analysis unit 22 will be described.
Figure 5 is passed from right to left toward the front of the information processing apparatus 1 person h0 is the time t ₁₁ ~t ₁₃ (displayed to the right from FIG. 5, left) with the first housing 101 is open An example is shown below. FIG. 6 illustrates the luminous intensity of the infrared light detected by the elements a to d at the respective times t ₁₁ , t ₁₂ , and t ₁₃ . However, the sampling period is 100 ms, and times t ₁₁ , t ₁₂ , and t ₁₃ are sampling times adjacent to each other.
At time _{t 11,} the person h0 is located outside the range of a viewing angle FoV of the proximity sensor 10. Therefore, luminous intensity detecting element a~d together, less than the predetermined detection threshold value I _th. Detection threshold I _th is a threshold for determining whether the detected object based on whether a larger or not. Therefore, approaching analyzer 22 determines that the object within the viewing angle FoV is not detected at time t _11.
At time _{t 12,} the person h0 is located within a range of a viewing angle FoV of the proximity sensor 10. Therefore, the luminous intensity detected by the element a~d respectively exceeds a predetermined detection threshold _{I th.} Therefore, approaching analyzer 22 determines that it has detected an object within the range of viewing angles FoV at time t _12.
At time _{t 13,} the person h0 is located outside the range of a viewing angle FoV of the proximity sensor 10. Therefore, the luminous intensity detected by the element a~d is less than the respective detection threshold _{I th.} Therefore, approaching analyzer 22 determines that the object within the viewing angle FoV is not detected at time t _13.
In the example shown in FIG. 6, none of the light intensity detected by the element a~d time as the detection threshold I _th or more is only the time t _12. Since any of the light intensities detected by the elements a to d is equal to or _larger than the detection threshold value Ith, and the period during which the light intensity is increased or maintained is _shorter than a predetermined duration, the approach analysis unit 22 determines that the detection target is temporarily Although it is closer to the information processing apparatus 1, but stays in front of the information processing apparatus 1 for a certain period of time, it is determined that the system hardware 30 is not in the startup preparation state.

Next, another detection example by the approach analysis unit 22 will be described.
FIG. 7 illustrates a case where the person h0 approaches the front of the information processing device 1 with the first housing 101 opened. Figure 8 illustrates the infrared light intensity element a~d has detected at respective times _{t 21, t 22, t 23} . Time _{t 21, t 22, t 23} is the sampling time adjacent to each other.
At time _{t 21,} the person h0 is located within a range of a viewing angle FoV of the proximity sensor 10. Luminous intensity elements a~d detects begins slightly beyond a predetermined detection threshold I _th. Therefore, approaching analyzer 22 determines that began to detect objects within the detection range of the distance direction of the proximity sensor 10 at time t _21.
At time _{t 22,} the person h0 is, to further approach the information processing apparatus 1, the luminous intensity detected by the element a~d is increased than the luminous intensity at each time _{t 21.}
At time _{t 23,} the person h0 also to further approach the information processing apparatus 1, the luminous intensity detected by the element a~d is increased than the luminous intensity at each time _{t 22.}
Therefore, the be either luminous intensity detected by the element a~d detection threshold I _th or more, the period during which the luminous intensity is increased or maintained above a predetermined duration (e.g., 0.3～1.0S) Therefore, the approach analysis unit 22 determines that the detection target has approached and is in a start-up preparation state in which the detection target object stays for a predetermined time in front of the information processing apparatus 1.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8, each of the plurality of detection areas obtained by dividing the entire detection area for detecting an object corresponds to one element, and the approach analysis unit 22 determines the detection area of each detection area. The state is determined based on a detection signal input from each element, but is not limited thereto. For example, the approach analysis unit 22 may determine the state of each detection area based on a detection signal input from a sensor group including a plurality of elements. The approach analysis unit 22 may determine the state of each detection area based on a detection signal obtained from a sensor group including a plurality of infrared sensors. Even in such a case, the approach analysis unit 22 distinguishes the detection signals of a plurality of systems input from the proximity sensor 10 for each set corresponding to each detection area, and based on the change tendency of the detection signals of each set, the system hardware. It is determined whether or not the ware 30 is ready to start.
In the above example, the case where the proximity sensor 10 is an infrared sensor module is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The proximity sensor 10 may be a laser sensor module. Each detection element included in the laser sensor module detects the laser light reflected on the surface of the object. In that case, an infrared laser that emits light having a wavelength band narrower than the infrared light emitted by the light emitting diode may be used as the light source. The infrared wavelength band that can be detected by the detection element may include the wavelength band of the light beam. Therefore, the influence of noise due to infrared rays generated in the surrounding environment can be reduced.
In addition, the proximity sensor 10 may be an infrared sensor module that detects infrared rays emitted from the surface of the object by blackbody radiation. However, it is sufficient that each detection element included in the infrared sensor module can detect infrared rays in a wavelength band corresponding to a human body temperature (for example, 36 to 37 ° C.). In that case, the light source can be omitted.

