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US5815407A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and device for inhibiting the operation of an electronic device during take-off and landing of an aircraft

Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
•
Filing: 1995-12-14
•
Granted: 1998-09-29
•
Expires: 2015-12-14
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus (700) for inhibiting operation of an electronic device (702) during take-off and landing of an aircraft (802) has a sensor (704) that measures a lateral acceleration. A control circuit (706) is coupled to the sensor (704) and has an output (708) coupled to the electronic device (702).

Inventors

  • 👤 James R. Huffman
  • 👤 Ronald D. Cruickshank
  • 👤 Shrirang Nikanth Jambhekar
  • 👤 Jeffrey Van Myers
  • 👤 Russell L. Collins

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 07:01
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C27/00; B64C27/006

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
A method for inhibiting operation of an electronic device which performs non-aircraft function during take-off and landing of an aircraft, comprising the steps of: (a) sensing a parameter indicative of at least one of take-off and landing; (b) determining if the parameter indicative of at least one of take-off and landing exceeds a predetermined threshold; and (c) when the parameter indicative of at least one of take-off and landing exceeds the predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, inhibiting operation of the electronic device which performs non-aircraft function.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 89 words
A method for inhibiting operation of an electronic device which performs non-aircraft function during take-off and landing of an aircraft, comprising the steps of: (a) sensing a parameter indicative of at least one of take-off and landing; (b) determining if the parameter indicative of at least one of take-off and landing exceeds a predetermined threshold; and (c) when the parameter indicative of at least one of take-off and landing exceeds the predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, inhibiting operation of the electronic device which performs non-aircraft function.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 50 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further including the steps of: (b1) when the lateral acceleration does not exceed the predetermined threshold returning to step (a); and (b2) when the lateral acceleration does not exceed the predetermined threshold for the predetermined period of time, returning to step (a).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 48 words
The method of claim 2, further including the steps of: (d) determining if the lateral acceleration is below a second predetermined threshold; and (e) when the lateral acceleration is below the second predetermined threshold for a second predetermined period of time, not inhibiting operation of the electronic device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inhibiting operation of the electronic device includes the steps of: (c1) setting an inhibit operation flag; and (c2) starting a shut down procedure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 4, further including the steps of: (c3) when a start-up request is received, determining if the inhibit operation flag is set; and (c4) when the inhibit operation flag is set, denying the start-up request.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 1, where the step of inhibiting operation of the electronic device includes the steps of: (c1) activating an inhibit operation signal; and (c2) opening a power switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 50 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) is replaced with the following steps: (c) determining if a second event has occurred; and (d) when the second event has occurred and the lateral acceleration exceeds the predetermined threshold for the predetermined period of time, inhibiting operation of the electronic device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 7, wherein step (c) further includes the step of determining if a vibration characteristic is present.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 7, wherein step (c) further includes the step of determining if an absolute rate of ascent is present.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter indicative of at least one of take-off and landing is lateral acceleration.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 58 words
An apparatus for inhibiting operation of an electronic device which performs non-aircraft function during take-off and landing of an aircraft, comprising: a first sensor operative to measure a at least one of take-off and landing parameters; and a control circuit coupled to the first sensor and having an output coupled to the electronic device which performs non-aircraft function.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 58 words
An apparatus for inhibiting operation of an electronic device which performs non-aircraft function during take-off and landing of an aircraft, comprising: a first sensor operative to measure a at least one of take-off and landing parameters; and a control circuit coupled to the first sensor and having an output coupled to the electronic device which performs non-aircraft function.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 33 words
The apparatus of claim 11, further including a second sensor having an output, wherein the output of the second sensor and the output of the control circuit are inputs to an AND circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second sensor measures an absolute rate of ascent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second sensor is a vibration sensor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control circuit includes a comparator having an output of the first sensor as a first input and a predetermined threshold as a second input.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 12 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control circuit includes a microprocessor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 17 words
The apparatus of claim 11, further including a controllable switch coupled the output of the control circuit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controllable switch is connected across a power line.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic device includes a microprocessor and the output of the control circuit is connected to the microprocessor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 17 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of take-off and landing parameter is lateral acceleration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 67 words
A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable data that when inserted into and executed by a computer device, performs the following steps: (a) receiving a lateral acceleration from a sensor in the computer device; (b) determining if the lateral acceleration exceeds a threshold; and (c) when the lateral acceleration exceeds the threshold for a period of time, inhibiting an operation of the computer device which performs non-aircraft function.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 67 words
A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable data that when inserted into and executed by a computer device, performs the following steps: (a) receiving a lateral acceleration from a sensor in the computer device; (b) determining if the lateral acceleration exceeds a threshold; and (c) when the lateral acceleration exceeds the threshold for a period of time, inhibiting an operation of the computer device which performs non-aircraft function.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 52 words
The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein step (b) further includes the steps of: (b1) when the lateral acceleration does not exceed the predetermined threshold returning to step (a); and (b2) when the lateral acceleration does not exceed the predetermined threshold for the predetermined period of time, returning to step (a).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 50 words
The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, further including the steps of: (d) determining if the lateral acceleration is below a second predetermined threshold; and (e) when the lateral acceleration is below the second predetermined threshold for a second predetermined period of time, not inhibiting operation of the electronic device.
Claim 27
Independent Claim 63 words
A method for inhibiting operation of a carry-on electronic device during take-off and landing of an aircraft, comprising the steps of: (a) sensing a lateral acceleration using the carry-on electronic device; (b) determining if the lateral acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold; and (c) when the lateral acceleration exceeds the predetermined threshold for a period of time, inhibiting operation of the carry-on electronic device.
Claim 28
Independent Claim 63 words
A method for inhibiting operation of a carry-on electronic device during take-off and landing of an aircraft, comprising the steps of: (a) sensing a lateral acceleration using the carry-on electronic device; (b) determining if the lateral acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold; and (c) when the lateral acceleration exceeds the predetermined threshold for a period of time, inhibiting operation of the carry-on electronic device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the carry-on electronic device is a radio.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the carry-on electronic device is a tape player.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the carry-on electronic device is an electronic book.
Claim 32
Independent Claim 50 words
An apparatus for inhibiting operation of a carry-on electronic device which performs non-aircraft function during take-off and landing of an aircraft, comprising: a first sensor operative to measure a lateral acceleration; and a control circuit coupled to the first sensor and having an output coupled to the carry-on electronic device.
Claim 33
Independent Claim 50 words
An apparatus for inhibiting operation of a carry-on electronic device which performs non-aircraft function during take-off and landing of an aircraft, comprising: a first sensor operative to measure a lateral acceleration; and a control circuit coupled to the first sensor and having an output coupled to the carry-on electronic device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the carry-on electronic device is a radio.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the carry-on electronic device is a tape player.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the carry-on electronic device is an electronic book.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-09-28 2002-03-30 2002-09-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-09-28 2006-03-30 2006-09-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-09-28 2010-03-30 2010-09-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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