METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MITIGATING AN UNINTENDED-MECHANICAL STRAIN

• US 20090140602A1
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: KOTZIN, MICHAEL D, CHENG, SHUMIN, PAIS, MARTIN R.
• Application Number:
  US11/949,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20090140602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/300
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/005 using electro- or magnetostrictive actuation means generating of mechanical vibrations operating with electrostriction B06B1/06, with magnetostriction B06B1/08; vehicle suspension arrangements characterised by use of piezoelectric elements B60G17/01941; piezoelectric, electrostrictive and magnetostrictive devices per se H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for mitigating an unintended-mechanical strain in a device (100). The method includes transducing (304) strain-energy in the device to electrical-potential energy. This strain-energy develops due to unintended-mechanical strain. The unintended-mechanical strain is generated due to an impact force received by the device. Further, the method includes dissipating (306) the electrical-potential energy. The electrical-potential energy is dissipated via an electrical-circuit (204) in the device.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a transducer capable of converting strain-energy to electrical-potential energy, wherein the strain-energy is developed in the device due to an unintended-mechanical strain, wherein the unintended-mechanical strain is generated due to an impact force received by the device; and

an electrical-circuit capable of dissipating the electrical-potential energy via the electrical-circuit.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a wireless-communication device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the transducer is a piezo-electric sensor.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the piezo-electric sensor is selected from a group comprising lead-zirconate titanate, gallium phosphate, quartz, and tourmaline.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrical-circuit comprises at least one of an electric battery, a resistor, and an inductor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein a magnitude of the electrical-potential energy depends on at least one of a magnitude of the unintended-mechanical strain and an piezoelectric constant of the transducer.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the transducer is surface-mounted on at least one component of the device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the at least one component of the device is selected from a group comprising a housing structural element, a liquid-crystal display (LCD) holder, a device-battery cover, and a printed circuit board component.

9. A method for mitigating an unintended-mechanical strain in a device, the method comprising:

transducing strain-energy to electrical-potential energy, wherein the strain-energy is developed in the device due to the unintended-mechanical strain, and wherein the unintended-mechanical strain is generated due to an impact force received by the device; and

dissipating the electrical-potential energy via an electrical-circuit on the device.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising sensing the unintended-mechanical strain developed in the device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the electrical-potential energy is dissipated as at least one of a heat-energy, a sound-energy, and a light-energy.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the unintended-mechanical strain depends on at least one of a magnitude of the impact force received by the device, a direction of the impact force with respect to a surface of the device, and a material-constant of a material of the device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the electrical-circuit comprises at least one of an electric battery, a resistor, and an inductor.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising

determining one or more locations around the device, that are anticipated to experience the unintended-mechanical strain greater than a predefined-strain magnitude;

and

providing a transducer at, or near, at least one of the determined one or more locations of the device.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the impact force is due to a free-fall of the device under gravity.