JPH04152268A - Portable electronic equipment having shock detection circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the self-diagnosis of equipment to be executed by interrupting power supply, when the shock detection means of the equipment detects a shock during the operation thereof, and saving a shock signal and undertaking access prohibit control at a power supply start, when the shock is detected during the non-operation of the equipment. CONSTITUTION:If equipment undergoes a shock during operation, a shock sensor 1 detects a shock in each direction of X-, Y- and Z-axes. When the total of each shock exceeds a threshold value, a detection circuit 2 sends a detected signal to a power control circuit 3, and interrupts power supply to a main control circuit 5 and other circuits. Also, if the equipment at rest undergoes a shock, the detection circuits 2 transmits a detected signal, when the shock exceeds the threshold value, and the circuit 3 saves and holds the signal, as both of the aforesaid circuits 2 and 3 are always supplied with power. When an operator turns on a power switch 8, the circuit 3 checks the existence of shock experience, and it any shock experience is found, actuates a self-diagnosis time monitor timer 4. Concurrently, an access prohibit signal is sent to a memory card 7, a shock experience signal is sent to the circuit 5 and power is supplied thereto. At this time, the operator causes the self-diagnosis program of ROM 6 to run.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a portable electronic device with an impact detection circuit that can control power supply to a circuit within the portable electronic device based on a detection signal from an impact detection circuit. It is.

[Prior Art] In general, the impact of dropping a portable electronic device or hitting it with another object often causes the device to malfunction or be damaged.

Conventional countermeasures include, for example, covering the device casing with a cover case to make it difficult for the impact force to be transmitted to the inside of the device, attaching a shock absorber to the inside of the device casing, and making the outside of the casing sturdy. In addition to improving the structure, methods were also adopted to prevent internal parts from falling off and vibration.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, conventional shock protection for portable electronic devices is not sufficient, and mechanical and electrical failures of the devices often occur. For example, if a portable electronic device with a built-in microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as CPU) or a memory circuit is dropped while in operation, the impact may cause parts on the printed circuit board to fall off or patterns to break due to cracks in the printed circuit board. As a result, the built-in CPU may become uncontrollable (this state is generally referred to as a runaway CPU), and data stored in the memory circuit may be destroyed. Additionally, in this case, there is a problem in that the user cannot tell whether or not the stored data has been destroyed.

In addition, even if the above-mentioned equipment is dropped while not in operation, the impact force may cause a malfunction such as a short circuit or an open circuit in the circuit, and the short circuit may catch fire as soon as the power is turned on, or the CPU There was a problem in that accidents such as runaway operation and destruction of stored data could occur.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such problems, and includes providing a shock detection means in a portable electronic device, cutting off power supply to a circuit inside the device in response to a shock detection signal when the device is in operation, and The shock detection signal when the is not operating is memorized.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic device with an impact detection circuit capable of self-diagnosing the device based on the stored impact information when the circuit in the device is subsequently powered.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A portable electronic device with an impact detection circuit according to claim 1 of the present invention is a portable electronic device equipped with a circuit for detecting an impact applied to the device. It includes an impact detection means for detecting that an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to a portable electronic device, and a power supply control circuit that is constantly supplied with power, and the power supply control circuit receives an impact detection signal detected by the impact detection means. a first power supply control means for cutting off power supply to main circuits including a write/read storage circuit to which power is supplied in the portable electronic device; and a shock detection signal detected by the shock detection means. , an impact information storage means for outputting information on the presence or absence of an impact, and a second power supply control that connects/disconnects power supply to main circuits including a write/read storage circuit of the portable electronic device based on an operation signal from an operator. and the second power supply control means starts power supply to the main circuits including the write/read storage circuit, and when the impact information storage means outputs information indicating that there is an impact, the write/read storage circuit access prohibition control means for controlling access prohibition to the write/write access control means;
a timer that sets a self-diagnosis time to be performed by the main circuit and immediately counts the elapsed time when power supply to the main circuit including the readout storage circuit is started and the shock information storage means outputs information indicating that there is an impact; and a third power supply control means for cutting off power supply to the main circuits including the write/read storage circuit based on a time-up signal outputted when the timer means finishes counting the set self-diagnosis time. This includes:

A portable electronic device with an impact detection circuit according to claim 2 of the present invention is the portable electronic device with an impact detection circuit according to the invention according to claim 1, wherein the write/read storage circuit of the portable electronic device is removable from the main body of the portable electronic device, Moreover, it is assumed that the circuit is a write/read memory card circuit equipped with a backup battery.

