Apparatus for controlling electrical devices in response to sensed conditions

• US 5,991,827 A
• Filed: 05/21/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Geovector Corporation
• Inventors: Ellenby, Thomas William, Ellenby, Peter Malcolm, Ellenby, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Application Number:
  US08/859,997
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 710/1, 710/8, 710/14, 710/15, 710/16, 345/212, 713/320, 713/330
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25291 Set module, component to sleep if no event or no other module needs it
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A system is disclosed that senses physical characteristics of an electronic device. The system controls the electronic device in response to the sensed physical characteristics. The system includes a control subsystem. The control subsystem includes a time trigger and an anticipation/latency reduction subsystem. The anticipation/latency reduction subsystem includes additional subsystems such as a time trigger, a position trigger and an attitude trigger. In an alternate embodiment, the anticipation/latency reduction subsystem also includes an activation interval trigger, a repetitive action trigger and a repetitive distance trigger. The various triggers can be implemented using processors that execute software. The system also includes sensing devices, such as a position sensing device and an attitude sensing device, to sense physical characteristics of the particular electronic device being controlled. The control subsystem receives signals from the sensing devices. Physical characteristic information obtained from these signals is provided to the various triggers. In response to this physical characteristic information, the various triggers process the physical characteristic information such that the system controls the electronic device.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an electronic device, the system comprising:

a sensing subsystem that senses at least one physical characteristic of the electronic device;

at least one anticipation/latency-reduction subsystem which periodically monitors and stores physical characteristic signals based on at least one physical characteristic sensed by the sensing subsystem; and

a control subsystem which provides a control signal to the electronic device for switching the electronic device from a first mode to a second mode in response to the control subsystem receiving at least one physical characteristic signal from the at least one anticipation/latency-reduction subsystem, the at least one physical characteristic signal representing at least one predefined physical characteristic of the electronic device indicating a use or anticipated use of the device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing subsystem comprises:

an attitude sensing device wherein the at least one physical characteristic signal includes an attitude signal and wherein the at least one predefined physical characteristic includes a predefined attitude characteristic of the electronic device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing subsystem comprises:

a position sensing device wherein the at least one physical characteristic signal includes a position signal and wherein the at least one predefined physical characteristic includes a predefined position characteristic of the electronic device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control signal for switching the electronic device from the first mode to the second mode is for switching the electronic device from a power off mode to a power on mode.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control signal for switching the electronic device from the first mode to the second mode is for switching the electronic device from a power on mode to a power off mode.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control signal for switching the electronic device from the first mode to the second mode is for switching a portion of the electronic device from a power off mode to a power on mode.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control signal for switching the electronic device from the first mode to the second mode is for switching a portion of the electronic device from a power on mode to a power off mode.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein

the control subsystem provides to the electronic device a second control signal for switching the electronic device from the second mode to a third mode;

the control subsystem provides the second control signal to the electronic device in response to receiving a second at least one physical characteristic signal from the at least one anticipation/latency-reduction subsystem wherein the second at least one physical characteristic signal represents a second at least one predefined physical characteristic.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein

the control signal for switching the electronic device from the first mode to the second mode is for switching a portion of the electronic device from one of a first power off mode and a first power on mode to the other of the first power off mode and the first power on mode;

and

the second control signal for switching the electronic device from the second mode to the third mode is for switching a second portion of the electronic device from one of a second power off mode and a second power on mode to the other of the second power off mode and the second power on mode.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein

the control signal for switching the electronic device from the first mode to the second mode is for switching the portion of the electronic device from the first power off mode to the first power on mode;

and

the second control signal for switching the electronic device from the second mode to the third mode is for switching the second portion of the electronic device from the second power off mode to the second power on mode.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein

the control signal for switching the electronic device from the first mode to the second mode is for switching the portion of the electronic device from the first power on mode to the first power off mode;

and

the second control signal for switching the electronic device from the second mode to the third mode is for switching the second portion of the electronic device from the second power on mode to the second power off mode.

12. The system of claim 2 wherein the predefined attitude characteristic comprises a range of attitudes.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the predefined attitude characteristic comprises a particular attitude and a predefined tolerance around the particular attitude.

14. The system of claim 2, wherein the predefined attitude characteristic comprises a rate of change of attitude where the rate of change of attitude meets a predefined attitude rate of change threshold.

15. The system of claim 4, wherein the predefined position characteristic comprises a range of positions.

16. The system of claim 4, wherein the predefined position characteristic comprises a particular position and a predefined tolerance around the particular position.

17. The system of claim 4, wherein the predefined position characteristic comprises a rate of change of position where the rate of change of position meets a predefined position rate of change threshold.

18. The system of claim 4, wherein the predefined position characteristic comprises an acceleration where the acceleration meets a predefined acceleration threshold.

19. The system of claim 12 further comprising a user input wherein the control subsystem executes software to provide a user with an option of adjusting the range using the user input.

20. The system of claim 15 further comprising a user input wherein the control subsystem executes software to provide a user with an option of adjusting the range using the user input.

21. The system of claim 13 further comprising a user input wherein the control subsystem executes software to provide a user with an option of adjusting the particular attitude and the predefined tolerance around the particular attitude using the user input.

22. The system of claim 16 further comprising a user input wherein the control subsystem executes software to provide a user with an option of adjusting the particular position and the predefined tolerance around the particular position using the user input.

