SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20100009650A1
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Fyke, Steven, Mak-Fan, David, ORR, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,787,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/343.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3237 by disabling clock generation or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/324 by lowering clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The disclosure provides a circuit and method for activating an electronic device from a low power state. The activation circuit comprises: a first accelerometer in the device; a second accelerometer which is activated upon receiving a movement signal from the first accelerometer; an input device; and a circuit to provide power to the input device when a series of connected movements signals from at least one of the first and the second accelerometers match a predetermined movement gesture.

Claims

1. An activation circuit for an electronic device, comprising:

a first accelerometer in said device;

a second accelerometer which is activated upon receiving a movement signal from said first accelerometer;

an input device; and

a circuit to provide power to said input device when a series of connected movements signals from at least one of said first and said second accelerometers match a predetermined movement gesture.

2. The activation circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein after the circuit provides power to the input device, the circuit generates an activation signal to place said electronic device in a higher power state when a notable signal is received from said input device.

3. The activation circuit as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a microprocessor;

a wake-up software routine operating on said microprocessor to selectively bring said electronic device to said higher power state upon receipt of said activation signal; and

a timing module to initiate a timing window after detection of said notable movement,

wherein said circuit is activated during said timing window and if a sufficient input signal from said input device is detected by said circuit during said timing window, said activation signal is generated.

4. The activation circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said activation signal is provided to an interrupt line of said microprocessor which is associated with said wake-up software routine.

5. The activation circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein a slow clock signal is generated by said timing module indicating when said microprocessor is in a lower power state.

6. The activation circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said activation signal is also used to reset said circuit to allow it to process subsequent signals from said first and second accelerometers.

7. The activation circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said input device is activated by a power signal generated by said circuit.

8. A method for activating an electronic device, comprising:

monitoring for signals from a low-g MEM accelerometer to indicate an initial movement of said device and then activating a second accelerometer; and

monitoring at least one of said first and said second accelerometers for a series of connected movements signals to match a predetermined movement gesture and then activating an input device.

9. The method for activating an electronic device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

after said input device is activated, waiting for a notable signal to be received from said input device for a predetermined length of time;

if said notable signal is received within said predetermined time, generating an activation signal for activating said electronic device to a higher power state; and

if said notable signal is not received within said predetermined time, deactivating said input device and said second accelerometer.

10. The method for activating an electronic device 9, wherein:

said waiting for said notable signal to be received from said input device utilizes a slow clock signal to track said predetermined length of time.

11. The method for activating an electronic device 8, further comprising:

deactivating said input device if said predetermined time elapses without receiving said notable signal from said input device.

12. The method for activating an electronic device 9, wherein:

upon generation of said activation signal, it is provided to a microprocessor associated with said device; and

said microprocessor reacts to receipt of said activation signal by transiting to a higher power state.

13. The method for activating an electronic device 9, further comprising:

using said activation signal to reset a monitoring circuit associated with said second accelerometer to allow said monitoring circuit to process subsequent signals from said second accelerometer.

16. The method for activating an electronic device 9, wherein said input device detects movement of a finger by a sensor.