As described above, the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the EC 20, the system hardware 30, and the detection element that detects an electromagnetic wave coming from an object and outputs a detection signal. A section 24 and an approach analysis section 22 are provided. The approach analysis unit 22 determines, based on the change tendency of the detection signal, a state in which the detection target approaches and stops in front of the own device as a start preparation state. The operation control unit 24 activates the system hardware 30 when it is determined to be in the activation preparation state.
With this configuration, the approach of a person having the intention to use the information processing device 1 is more reliably determined based on the change tendency of the detection signal. Therefore, the system hardware 30 whose operation state is the standby state can be started up in a timely manner.

In addition, the operation control unit 24 determines the startup preparation state when the intensity of the detection signal detected by the detection element is equal to or more than a predetermined detection threshold and the time during which the intensity increases or is maintained for a predetermined time or more.
With this configuration, a detection target that approaches the information processing device 1 and stays in front of the information processing device 1 continuously without detecting the passing object is detected. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably determine the approach of a person who intends to use the information processing device 1.

In the above description, the case where the proximity sensor 10 is mainly an infrared sensor module has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The proximity sensor 10 only needs to include a plurality of detection elements that can detect a wave coming from a person without contact. The wave arriving from an object such as a person includes, as described above, a wave reflected by the object and a wave emitted by the object itself. The wave may be an infrared ray, a visible ray, or a radio wave having a shorter wavelength than the infrared ray. The proximity sensor 10 may be, for example, a radar sensor module (not shown).
The radar sensor module includes a transmitter, a plurality of patch antennas, the same number of phase shifters as the patch antennas, adders, direction adjusters, and signal sources. The transmitter emits a radio wave (for example, a millimeter wave) in a predetermined frequency band serving as a reference signal. A patch antenna is a type of a planar antenna, is a detection element including a conductor film printed and wired on a dielectric substrate, and detecting a radio wave reflected from an object as a reception signal. The patch antenna is also called a microstrip antenna. The individual patch antennas may be arranged at different positions. Each phase shifter is installed in association with a patch antenna, adjusts the phase of the received signal received by the corresponding patch antenna, and outputs the adjusted received signal to the adder. The adder adds the received signals input from each phase shifter, and outputs the sum of the received signals obtained by the addition to the direction adjuster as a detection signal. The direction adjuster enables a target direction for detecting an object to be sequentially changed (scanned) from a plurality of preset directions, and sets a phase adjustment amount to each phase shifter for each set direction. However, when radio waves are radiated from each of the plurality of setting directions, the direction adjuster adjusts the phase of each phase shifter with respect to each of the setting directions so that the intensity of the detection signal obtained from the adder becomes the highest. The adjustment amount is set in advance. Since the target direction can be arbitrarily set by adjusting the phase, the target direction can be set with a higher degree of freedom than the infrared sensor module. The approach analysis unit 22 can determine the startup preparation state of the system hardware 30 based on the detection signal for each target direction within the predetermined viewing angle FoV as described above.
Further, the wave to be detected by the proximity sensor 10 may be an elastic wave such as a sound wave or an ultrasonic wave in addition to an electromagnetic wave such as an infrared ray or a radio wave. The proximity sensor 10 may be, for example, a sonar (not shown) including an actuator as an individual detection element. The actuator detects any of a contact sound between a person approaching the information processing apparatus 1 and a floor surface, a body sound generated by the activity of a human organ, and a reflected wave with respect to an ultrasonic wave emitted by a wave source (not shown). Good.
In addition, the approach analysis unit 22 determines the activation preparation state based on the strength of the detection signal detected by each detection element. However, the distance to the object detected by the proximity sensor 10 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined distance, When the time during which the distance is reduced or maintained continues for a predetermined time or more, the start preparation state may be determined. However, the proximity sensor 10 detects the propagation time (ToF: Time of Flight) of the wave, and calculates the distance to the object based on the detected propagation time and the propagation speed. As a premise, the proximity sensor 10 includes a wave source, detects the phase difference between the amplitude of the wave radiated by the wave source and subjected to a known amplitude modulation and the amplitude of the detection signal detected by the detection element, and detects the phase difference. The propagation time can be determined from the amplitude modulation frequency and the amplitude modulation frequency. The above light emitting diode, infrared laser, transmitter, and wave source correspond to the wave source.

