Information equipment for detecting fall

• US 8,024,150 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Nagashima, Fumio
• Primary Examiner(s): NGHIEM, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US12/362,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20090287449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 702/41, 702/66, 702/71, 702/141, 702/150, 702/173, 734/88, 734/89, 734/92, 324/162
• US Class Current: 702/141
• 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: G11B 19/043 by detecting a free-fall condition

Abstract

Acceleration is detected by an acceleration sensor in information equipment and information of detected acceleration is compared with a threshold value. Then, if the information of the detected acceleration is equal to or less than the threshold value, it is determined that the information equipment is in a weightless condition.

Claims

1. An information equipment, comprising:

an acceleration sensor to detect acceleration values for x, y and z axes of the acceleration sensor;

a storage device to store the detected acceleration values;

an audio input device to obtain audio information; and

a process device to compare each of the detected acceleration values with a threshold value, to determine that the information equipment is in a weightless condition when a state in which all of the detected acceleration values are equal to or less than the threshold value continues for a certain time, to determine that the information equipment is not in the weightless condition when at least one of the detected acceleration values is larger than the threshold value, to record a determination result in the storage device, to activate the audio input device when determining that the information equipment is in the weightless condition, to determine whether there has been shock on the basis of the obtained audio information, and to record shock detection information in the storage device when the process device determines that there has been shock.

2. The information equipment according to claim 1, wherein

the process device estimates a maximum acceleration from an audio waveform indicated by the audio information and determines that there has been shock when the maximum acceleration is equal to or more than a threshold value.

3. The information equipment according to claim 1, further comprising

an imaging device to take a motion picture, wherein

the process device activates the imaging device when determining that the information equipment is in the weightless condition, and records the motion picture in the storage device.

4. A detection method for detecting a weightless condition of an information equipment, comprising:

detecting acceleration values for x, y and z axes of an acceleration sensor in the information equipment;

recording the detected acceleration values;

comparing, by the information equipment, each of the detected acceleration values with a threshold value, determining that the information equipment is in the weightless condition when a state in which all of the detected acceleration values are equal to or less than the threshold value continues for a certain time, and determining that the information equipment is not in the weightless condition when at least one of the detected acceleration values is larger than the threshold value;

obtaining audio information when determining that the information equipment is in the weightless condition;

determining whether there has been shock on the basis of the obtained audio information; and

recording shock detection information when the process device determines that there has been shock.

5. An information equipment, comprising:

acceleration sensor means for detecting acceleration values for x, y and z axes of the acceleration sensor means;

storage means for storing the detected acceleration values;

an audio input means for obtaining audio information; and

process means for comparing each of the detected acceleration with a threshold value, determining that the information equipment is in a weightless condition when a state in which all of the detected acceleration values are equal to or less than the threshold value continues for a certain time, determining that the information equipment is not in the weightless condition when at least one of the detected acceleration values is larger than the threshold value, recording a determination result in the storage means, activating the audio input means when determining that the information equipment is in the weightless condition, determining whether there has been shock on the basis of the obtained audio information, and recording shock detection information in the storage means when the process means determines that there has been shock.