Motion detector for a mobile device

• US 20070276295A1
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shugg, Christopher John
• Granted Patent: US 7,608,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

A portable electronic device comprises a motion sensor to detect motion and to generate motion data, and an activity monitor to detect user activity based on said motion data. A power detection circuit detects connection of said portable electronic device to an external supply power. A control circuit monitors the output signal from the detection circuit and prevents activity detection by said activity monitor while said portable electronic device is connected to said power supply.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a motion sensor to detect motion and to generate motion data;

an activity monitor to detect user activity based on said motion data;

a power detection circuit to detect connection of said portable electronic device to an external supply power; and

a control circuit responsive to signals from said power detection circuit to prevent activity detection by said activity monitor while said portable electronic device is connected to said power supply.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the activity monitor counts steps taken by said user.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2 wherein the activity monitor computes distance walked based on the number of steps taken.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 2 wherein the activity monitor computes calories burned based on the number of steps taken.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the activity monitor generates an activity report based at least in part on data received from said motion sensor.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5 further comprising memory to store the activity report.

7. The portable communication device of claim 5 further comprising a display to display the activity report.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the motion detector comprises an accelerometer.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the control circuit prevents activity detection by disabling said motion sensor while said portable electronic device is connected to external said power supply.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the control circuit prevents activity detection by pausing said activity monitor while said portable electronic device is connected to external said power supply.

11. In a portable electronic device with an integrated motion detector, a method comprising:

detecting user activity based on motion data from a motion sensor;

detecting connection of the portable electronic device to an external power source; and

suspending activity detection while said portable electronic device is connected to said external power source.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein detecting user activity comprises detecting steps taken by said user.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising computing distance walked based on the number of steps taken.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising computing calories burned based on the number of steps taken.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising generating an activity report.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising storing the activity report in memory.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising displaying the activity report on a display.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the motion sensor comprises an accelerometer.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 11 wherein suspending activity detection comprises disabling said motion sensor while said portable electronic device is connected to external said power supply.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 11 wherein suspending activity detection comprises ignoring data produced by said motion sensor while said portable electronic device is connected to external said power supply.