Power Saving Apparatus and Method for a Portable Appliance

Abstract

A power saving apparatus and method for a portable appliance to automatically enter into power saving mode when the portable appliance is turned off. The invention provides a power saving apparatus and method for a portable appliance to prevent the dam age of electronic elements and damage to saved data caused by the vibration from moving the portable appliance.

1 . A power saving apparatus installed in a portable appliance comprising:
 a sensor unit sensing the portable appliance for presenting a first sensor mode when the portable appliance is raised up, and presenting a second sensor mode when the portable appliance is standing still; and   a control unit electrically connecting to the sensor unit for detecting the sensor mode presented by the sensor unit, and then outputting a control signal corresponding to the sensor mode;   wherein when the sensor unit presents the first sensor mode, the control unit outputs a first control signal to command the portable appliance to enter into power saving mode; when the sensor unit presents the second sensor mode, the control unit outputs a second control signal to command the portable appliance to enter into normal mode.   
   
   
       2 . The power saving appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit is a first touch-sensor switch installed at the bottom of the portable appliance; when the first touch-sensor switch is inactive, the first sensor mode is presented; when the first touch-sensor switch is active, the second sensor mode is presented. 
   
   
       3 . The power saving appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the portable appliance includes a handle. 
   
   
       4 . The power saving appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor unit is a second touch-sensor switch installed on the handle of the portable appliance; when the second touch-sensor switch is active, the first sensor mode is presented; when the second touch-sensor mode is inactive, the second sensor mode is presented. 
   
   
       5 . The power saving appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit is a first optical module installed at the bottom of the portable appliance; the first optical module is used to detect the distance between the portable appliance and a shielding element; if the distance is over the predetermined range, the first optical module presents a first sensor mode; if the distance is within the predetermined range, the first optical module presents a second sensor mode. 
   
   
       6 . The power saving appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor unit is a second optical module installed on the handle of the portable appliance; the second optical module is used to detect the distance between the handle and a shielding element; if the distance is within the predetermined range, the second optical module presents a first sensor mode; if the distance is over the predetermined range, the second optical module presents a second sensor mode. 
   
   
       7 . The power saving appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the portable appliance further includes a power controller; the first control signal further commands the power controller to terminate the power output. 
   
   
       8 . The power saving appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the portable appliance further includes a saving unit; the first control signal further commands a reading head of a hard drive in the saving unit to securely stay in parking mode. 
   
   
       9 . The power saving appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the portable appliance further includes a display unit; the first control signal further commands the display unit to enter into power saving mode. 
   
   
       10 . The power saving appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the portable appliance further includes a saving unit; the first control signal commands a reading head of a hard drive of the saving unit to stay in a parking mode, and then the first control signal further commands the power controller to terminate the power output to the saving unit. 
   
   
       11 . The power saving appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the portable appliance further includes a display unit; the first control signal commands the power controller to terminate the power output to the display unit. 
   
   
       12 . A power saving method for a portable appliance which has a handle and a power saving apparatus with sensing function and controlling function for implementing the power saving method comprising:
 sensing the portable appliance whether is raised up or standing still; and   controlling the portable appliance to enter into normal mode when the portable appliance is standing still, and to enter into power saving mode when the portable appliance is raised up.   
   
   
       13 . The power saving method of  claim 12 , wherein the power saving apparatus senses the portable appliance through a sensor unit; when the portable appliance is raised up, the sensor unit presents a first sensor mode; when the portable appliance is standing still, the sensor unit presents a second sensor mode. 
   
   
       14 . The power saving method of  claim 13 , wherein the power saving apparatus controls the portable appliance through a control unit; when the sensor unit presents the first sensor mode, the control unit outputs a first control signal to command the portable appliance to enter into saving mode; when the sensor presents the second sensor mode, the control unit outputs a second control signal to command the portable appliance to enter into normal mode. 
   
   
       15 . The power saving method of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor unit is a touch-sensor switch installed at the bottom of the portable appliance; when the first touch-sensor switch is inactive, the first sensor mode is presented; when the first touch-sensor switch is active, the second sensor mode is presented. 
   
   
       16 . The power saving method of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor unit is a second touch-sensor switch installed on the handle of the portable appliance; when the second touch-sensor switch is active, the first sensor mode is presented; when the second touch-sensor mode is inactive, the second sensor mode is presented. 
   
   
       17 . The power saving method of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor unit is a first optical module installed at the bottom of the portable appliance; the first optical module is used to detect the distance between the portable appliance and a shielding element; if the distance is over the predetermined range, the first optical module presents a first sensor mode; if the distance is within predetermined range, the first optical module presents a second sensor mode. 
   
   
       18 . The power saving method of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor unit is a second optical module installed on the handle of the portable appliance; the second optical module is used to detect the distance between the handle and a shielding element; if the distance is within the predetermined range, the second optical module presents a first sensor mode; if the distance is over predetermined range, the second optical module presents a second sensor mode. 
   
   
       19 . The power saving method of  claim 14 , wherein the portable appliance further includes a power controller; the first control signal further commands the power controller to terminate the power output. 
   
   
       20 . The power saving method of  claim 14 , wherein the portable further includes a saving unit; the first control signal further commands a reading head of a hard drive in the saving unit to securely stay in parking mode. 
   
   
       21 . The power saving method of  claim 14 , wherein the portable further includes a display unit; the first control signal further commands the display unit to enter into power saving mode. 
   
   
       22 . The power saving method of  claim 19 , wherein the portable appliance further includes a saving unit; the first control signal commands a reading head of a hard drive of the saving unit to stay in a park mode, and then the first control signal further commands the power controller to terminate the power output to the saving unit. 
   
   
       23 . The power saving method of  claim 19 , wherein the portable appliance further includes a display unit; the first control signal commands the power controller to terminate the power output to the display unit.