Portable electrical apparatus and method for detecting state of the same

• US 9,129,507 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Accton Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Accton Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Tsung-Hsueh
• Primary Examiner(s): Obiniyi, Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/831,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20130278417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.14, 340/539.15, 340/539.16, 340/539.17, 340/539.18, 340/539.21, 340/539.23, 340/441, 701/419, 701/491, 701/533
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait

Abstract

A portable electrical apparatus includes a sensor, a micro-controller, and a wireless positioning module. The sensor is configured for sensing a movement of the portable electrical apparatus to generate a sensing signal. The micro-controller is configured for receiving the sensing signal and comparing a threshold value with a sensing value corresponding to the sensing signal. The wireless positioning module is configured for positioning the portable electrical apparatus to generate a plurality of position data corresponding to a location of the portable electrical apparatus. When the sensing value is greater than the threshold value, the micro-controller loads the position data generated within a predetermined period, which is right after the sensing value being greater than the threshold value, compares the loaded position data with each other, and an alarm signal is sent out according to a comparison result.

Claims

1. A portable electrical apparatus comprising:

a sensor for sensing a movement of the portable electrical apparatus to generate a sensing signal;

a micro-controller for receiving the sensing signal and comparing a threshold value with a sensing value corresponding to the sensing signal; and

a wireless positioning module coupled to the micro-controller, for performing localization of the portable electrical apparatus to generate a plurality of position data corresponding to a location of the portable electrical apparatus;

wherein when the sensing value is greater than the threshold value, the micro-controller loads the position data generated within a predetermined period starting from right after the sensing value is greater than the threshold value, the micro-controller compares the loaded position data with each other, and an alarm signal is sent out according to a comparison result, wherein when the micro-controller determines that all the loaded position data are the same, the wireless positioning module sends out the alarm signal.

2. The portable electrical apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the micro-controller determines that all the loaded position data are the same, the micro-controller sends out the alarm signal to the wireless positioning module.

3. The portable electrical apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the micro-controller determines that at least half of the loaded position data are the same, the micro-controller sends out the alarm signal to the wireless positioning module.

4. The portable electrical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer, and the wireless positioning module is a ZigBee®

wireless positioning module.

5. A method for detecting a state of a portable electrical apparatus comprising:

performing localization of the portable electrical apparatus to generate a plurality of position data corresponding to a location of the portable electrical apparatus;

sensing a movement of the portable electrical apparatus to generate a sensing signal;

comparing a threshold value with a sensing value corresponding to the sensing signal;

loading the position data generated within a predetermined period when the sensing value is greater than the threshold value, wherein the predetermined period starts right after the sensing value is greater than the threshold value;

comparing the loaded position data with each other; and

sending out an alarm signal when the loaded position data are the same.

6. The detecting method of claim 5 further comprising:

continuing to perform localization of the portable electrical apparatus when at least two loaded position data are different.

7. The detecting method of claim 5 further comprising:

sending out the alarm signal when at least half of the loaded position data are the same or part of the loaded position data are the same.

8. A method for detecting a state of a portable electrical apparatus comprising:

turning on the portable electrical apparatus;

performing localization of the portable electrical apparatus to generate a plurality of position data corresponding to a location of the portable electrical apparatus;

sensing a movement of the portable electrical apparatus to generate a sensing signal;

comparing a threshold value with a sensing value corresponding to the sensing signal;

loading the position data generated within a predetermined period when the sensing value is greater than the threshold value, wherein the predetermined period starts right after the sensing value is greater than the threshold value;

comparing the loaded position data with each other;

sending out an alarm signal when the loaded position data are the same;

sending out a radio frequency signal corresponding to the alarm signal; and

sending out a warning signal corresponding to the radio frequency signal.

9. The detecting method of claim 8 further comprising:

sending out the alarm signal when at least half of the loaded position data are the same or part of the position data are the same.