Method and apparatus for detecting free fall

• US 20040252403A1
• Filed: 07/13/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wehrenberg, Paul James
• Granted Patent: US 7,307,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/75
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/04 Arrangements for preventing, inhibiting, or warning against double recording on the same blank or against other recording or reproducing malfunctions
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/08 by using devices external to the driving mechanisms, e.g. coin-freed switch coin actuated mechanisms G07F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 21/12 Raising and lowering; Back-spacing or forward-spacing along track; Returning to starting position otherwise than during transducing operation

Abstract

A data processing system including a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium. Within said data processing system, a system electronics is operatively coupled to a sensor and to said data storage device. When the sensor senses a change in gravitational or inertial acceleration of said data processing system, it alerts system electronics to temporarily park a read/write head in a safe position.

Claims

1-42. -42. (Canceled)

43. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium; and

an acceleration detector coupled to the data storage device to detect a change in an acceleration of the portable electronic device and to configure the data storage device from a first operating state into a second operating state in response to the detection, wherein the acceleration detector includes

a flexible non-electrically conductive support material,

an electrically conductive casing coupled to the flexible non-electrically conductive support material, and

a beam having a first end and a second end supported by the flexible non-electrically conductive support material.

44. The portable electronic device of claim 43, wherein the portable electronic device is a digital camera.

45. The portable electronic device of claim 43, wherein the portable electronic device is a musical playback device.

46. The portable electronic device of claim 43, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable computer system.

47. The portable electronic device of claim 43, further comprising system electronics coupled to the data storage device and the acceleration detector, wherein in response to the detection, the system electronics execute a predetermined process, which in part transforms the data storage device from the first operating state into the second operating state.

48. The portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the predetermined process, when executed, transforms the data storage device from the first operating state into the second operating state.

49. The portable electronic device of claim 43, wherein during the second operating state, data stored in the data storage device is inaccessible.

50. The portable electronic device of claim 43, wherein the beam is rigid or flexible.

51. The portable electronic device of claim 50, wherein the second end of the beam contacts the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.

52. The portable electronic device of claim 50, wherein the second end of the beam does not contact the casing during free fall.

53. The portable electronic device of claim 50, wherein the acceleration detector further comprises a mass attached to the second end of the beam.

54. The portable electronic device of claim 53, wherein the mass contacts the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.

55. The portable electronic device of claim 53, wherein the mass does not contact the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.

56. The portable electronic device of claim 54, wherein the mass, the casing, and the beam are each electrically conductive.

57. The portable electronic device of claim 43, wherein the casing is closed at both ends and filled with an inert gas or non-electrically conductive liquid.

58. The portable electronic device of claim 50, further comprising means to couple the acceleration detector to a substrate.

59. The portable electronic device of claim 58, wherein the means is one of at least one lead or one conductive pin.

60. A method performed by a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting a change in an acceleration of the portable electronic device using an acceleration detector disposed within the portable electronic device; and

executing a predetermined process in response to the detection, wherein the acceleration detector includes

a flexible non-electrically conductive support material,

an electrically conductive casing coupled to the flexible non-electrically conductive support material, and

a beam having a first end and a second end supported by the flexible non-electrically conductive support material.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising transforming a data storage device of the portable electronic device from a first operating state into a second operating state in response to the detection.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the portable electronic device is a digital camera.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the portable electronic device is a musical playback device.

64. The method of claim 60, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable computer system.

65. The method of claim 60, wherein the beam is rigid or flexible.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the second end of the beam contacts the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein the second end of the beam does not contact the casing during free fall.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein the acceleration detector further comprises a mass attached to the second end of the beam.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the mass contacts the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein the mass does not contact the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein the mass, the casing, and the beam are each electrically conductive.

72. The method of claim 60, wherein the casing is closed at both ends and filled with an inert gas or non-electrically conductive liquid.

73. The method of claim 65, further comprising means to couple the acceleration detector to a substrate.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the means is one of at least one lead or one conductive pin.

75. A data processing system, comprising:

a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium; and

an acceleration detector coupled to the data storage device to detect a change in an acceleration of the portable electronic device and to configure the data storage device from a first operating state into a second operating state in response to the detection, wherein the acceleration detector includes

a flexible non-electrically conductive support material,

an electrically conductive casing coupled to the flexible non-electrically conductive support material, and

a beam having a first end and a second end supported by the flexible non-electrically conductive support material.

76. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium; and

an acceleration detector coupled to the data storage device to detect a change in an acceleration of the portable electronic device and to configure the data storage device from a first operating state into a second operating state in response to the detection,

wherein the acceleration detector includes a switch member having a first position and a second position, and wherein the switch member is switched from the first position to the second position when the change in the acceleration is detected.

77. The portable electronic device of claim 76, wherein the portable electronic device is a digital camera.

78. The portable electronic device of claim 76, wherein the portable electronic device is a musical playback device.

79. The portable electronic device of claim 76, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable computer system.

80. The portable electronic device of claim 76, further comprising system electronics coupled to the data storage device and the acceleration detector, wherein in response to the detection, the system electronics execute a predetermined process.

81. The portable electronic device of claim 80, wherein the predetermined process, when executed, transforms the data storage device from the first operating state into the second operating state.

82. The portable electronic device of claim 76, wherein during the second operating state, data stored in the data storage device is inaccessible.

83. A method performed by a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting a change in an acceleration of the portable electronic device using an acceleration detector disposed within the portable electronic device; and

executing a predetermined process in response to the detection, wherein the acceleration detector includes a switch member having a first position and a second position, and wherein the switch member is switched from the first position to the second position when the change in the acceleration is detected.

84. The method of claim 83, further comprising transforming a data storage device of the portable electronic device from a first operating state into a second operating state in response to the detection.

85. The method of claim 83, wherein the portable electronic device is a digital camera.

86. The method of claim 83, wherein the portable electronic device is a musical playback device.

87. The method of claim 83, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable computer system.