<Second embodiment>
Next, an information processing device 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. The common configuration or processing to the first embodiment is denoted by the same reference numeral, and the description is referred to.
FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.
The information processing apparatus 1 further includes the attitude sensor 12 with respect to the information processing apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, and further includes a mode determination unit 26 in the EC 20.
However, it is assumed that the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the first housing 101 and the second housing 102 and the opening angle θ is variable (FIG. 2). As the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, for example, a notebook PC and a foldable mobile phone correspond.

  The attitude sensor 12 is a sensor for detecting the attitude of the information processing device 1. The posture is defined by at least the opening angle θ. The posture may be further defined by a touch screen direction. The touch screen direction refers to a side surface of the side surfaces 101a to 101d of the first housing 101 which faces in a direction closer to the heavenly direction than other side surfaces. The posture sensor 12 includes, for example, two acceleration sensors and the above-described Hall sensor. Each acceleration sensor is a three-axis acceleration sensor having three mutually orthogonal detection axes. The acceleration sensors are installed on the first housing 101 and the second housing 102, respectively.

The mode determination unit 26 determines the attitude of the information processing device 1 based on an input from the attitude sensor 12. The information processing apparatus 1 can change the input / output mode that can be used according to the posture, that is, the use mode. The use mode can also be regarded as a pattern of the attitude of the information processing device 1. An example of the use mode will be described later.
The mode determination unit 26 can calculate the opening angle θ using the angle formed by the direction of the gravity component of the acceleration detected by each of the two acceleration sensors. The mode determination unit 26 may determine, for example, a weighted time average of the acceleration detected by each acceleration sensor as the gravity component up to that point. In the mode determination unit 26, a weighting coefficient used for weighted time averaging is set so that the component of the acceleration whose time is close to that time becomes large.
The mode determination unit 26 determines whether the opening angle θ is 0 ° or 360 ° based on whether the strength of the magnetic field detected by the Hall sensor is higher than a predetermined strength.

The method for detecting the opening angle θ is not limited to this. For example, an angle sensor may be used instead of the acceleration sensor and the hall sensor. The angle sensor detects the rotation angle of the hinge mechanism 121, and the mode determination unit 26 can determine the opening angle θ based on the detected rotation angle.
Further, the mode determination unit 26 can determine the touch screen direction from the direction of the gravitational component of the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor installed on the first housing 101. This is because the positional relationship between the detection axis of the acceleration sensor and the first housing 101 or the second housing 102 is fixed in advance.
The mode determination unit 26 outputs posture information indicating the determined posture to the approach analysis unit 22. The posture information includes at least the opening angle θ. The posture information may further include one or both of the use mode and the touch screen direction.

  The approach analysis unit 22 determines a detection range for detecting an object based on the posture information input from the mode determination unit 26. When the proximity sensor 10 is an infrared sensor module, the approach analysis unit 22 selects an active detection element among the detection elements 110 included in the infrared sensor module. The active detection element refers to a detection element for detecting an object and thereby obtaining a detection signal used for determining a start preparation state. The approach analysis unit 22 has, for example, a detection range that is closest to the horizontal plane than other detection elements and has a detection range distributed in the horizontal direction, and selects a plurality of detection elements adjacent to each other as active detection elements. Examples of the selected detection element will be described later.

