Free-fall detection device and free-fall protection system for a portable electronic apparatus
US7450332B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 24, 2005 |
| Grant date | Nov 11, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B19/04
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In an integrated free-fall detection device for a portable apparatus an acceleration sensor generates acceleration signals correlated to the components of the acceleration of the portable apparatus along three detection axes. A dedicated purely hardware circuit connected to the acceleration sensor generates a free-fall detection signal in a continuous way and in real-time. The free-fall detection signal has a first logic value in the event that the acceleration signals are simultaneously lower than a respective acceleration threshold, and is sent to a processor unit of the portable apparatus as an interrupt signal to activate appropriate actions of protection for the portable apparatus. Preferably, the acceleration sensor and the dedicated purely hardware circuit are integrated in a single chip and the acceleration sensor is made as a MEMS.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.