Device for automatic detection of states of motion and rest, and portable electronic apparatus incorporating it

US 7,409,291 B2
Filed: 02/26/2004
Issued: 08/05/2008
Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
Status: Active Grant

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1. A device for automatic detection of states of motion and rest, comprising:

a first inertial sensor having a first preferential detection axis;

a converter coupled to said first inertial sensor and supplying a first signal correlated to forces acting on said first inertial sensor according to said first preferential detection axis;

a first processing stage structured to process said first signal and supply a second signal correlated to a dynamic component of said first signal wherein said first processing stage comprises a filter, supplying a third signal correlated to a static component of said first signal, and a subtractor element, for subtracting said third signal from said first signal; and

a first threshold comparator supplying a pulse when said second signal exceeds a threshold.

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Abstract

A device for automatic detection of states of motion and rest includes at least one inertial sensor, having at least one preferential detection axis, and a converter, which is coupled to the inertial sensor and supplies a first signal correlated to forces acting on the first inertial sensor according to the preferential detection axis; the device further includes at least one processing stage for processing the first signal, which supplies a second signal correlated to a dynamic component of the first signal, and at least one threshold comparator, which supplies a pulse when the second signal exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

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28 Claims

1. A device for automatic detection of states of motion and rest, comprising:
- a first inertial sensor having a first preferential detection axis;
  
  a converter coupled to said first inertial sensor and supplying a first signal correlated to forces acting on said first inertial sensor according to said first preferential detection axis;
  
  a first processing stage structured to process said first signal and supply a second signal correlated to a dynamic component of said first signal wherein said first processing stage comprises a filter, supplying a third signal correlated to a static component of said first signal, and a subtractor element, for subtracting said third signal from said first signal; and
  
  a first threshold comparator supplying a pulse when said second signal exceeds a threshold.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- - 2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said first inertial sensor is a micro-electro-mechanical sensor with capacitive unbalancing.
  - 3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a second inertial sensor having a second preferential detection axis, the first and second inertial sensors being of a micro-electro-mechanical type with capacitive unbalancing, the first preferential detection axis and the second preferential detection axis being orthogonal to one another.
  - 4. The device according to claim 3 said first inertial sensor and said second inertial sensor are selectively connectable in sequence to said converter.
  - 5. The device according to claim 4, comprising a third inertial sensor of a micro-electro-mechanical type with capacitive unbalancing, having a third preferential detection axis, orthogonal to said first preferential detection axis and to said second preferential detection axis.
  - 6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising a switch device positioned to selectively connect said first inertial sensor, said second inertial sensor and said third inertial sensor in sequence to said converter.
  - 7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a second inertial sensor having a second preferential detection axis that is transverse to the first preferential detection axis.
  - 8. The device according to claim 7, further comprising:
    - a multiplexer connected between the inertial sensors and the converter to selectively electrically connect each of the inertial sensors to the converter, the converter supplying a third signal correlated to forces acting on said second inertial sensor according to said second preferential detection axis;
      
      a second processing stage structured to process said third signal and supply a fourth signal correlated to a dynamic component of said third signal;
      
      a second threshold comparator supplying a pulse when said fourth signal exceeds the threshold; and
      
      a demultiplexer connected between the converter and the first and second processing stages to selectively supply the first and third signals to the first and second processing stages, respectively.
  - 9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising:
    - a phase generator connected to the multiplexer, converter, and demultiplexer and structured to provide timing signals that coordinate operations of the multiplexer, converter, and demultiplexer.

10. A portable electronic apparatus, comprising:
- a supply source;
  
  a plurality of user devices alternatively connected to said supply source in a first operative state, and disconnected from said supply source in a second operative state;
  
  deactivation means connected to said user devices for setting said user devices in said second operative state; and
  
  activation means for setting the user devices in the first operative state, said activation means including;
  
  a first inertial sensor having a preferential detection axis,a converter coupled to said first inertial sensor and supplying a first signal correlated to forces acting on said first inertial sensor according to said preferential detection axis;
  
  a first processing stage structured to process said first signal and supply a second signal correlated to a dynamic component of said first signal, anda first threshold comparator supplying an activation pulse when said second signal exceeds a threshold.
- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- - 11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein, in the presence of the activation pulse, said user devices are in said first operative state.
  - 12. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said first processing stage comprises a filter, supplying a third signal correlated to a static component of said first signal, and a subtractor element, for subtracting said third signal from said first signal.
  - 13. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said first inertial sensor is a micro-electro-mechanical sensor with capacitive unbalancing.
  - 14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said activation means further include a second inertial sensor having a second preferential detection axis, the first and second inertial sensors being of a micro-electro-mechanical type with capacitive unbalancing, the first preferential detection axis and the second preferential detection axis being orthogonal to one another.
  - 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said activation means further include a third inertial sensor of a micro-electro-mechanical type with capacitive unbalancing, having a third preferential detection axis, orthogonal to said first preferential detection axis and to said second preferential detection axis.
  - 16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said activation means further include a second inertial sensor having a second preferential detection axis that is transverse to the first preferential detection axis.
  - 17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said activation means further include:
    - a multiplexer connected between the inertial sensors and the converter to selectively electrically connect each of the inertial sensors to the converter, the converter supplying a third signal correlated to forces acting on said second inertial sensor according to said second preferential detection axis;
      
      a second processing stage structured to process said third signal and supply a fourth signal correlated to a dynamic component of said third signal;
      
      a second threshold comparator supplying a pulse when said fourth signal exceeds the threshold; and
      
      a demultiplexer connected between the converter and the first and second processing stages to selectively supply the first and third signals to the first and second processing stages, respectively.
  - 18. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said activation means further include:
    - a phase generator connected to the multiplexer, converter, and demultiplexer and structured to provide timing signals that coordinate operations of the multiplexer, converter, and demultiplexer.