  When the proximity sensor 10 is a radar sensor module, the approach analysis unit 22 determines, for example, a range of a predetermined viewing angle centered on the horizontal plane in front of the information processing device 1 as a detection range. The approach analysis unit 22 sets a plurality of setting directions distributed within the detection range in the radar sensor module. The radar sensor module sequentially switches the target direction from a plurality of set directions, and outputs a detection signal to the approach analysis unit 22 for each target direction. By determining the detection elements arranged in the horizontal direction, the approach analysis unit 22 can more accurately detect the approach of a person acting in the horizontal direction regardless of the attitude of the information processing device 1.

Next, the use mode will be described with reference to FIGS.
The use mode of the information processing device 1 includes a laptop mode, a tent mode, a stand mode, a tablet mode, and a book mode.
FIG. 10A illustrates the close mode. In the close mode, the opening angle θ is, for example, 0 °. In this case, when the opening angle θ is 0 °, the mode determination unit 26 can determine the use mode of the information processing device 1 to be the closed mode. In the closed mode, the display 103 faces the keyboard 107 and the touch pad 109, and cannot use them. To use them, an operation of opening the first housing 101 from the second housing 102 is required. Therefore, in the closed mode, the mode determination unit 26 may stop the operations of the approach analysis unit 22, the operation control unit 24, and the proximity sensor 10.

  FIG. 10B illustrates the laptop mode. In the laptop mode, the opening angle θ is, for example, 0 ° <θ <190 °. In this case, when the opening angle θ is 0 ° <θ <190 °, the mode determination unit 26 can determine the use mode of the information processing device 1 to be the laptop mode. In the laptop mode, the display 103, the keyboard 107, and the touch pad 109 can be used.

  FIGS. 10C and 10D illustrate a tent mode and a stand mode, respectively. In both the tent mode and the stand mode, the opening angle θ is, for example, 190 ° ≦ θ <360 °. The top and bottom directions of the first housing 101 are different between the tent mode and the stand mode. That is, the mode determination unit 26 determines that the use mode is the tent mode when the side surface 101c (the surface on which the hinge mechanism 121 is installed) of the first housing 101 is more upward than the other side surface. On the other hand, the mode determination unit 26 sets the use mode to the stand mode when the side surface 101a (the surface separated from the side surface 102a of the second housing 102 by the rotation of the first housing 101) is more upward than the other side surface. Is determined. The display 103 can be used in both the tent mode and the stand mode. However, the keyboard 107 and the touch pad 109 need not always be usable.

  FIG. 10E illustrates the tablet mode. In the tablet mode, the front surface 101e of the first housing and the bottom surface 102e of the second housing 102 face each other. The opening angle θ is, for example, 360 °. In the tablet mode, the display 103 can be used. The tablet mode is a use mode in which the user can hold and use the display 103 with his / her hand while facing the user's face. In the tablet mode, it is expected that the information processing apparatus 1 is mainly operating in the standard operation state. Therefore, even in the tablet mode, the mode determination unit 26 may stop the operation of the approach analysis unit 22, the operation control unit 24, and the proximity sensor 10.

  FIG. 11 illustrates the book mode. The book mode is a use mode in which the first housing 101 is open with respect to the second housing 102 and the side surface 101b or the side surface 101d faces the top, regardless of the opening angle θ. In the book mode, the display 103 can be used.

Next, an example of setting a detection element or a detection range will be described.
When the proximity sensor 10 is an infrared sensor module, the detection ranges of the respective detection elements are linked in accordance with the opening angle θ. The approach analysis unit 22 has a detection range in the direction closest to the horizontal direction, and selects one row or one column of detection elements 110 adjacent to each other as active detection elements. An example of selecting the detection elements when the detection elements 110 of the proximity sensor 10 are arranged as shown in FIG. 3 and the viewing angle FoV is 24 ° will be described. When the operation mode is the laptop mode, the approach analysis unit 22 selects the four detection elements 110 in the top row when 0 ° <θ <84 °, and selects the fourth detection element 110 when 84 ° ≦ θ <90 °. The four detection elements 110 in two rows are selected. When 90 ° ≦ θ <96 °, the four detection elements 110 in the third row are selected. When 96 ° ≦ θ, the four detection elements 110 in the bottom row are selected. The detection element 110 is selected.

