Using hall sensors to detect insertion and locking of a portable device in a base

• US 9,921,080 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2016
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datalogic IP Tech S.r.l. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Datalogic IP Tech S.r.l. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Pifferi, Marco, Riccardi, Alessio
• Primary Examiner(s): RIOS RUSSO, RAUL J
• Application Number:
  US14/997,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20170176214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 324 51, 324 55, 324200, 32420711, 3242072, 324251
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/142 using Hall-effect devices measuring magnetic variables using Hall-effect or other galvanomagnetic devices G01R33/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/20 using galvano-magnetic devices, e.g. Hall-effect devices , i.e. measuring a magnetic field via the interaction between a current and a magnetic field, e.g. magneto resistive or Hall effect devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/202 using Hall-effect devices Hall elements in arrangements for measuring electrical power G01R21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/08 by using galvanomagnetic-effect devices, e.g. Hall-effect devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/06 using galvano-magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/07 Hall effect devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/077 Vertical Hall-effect devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

A mounting assembly and method that utilize Hall effect sensors to detect orientation and insertion of a portable device in a base are provided. Hall effect sensors positioned on one of a portable device and a base are arranged to interact with one or more magnets positioned on the other of the portable device or the base such that a change in proximity of at least one of the magnets to at least one of the sensors will cause the sensor to output a voltage signal that differs depending on the nearness of the magnet. Depending on at least one of the magnitude of the signal, the profile of the signal over time, and the identity of the sensor that output the signal, it is determined whether the orientation of the portable device in the base is correct and/or if the portable device is fully inserted in the base.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly for sensing correct device orientation, comprising:

a portable device;

a base geometrically conformed to mate with the portable device;

at least four Hall effect sensors coupled with the portable device;

at least two magnets coupled with the base, the magnets and the Hall effect sensors being cooperatively arranged such that proximity of the magnets causes at least one of the Hall effect sensors to output an altered voltage signal when orientation of the portable device in the base is incorrect;

wherein at least a first of the Hall effect sensors outputs the altered voltage signal when an orientation of the portable device in the base includes correct front-to-back and incorrect top-to-bottom orientation, and wherein at least a second of the Hall effect sensors outputs the altered voltage signal when an orientation of the portable device in the base includes incorrect front-to-back and incorrect top-to-bottom orientation; and

an alert system that, upon receiving the altered voltage signal from one of the first Hall effect sensor and the second Hall effect sensor, outputs an alert indicating that orientation of the portable device in the base is incorrect.

2. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the Hall effect sensors is a digital Hall effect sensor.

3. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the alert differs based upon whether the altered voltage signal is received from the first Hall effect sensor or the second Hall effect sensor.

4. The mounting assembly of claim 3, wherein the alert includes a graphical user interface that identifies the incorrect orientation of the portable device in the base.

5. The mounting assembly of claim 1,

wherein at least a third of the Hall effect sensors outputs the altered voltage signal when the orientation of the portable device in the base includes incorrect front-to-back and correct top-to-bottom orientation,

and wherein at least a fourth of the Hall effect sensors outputs the altered voltage signal when the orientation of the portable device in the base includes correct front-to-back and correct top-to-bottom orientation.

6. The mounting assembly of claim 5, further comprising an alert system that:

determines if orientation of the portable device is correct or incorrect; and

outputs an alert indicating that orientation of the portable device in the base is one of correct and incorrect based upon the determination.

7. The mounting assembly of claim 6, wherein the output alert includes a graphical user interface, and wherein if the orientation of the portable device in the base is incorrect, the graphical user interface identifies the incorrect orientation.

8. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the portable device is a portable electronic scanning device.

9. A method for sensing full insertion of a portable device in a base that is geometrically conformed to mate with the portable device, the method comprising:

providing the portable device with at least one magnet coupled therewith;

providing the geometrically-conformed base with a first Hall effect sensor coupled therewith;

detecting a first output-voltage profile for the first Hall effect sensor over a first period of time, the first period of time being associated with insertion of the portable device in the base; and