[Function] In the invention according to claim 1, in a portable electronic device equipped with a circuit for detecting an impact applied to the device, the impact detection means is constantly supplied with power to prevent an impact of a predetermined value or more from being applied to the portable electronic device. Detects that . The power supply control circuit is constantly supplied with power and includes the following first power supply control means, shock information storage means, second power supply control means, access prohibition control means, timer means, and third power supply control means. A first power supply control means included in the power supply control circuit controls power supply to main circuits including a write/read storage circuit to which power is supplied of the portable electronic device, based on the shock detection signal detected by the shock detection means. I refuse to do so.

The impact information storage means stores the impact detection signal detected by the impact detection means and outputs information on the presence or absence of an impact. The second power supply control means connects/disconnects power supply to main circuits including a write/read storage circuit of the portable electronic device based on an operation signal from an operator. The access prohibiting means is configured to inhibit the writing/reading memory when the second power supply control means starts supplying power to the main circuits including the writing/reading memory circuit and the impact information storage means outputs information indicating that there is an impact. Performs access prohibition control to the circuit. The timer means is configured to perform a self-control operation performed by the main circuit when the second power supply control means starts power supply to the main circuit including the write/read storage circuit and the shock information storage means outputs information indicating that there is a shock. Set the diagnostic time and immediately count the time elapsed. The third power supply control means cuts off the power supply to the main circuits including the write/read storage circuit based on a time-up signal outputted when the timer means finishes counting the set self-diagnosis time.

In the invention according to claim 2, in the invention according to claim 1, the write/read memory circuit of the portable electronic device is a write/read memory card circuit; It is removable from the main body of the electronic device and is equipped with a backup battery.

L Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a portable electronic device with an impact detection circuit according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an impact sensor, 2 is an impact detection circuit, 3 is a power supply control circuit, 4 is a self-diagnosis time monitoring timer, 5 is a main control circuit, and CP
Contains U. 6 is read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM)
7 is a read/write (hereinafter referred to as R/W) memory card, 8 is a power switch, 9 is an impact indicator light, and 10 is an abnormality indicator light.

FIG. 2 is an operation time chart when the self-diagnosis according to the present invention is normal, and FIG. 3 is an operation time chart when the self-diagnosis according to the present invention is abnormal.

First, the operations of the impact sensor 1 and the impact detection circuit 2 will be explained.

4(a) to 4(e) are diagrams showing the structure and principle of an embodiment of the impact sensor according to the present invention; FIG. 4(a) is an exploded view of the impact sensor, and FIG. 4(b) is an exploded view of the impact sensor. The cross-sectional view (e) is a diagram of the same principle. In the figure, 11 is a permanent magnet, 12 is a moving coil, 13 is a rubber disk, 14 is a sensor case, and 15 is a signal output line.

FIG. 5 is an installation diagram of the impact sensor according to the present invention, and in the same figure, each of the three impact sensors 1 is mounted on a housing 16 of an electronic device.
They are individually installed at positions that can detect impact forces in the X-axis, Y-axis, and two-axis directions.

The operation of the impact sensor will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4(a) to 5(C) and FIG. 5. First, the permanent magnet 11 is provided at the bottom of the sensor case 14. A moving coil 12 attached to the center of a disk 13 made of a somewhat hard rubber material is placed above the permanent magnet 11 through which the magnetic flux generated by the permanent magnet 11 passes. The periphery of the rubber disk 13 is the sensor case 1.
It is fixed to the inner wall of 4.

Although the sensor case 14 has a sealed structure, a signal output line 15 is taken out from the moving coil 12 to the outside.

