Programming a sensitivity level into an inertial sensor based on a proxy of whether a system is in transit

• US 7,558,013 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Homer, Steven S., Jeansonne, Jeffrey K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson; Jason C
• Application Number:
  US11/330,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20070162238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 360/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/043 by detecting a free-fall condition

Abstract

A system comprises a sensor and logic coupled to the sensor. The logic programs a sensitivity level into the sensor to a first sensitivity level if a proxy indicates that the system is in transit and to a second sensitivity level if proxy indicates that the system is not in transit.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a sensor;

a display; and

logic coupled to sensor and said display, said logic programs a sensitivity level into the sensor to a first sensitivity level if a proxy indicates that the system is likely in transit and to a second sensitivity level if proxy indicates that the system is likely not in transit;

wherein the proxy indicating that the system is likely in transit comprises a first signal indicative of the display being closed and a second signal indicative of the system operating from battery power.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first sensitivity level is higher than the second sensitivity level.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the proxy indicating that the system is not in transit comprises a signal indicative of the system operating from alternating current (AC) power.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is programmed with thresholds that correspond to the first and second sensitivity levels.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a device that is caused to be transitioned to a protected mode if a signal from the sensor is in violation of a threshold.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the protected mode comprises said logic precluding access to said device.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said logic permits access to said device following a time delay after the sensor no longer indicates that the threshold is being violated.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the size of the time delay depends on whether the first sensitivity level or second sensitivity level had been programmed into the sensor.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a sensor selected from a group consisting of an inertial sensor, an accelerometer and a motion sensor.

10. A system, comprising:

a position sensor adapted to couple to a closeable display, said position sensor causing a sensor signal to be produced to indicate whether the display is open or closed;

a drop sensor that produces drop data indicative of at least one of a gravitational and motion state of the system; and

logic that is programmed with a threshold associated with said drop sensor based on whether the position sensor signal indicates that the display is open and based on a determination of a type of power from which the system is operating, said type of power comprising battery power or AC power.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said logic is part of the drop sensor.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said drop sensor comprises a sensor selected from a group consisting of an inertial sensor, an accelerometer and a motion sensor.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising a rotating storage medium and said logic causes said rotating storage medium to transition to a protected mode if said logic receives drop data from said drop sensor indicating that the system is likely experiencing a gravitational or motion condition that is in violation of said programmed threshold.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein said threshold comprises a first threshold if the position sensor signal indicates that the display is open and a second threshold if the position sensor signal indicates that the display is closed, wherein the first threshold is different from the second threshold.

15. A method, comprising:

determining whether a computer display is open or closed;

determining whether a computer including the computer display is operating from battery power or AC power; and

programming a sensitivity level associated with a drop sensor associated with a computer based on whether the computer display is open or closed and based on the whether the computer is operating from battery power or AC power.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving a signal from said drop sensor indicating that the drop sensor has experienced a gravitational or motion condition in violation of the programmed threshold.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising, based on the signal, transitioning a device to a protected mode.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising, based on the signal, moving a head of storage device to a position so as to preclude the head from impacting a storage medium.