PROXIMITY BASED REMOVAL WARNING FOR CONNECTABLE DEVICES

• US 20180024956A1
• Filed: 07/22/2016
• Published: 01/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kapinos, Robert James, VanBlon, Russell Speight, Li, Scott Wentao, Kingsbury, Timothy Winthrop
• Granted Patent: US 10,684,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

One embodiment provides a device, including: a memory that stores data; an indicator element; a proximity sensor; and a processor that is operatively coupled to the memory, and the indicator element, the processor: responding, in connected state, to an indication by the proximity element with an output to the indicator element. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a memory that stores data;

an indicator element;

a proximity sensor; and

a processor that is operatively coupled to the memory, and the indicator element, the processor;

responding, in a connected state, to an indication by the proximity element with an output to the indicator element.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a pluggable storage device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the indicator element is selected from the group consisting of a haptic element, an indicator element that produces a visible indicator, and an audio element that produces sound.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the audio element outputs predetermined audio as the output.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the predetermined audio comprises a recorded message.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of an inductive proximity sensor and a capacitive proximity sensor.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is disposed on an outer surface of the device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is a contact sensor.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the connected state is a busy state.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the busy state is selected from the group consisting of a reading state and a writing state.

11. A host device, comprising:

a connection element that couples to a storage device;

a memory that stores data; and

a processor that is operatively coupled to the connection element and the memory, the processor;

responding, in a connected state, to an indication by a proximity element with an output to indicate that the storage device should not be uncoupled from the host device.

12. A method, comprising:

detecting, with a connectable device, a connected state;

said connected state comprising an operative connection between the connectable device and another device;

sensing, with a proximity sensor of the connectable device, proximity of an object in the connected state; and

outputting, to an indicator element of the connectable device, an indication.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the connectable device is a pluggable storage device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the outputting comprises producing an output selected from the group consisting of a haptic effect and an audible sound.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the outputting comprises outputting a predetermined audible sound.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined audible sound comprises a recorded message.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensing comprises sensing object contact.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensing comprises sensing object proximity to an outer surface of the connectable device.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the connected state is a busy state.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the busy state is selected from the group consisting of a reading state and a writing state.