Hand-held electronic device and method for preventing fall of the same

• US 8,212,422 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Askey Computer Corporation (ASUSTek Computer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Askey Computer Corporation (ASUSTek Computer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Wen-Yu, Hsieh, Ching-Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Amrany, Adi
• Application Number:
  US12/624,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20110109170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 307/121
• US Class Current: 307/121
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/043 by detecting a free-fall condition
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

The hand-held electronic device includes a central processing unit, a memory unit, a state-detecting unit, a state-determining unit, a main power supply unit, a standby power supply unit, and a power supply switching unit. After determining the presence of a fall state, the state-determining unit will output a fall instruction and which causes the central processing unit to enter a low current mode; meanwhile, the power supply switching unit monitors power output and continues to supply low-potential power. In case of a fall of the hand-held electronic device, the device and method protect operation data and reduce the otherwise power-consuming current. The less power-consuming current is conducive to the reduction of capacitance required for a backup battery. The low current mode is effective in reducing the time taken to recover the operation mode of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A hand-held electronic device capable of protecting data stored therein while falling, comprising:

a state-detecting unit for detecting a motion state of the hand-held electronic device and generating state information according to the detecting result of the motion state;

a state-determining unit electrically connected to the state-detecting unit and configured to receive the state information and selectively output a fall instruction according to a preset safe movement state parameter;

a central processing unit electrically connected to the state-determining unit and configured to receive the fall instruction, trigger storage of operation data during operation of the hand-held electronic device according to the fall instruction, and cause the hand-held electronic device to enter a low current mode upon completion of the operation data storage;

a memory unit electrically connected to the central processing unit and configured to store the safe movement state parameter and the operation data;

a main power supply unit connected to the hand-held electronic device for supplying power during an operation mode;

a standby power supply unit for supplying power required for the low current mode, wherein the capacitance of the standby power supply unit is less than that of the main power supply unit; and

a power supply switching unit connected to the main power supply unit, the standby power supply unit, and the central processing unit and configured to switch between the main power supply unit and the standby power supply unit, wherein the central processing unit causes the power supply switching unit to switch to the standby power supply unit upon disconnection of the main power supply unit.

2. The hand-held electronic device of claim 1, wherein the state-detecting unit is one of an acceleration detector, a gyroscope, and a combination of the acceleration detector and the gyroscope.

3. The hand-held electronic device of claim 1, wherein the low current mode is one of a hibernation mode and a standby mode.

4. A method for protecting data stored in a hand-held electronic device while the hand-held electronic device is falling, a main power supply unit connected to the hand-held electronic device for supplying power during an operation mode, comprising the steps of:

(1) detecting a motion state of the hand-held electronic device and generating state information;

(2) comparing the state information with a preset safe movement state parameter and generating a fall instruction if the state information exceeds a range of the safe movement state parameter;

(3) storing operation data in operation according to the fall instruction; and

(4) switching to a low current mode and, upon the disconnection of the main power supply unit, switching to a standby power supply unit, wherein the standby power supply unit has lower capacitance than that of the main power supply unit.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step (3), the power-consuming current is reduced to 3 mA upon entering into the low current mode.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step (1), the motion state of the hand-held electronic device is detected by one of a gyroscope, an acceleration detector, or a combination of the acceleration detector and the gyroscope.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the step (3), the low current mode is one of a hibernation mode and a standby mode.