Power management scheme for portable data collection devices utilizing location and position sensors

• US 8,588,869 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2010
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Sauerwein, James T. Jr., Hinson, Douglas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Akonai, Olumide T Ajibade
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEIBER, SHANTELL LAKETA
• Application Number:
  US12/689,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20110177846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A data collection device (DCD) is placed in a first low power mode after the DCD has been in a first predetermined position, and placed in a second low power mode after a first predetermined period of time. In another embodiment the DCD includes a wireless telephone, and a proximity sensor which detects when the DCD is close to a user'"'"'s face, wherein the telephone is automatically put in a handset mode when the DCD is close to a user'"'"'s face, and automatically put in a speakerphone mode when the DCD is not close to a user'"'"'s face.

Claims

1. A data collection device (DCD), comprising a motion sensor, a proximity detector, a keypad, a memory, a processor in communications with the memory, and a phone, wherein the DCD is configured to perform a method comprising:

placing the DCD in a first low power mode responsive to the DCD being front down for a first predetermined period of time;

placing the DCD in the first low power mode in a second low power mode responsive to the DCD being back down for a second predetermined period, wherein the second predetermined period of time is longer than the first predetermined period of time;

placing the DCD in the second power mode in a third low power mode responsive to the DCD being in a position that is neither front down nor back down for a third predetermined period of time, wherein the third predetermined period of time is longer than the second predetermined period of time; and

placing the DCD in one of the first power mode, the second power mode, or the third power mode in a reduced power state when the proximity detector detects the DCD is close to a user'"'"'s face, wherein said reduced power states comprises a speakerphone or hands free mode.

2. The DCD of claim 1 wherein the second low power mode follows the first low power mode before the DCD returns to the first low power mode.

3. The DCD of claim 1, further comprising:

placing the DCD in the first low power mode after it has been in a first position for a second predetermined time period.

4. The DCD of claim 1, wherein a sleep state is the second low power mode if the DCD is in a second predetermined position.

5. The DCD of claim 1, wherein the DCD enters the first low power mode substantially immediately after the DCD is placed face down.

6. A method for managing power in a data collection device (DCD), wherein the DCD comprises a motion sensor, a proximity detector, a keypad, and a phone, the method comprising:

placing the DCD in a first low power mode responsive to the DCD being front down for a first predetermined period of time;

placing the DCD in the first low power mode in a second low power mode responsive to the DCD being back down for a second predetermined period, wherein the second predetermined period of time is longer than the first predetermined period of time;

placing the DCD in the second power mode in a third low power mode responsive to the DCD being in a position that is neither front down nor back down for a third predetermined period of time, wherein the third predetermined period of time is longer than the second predetermined period of time; and

placing the DCD in one of the first power mode, the second power mode, or the third power mode in a reduced power state when the proximity detector detects the DCD is close to a user'"'"'s face, wherein said reduced power states comprises a speakerphone or hands free mode.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

placing the DCD in a fourth low power mode substantially after the DCD has been placed front down.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein DCD uses less power in the fourth low power mode than in the first, second, or third power modes.