comparing the first output-voltage profile to a first expected voltage profile for the first Hall effect sensor to determine if there is threshold similarity there between, wherein threshold similarity between the first output-voltage profile and the first expected voltage profile is indicative of full insertion of the portable device in the base, and wherein less than threshold similarity between the first output-voltage profile and the first expected voltage profile is indicative of inadequate insertion of the portable device in the base.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein comparing the first output-voltage profile of the first expected voltage profile comprises comparing the first output-voltage profile to the first expected voltage profile via a correlation technique that correlates the first time period with a second time period associated with the first expected voltage profile.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the correlation technique is based on Dynamic Time Warping.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first Hall effect sensor is an analog all effect sensor, and wherein the method further comprises digitalizing output voltage comprising the first output-voltage profile.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein upon determining that the first output-voltage profile has less than the threshold similarity to the first expected voltage profile, the method further includes outputting an alert indicating that the portable device is inadequately inserted in the geometrically-conformed base.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the geometrically-conformed base further includes:

a mechanical locking mechanism;

at least one magnet coupled with the mechanical locking mechanism; and

a second Hall effect sensor positioned in association with the geometrically-conformed base such that the second Hall effect sensor outputs a second output-voltage profile as the position of the at least one magnet coupled with the locking mechanism varies.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting the second output-voltage profile over the first period of time; and

comparing the second output-voltage profile to a second expected voltage profile to determine if there is threshold similarity there between, wherein threshold similarity between the second output-voltage profile and the second expected voltage profile is indicative of an electrical locking of the portable device in the base.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein comparing the second output-voltage profile to the second expected voltage profile comprises comparing the second output-voltage profile to the second expected voltage profile via a correlation technique that correlates the first time period with a third time period associated with the second expected voltage profile.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the correlation technique is based on Dynamic Time Warping.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the second Hall effect sensor is an analog Hall effect sensor, and wherein the method further comprises digitalizing output voltage comprising the second output-voltage profile.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein upon determining that the second output-voltage profile has less than the threshold similarity to the second expected voltage profile, the method further includes outputting an alert indicating that the portable device is inadequately inserted in the geometrically-conformed base.

20. The method of claim 9, further comprising detecting a locking between the mechanical locking mechanism of the geometrically-conformed based and the portable device.

21. The method of claim 9, wherein the portable device is a portable electronic scanning device.

22. A method for sensing full insertion of a portable device in a base that is geometrically conformed to mate with the portable device, the portable device and the geometrically-conformed base comprising a mounting assembly, the method comprising:

calibrating the mounting assembly by;

measuring a first minimum voltage signal and a first maximum voltage signal output from a Hall effect sensor, the Hall effect sensor being arranged in association with the geometrically-conformed base such that the Hall effect sensor detects a magnetic field associated with at least one magnet coupled with a locking mechanism that temporarily secures the portable device in position when the portable device is fully inserted in the base, the first minimum voltage signal and the first maximum voltage signal being measured as the portable device is inserted in the base;

determining amplification values for the first minimum voltage signal and the first maximum voltage signal;

amplifying the first minimum voltage signal and the first maximum voltage signal utilizing the amplification values; and

storing the amplified minimum voltage signal and the amplified maximum voltage signal in association with the mounting assembly.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising measuring a plurality of minimum voltage signals and a plurality of maximum voltage signals by detecting insertion of the portable device in the geometrically-conformed base a plurality of times, wherein one of the plurality of minimum voltage signals and a respective one of the plurality of maximum voltage signals is associated with each insertion of the portable device in the base.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising averaging the plurality of minimum voltage signals to generate an averaged minimum voltage signal and averaging the plurality of maximum voltage signals to generate an averaged maximum voltage signal.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein amplifying the first minimum voltage signal and the first maximum voltage signal comprises amplifying the averaged minimum voltage signal and the averaged maximum voltage signal.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

measuring a second minimum voltage signal and a second maximum voltage signal output from the Hall effect sensor, the second minimum voltage signal and the second maximum voltage signal being measured as the portable device is inserted in the base;

comparing the second minimum voltage signal to the first minimum voltage signal and the second maximum voltage signal to the first maximum voltage signal to determine if there is threshold similarity there between, wherein threshold similarity between the second minimum voltage signal and the first minimum voltage signal and between the second maximum voltage signal and the first maximum voltage signal is indicative of full insertion of the portable device in the base.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

measuring a second minimum voltage signal and a second maximum voltage signal output from the Hall effect sensor, the second minimum voltage signal and the second maximum voltage signal being measured as the portable device is inserted in the base;

confirming that the portable device is fully inserted in the geometrically-conformed base; and

calibrating the mounting assembly by altering at least one of the measured second minimum voltage signal and the measured second maximum voltage signal to have at least threshold similarity to at least one of the first minimum voltage signal and the first maximum voltage signal.