Hybrid hardware/firmware multi-axis accelerometers for drop detect and tumble detect

• US 20070107068A1
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: OQO Incorporated (Audiotone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pocklington, Richard, Kelley, Robert, Alcouloumre, Vince, Betts-La Croix, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US11/580,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20070107068A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/34
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0796 Safety measures, i.e. ensuring safe condition in the event of error, e.g. for controlling element
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/043 by detecting a free-fall condition

Abstract

A portable computing device with hybrid hardware/firmware accelerometers for drop and tumble detect is disclosed. In one embodiment, a portable computing device can include: (i) a plurality of accelerometers; and (ii) an embedded controller coupled to the plurality of accelerometers, where the embedded controller can change the portable computing device from a first state to a second state when a predetermined condition is detected by at least one of the plurality of accelerometers. The predetermined condition can include a dropping, tumbling, or free fall situation. Also, the first state can be an active state, while the second state can be a protective state, such as where a hard drive is shut down, for example.

Claims

1. A portable computing device, comprising:

a plurality of accelerometers; and

an embedded controller coupled to the plurality of accelerometers, wherein the embedded controller is configured to change the portable computing device from a first state to a second state when a predetermined condition is detected by at least one of the plurality of accelerometers.

2. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition comprises a tumble.

3. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition comprises a drop.

4. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the first state comprises an active state, and the second state comprises a protective state.

5. The portable computing device of claim 4, wherein the protective state comprises a hard drive being shut down.

7. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of accelerometers is located away from a center of mass.

8. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition comprises a balance or level indication.

9. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the embedded controller comprises firmware.

10. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the first state comprises a shut down or sleep mode, and the second state comprises an active state.

11. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition comprises a sequence of positions, each of the sequence of positions being maintained for at least a predetermined period of time.

12. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second states differ in a level of tolerance of a drop detect event.

13. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition comprises unsteadiness, and the second state comprises an increased monitor readability or increased accessibility relative to the first state.

14. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition comprises shaking, and the second state comprises a reset state.

6. The portable computing device of 1, wherein each of the plurality of accelerometers comprises a 3-axis accelerometer.

15. A method of protecting a portable computing device, the method comprising:

determining a vector magnitude using at least one accelerometer in the portable computing device;

indicating a predetermined condition when the vector magnitude is less than a predetermined threshold for at least a predetermined number of samples; and

using an embedded controller coupled to the at least one accelerometer to change the portable computing device from a first state to a second state.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined condition comprises a free fall.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first state comprises an active state, and the second state comprises a protective state.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the protective state comprises a hard drive being shut down.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the using the embedded controller comprises using firmware.

20. A means for protecting a portable computing device, the means comprising:

means for determining a vector magnitude using at least one accelerometer in the portable computing device;

means for indicating a predetermined condition when the vector magnitude is less than a predetermined threshold for at least a predetermined number of samples; and

means for using an embedded controller coupled to the at least one accelerometer to change the portable computing device from a first state to a second state.