FALL DETECTION DEVICE AND MAGNETIC DISK DRIVE

• US 20080001607A1
• Filed: 06/07/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: HORIGUCHI, Chikahiro, TABOTA, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 7,551,388 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/600
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/09 by piezoelectric pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/04 Arrangements for preventing, inhibiting, or warning against double recording on the same blank or against other recording or reproducing malfunctions

Abstract

An acceleration sensor outputs a signal in accordance with acceleration. A differentiator outputs a differential signal of the output signal. A comparator inverts the state of an output when the differential signal goes beyond a threshold. A monostable multivibrator maintains the state-inverted signal of the output for a predetermined period of time. An integrator integrates the acceleration detection signal. A comparator inverts the state of an output signal when an integrated signal goes beyond a threshold. A fall determination processor outputs a signal out indicating that a fall has been detected in a situation in which, when the output of the monostable multivibrator is active, the state of the output of the comparator is inverted.

Claims

1. A fall detection device comprising:

an acceleration sensor that outputs a signal in accordance with acceleration;

a differentiator arranged to differentiate an output signal of the acceleration sensor;

an integrator arranged to integrate the output signal of the acceleration sensor; and

a state determination processor arranged to determine whether the output signal of the acceleration sensor is in a specific state in which a differential signal goes beyond a predetermined threshold and an integrated signal obtained by the integrator goes beyond a predetermined threshold;

wherein

the integrator starts integration at a time when the differential signal goes beyond the predetermined threshold.

2. The fall detection device according to claim 1, wherein

three acceleration sensors are arranged such that acceleration detection directions thereof are directed along three axes that are substantially perpendicular to one another, the state determination processor determines whether each of the output signals of the three acceleration sensors is in the specific state;

and

the fall detection device further comprises a detection result output processor arranged to output a signal indicating a fall when the state determination processor determines that any one of the output signals of the three acceleration sensors is in the specific state.

3. The fall detection device according to claim 1, wherein the integrator performs integration at least once.

4. The fall detection device according to claim 1, wherein the integrator performs integration twice.

5. The fall detection device according to claim 1, wherein the acceleration sensor is a piezoelectric acceleration sensor that generates a piezoelectric effect in response to stress according to the acceleration.

6. The fall detection device according to claim 1, wherein the integrator performs integration for a predetermined period of time after the differential signal has gone beyond the predetermined threshold.

7. The fall detection device according to claim 5, wherein a monostable multivibrator which maintains a state of an output signal of the differentiator for a predetermined period of time is provided at a subsequent stage of the differentiator, and the predetermined period of time is a monostable time of the monostable multivibrator.

8. A magnetic disk drive comprising:

a fall detection device as set forth in claim 1;

a head that reads or writes data relative to a magnetic disk; and

a head evacuation unit arranged to evacuate the head to an evacuation area when the fall detection device detects a fall.