IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,176,164
Granted Patent B2
US 9,176,164 · App. 13/118,790 · Granted Nov 3, 2015

Sensing device and electronic apparatus

Inventor: Taketo Chino (Hokuto, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
G01P13/00G01P15/00G06F1/3206H04W52/0254
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,176,164
App. No.
13/118,790
Granted
Nov 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sensing device includes: a sensor module that includes a group of sensors, at least one of which is set as a motion sensor, and can switch an operation mode to an overall operation mode in which all of the group of sensors operate and a partial operation mode in which a part of the sensors including the at least one sensor set as the motion sensor operate; and a control unit that controls the switching of the operation mode of the sensor module on the basis of an output from the motion sensor.

Claims (40)

1. A sensing device comprising:

a sensor module that includes a group of sensors, at least one of which being a motion sensor, the sensor module being configured to output a sensing result;

a control unit configured to switch between an overall operation mode in which all of the group of sensors operate and a partial operation mode in which a part of the group of sensors operate based on an output from the motion sensor, the control unit being configured to output a mode control signal when the control unit switches between the overall operation mode and the partial operation mode;

a data generation unit configured to generate output data based on the sensing result of the sensor module at a predetermined rate, wherein

the predetermined rate is changed at multiple stages based on the mode control signal and an elapsed time after the mode is switched between the overall operation mode and the partial operation mode,

the control unit calculates a mean of a plurality of outputs from the motion sensor,

the control unit switches from the overall operation mode to the partial operation mode when the mean is smaller than a first threshold in a predetermined time,

the control unit switches from the partial operation mode to the overall operation mode when the mean is larger than a second threshold,

the second threshold is greater than or equal to the first threshold, and

the predetermined time is more than several seconds.

2. The sensing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a register unit including a status register that represents the predetermined rate at which the output data is generated, wherein

the data generating unit updates the status register when the predetermined rate changes.

3. The sensing device according to claim 2 , wherein the data generating unit outputs an interrupt signal when the status register is updated.

4. The sensing device according to claim 1 , wherein the data generating unit outputs a signal representing the predetermined rate at which the output data is generated.

5. The sensing device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a display device that displays an image.

6. A sensing device comprising:

a sensor module that includes a group of sensors, the sensor module being configured to output a sensing result;

an auxiliary sensor module that includes at least one motion sensor;

a control unit configured to switch between an overall operation mode in which all of the group of sensors operate and a stop operation mode in which a part of the group of sensors stops operating based on an output from the motion sensor, the control unit being configured to output a mode control signal when the control unit switches between the overall operation mode and the stop operation mode; and

a data generation unit configured to generate output data based on the sensing result of the sensor module at a predetermined rate, wherein

the predetermined rate is changed at multiple stages based on the mode control signal and an elapsed time after the mode is switched between the overall operation mode and the stop operation mode,

the control unit calculates a mean of a plurality of outputs from the motion sensor,

the control unit switches from the overall operation mode to the stop operation mode when the mean is smaller than a first threshold in a predetermined time,

the control unit switches from the stop operation mode to the overall operation mode when the mean is larger than a second threshold,

the second threshold is greater than or equal to the first threshold, and

the predetermined time is more than several seconds.

7. A sensing device comprising:

a sensor module that includes a group of sensors, at least one of which being a first motion sensor, the sensor module being configured to output a sensing result;

an auxiliary sensor module that includes at least one second motion sensor; and

a control unit configured to switch between an overall operation mode in which all of the group of sensors operate and a stop operation mode in which a part of the group of sensors stops operating based on an output from one of the first motion sensor and the second motion sensor and that switches between an operation mode in which the auxiliary sensor module operates and a stop mode in which the auxiliary sensor module does not operate based on the overall operation mode and the stop operation mode of the sensor module, the control unit being configured to output a mode control signal when the control unit switches between the overall operation mode and the stop operation mode; and

a data generation unit configured to generate output data based on the sensing result of the sensor module at a predetermined rate, wherein

the predetermined rate is changed at multiple stages based on the mode control signal and an elapsed time after the mode is switched between the overall operation mode and the stop operation mode,

the control unit calculates a first mean of a plurality of outputs from the first motion sensor, and the control unit calculates a second mean of a plurality of outputs from the second motion sensor,

the control unit switches from the overall operation mode to the stop operation mode when the first mean is smaller than a first threshold in a predetermined time,

the control unit switches from the stop operation mode to the overall operation mode when the second mean is larger than a second threshold,

the second threshold is greater than or equal to the first threshold,

the control unit switches from the operation mode to the stop mode when the sensor module is the overall operation mode,

the control unit switches from the stop mode to the operation mode when the sensor module is the stop mode, and

the predetermined time is more than several seconds.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2011
From: CHINO, TAKETO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026360/0421 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2010-164594 · Jul 22, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120023354A1 · Jan 26, 2012