System for detecting a flip-lid position of a personal electronic device

• US 20040056651A1
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Marietta Bersana, Daniele
• Application Number:
  US10/247,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20040056651A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06

Abstract

A system is presented for detecting the flip-lid position of an electronic device, such as a cellular telephone. A unipolar Hall Effect Sensor, mounted on the base unit of the electronic device, detects the magnetic field from a transducer mounted on the electronic device, such as the earpiece on the flip-lid of the cellular telephone. When the flip-lid and base unit are sufficiently open, the Hall Effect Sensor detects the decrease in magnetic field from the transducer and signals that the flip-lid is open.

Claims

1. A system for detecting a flip-lid position of a personal electronic device, wherein the personal electronic device comprises a first section moveably connected to a second section, and wherein the system comprises:

a magnetic transducer mounted in the first section; and

a magnetic field detector mounted in the second section, wherein the magnetic field detector and the transducer are substantially proximate when the personal electronic device is in the closed position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic transducer comprises a voice coil of the personal electronic device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic transducer comprises an alarm of the personal electronic device.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the alarm is a trembler comprises the personal electronic device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic field detector comprises a Hall Effect Sensor.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the Hall Effect Sensor comprises a unipolar Hall Effect Sensor.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the Hall Effect Sensor comprises a bipolar Hall Effect Sensor.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic field detector comprises a reed switch.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the personal electronic device comprises a cellular phone.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the personal electronic device comprises a walkie-talkie.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the personal electronic device comprises a personal digital assistant.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the personal electronic device comprises a portable computer.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the first section and second section are pivotally connected by a hinge.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the first section and second section are pivotally connected by a swivel.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the first section and second section are slideably connected.

3. The system of claim 3 wherein the voice coil comprises an earpiece of the personal electronic device.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the voice coil comprises a microphone of the personal electronic device.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the voice coil comprises a speaker of the personal electronic device.

19. A system for detecting a flip-lid position of a cellular telephone, wherein the personal cellular telephone comprises a flip-lid moveably connected to a base unit, and wherein the system comprises:

an earpiece which is mounted in the flip-lid; and

a Hall Effect Sensor mounted in the base unit, wherein the earpiece and the Hall Effect Sensor are substantially proximate when the cellular telephone is in the closed position.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the Hall Effect Sensor comprises a unipolar Hall Effect Sensor.