19. A method for automatic detection of motion of a portable electronic device, comprising:
- sensing motion of the device along a first preferential detection axis;
  
  supplying a first signal correlated to forces acting on the device according to the preferential detection axis;
  
  processing the first signal and supplying a second signal correlated to a dynamic component of the first signal wherein the processing comprises filtering the first signal to create a third signal correlated to a static component of the first signal, and subtracting the third signal from the first signal to create the second signal; and
  
  supplying an activation pulse when the second signal exceeds a first threshold.
- View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
- - 20. The method of claim 19, further comprisingsensing motion of the device along a second preferential detection axis that is orthogonal to the first preferential detection axis;
    - supplying a third signal correlated to forces acting on the device according to the second preferential detection axis;
      
      processing the third signal and supplying a fourth signal correlated to a dynamic component of the third signal; and
      
      supplying the activation pulse when the fourth signal exceeds a second threshold.
  - 21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:
    - receiving the activation pulse at an operation circuit of the device, the operation circuit being in a stand-by condition prior to receiving the activation pulse; and
      
      activating the operation circuit into an active condition in response to receiving the activation pulse.

22. A device, comprising:
- a first inertial sensor having a first preferential detection axis;
  
  a converter coupled to the first inertial sensor and supplying a first signal correlated to forces acting on the first inertial sensor according to the first preferential detection axis;
  
  a first processing stage structured to process the first signal and supply a second signal correlated to a dynamic component of the first signal;
  
  a first threshold comparator supplying a pulse when the second signal exceeds a threshold;
  
  a second inertial sensor having a second preferential detection axis that is transverse to the first preferential detection axis;
  
  a multiplexer connected between the inertial sensors and the converter to selectively electrically connect each of the inertial sensors to the converter, the converter supplying a third signal correlated to forces acting on the second inertial sensor according to the second preferential detection axis;
  
  a second processing stage structured to process the third signal and supply a fourth signal correlated to a dynamic component of the third signal;
  
  a second threshold comparator supplying a pulse when the fourth signal exceeds the threshold; and
  
  a demultiplexer connected between the converter and the first and second processing stages to selectively supply the first and third signals to the first and second processing stages, respectively.
- View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
- - 23. The device of claim 22, further comprising:
    - a phase generator connected to the multiplexer, converter, and demultiplexer and structured to provide timing signals that coordinate operations of the multiplexer, the converter, and the demultiplexer.
  - 24. The device of claim 22 wherein the first inertial sensor is a micro-electro-mechanical sensor with capacitive unbalancing.

25. A method for automatic detection of motion of a portable electronic device, comprising:
- sensing motion of the device along a first preferential detection axis;
  
  supplying a first signal correlated to forces acting on the device according to the preferential detection axis;
  
  processing the first signal and supplying a second signal correlated to a dynamic component of the first signal;
  
  supplying an activation pulse when the second signal exceeds a first threshold;
  
  sensing motion of the device along a second preferential detection axis that is orthogonal to the first preferential detection axis;
  
  supplying a third signal correlated to forces acting on the device according to the second preferential detection axis;
  
  processing the third signal and supplying a fourth signal correlated to a dynamic component of the third signal; and
  
  supplying the activation pulse when the fourth signal exceeds a second threshold.
- View Dependent Claims (26)
- - 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:
    - sensing motion of the device along a third preferential detection axis that is orthogonal to the first preferential detection axis and the second preferential detection axis;
      
      supplying a fifth signal correlated to forces acting on the device according to the third preferential detection axis;
      
      processing the fifth signal and supplying a sixth signal correlated to a dynamic component of the fifth signal; and
      
      supplying the activation pulse when the sixth signal exceeds a third threshold.

27. A method for automatic detection of motion of a portable electronic device, comprising:
- sensing motion of the device along a first preferential detection axis;
  
  supplying a first signal correlated to forces acting on the device according to the preferential detection axis;
  
  processing the first signal and supplying a second signal correlated to a dynamic component of the first signal;
  
  supplying an activation pulse when the second signal exceeds a first threshold;
  
  receiving the activation pulse at an operation circuit of the device, the operation circuit being in a stand-by condition prior to receiving the activation pulse; and
  
  activating the operation circuit into an active condition in response to receiving the activation pulse.
- View Dependent Claims (28)
- - 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising terminating the activation pulse in response to the second signal being lower than the first threshold.

Specification

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Litigation Data

Current Assignee
STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV)
Original Assignee
STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
Inventors
Lasalandra, Ernesto, Pasolini, Fabio
Primary Examiner(s)
Tran; Khoi H.
Assistant Examiner(s)
WEISKOPF, MARIE

Application Number

US10/789,240
Publication Number

US 20040172167A1
Time in Patent Office

1,622 Days
Field of Search

700/245, 700/258, 700/108, 700/67, 701/220, 74/5.R, 74/53.4, 74/54.6
US Class Current

701/220
CPC Class Codes

G01P 13/00   Indicating or recording pre...

G01P 15/0891   with indication of predeter...

G01P 15/125   by capacitive pick-up

G01P 15/18   in two or more dimensions

G01P 2015/082   for two degrees of freedom ...

G06F 1/3203   Power management, i.e. even...

H04M 2250/12   including a sensor for meas...

H04W 52/0254   detecting a user operation ...

Y02D 30/70   in wireless communication n...

Y10T 74/12   Gyroscopes

Device for automatic detection of states of motion and rest, and portable electronic apparatus incorporating it

First Claim

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Device for automatic detection of states of motion and rest, and portable electronic apparatus incorporating it

First Claim

2 Assignments

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Abstract

Citations

28 Claims

Specification

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