Freescale Semiconductor,inc.

Rodrigo L Borras

Michelle A Clifford

Leticia Gomez

Michael A Steffen

Akihiro Ueda

Embodiments of systems and methods include a sensor subsystem (e.g., within a container-mounted device) that produces a sensor output, and a processing system that implements a state machine. Upon entry into a first state, the processing system starts a timer, and while in a second state, the processing system waits for a specific sensor output value to be received. The processing system transitions from the first state to the second state upon expiration of the timer, and the processing system transitions from the second state to the first state when the sensor output corresponds to the specific sensor output value. When the state machine is in the second state, the output device produces a human-perceptible indicia configured to prompt a human user to perform an action that is likely to cause the sensor to produce the sensor output that corresponds to the specific sensor output value.

Methods and apparatus for sensing motion of a portable container and providing human perceptible indicia based on the sensed motion

An input sensor for an electronic device which includes a touch sensor panel, multiple electrodes and a sensor circuit. The electrodes include multiple regional electrodes and multiple local electrodes. Each regional electrode covers a corresponding region of the touch sensor panel and each local electrode includes multiple pads including one pad located within each of the regional electrodes. The electrodes are distributed so that a touch anywhere across the touch sensor panel is detected by at least one regional electrode and at least one local electrode. A sensor circuit determines a value for each of the electrodes indicating relative change, and compares relative values of the electrodes to identify a location of a touch of the touch sensor panel. The regional electrodes are used to determine a region of a touch and the local electrodes are used to determine a more specific touch location within the determined region.

Touch sensor panel using regional and local electrodes to increase number of sense locations

A system and method is provided for predicting an imbalance condition in a rotating device. The rotational imbalance prediction system () includes an accelerometer assembly (), including at least one accelerometer (), and a processor (). The at least one accelerometer () provides acceleration measurements to the processor (), the measurements describing the current acceleration of an orbit of the rotational device (). The processor () receives the acceleration measurements and calculates an average radius of the orbit () to determine if the average radius is increasing, predictive of an imbalance condition. The processor () generates a signal in response to the prediction of an imbalance condition and transmits the signal to a motor control () or a remote alarm module (). The system and method provides for countermeasures to be taken in response to the prediction of an imbalance condition, thereby eliminating the imbalance condition.

System and method for predicting rotational imbalance

A system and method is provided for detection of a human body fall event. The fall detection system () includes a monitoring unit (), including a plurality of accelerometers (), a processor () and a wireless transmitter (). The plurality of accelerometers () provide acceleration measurements to the processor (), the measurements describing the current acceleration of the person wearing the monitoring unit () in all directions. The processor () receives the acceleration measurements and compares the acceleration measurements to a value range to determine if the wearer is currently experiencing a fall event. The processor () generates a signal in response to the detection of a fall event and the transmitter () transmits the signal to a remote signal receiver (). The system and method can further detect non-movement in the wearer of the monitoring unit () subsequent to the fall event to detect an unconscious wearer.

System and method for human body fall detection

A system and method is provided for electronic device fall detection. The system and method provides the ability to reliably detect falls even in the presence of other motion in the electronic device. The fall detection system includes a plurality of accelerometers and a processor. The plurality of accelerometers provides acceleration measurements to the processor, with these measurements describing the current acceleration of the electronic device in all directions. The processor receives the acceleration measurements and compares the acceleration measurements to a value range to determine if the device is currently falling. Furthermore, the system and method can reliably detect a non-linear fall, such as when the fall is accompanied with device rotation or initiated by additional external force. To detect a non-linear fall, the processor compares combinations of acceleration measurements to a value range and further determines the smoothness of the acceleration measurement combinations.

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Marshalltown, IA, United States of America

Rodrigo L Borras