On December 11, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple’s newly granted patent titled Method and apparatus for detecting free fall . Apple’s invention relates to data storage devices, such as hard disc drive assemblies and data processing systems, generally. In particular, the invention relates to data storage devices that are subject to free fall or other changes in acceleration, for example, storage devices used in portable computers, cameras, onboard vehicular computers, and similar electronic devices. `Free fall` produces a change in the force, i.e. acceleration, of gravity as perceived in the frame of reference in which the data storage device is at rest.

Apple’s Summary

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustratively described herein, a data processing system is provided. Within the data processing system, system electronics is operatively coupled to a hard disk drive assembly and to an acceleration sensor, which can sense gravitational acceleration. The system electronics monitors the acceleration sensor to determine whether the sensor’s switch is open or closed. If an open switch indicating a free fall is detected, the system electronics protects the data read/write head and data storage medium by temporarily parking the head in a safe position where it cannot impact the data storage medium surface. A safe position can include a parked position off to one side of a data storage medium or a secured operating position that prevents vibration from damaging the read/write head or the data storage medium. According to one aspect of the present invention, the term secured includes fixed, semi-fixed, and movable operating positions.

Apple’s patent FIG. 1 (above) is an exemplary view of a data processing system in free fall. As shown, the data processing system contains a hard disc operatively coupled to a read/write head. An embodiment of the present invention has sensed free fall and safely parked the actuator and magnetic head prior to impact.

According to an alternate aspect of the present invention, a sensor is provided that can detect changes in gravitational and/or inertial acceleration. In an exemplary embodiment, the sensor includes an electrically conductive tube having two ends. A supporting material may close one end of the tube. The other end may be open or closed. Within the interior of the tube, one end of a flexible beam or wire is inserted into the supporting material. Gravity flexes the opposite end of the beam or wire into contact with the tubular case, creating a closed electrical circuit. Whenever the force of gravity lessens, the second end of the beam or wire breaks contact with the tube, creating an open switch.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a sensor is provided that can detect changes in gravitational and/or inertial acceleration. Illustratively, this sensor includes a closed cylinder. Within the interior of the cylinder, a centrally positioned, electrically conductive beam juts upward from the cylinder’s base. A circle of insulating material surrounds the base of the beam and creates a gap between the beam and the cylinder’s oblique, conical interior walls. The beam and cylinder walls are electrically conductive. Gravity holds an electrically conductive sphere in contact with both the beam and a oblique surface, creating a closed circuit. Any lessening of the gravitational force causes the sphere to break contact with either or both of the beam and interior walls, creating an open circuit.

Apple lists Paul James Wehrenberg (Palo Alto, CA) as the sole inventor of this patent which was originally filed in July 2004.

Other Granted Patents

The US Patent & Trademark Office also published two additional granted patents of Apple’s today which are respectfully titled Method and apparatus for transforming display data using multiple frame buffers in a display device and Gap count analysis for a high speed serialized bus.

NOTICE: MacNN presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or grant is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent applications and/or grants should be read in its entirety for further details.

Written and researched by Neo.