Device and method for monitoring shock

• US 6,584,198 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1999
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. (Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Heikkinen, Kari-Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US09/465,102
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 379/437, 379/412, 379/428.01, 379/433.06, 379/432, 379/399.01, 379/433.02, 379/446, 381/354, 381/94.1, 381/177, 381/396, 381/412, 381/94.9, 455/570, 455/574, 455/575, 455/90, 455/63
• US Class Current: 379/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system is devised for utilizing the speaker in a mobile phone or other appliance as a transducer for monitoring the shock to which the appliance is subjected. The shock signal is processed and stored signals relative to said shock and providing means to access said stored data.

Claims

1. In apparatus containing a dynamic speaker, said speaker having a magnetized core and an input coil, a method of monitoring the shock to which the apparatus is subjected, comprising the steps of:

providing an alternative connection to said speaker to provide an output for the voltage signal generated by movement of said magnetized core within said input coil when the apparatus is subject to shock,

processing said signal to block the monitored signals which are below a predetermined minimum;

converting said signal to a digital signal; and

storing said signal in a microprocessor for future reference.

2. In apparatus containing a dynamic speaker, said speaker having a magnetized core and an input coil, a method of monitoring the shock to which the apparatus is subjected, as described in claim 1 further comprising the step of filtering said signal to isolate the shock signal from environmental disturbances.

3. In a mobile phone containing a dynamic speaker, said speaker having a magnetized core and an input coil, said mobile phone containing a microprocessor, a method of monitoring the shock to which the apparatus is subjected comprising the steps of:

providing an alternative connection to said speaker to provide an output for the voltage signal generated by movement of said magnetized core within said input coil, when said mobile phone is subject to shock,

processing said signal to block the monitored signals which are below a predetermined minimum;

converting said signal to a digital signal; and

storing said signal in said microprocessor for future reference.

4. In a mobile phone containing a dynamic speaker, said speaker having a magnetized core and an input coil, said mobile phone containing a microprocessor, a method of monitoring the shock to which the apparatus is subjected, as described in claim 3, further comprising the step of filtering said signal to isolate the shock signal from environmental disturbances.

5. In apparatus containing a dynamic speaker, said speaker having a magnetized core and an input coil, a device for monitoring the shock to which the apparatus is subjected comprising:

an output connected to the speaker coil for obtaining the voltage signal generated by movement of said magnetized core within said input coil when the device is subject to shock,

a processor connected to receive the filtered signal and to block the monitored signals which are below a predetermined minimum;

a microprocessor connected to receive the processed signal, convert said signal to digital form and to store said signal in said microprocessor for future reference.

6. In apparatus containing a dynamic speaker, said speaker having a magnetized core and an input coil, a device for monitoring the shock to which the apparatus is subjected, as described in claim 5, further comprising a filter connected to receive said signal and to isolate said signal from environmental disturbances.

7. In a mobile phone which uses a dynamic speaker, said speaker having a magnetized core and an input coil, said mobile phone having microprocessor control, a device for monitoring the shock to which the apparatus is subjected comprising:

an output connected to the speaker coil for obtaining the voltage signal generated by movement of said magnetized core within said input coil when the mobile phone is subject to shock;

a processor connected to receive the filtered signal and to block those monitored signals that are below a predetermined minimum;

said microprocessor control connected to receive the processed signal, convert said signal to digital form, and to store said signal in said microprocessor for future reference.

8. In a mobile phone which uses a dynamic speaker, said speaker having a magnetized core and an input coil, said mobile phone having microprocessor control, a device for monitoring the shock to which the apparatus is subjected, as described in claim 7, further comprising a filter connected to receive said signal and to isolate said signal from environmental disturbances.