When the operation mode is the tent mode, the approach analysis unit 22 selects the four uppermost detection elements 110 when 190 ° ≦ θ <348 °, and 348 ° ≦ θ <360 °. At this time, the four detection elements 110 in the second row are selected.
When the operation mode is the stand mode, the approach analysis unit 22 selects the four detection elements 110 in the top row when 190 ° ≦ θ <264 °, and when 264 ° ≦ θ <270 °. Four detection elements 110 in the second row are selected, and four detection elements 110 in the third row are selected when 270 ° ≦ θ <276 °, and the bottom row is selected when 276 ° ≦ θ <360 °. Of the four detection elements 110 are selected.

  When the operation mode is the book mode, the approach analysis unit 22 determines that the four detection elements arranged perpendicular to the detection surface in the second column from the left with respect to FIG. Select 110. Accordingly, the approach analysis unit 22 can analyze the luminous intensity detected by each of the detection elements 110 whose detection range is closest to the absolute horizontal direction and which is distributed in the horizontal direction.

  When the proximity sensor 10 is a radar sensor module, the directions of the detection surfaces on which the detection elements are arranged are linked in accordance with the opening angle θ. Regardless of the operation mode of the tablet mode, the tent mode, the stand mode, or the book mode, the approach analysis unit 22 determines, for example, the direction of the front surface of the information processing device 1 among the directions in the horizontal plane as a reference direction, The range of the viewing angle FoV in the horizontal plane centered on the direction is determined as the detection range. Then, the approach analysis unit 22 sets a predetermined number of setting directions within the detection range at predetermined angular intervals. Thus, the approach analysis unit can analyze the reflected waves arriving from each of the set directions distributed in the horizontal direction as a detection signal.

  Next, an example of the control table will be described. The control table is data used in the mode determination unit 26 for controlling the use mode and the device based on the opening angle θ. The control table includes a first table indicating each of a plurality of ranges of the opening angle θ as an angle range, and a second table indicating a relationship between the angle range, the touch screen direction, and the use mode. The control table may be included in the firmware of the EC 20, or the setting value may be changed independently of the firmware. Further, the setting values may be updated by executing a predetermined firmware or an application program.

As described above, the information processing device 1 according to the present embodiment further includes the mode determination unit 26 that determines the attitude of the own device. Each detection element of the object detection unit (for example, the proximity sensor 10) is two-dimensionally arranged. The approach analysis unit 22 determines a detection range for detecting an object based on the attitude of the own device.
With this configuration, it is possible to detect an object within a detection range according to the attitude of the own device. Since the detection range can be limited in accordance with the posture, it is possible to reduce the amount of processing required for detecting an object and determining the ready state for activation.

When the object detection unit is an infrared sensor module, the approach analysis unit 22 selects a predetermined number of detection elements having a detection range in the horizontal direction.
With this configuration, the detection range of the person can be limited to the detection range of the selected active detection element without lowering the detection accuracy of the person approaching in the horizontal direction regardless of the attitude of the own device.

When the object detection unit is a radar sensor module, the approach analysis unit scans a target direction for detecting an object in the horizontal direction.
According to this configuration, the detection range of the person can be limited to the range distributed in the horizontal direction without lowering the detection accuracy of the person approaching in the horizontal direction regardless of the attitude of the own device. In the radar sensor module, a planar antenna such as a patch antenna is used as a detection element, and a target direction is determined based on a delay amount of a signal received by each planar antenna. Therefore, according to the radar sensor module, the detection range can be controlled more precisely than the infrared sensor module in which the detection range and the detection element directly correspond.

<Third embodiment>
Next, an information processing apparatus 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The third embodiment is an embodiment that can be implemented by further adding an additional configuration described below to the first embodiment or the second embodiment. The following description mainly focuses on differences from the first embodiment and the second embodiment. The same reference numerals are given to the same configurations or processes as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and the description will be referred to.
12 and 13 are schematic block diagrams illustrating a configuration example of the information processing device 1 according to the present embodiment.
The information processing apparatus 1 shown in each of FIGS. 12 and 13 further includes an authentication processing unit 40 and an imaging unit 56 with respect to the information processing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS.
The authentication processing unit 40 is included in the system hardware 30. The authentication processing unit 40 is configured by a separate integrated circuit that operates independently of the CPU 32, the GPU 34, the memory controller 36, and the I / O controller 38.
The imaging unit 56 is connected to the system hardware 30.