If the case 16 of the electronic device to which the shock sensor 1 is attached is now stationary, the moving coil 12 attached to the sensor case 14 is also stationary, so no output voltage is generated across the coil 12. . However, when an impact force is applied to an electronic device, such as when it is dropped, and the moving coil 12 vibrates up and down due to the vibration of the rubber disc 13, the magnetic flux density passing through the coil 12 changes, and the magnetic flux density at both ends of the coil 12 changes. An electromotive force is generated, and this induced voltage signal can be taken out from the signal output line 15. In addition, as shown in the installation diagram of FIG. 5, each of the three shock sensors 1 detects the shock force applied in each direction of the X-axis, y-axis, and two axes of the electronic device, and connects the shock detection circuit 2. supply to.

FIG. 6 is a detailed block diagram of the impact detection circuit according to the present invention. In the same figure, 21, 22, and 23 are respectively
24 is an adder, 25 is a threshold value setter, and 26 is a voltage comparator.

7(a) to 7(c) are waveform diagrams for explaining the operation of FIG. 6.

The operation in FIG. 6 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7(a) to (e). The output signals from the X-axis, y-axis and z-axis shock sensors 1 are outputted to corresponding amplifiers 21, 22 and 2, respectively.
3, and the signal is amplified (see FIG. 7(a)).

The output signals of the Z-axis axle amplifiers 21, 2, and 23 are added by the adder 24, and this added output signal is set in advance in the threshold setting device 25 in the voltage comparator 26. It is compared with a threshold value (see FIG. 7(b)). When the output signal of the adder 24 exceeds the threshold value, the voltage comparator 28 outputs an impact detection signal (see FIG. 7(C)).
)reference).

Next, the operation of FIG. 1 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The power source of the circuit shown in Fig. 1 is a battery, and when the battery of this power source is installed, power is always supplied to the impact detection circuit 2 and the power supply control circuit 3, and the impact force is detected and the detection signal is It is now possible to control the power supply based on the In addition, the power switch 8 is connected to the main control circuit 5 (CPU
) and other circuits including the R/W memory card 7 (hereinafter abbreviated as the main circuit including the R/W memory card 7), a switch manually operated by an operator to turn on/off the power supplied to the R/W memory card 7 It is.

The power supply control circuit 3 always monitors the operation state of the power switch 8, and when the switch 8 is turned on, power is supplied to the main circuit including the R/W memory card 7, and when the switch 8 is turned off, the power is supplied to the main circuit including the R/W memory card 7. Performs power on/off control that cuts off the power supply to the equipment. (This is referred to as a second power control means) When the power switch 8 is currently on and the main circuit (including the CPU) including the R/W memory card 7 is supplied with power and is operating, the device is activated. Suppose that you have received an impact such as from a fall. In this case, each of the three impact sensors 1 detects the impact force in each x1y% Z-axis direction as described above, and the impact detection circuit 2 detects the added impact force at a preset threshold. When the value exceeds the value, an impact detection signal is output and supplied to the power supply control circuit 3. When the power supply control circuit 3 detects the rise of this shock detection signal, it turns on the shock indicator light and immediately turns off the power to the main control circuit 5, ROM 6, R/W memory card 7, and other I10 circuits. (This will be referred to as a first power supply control means) The R/W memory card 7 in this embodiment has a structure that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the portable electronic device, and has a built-in backup battery. This built-in battery may cover the entire memory area in the R/W memory card 7,
Alternatively, only an important part of the memory area may be backed up. Therefore, the R/W memory card 7 is
Even if the power supplied to the card 7 is cut off, the important data in the card 7 is preserved. Furthermore, in cases where the external appearance of the device is severely damaged, the R/W memory card 7 can be separated from the main body of the device to prevent internal information from being destroyed.

The power to all other main circuits except for the R/W memory card 7 will be cut off immediately when a shock applied to the device is detected, so there is no chance of parts falling off inside the device or cracks in the printed pattern on the board. This prevents accidents such as CPU runaway, destruction of memory information, and burnout due to short circuits.

Once the impact detection signal is input to the power supply control circuit 3, the power supply control circuit 3 will continue to use this impact detection signal until power is supplied to the main control circuit 5 again and a release signal is supplied from the main control circuit 5. (This is called impact information storage means) Also, when the power switch 8 is off and the R/
Main circuit including W memory card 7 (CPU included)
Suppose that the device is dropped or otherwise subjected to a shock while the device is not operating and is not powered. In this case as well, power is always supplied to the impact detection circuit 2 and the power supply control circuit 3, so when an impact of a certain value or more is applied, the impact detection circuit 2 outputs an impact detection signal and the power is supplied. Control circuit 3
turns on the impact indicator light 9 and stores and holds this impact detection signal. However, since the main control circuit 5, ROM 6, R/W memory card 7, and other I10 circuits are already powered off, the power supply control circuit 3 does not control to turn off the power to these circuits in this case. do not have.

