Tip-over sensor

A tip-over sensor, comprising:

• an accelerometer configured to measure and output an acceleration value Xm along an X-axis and an acceleration value Zm along a Z-axis;
• a multiplier configured to multiply the acceleration value Xm by a first multiplier value (b) and to multiply the acceleration value Zm by a second multiplier value (a) and to output (b*Xm) and (a*Zm);
• a summer coupled to the multiplier and configured to output a first summed value F1=(a*Zm+b*Xm)and a second summed value F2=(a*Zm−b*Xm);
• and
• an orientation detector configured coupled to the summer to determine if a tip-over threshold angle α has been reached as a function of the first and second summed values F1, F2,
• wherein the first and second multiplier values (a) and (b) are chosen as a function of the tip-over threshold angle α.

A tip-over sensor for determining an orientation of a device with respect to a tip-over threshold angle α, the sensor comprising:

• means for measuring an acceleration value Xm in an X-axis direction and an acceleration value Zm in a Z-axis direction;
• means for multiplying Xm by a first multiplier value (b), multiplying Zm by a second multiplier value (a) and outputting (b*Xm) and (a*Zm);
• means for outputting a first summed value F1=(a*Zm+b*Xm) and a second summed value F2=(a*Zm−b*Xm);
• and
• an means for determining the orientation of the device as a function of the first and second summed values F1, F2,
• wherein the first and second multiplier values (a) and (b) are chosen as a function of the tip-over threshold angle α.