Accelerometer-controlled master power switch for electronic devices

• US 9,507,399 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Chien, Yu-Tsun
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pacheco, Rafael
• Application Number:
  US13/454,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20130278081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 307/121, 713/323, 340/562
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality

Abstract

An accelerometer or other motion sensor is used to provide power to an entire processor system such that the processor does not need to be powered to process the motion signals for initial power-on control. After the processor system is powered on, the processor system may receive and process motion signals as normal, including, for example, performing various power-control functions such as power-down of certain components or the entire system upon detection of a lack of motion for a predetermined amount of time.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a power source;

an inertial sensor coupled to the power source via a non-switched connection; and

a master power switch coupled to the power source and directly coupled to the inertial sensor, wherein the master power switch is actuated by a first predetermined signal from the inertial sensor to turn on the device, and wherein the first predetermined signal indicates a predetermined motion of the device including at least one of movement in a specific direction, movement in a specific pattern, movement with a specific intensity, or movement of a specific duration.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the inertial sensor comprises a MEMS accelerometer.

3. An electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a processor system coupled to the master power switch and to the inertial sensor, wherein the processor system is configured to process signals from the inertial sensor after the device is turned on.

4. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the processor system is configured to control power to at least one component of the device based on the signals from the inertial sensor.

5. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the inertial sensor includes a circuit to cycle the inertial sensor on and off to provide additional power savings.

6. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the master power switch is actuated by a second predetermined signal from the inertial sensor to turn off the device.

7. An electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the second predetermined signal indicates a predetermined motion of the device.

8. An electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined motion includes at least one of movement in a specific direction, movement in a specific pattern, movement with a specific intensity, or movement of a specific duration.

9. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the inertial sensor comprises a MEMS accelerometer and an amplifier.

10. A master power switch system for an electronic device, the master power switch system comprising:

an inertial sensor couplable to a power source via a non-switched connection; and

a master power switch couplable to the power source and directly coupled to the inertial sensor, wherein the master power switch is actuated by a first predetermined signal from the inertial sensor to turn on the device, and wherein the first predetermined signal indicates a predetermined motion of the device including at least one of movement in a specific direction, movement in a specific pattern, movement with a specific intensity, or movement of a specific duration.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the inertial sensor comprises a MEMS accelerometer.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein the inertial sensor includes a circuit to cycle the inertial sensor on and off to provide additional power savings.

13. A system according to claim 10, wherein the master power switch is actuated by a second predetermined signal from the inertial sensor to turn off the device.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the second predetermined signal indicates a predetermined motion of the device.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined motion includes at least one of movement in a specific direction, movement in a specific pattern, movement with a specific intensity, or movement of a specific duration.

16. A system according to claim 10, wherein the inertial sensor comprises a MEMS accelerometer and an amplifier.

17. An inertial sensor unit for use as a motion-controlled master power switch, the inertial sensor unit comprising:

an inertial sensor unit housing having a master power input couplable to a power source and a master power output couplable to an external device for providing power to the external device;

an inertial sensor disposed within the inertial sensor unit housing and having (a) a sensor power input coupled to the master power input and (b) a sensor output; and

an on/off master power switch disposed within the inertial sensor unit housing and having (a) a switch power input coupled to the master power input, (b) a switch power output coupled to the master power output, and (c) a switch control input directly coupled to the sensor output of the inertial sensor, wherein the master power switch is configured to be actuated by a first predetermined sensor output signal from the inertial sensor to selectively provide electrical power from the switch power input to the switch power output.

18. An inertial sensor unit according to claim 17, wherein the first predetermined sensor output signal indicates a predetermined motion including at least one of movement in a specific direction, movement in a specific pattern, movement with a specific intensity, or movement of a specific duration.

19. An inertial sensor unit according to claim 17, wherein the inertial sensor comprises a MEMS accelerometer.

20. An inertial sensor unit according to claim 17, wherein the inertial sensor includes a circuit to cycle the inertial sensor on and off to provide additional power savings.

21. An inertial sensor unit according to claim 17, wherein the master power switch is configured to be actuated by a second predetermined sensor output signal from the inertial sensor to selectively decouple the switch power output from the switch power input.

22. An inertial sensor unit according to claim 21, wherein the second predetermined sensor output signal indicates a predetermined motion including at least one of movement in a specific direction, movement in a specific pattern, movement with a specific intensity, or movement of a specific duration.

23. An inertial sensor unit according to claim 17, wherein the inertial sensor unit housing further comprises a master sensor output coupled to the inertial sensor for outputting inertial sensor signals.

24. An inertial sensor unit according to claim 17, wherein the inertial sensor comprises a MEMS accelerometer and an amplifier.