# US 8,543,852 B2 · Method and system for determining an idle state > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,852 B2 - Document ID: US8543852B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/105,113 - Filed: 2011-05-11 - Published: 2011-11-17 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-11 - Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH - Applicants: Julian Bartholomeyczik; Sergej Scheiermann - Inventors: Julian Bartholomeyczik; Sergej Scheiermann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543852B2 ## CPC - G01P 15/0891: {with indication of predetermined acceleration values (G01P15/135 takes precedence)} - G01P 13/00: Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement (electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00) - G01P 15/18: in two or more dimensions - H04W 52/0254: {detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device} - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G}) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract In a method for determining an idle state: acceleration values are ascertained as a function of three spatial directions; a comparison value is generated from the acceleration values for each of the three spatial directions; each of the comparison values is compared with a threshold value; an interrupt signal is generated if the comparison value is less than the threshold value for each of the three spatial directions; and an electronic component is switched from a power saving state to an operating state as a function of the interrupt signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for determining an idle state, comprising: ascertaining acceleration values as a function of three spatial directions; generating a comparison value from the acceleration values for each of the three spatial directions; comparing each of the comparison values with a threshold value; generating an interrupt signal if the comparison value is less than the threshold value for each of the three spatial directions; and switching at least one electronic component from a power saving state to an operating state as a function of the interrupt signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein both a maximum value and a minimum value are determined in the particular acceleration values for each of the three spatial directions, each comparison value being determined for each of the three spatial directions as a difference between the particular minimum value and the particular maximum value of the corresponding spatial direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: calculating a cumulative value as a sum of one particular acceleration value for each of the three spatial directions; comparing the cumulative value with a further threshold value; and generating the interrupt signal if the comparison value is less than the threshold value for each of the three spatial directions and if the cumulative value is greater than the further threshold value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein an average acceleration value is formed from the particular acceleration values for each of the three spatial directions, the cumulative value being calculated as a sum of the particular average acceleration values for each of the three spatial directions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the three spatial directions is assigned a single threshold value, the particular comparison value of one of the three spatial directions being compared only with the threshold value assigned to the spatial direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein method is at least partially performed by at least one of (a) a microcontroller and (b) an ASIC. ### Claim 7 A system for determining an idle state, comprising: an acceleration sensor unit; an evaluation unit; and an electronic component; wherein the acceleration unit is adapted to ascertain acceleration values along three spatial directions, the evaluation unit is adapted to generate a comparison value from the acceleration values for each of the three spatial directions and to compare each of the comparison values with a threshold value; and wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to generate an interrupt signal if the comparison value is less than the threshold value for each of the three spatial directions, and the electronic component is adapted to change its operating mode from a power saving state to an operating state as a function of the interrupt signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to determine both a maximum value and a minimum value in the particular acceleration values for each of the three spatial directions, the evaluation unit is adapted to determine the comparison value as a difference between the particular maximum value and the particular minimum value for each of the three spatial directions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to calculate a cumulative value as a sum of one acceleration value or one average acceleration value for each of the three spatial directions and to compare the cumulative value with a further threshold value, the evaluation unit is adapted to generate the interrupt signal if the comparison value is less than the threshold value for each of the spatial directions and if the threshold value is greater than the further threshold value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein the evaluation unit includes three FIFO memories, the acceleration values of one of the three spatial directions each being stored in one of the three FIFO memories. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein the acceleration sensor unit includes an individual three-channel micromechanical acceleration sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein the accelerator sensor unit includes three one-channel micromechanical acceleration sensors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein the evaluation unit includes at least one of (a) a microcontroller and (b) an ASIC. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein the electronic component includes a processor.