In the present embodiment, when the detection state information indicating the activation preparation state is input from the approach analysis section 22, the operation control section 24 sends the authentication processing section 40, the storage section 46, and the imaging section 56 to the power supply section 18. Supply power. After that, the operation control unit 24 outputs an authentication start instruction to the authentication processing unit 40.
When an authentication start instruction is input from the operation control unit 24, the authentication processing unit 40 starts user authentication. The user authentication is a process of determining whether or not a person to be authenticated is a registered regular user. As the user process, for example, a face authentication process can be applied. The face authentication process includes a face detection process and a face matching process. The face detection process is a process of determining a face region, which is a region where a face is represented, from an image signal input from the imaging unit 56. In the face matching process, the positions of a plurality of face feature points (for example, mouth, eyes, nose, etc.) representing the features of the face are obtained from the face region, and the position and size of the face region become predetermined positions and sizes, respectively. Determining the distribution of the normalized facial feature points as an image feature amount, and comparing the determined image feature amount with the image feature amount related to the face image of a predetermined person, and successfully matching the image feature amount. And identifying the person according to the above. Authentication information for each user is set in the storage unit 46 in advance. The authentication information includes an image feature amount of the face image of the user. The authentication information is further stored in association with user information indicating the user. The user information may be any information that can specify the user of the information processing apparatus 1, such as a user name and a user ID (Identifier). The authentication processing unit 40 can determine that the user authentication is successful when the verification with the authentication information of any of the set users is successful. The authentication processing unit 40 outputs authentication information indicating the success or failure of the user authentication to the operation control unit 24.

  When the authentication information indicating the success of the user authentication is input from the authentication processing unit 40, the operation control unit 24 supplies power to the other system hardware 30 and each device under the system hardware 30 to the power supply unit 18. Start supplying. After that, the operation control unit 24 outputs a start signal to the system hardware 30. At this point, user authentication in the authentication processing unit 40 is started, but the processor and other devices constituting the system hardware 30 are not activated. Thereafter, when the authentication processing unit 40 succeeds in the user authentication, the processor constituting the system hardware 30 and other devices can be activated. At this time, the supply of power to the imaging unit 56 may be continued, and the operating state of the system hardware 30 may be continued. When the authentication information indicating the failure of the user authentication is input from the authentication processing unit 40, the operation control unit 24 does not cause the power supply unit 18 to start supplying power to each device, and causes each device to perform an activation signal. Is not output.

  The imaging unit 56 captures an image of an object within a predetermined field of view. Therefore, when the face of a person approaching the information processing device 1 is included in the field of view of the imaging unit 56, a face image of the person is captured. The imaging unit 56 is a camera having a plurality of imaging elements. The imaging unit 56 may be an infrared camera or a normal camera. An infrared camera is a camera provided with an infrared sensor as an image sensor. An ordinary camera is a camera including a visible light sensor that receives visible light as an image sensor.

  In the above description, the case where the authentication processing unit 40 performs the face authentication process on the image captured by the imaging unit 56 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The information processing apparatus 1 may include a biometric acquisition unit that acquires biometric feature information indicating a biometric feature of a person in a non-contact manner, and the authentication processing unit 40 may perform user authentication using biometric feature information. The storage unit 46 stores authentication information and user information in association with each other for each user. The authentication processing unit 40 outputs to the operation control unit 24 authentication information indicating whether the comparison between the biometric characteristic information and the authentication information is successful.

  For example, the authentication processing unit 40 may perform an iris recognition process instead of the face authentication process. The iris recognition process is a process of specifying that the person indicated by the iris image represented by the image signal from the imaging unit 56 is a preregistered regular user. The iris recognition process includes a process of specifying an area representing the iris from the image signal, a process of calculating an image feature amount indicating the feature of the iris from the specified region, and a process in which the calculated image feature amount relates to an image of the iris of a predetermined person The method includes a step of matching with the image feature amount and specifying a person related to the successfully matched image feature amount. What is necessary is just to include the image feature amount of the image of the iris of the user as the authentication information for each user preset in the storage unit 46.

