System and method for detecting accidental peripheral device disconnection

• US 9,052,758 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2010
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Walker, David Ryan, Fyke, Steven Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Sun, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/982,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20120173770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A detection device for detecting the manner in which a peripheral device is removed from an electronic device is proposed. The detection device can be on the peripheral device or the electronic device and detects whether the peripheral device was removed in a manner that indicates the removal was intentional or unintentional.

Claims

1. A detection system for detecting a manner in which a peripheral device is removed from an electronic device, the detection system comprising:

a detector configured to sense a type of an action during removal of the peripheral device from the electronic device, the type of action being indicative of an intentional or unintentional manner in which the peripheral device is removed; and

an output interface configured to output a signal corresponding to whether the action sensed is indicative of an intentional or unintentional manner in which the peripheral device is removed.

2. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises a touch sensor that senses if a portion of the peripheral device is touched by a user during removal of the peripheral device from the electronic device.

3. The detection system of claim 2, wherein the touch sensor is one of a capacitive pad, a mechanical switch, a force transducer and a piezoelectric pad.

4. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the detector is a proximity sensor that senses if an object comes within a pre-determined distance of the detector during removal of the peripheral device.

5. The detection system of claim 4, wherein the proximity sensor is one of an optical sensor, an infrared sensor and a capacitive sensor.

6. The detection system of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to compare the action sensed to a pre-determined action and in response to the action matching the pre-determined action, to provide the electronic device with an instruction corresponding to the pre-determined action.

7. The detection system of claim 6, wherein the instruction is to deactivate a system of the electronic device.

8. The detection system of claim 6, wherein the instruction is to turn off an audio output.

9. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the output interface is a wireless transmitter.

10. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the output interface is further configured to output a deactivation signal to deactivate a system on the electronic device.

11. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the detector is located on the peripheral device.

12. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the detector is located on the electronic device.

13. A method of detecting a manner in which a peripheral device is removed from an electronic device, the method comprising:

sensing a type of an action during removal of the peripheral device from the electronic device, the type of action being indicative of an intentional or unintentional manner in which the peripheral device is removed; and

outputting a signal corresponding to whether the action sensed is indicative of an intentional or unintentional manner in which the peripheral device is removed.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing comprises sensing if a portion of the peripheral device is touched by a user during removal of the peripheral device from the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing comprises sensing if an object comes within a pre-determined distance of the detector during removal of the peripheral device.

16. A system comprising:

an electronic device;

a peripheral device connectable to the electronic device;

a detector configured to sense a type of an action during removal of the peripheral device from the electronic device, the type of action being indicative of an intentional or unintentional manner in which the peripheral device is removed; and

an output interface configured to output a signal corresponding to whether the action sensed is indicative of an intentional or unintentional manner in which the peripheral device is removed.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the detector and the output interface are located on the peripheral device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the detector is located on a connector for connecting the peripheral device to the electronic device.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the detector and the output interface are located on the electronic device.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising a processor configured to compare the action sensed to a pre-determined action and in response to the action matching the pre-determined action, to provide the electronic device with an instruction corresponding to the pre-determined action.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the detector is a touch sensor.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the detector is a proximity sensor.