Method and apparatus for detecting free fall
View Patent ↗A data processing system including a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium. Within said data processing system, a system electronics is operatively coupled to a sensor and to said data storage device. When the sensor senses a change in gravitational or inertial acceleration of said data processing system, it alerts system electronics to temporarily park a read/write head in a safe position.
1. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium; and
an acceleration detector coupled to the data storage device to detect a change in an acceleration of the portable electronic device and to configure the data storage device from a first operating state into a second operating state in response to the detection, wherein the acceleration detector includes a flexible non-electrically conductive support material,
an electrically conductive casing coupled to the flexible non-electrically conductive support material, and
a beam having a first end and a second end supported by the flexible non-electrically conductive support material.
2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device is a digital camera.
3. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device is a musical playback device.
4. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device is a portable computer system.
5. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising system electronics coupled to the data storage device and the acceleration detector, wherein in response to the detection, the system electronics execute a predetermined process, which in part transforms the data storage device from the first operating state into the second operating state.
6. The portable electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined process, when executed, transforms the data storage device from the first operating state into the second operating state.
7. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein during the second operating state, data stored in the data storage device is inaccessible.
8. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the beam is rigid or flexible.
9. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the second end of the beam contacts the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.
10. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the second end of the beam does not contact the casing during free fall.
11. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the acceleration detector further comprises a mass attached to the second end of the beam.
12. The portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the mass contacts the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.
13. The portable electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the mass, the casing, and the beam are each electrically conductive.
14. The portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the mass does not contact the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.
15. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising means to couple the acceleration detector to a substrate.
16. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the means is one of at least one lead or one conductive pin.
17. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the casing is closed at both ends and filled with an inert gas or non-electrically conductive liquid.
18. A method performed by a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
detecting a change in an acceleration of the portable electronic device using an acceleration detector disposed within the portable electronic device; and
executing a predetermined process in response to the detection, wherein the acceleration detector includes
a flexible non-electrically conductive support material,
an electrically conductive casing coupled to the flexible non-electrically conductive support material, and
a beam having a first end and a second end supported by the flexible non-electrically conductive support material.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising transforming a data storage device of the portable electronic device from a first operating state into a second operating state in response to the detection.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the portable electronic device is a digital camera.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the portable electronic device is a musical playback device.
22. The method of claim 18 , wherein the portable electronic device is a portable computer system.
23. The method of claim 18 , wherein the beam is rigid or flexible.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the second end of the beam contacts the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.
25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the second end of the beam does not contact the casing during free fall.
26. The method of claim 23 , wherein the acceleration detector further comprises a mass attached to the second end of the beam.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the mass contacts the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the mass, the casing, and the beam are each electrically conductive.
29. The method of claim 26 , wherein the mass does not contact the casing when the acceleration detector is at rest.
30. The method of claim 23 , further comprising means to couple the acceleration detector to a substrate.
31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the means is one of at least one lead or one conductive pin.
32. The method of claim 18 , wherein the casing is closed at both ends and filled with an inert gas or non-electrically conductive liquid.
33. A data processing system, comprising:
a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium; and
an acceleration detector coupled to the data storage device to detect a change in an acceleration of the portable electronic device and to configure the data storage device from a first operating state into a second operating state in response to the detection, wherein the acceleration detector includes a flexible non-electrically conductive support material,
an electrically conductive casing coupled to the flexible non-electrically conductive support material, and
a beam having a first end and a second end supported by the flexible non-electrically conductive support material.