  The authentication processing unit 40 performs, for example, speaker recognition processing, and the information processing device 1 may include a microphone that collects surrounding sounds instead of the imaging unit 56. The speaker recognition process is a process of specifying that the person related to the utterance indicated by the sound signal from the microphone is a registered normal user. The speaker recognition process includes a process of specifying an utterance section from an audio signal, a process of calculating an audio feature amount (for example, a cepstrum) indicating a speaker's voice quality from the specified utterance interval, and a case where the calculated audio feature amount is a predetermined person. And collating with the acoustic feature amount related to the utterance of the utterance, and specifying the person related to the acoustic feature amount that has been successfully matched. The authentication information for each user set in the storage unit 46 in advance may include the acoustic feature amount of the utterance of the user.

As described above, in the information processing device 1 according to the present embodiment, the system hardware includes the authentication processing unit 40. The operation control unit 24 causes the authentication processing unit 40 to start user authentication when determining the startup preparation state of the system hardware 30, and starts the processor when the authentication processing unit 40 succeeds in user authentication.
With this configuration, the authentication processing unit 40 is activated in response to the approach of a person, and the processor is activated when the user authentication is successful. Therefore, power consumption can be reduced as compared with the case where the authentication processing unit 40 is constantly operated. In addition, if the person is a legitimate person, the information processing apparatus 1 can be activated simply by approaching without touching.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes a design and the like within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention. Each configuration described in the above embodiment can be arbitrarily combined.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the module that operates independently of the system hardware 30 is not limited to the EC 20, but may be any of a sensor hub, a chipset, and the like. The sum of the power consumption of this module and the proximity sensor 10 is typically much lower than the power consumption of the system hardware 30. The activation of the operation of the system hardware 30 is not limited to the activation of the system hardware 30. The activation of the screen on the display 103 or the increase of the brightness of the screen already displayed, the start of the execution of a predetermined application program , Etc.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information processing apparatus, 10 ... Proximity sensor, 12 ... Attitude sensor, 18 ... Power supply part, 20 ... EC, 22 ... Approach analysis part, 24 ... Operation control part, 26 ... Mode determination part, 30 ... System hardware, 32 ... CPU, 34 GPU, 36 memory controller, 38 I / O controller, 40 authentication processing unit, 42 system memory, 44 communication unit, 46 storage unit, 48 display unit, 50 input device, 56: imaging unit, 101: first housing, 102: second housing, 103: display, 107: keyboard, 109: touch pad, 110: detection element, 121: hinge mechanism

Claims (8)

System hardware,
A module that operates independently of the system hardware;
An object detection unit that includes a detection element that detects a wave coming from an object and outputs a detection signal, and is connected to the module,
With
The module comprises:
An approach analysis unit that determines a state in which the detection target approaches and stops in front of the own device as a preparation state based on the change tendency of the detection signal,
An information processing device comprising: an operation control unit that activates an operation of the system hardware when the approach analysis unit determines the preparation state.     The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the system hardware includes an authentication processing unit that executes a user authentication process, and when activated by the operation control unit, starts the user authentication in the authentication processing unit. The detection elements are two-dimensionally arranged,
The said approach analysis part distinguishes the said detection signal in each area | region of the some area | region which detects the said object, and judges the preparation state using the change tendency of the detection signal of each said area | region. 3. The information processing device according to 2. The module further includes a mode determination unit that determines a posture of the own device,
The plurality of detection elements are respectively arranged at different positions,
The approach analysis unit distinguishes the detection signal in each of a plurality of regions for detecting the object, and calculates a change tendency of the detection signal in a region determined according to the posture among the plurality of regions. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preparation state is determined using the information.   5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the approach analysis unit determines the preparation state using the detection signal of a region of the plurality of regions arranged in a horizontal direction with respect to the posture of the own device. The detection element is a planar antenna,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the approach analysis unit scans a target direction for detecting the object in a horizontal direction.   The information according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the operation control unit determines that the apparatus is in the ready state when the time during which the strength of the detection signal increases or is maintained for a predetermined time or more. Processing equipment. System hardware, a module that operates independently of the system hardware, a detection element that detects a wave coming from an object and outputs a detection signal, and includes an object detection unit connected to the module. A method for controlling an information processing device, comprising:
Said module,
A first step of determining, as a preparation state, a state in which the detection target approaches and stops in front of the own device based on the change tendency of the detection signal;
A second step of activating the operation of the system hardware when the ready state is determined;
A control method having:

Images