The operator should check that the impact indicator light 9 is lit, and if the device is damaged by the impact caused by a drop or the like, remove the R/W memory card 7 from the device, move it to another device, and remove it from the inside. Make sure your information is protected. However, the damage inside the device is unknown, there is no other device, and the operation when the device that received the impact is used again will be explained below.

When the operator turns on the power switch 8 (j@Figure 2 (a)
(see FIG. 2(b) and FIG. 3(b)), the power supply control circuit 3 checks whether or not an impact has been experienced, and if the impact detection signal is held (see FIG. 2(b) and FIG. 3(b) ), first start the self-diagnosis time monitoring timer 4 and start counting the time required for the preset self-diagnosis (
This is called a timer means, and is shown in Figs. 2(d) and 3(d).
). This is referred to as an access prohibition control means (see FIG. 2(e) and FIG. 3(e)), and outputs an access inhibit signal for prohibiting access to the R/W memory card 7. In addition to outputting an impact experience signal to the control circuit 5, the main control circuit 5, ROM 6,
Power is supplied from the battery to the R/W memory card 7 and other 10 circuits.

The main control circuit 5 to which power is supplied from the power supply control circuit 3 (by the second power supply control means)
First, check whether there is a shock experience signal (that is, whether a shock of a certain value or more was applied while the power was off)
, if there is a shock experience signal from the power supply control circuit 3,
The self-diagnosis program stored in the ROM 6 is executed (see FIG. 2(C) and FIG. 3(C)). When there is no shock experience signal from the power supply control circuit 3, the main control unit 5
performs normal processing.

The main control circuit 5 executes a self-diagnosis program, and if it determines that there is no abnormality and the circuit is normal, it sends a hold release signal of the impact experience signal to the power supply control circuit 3 and an R/R/
A release signal for the access inhibit signal is output to the W memory card 7.

It also outputs a timer stop signal to the self-diagnosis time monitoring timer 4 (see Fig. 2 (b) to (e)).
. After that, the normal business program is executed.

As a result of executing the self-diagnosis program, the main control circuit 5
If the PU does not run out of control but an abnormality is discovered,
In addition to outputting a timer stop signal to the self-diagnosis time monitoring timer 4, the power supply control circuit 3 notifies the operator that a circuit abnormality has occurred by turning on the abnormality indicator lamp 10 or emitting an alarm sound. Inform.

When the main control circuit 5 executes the self-diagnosis program, C
If the PU goes out of control, the main control circuit 5 will not output a timer stop signal to the self-diagnosis time monitoring tire 4, so the timer 4 will turn off the power when it finishes counting the preset time. A time-up signal is output to the control circuit 3. The power supply control circuit 3 determines that the CPU is running out of control based on this time-up signal, turns on the abnormality indicator light 10, and also turns on the main control circuit 5, ROM 6,
The power to the R/W memory card 7 and other 110 circuits is turned off (see FIGS. 3(a), (c), and (d); this power control is referred to as third power control means). In the event of a device error that causes the CPU to run out of control, the operator must
The memory card 7 is removed from the malfunctioning device and transferred to another device for protection.

Although an example of a shock sensor is shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the shock sensor of the present invention is not limited to this method, and can detect the force applied to the casing of an electronic device or the strain that occurs. The impact force may be detected using a pressure sensor, a piezoelectric element, or the like.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the invention according to claim 1, a portable electronic device is provided with a shock detection means, and the shock detection signal detected by the shock detection means is detected by the shock detection means while the device is in operation. Power is cut off to the main circuits of the portable electronic device, including the write/read storage circuits that are powered. In addition, the impact detection signal detected while the device is not moving is memorized, and the above write/write is performed again.
At the point when power supply to the main circuits including the read storage circuit is started, access to the write/read storage circuit is inhibited, and a timer means counts the time for self-diagnosis performed by the main circuit to generate a time-up signal. When this occurs, the power supply to the main circuits including the write/read storage circuit is cut off, so that the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Since the power to the circuit is automatically cut off due to an impact while the device is operating, it is often possible to prevent burnout due to short circuit or disconnection of the circuit, runaway CPU, and destruction of memory data.

