PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT FOR AN APPARATUS

摘要

A protective circuit for an apparatus includes an accelerometer having an output and a microcontroller coupled to the output of the accelerometer. The protective circuit also includes a switch for controlling the apparatus coupled to an output of the microcontroller and a load coupled to the switch. A power source is coupled to the load and the switch. In operation the microcontroller is cable of sending a signal to the switch to turn of power to the load when a dangerous condition as detected from the accelerometer data has occurred.

主权项

1. A method of controlling an apparatus, comprising the steps of:
a) periodically reading values from an accelerometer, wherein the values include a first gravitational value in a first direction and a second gravitational value in a second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction; b) comparing the first and second gravitational values with previous first and second gravitational values; c) incrementing a no motion counter when the first and second gravitational values are substantially the same as the previous first and second gravitational values; d) resetting the no motion counter to zero when the first and second gravitational values are substantially different from the previous first and second gravitational values; e) determining if the no motion counter exceeds a threshold; f) if yes in e), determining whether the first and second gravitational values are within a tolerance difference from reference first and second gravitational values indicative of a known dangerous orientation; and g) if yes in f), sending a signal to turn off power delivery to a load of the apparatus.