Device and method for protecting an electronic appliance in critical motion conditions, in particular in case of fall

• US 7,782,219 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2007
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Tronconi, Michele, Pasolini, Fabio, Rizzo Piazza Roncoroni, Alessandra Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/950,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 340/669, 340/541, 340/686.1, 340/440
• US Class Current: 340/669
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/043 by detecting a free-fall condition

Abstract

A device for protecting an electronic apparatus includes: a motion-detection device, for supplying at least one alert signal in response to conditions of motion of the protection device; a counter; a first logic circuit, for incrementing the counter in the presence of a first value of the alert signal, in a first operating condition; and a second logic circuit, for generating a protection signal on the basis of a count value of the counter. In addition, the first logic circuit is configured for decrementing the counter in the presence of a second value of the alert signal, in the first operating condition.

Claims

1. A protection device to protect an electronic apparatus, the protection device comprising:

a motion-detection device, to supply at least one alert signal in response to conditions of motion of the protection device;

a counter;

a first logic circuit, to increment the counter in a presence of a first value of the alert signal, in a first operating condition; and

a second logic circuit, to generate a protection signal on a basis of a count value of the counter;

wherein the first logic circuit is configured to decrement the counter in a presence of a second value of the alert signal, in the first operating condition.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first operating condition is defined by an inactive value of the protection signal.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first logic circuit is configured to increment the counter iteratively by an increment step in the presence of the first value of the alert signal and to decrement the counter iteratively by a decrement step in the presence of the second value of the alert signal, in the first operating condition.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the increment step and the decrement step of the counter are programmable.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the second logic circuit is configured to switch the protection signal and to reset the counter if the count value has reached a first threshold, in the first operating condition.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first logic circuit is configured to increment the counter in the presence of the second value of the alert signal and to decrement the counter in the presence of the first value of the alert signal, in a second operating condition.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein the second operating condition is defined by an active value of the protection signal.

8. The device according to claim 6 wherein the second logic circuit is configured to switch the protection signal and to reset the counter if the count value has reached a second threshold, in the second operating condition.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the motion-detection device includes:

an inertial sensor, to generate motion signals correlated to conditions of motion of the protection device; and

a processing circuit, coupled to the inertial sensor to supply the alert signal in response to configurations of the motion signals.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein the inertial sensor is a microelectromechanical sensor.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein the motion-detection device, the counter, the first logic circuit, and the second logic circuit are housed in a single packaging, provided with a terminal to make the protection signal available externally.

12. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a peripheral unit controlled by the microprocessor; and

a safety device coupled to the microprocessor to supply a protection signal, the safety device including;

a motion-detection device to supply at least one alert signal in response to a condition of motion;

a counter coupled to said motion-detection device;

a first logic circuit coupled to said counter, to increment the counter in response to a first value of the alert signal, in a first operating condition; and

a second logic circuit coupled to said counter, to generate said protection signal based on a count value of the counter;

wherein the first logic circuit is configured to decrement the counter in response to a second value of the alert signal, in the first operating condition.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the microprocessor is configured to bring the peripheral unit into a safety configuration, in response to the protection signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the motion-detection device includes:

an inertial sensor, to generate motion signals correlated to said condition of motion; and

a processing circuit, coupled to the inertial sensor to supply the alert signal in response to particular configurations of the motion signals.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said microprocessor, peripheral unit, and safety device are part of a portable computer, and wherein said inertial sensor and said processing circuit are located on different semiconductor chips of said portable computer.

16. A method for protecting an electronic apparatus, the method comprising:

detecting conditions of motion of the electronic apparatus;

incrementing an index in a presence of the conditions of motion, in a first operating condition;

generating a protection signal on a basis of the index; and

decrementing the index in an absence of the conditions of motion, in the first operating condition.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the first operating condition is defined by an inactive value of the protection signal.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein said incrementing includes incrementing the index iteratively by an increment step and said decrementing includes decrementing the index iteratively by a decrement step, in the first operating condition.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising programming the increment step and the decrement step.

20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising switching the protection signal and resetting the index, if the index has reached a first threshold, in the first operating condition.

21. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

decrementing the index in the presence of the conditions of motion, in a second operating condition; and

incrementing the index in the absence of the conditions of motion, in the second operating condition.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the second operating condition is defined by an active value of the protection signal.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising switching the protection signal and resetting the index, if the index has reached a second threshold, in the second operating condition.

24. The method according to claim 16 wherein said detecting conditions of motion includes:

using an inertial sensor, to generate motion signals correlated to conditions of motion of the electronic apparatus; and

supplying an alert signal in response to configurations of the motion signals.

25. The method according to claim 24 wherein the alert signal is a free-fall signal.

26. The method according to claim 24 wherein the alert signal is a roll signal.

27. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

means for detecting a condition of motion;

means for changing an index to increment said index in response to detected presence of said condition of motion, in a first operating condition; and

means for generating a protection signal based on a value of the index,

wherein said means for changing decrements the index in response detected absence of said condition of motion, in the first operating condition.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

a microprocessor; and

a peripheral unit controlled by the microprocessor, wherein said processor is adapted to receive said protection signal to place said peripheral unit in a protective configuration.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said value of the index is a count value of a counter.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the first operating condition is defined by an inactive value of the protection signal.