ELECTRONIC APPARATUS WITH ACTIVE POSTURE CONTROL FUNCTION

• US 20100321194A1
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
• Original Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
• Inventors: Sung, Cheng-Kuo, YANG, Yi-Ling
• Granted Patent: US 8,106,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/669
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/021 using combined folding and rotation motions combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• 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

An electronic apparatus with an active posture control function includes a body assembly, an accelerometer, a driving device and a controller. The body assembly includes a first body and a second body pivotally connected to the first body. The accelerometer mounted on the body assembly senses acceleration of the body assembly to output an acceleration signal. The driving device mounted on the body assembly drives at least one of the first body and the second body. The controller, mounted on the body assembly and electrically connected to the accelerometer and the driving device, receives the acceleration signal, judges whether the acceleration signal is higher than a predetermined level, and controls the driving device to adjust an included angle between the first body and the second body when the acceleration signal is higher than the predetermined level.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus with an active posture control function, the apparatus comprising:

a body assembly comprising a first body and a second body pivotally connected to the first body;

an accelerometer, mounted on the body assembly, for sensing acceleration of the body assembly to output an acceleration signal;

a driving device, mounted on the body assembly, for driving at least one of the first body and the second body;

a controller, mounted on the body assembly and electrically connected to the accelerometer and the driving device, for receiving the acceleration signal, judging whether the acceleration signal is higher than a predetermined level, and controlling the driving device to adjust an included angle between the first body and the second body when the acceleration signal is higher than the predetermined level.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an angle detector, mounted on the body assembly and electrically connected to the controller, for detecting the included angle and thus outputting an included angle signal, wherein the controller further controls the driving device to adjust the included angle according to the included angle signal.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a gyroscope, mounted on the body assembly and electrically connected to the controller, for detecting a rotation state of the body assembly and outputting a rotation state signal, wherein the controller further controls the driving device to adjust the included angle according to the included angle signal.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a power supply unit, electrically connected to the controller, the accelerometer, the driving device, the angle detector and the gyroscope, for powering the controller, the accelerometer, the driving device, the angle detector and the gyroscope.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the power supply unit is a battery.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a display mounted on the first body, and a plurality of keys mounted on the second body, and the battery is mounted on the second body.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller controls the driving device to adjust the included angle such that the second body is located below the first body.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the driving device drives the first body to rotate about a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the driving device drives the first body to rotate about a first axis, a second axis and a third axis, and the first axis, the second axis and the third axis are perpendicular to one another.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 being a mobile phone.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 being a notebook computer.

12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 being a personal digital assistant.