Portable device with motion sensor

• US 20060242434A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GIGA-BYTE Communications, Inc. (Giga-Byte Technology Co.), Gigabyte Technology Company Limited (Giga-Byte Technology Co.)
• Original Assignee: GIGA-BYTE Communications, Inc. (Giga-Byte Technology Co.), Gigabyte Technology Company Limited (Giga-Byte Technology Co.)
• Inventors: Lee, Tsung-Jen
• Application Number:
  US11/111,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20060242434A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A portable device is capable of automatically determining if the portable device is moving and achieving a specific function with a button-free procedure. The portable device includes an embedded microprocessor and an acceleration detector. The acceleration detector can determine if the portable device is moving by detecting a vibration of the portable device and thus prohibit the portable device from entering the locked mode. In addition, when the portable device is moving or inclining with specific sequential operations by the effect of an external force, the acceleration detector can generate a sensing signal and the microprocessor can obtain a specific command in response to the comparison between the sensing data and a sample database, so that the microprocessor can achieve the specific function.

Claims

1. A portable device with a motion sensor, comprising:

an embedded microprocessor; and

an acceleration detector electrically connected to said microprocessor for generating a sensing signal in response to said effect of an external force, said sensing signal converted into a behavior data by said microprocessor;

wherein if said sensing signal maintains stable within a predetermined period of time, said microprocessor drives said portable device into a locked mode.

2. The portable device with a motion sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing unlocking data, wherein if said behavior data matches with said unlocking data, said microprocessor unlocks said portable device.

3. The portable device with a motion sensor according to claim 2, wherein said sensing signal is an acceleration signal, an inclination signal, or a combination of an acceleration signal and an inclination signal.

4. A portable device with a motion sensor, comprising:

an embedded microprocessor;

an acceleration detector electrically connected to said microprocessor for detecting if said portable device is placed under said effect of an external force and in response thereto generating a sensing signal; and

a memory electrically connected to said microprocessor for storing a sample database comprising at least one sample data;

wherein said microprocessor converts said sensing signal into a behavior data and compares said behavior data with said sample data within said sample database, and if said behavior data matches with at least one sample data within said sample database, said microprocessor achieves a specific function mode corresponding to said sample data.

5. The portable device with a motion sensor according to claim 4, wherein said sensing signal is an acceleration signal, an inclination signal, or one of the combination thereof.

6. The portable device with a motion sensor according to claim 5, wherein said sensing signal is a one-dimensional acceleration signal, a two-dimensional acceleration signal, or a three-dimensional acceleration signal.

7. The portable device with a motion sensor according to claim 5, wherein said sensing signal is a one-dimensional inclination signal, a two-dimensional inclination signal, or a three-dimensional inclination signal.

8. The portable device with a motion sensor according to claim 4, wherein said sample database is established in a learning mode.

9. The portable device with a motion sensor according to claim 4, wherein said specific function mode is a power-on mode, a power-off mode, a call reception mode, a speed dial mode, a caller ID display mode, a vibration alert mode, an address book mode, a personal data mode, or one of the combination thereof.

10. The portable device with a motion sensor according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of pushbuttons is mounted on said portable device.

11. The portable device with a motion sensor according to claim 4, wherein said portable device is a mobile phone, a PDA, a MP3 player, a MP4 player, a voice recorder, a telecommunication device, or one of the combination thereof.

12. A method for automatically locking a portable device with a motion sensor, comprising the steps of:

detecting if said portable device is placed under said effect of an external force by an accelerator detector, and in response thereto generating a sensing signal; and

if said sensing signal is maintained stable within a predetermined period of time, driving said portable device to enter a specific mode.

13. The method for automatically locking a portable device with a motion sensor according to claim 12, wherein said specific mode is a locked mode or a power-saving mode.

14. The method for automatically locking a portable device with a motion sensor according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

when said portable device enters said specific mode, check if said sensing signal matches with an unlocking data stored in a memory; and

if said sensing signal matches with said unlocking data, relinquish said specific mode.

15. The method for automatically locking a portable device with a motion sensor according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

when said portable device enters said specific mode, determining whether an input signal matches with an unlocking password stored in a memory; and

if said input signal matches with said unlocking password, relinquish said specific mode.