Method of detecting free fall and apparatus to detect free fall using the method
US7970572B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 10, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jun 28, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B19/043
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of detecting a free fall of a device includes measuring an acceleration of the device, calculating an integral of the acceleration, and determining whether the acceleration is periodic. If the acceleration is not periodic, the integral of the acceleration is compared with a first critical value to determine whether the device falls freely. If the acceleration is periodic, the integral of the acceleration is compared with a second critical value to determine whether the device falls freely. The first and second critical values are different. Since whether the device is periodically accelerated is considered, free fall of the device can be correctly detected, and thus malfunction of the device can be prevented. For example, an unnecessary protection operation for a hard disk drive of the device can be prevented, and thus a user can conveniently use the device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.