23. The system of claim 14 further comprising a user input wherein the control subsystem executes software to provide a user with an option of adjusting the rate of change of attitude and the predefined attitude rate of change threshold using the user input.

24. The system of claim 17 further comprising a user input wherein the control subsystem executes software to provide a user with an option of adjusting rate of change of position and the predefined attitude rate of change threshold using the user input.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein control subsystem comprises a clock for generating a timing signals.

26. The system of claim 4 wherein the control subsystem comprises a position trigger that receives position information obtained from the position signal.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the position trigger provides the control signal in response to the position information.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the position trigger provides the control signal by executing software.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the position trigger comprises a RISC processor.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the RISC processor executes software to provide the control signal.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the position trigger comprises a CISC processor.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the CISC processor executes software to provide the control signal.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the CISC processor provides the control signal in response to the position information.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein the position trigger comprises at least one of digital circuitry and analog circuitry that provides the control signal in response to the position information.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the at least one of the digital circuitry and the analog circuitry provides the control signal without using software.

36. The system of claim 2 wherein the control subsystem comprises an attitude trigger that receives attitude information obtained from the attitude signal.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the attitude trigger provides the control signal in response to the attitude information.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the attitude trigger provides the control signal by executing software.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the attitude trigger comprises a RISC processor.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the RISC processor executes software to provide the control signal.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the RISC processor provides the control signal in response to the attitude information.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein the attitude trigger comprises a CISC processor.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the CISC processor executes software to provide the control signal.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the CISC processor provides the control signal in response to the attitude information.

45. The system of claim 36, wherein the attitude trigger comprises at least one of digital circuitry and analog circuitry that provides the control signal in response to the attitude information.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the at least one of the digital circuitry and the analog circuitry provides the control signal without using software.

47. The system of claim 1 wherein the control subsystem comprises an activation profile subsystem that receives physical characteristic information obtained from the physical characteristic signal wherein the activation profile subsystem provides the control signal in response to the physical characteristic information.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the activation profile subsystem comprises:

an activation interval trigger wherein the physical characteristic information includes an observed activation interval value.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the activation interval trigger comprises a processor executing software wherein the processor executing the software provides the control signal in response to a comparison of the observed activation interval value and an AIT interval value.

50. The system of claim 51, wherein the processor comprises a plurality of RISC processors.

51. The system of claim 48, wherein the activation interval trigger learns the AIT interval value from a plurality of observed mode change time interval values.

52. The system of claim 48, wherein the activation interval trigger comprises a plurality of RISC processors that provide the control signal in response to a comparison of the observed activation interval value and an AIT interval value.

53. The system of claim 48, wherein the activation interval trigger comprises a CISC processor that provides the control signal in response to a comparison of the observed activation interval value and an AIT interval value.

54. The system of claim 48, wherein the activation interval trigger comprises at least one of analog circuitry and digital circuitry that provides the control signal in response to a comparison of the observed activation interval and an AIT interval value.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the at least one of the analog circuitry and the digital circuitry provides the control signal without using software.

56. The system of claim 47 wherein the activation profile subsystem comprises:

a repetitive action trigger wherein the physical characteristic information includes an observed series of attitude readings.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the repetitive action trigger comprises a processor executing software wherein the processor executing the software provides the control signal in response to a comparison of the observed series of attitude readings and a RAT attitude setting.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the processor comprises a plurality of RISC processors.

59. The system of claim 56, wherein the repetitive action trigger learns the RAT attitude setting from a plurality of observed series'"'"'s of attitude readings.

60. The system of claim 56, wherein the repetitive action trigger comprises a plurality of RISC processors that provide the control signal in response to a comparison of the observed series of attitude readings and a RAT attitude setting.

61. The system of claim 56, wherein the repetitive action trigger comprises a CISC processor that provides the control signal in response to a comparison of the observed series of attitude readings and a RAT attitude setting.

62. The system of claim 56, wherein the repetitive action trigger comprises at least one of analog circuitry and digital circuitry that provides the control signal in response to a comparison of the observed series of attitude readings and a RAT attitude setting.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the at least one of the analog circuitry and the digital circuitry provides the control signal without using software.

64. The system of claim 47, wherein the activation profile subsystem comprises a repetitive distance trigger wherein the physical characteristic information includes an observed distance value.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the repetitive distance trigger comprises a processor executing software wherein the processor executing the software provides the control signal in response to a comparison of the observed distance value and a repetitive distance value.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the processor comprises a plurality of RISC processors.

67. The system of claim 64, wherein the repetitive distance trigger learns the repetitive distance value from a plurality of prior observed distance values.

68. The system of claim 64, wherein the repetitive distance trigger comprises a plurality of RISC processors that provide the control signal in response to a comparison of the observed distance value and an RDT distance value.

69. The system of claim 64, wherein the repetitive distance trigger comprises a CISC processor that provides the control signal in response to a comparison of the observed distance value and an RDT distance value.

70. The system of claim 64, wherein the repetitive distance trigger comprises at least one of digital circuitry and analog circuitry that provides the control signal in response to a comparison of the observed distance value and an RDT distance value.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the at least one of the digital circuitry and the analog circuitry provides the control signal without using software.

72. The system of claim 47 wherein the activation profile subsystem is adapted to access a plurality of activation profiles where each activation profile is associated with a different user who may use the system.

73. The system of claim 72 wherein the activation profiles each comprise settings for at least one of an activation interval trigger, a repetitive action trigger and a repetitive distance trigger.