(2) Since shocks applied to the equipment without the operator's knowledge are also stored and displayed, the operator can protect the memory data before turning on the power.

(3) When the device receives a shock, it performs a self-diagnosis when power is supplied, and if there is an abnormality, it is displayed so that the operator can use the device with peace of mind. Furthermore, when the CPU goes out of control, the destruction of memory data is prevented by cutting off the power to the circuit.

According to the invention according to claim 2, the write/read memory circuit of the portable electronic device according to the invention according to claim 1 is removable from the main body of the portable electronic device, and the write/read memory circuit is equipped with a backup battery. / Since it is a read memory card circuit, the write/read memory card circuit can be disconnected from the main body of the device where a failure has occurred, preventing memory data from being destroyed, and the memory data can be saved by supplying power from the installed battery. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a portable electronic device with an impact detection circuit according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an operation time chart when self-diagnosis according to the present invention is normal, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a portable electronic device with an impact detection circuit according to the present invention. The operation time chart when the self-diagnosis is abnormal is shown in Fig. 4 (
a) to (C) are diagrams showing the structure and principle of an embodiment of the impact sensor according to the present invention, Figure 5 is an installation diagram of the impact sensor according to the present invention, and Figure 16 is a diagram showing the impact detection circuit according to the present invention. The detailed block diagrams of FIGS. 7(a) to 7(e) are waveform diagrams for explaining the operation of FIG. 6. In the figure, 1 is an impact sensor, 2 is an impact detection circuit, 3 is a power supply control circuit, 4 is a self-diagnosis time monitoring timer, 5 is a main control circuit, 6 is a ROM, 7 is an R/W memory card, and 8 is a power supply Switch, 9 is shock indicator light, 10 is abnormality indicator light, 1
1 is a permanent magnet, 12 is a moving coil, 13 is a rubber disc, 14 is a sensor case, 15 is a signal output line, 16
21 to 23 are y-axis, y-axis, and z-axis frequency amplifiers, 24 is an adder, 25 is a threshold value setter, and 26 is a voltage comparator. Patent Applicant: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Life 1 Earth This Invention Self Sword Prayer B1 Chang'a's Movement Ta Buddha Chart Sales 2 Figure This Invention J? Original 3 Self-planning ``Ga b゛ Normal operation history Muchyard helmet 3 Figure 1; Arute Fung Ceresa 16・fil child sacrilege 1 Dai's redemption present invention 1; Damaged impact V Seven knob α installation diagram Nephew 5 figure

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a portable electronic device equipped with a circuit that detects an impact applied to the device, an impact detection means that is constantly supplied with power and detects when an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the portable electronic device; and a power supply control circuit supplied with power, the power supply control circuit controlling main circuits including a write/read storage circuit supplied with power of the portable electronic device based on the shock detection signal detected by the shock detection means. a first power supply control means for cutting off the power supply; an impact information storage means for storing the impact detection signal detected by the impact detection means and outputting information on the presence or absence of an impact; and a write/read memory of the portable electronic device. a second power supply control means for connecting/disconnecting power supply to the main circuit including the circuit based on an operation signal from an operator; and a second power supply control means for supplying power to the main circuit including the write/read storage circuit by the second power supply control means. is started, and when the impact information storage means outputs information indicating that there is an impact, the access prohibition control means that performs access prohibition control to the write/read storage circuit and the second power supply control means control the write/read storage circuit. a timer that sets a self-diagnosis time to be performed by the main circuit and immediately counts the elapsed time when power supply to the main circuit including the readout storage circuit is started and the shock information storage means outputs information indicating that there is an impact; means, and a third power supply control for cutting off power supply to the main circuits including the write/read storage circuit based on a time-up signal outputted when the timer means finishes counting the set self-diagnosis time. A portable electronic device with a shock detection circuit, characterized in that it includes means. (2) The write/read memory circuit of the portable electronic device is a write/read memory card circuit that is detachable from the main body of the portable electronic device and is equipped with a backup battery. A portable electronic device with a shock detection circuit.