Method and apparatus for detecting free fall

• US 7,307,228 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2004
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wehrenberg, Paul James
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US10/890,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20040252403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 200 6145 R- 6145 M
• US Class Current: 200/61.49
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/04 Arrangements for preventing, inhibiting, or warning against double recording on the same blank or against other recording or reproducing malfunctions
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/08 by using devices external to the driving mechanisms, e.g. coin-freed switch coin actuated mechanisms G07F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 21/12 Raising and lowering; Back-spacing or forward-spacing along track; Returning to starting position otherwise than during transducing operation

Abstract

A data processing system including a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium. Within said data processing system, a system electronics is operatively coupled to a sensor and to said data storage device. When the sensor senses a change in gravitational or inertial acceleration of said data processing system, it alerts system electronics to temporarily park a read/write head in a safe position.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium; and

an acceleration detector coupled to the data storage device to detect a change in an acceleration of the portable electronic device and to configure the data storage device from a first operating state into a second operating state in response to the detection, wherein the acceleration detector includes a flexible non-electrically conductive support material,

an electrically conductive casing coupled to the flexible non-electrically conductive support material, and

a beam having a first end and a second end supported by the flexible non-electrically conductive support material.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a digital camera.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a musical playback device.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable computer system.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising system electronics coupled to the data storage device and the acceleration detector, wherein in response to the detection, the system electronics execute a predetermined process, which in part transforms the data storage device from the first operating state into the second operating state.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the predetermined process, when executed, transforms the data storage device from the first operating state into the second operating state.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein during the second operating state, data stored in the data storage device is inaccessible.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the beam is rigid or flexible.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the second end of the beam contacts the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the second end of the beam does not contact the casing during free fall.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the acceleration detector further comprises a mass attached to the second end of the beam.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the mass contacts the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the mass, the casing, and the beam are each electrically conductive.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the mass does not contact the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 8, further comprising means to couple the acceleration detector to a substrate.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the means is one of at least one lead or one conductive pin.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the casing is closed at both ends and filled with an inert gas or non-electrically conductive liquid.

18. A method performed by a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting a change in an acceleration of the portable electronic device using an acceleration detector disposed within the portable electronic device; and

executing a predetermined process in response to the detection, wherein the acceleration detector includes

a flexible non-electrically conductive support material,

an electrically conductive casing coupled to the flexible non-electrically conductive support material, and

a beam having a first end and a second end supported by the flexible non-electrically conductive support material.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising transforming a data storage device of the portable electronic device from a first operating state into a second operating state in response to the detection.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the portable electronic device is a digital camera.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the portable electronic device is a musical playback device.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable computer system.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the beam is rigid or flexible.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the second end of the beam contacts the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the second end of the beam does not contact the casing during free fall.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the acceleration detector further comprises a mass attached to the second end of the beam.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the mass contacts the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the mass, the casing, and the beam are each electrically conductive.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the mass does not contact the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.

30. The method of claim 23, further comprising means to couple the acceleration detector to a substrate.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the means is one of at least one lead or one conductive pin.

32. The method of claim 18, wherein the casing is closed at both ends and filled with an inert gas or non-electrically conductive liquid.

33. A data processing system, comprising:

a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium; and

an acceleration detector coupled to the data storage device to detect a change in an acceleration of the portable electronic device and to configure the data storage device from a first operating state into a second operating state in response to the detection, wherein the acceleration detector includes a flexible non-electrically conductive support material,

an electrically conductive casing coupled to the flexible non-electrically conductive support material, and

a beam having a first end and a second end supported by the flexible non-electrically conductive support material.