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Home > Archive > Electrical Engineering > July 2007 > iPhone Tilt Sensor ?
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| Author |
iPhone Tilt Sensor ?
|
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| Robert11 2007-07-04, 5:25 pm |
| Hi,
Just curious -
Anyone know, or have any ideason on, how the iPhone tilt sensor works ?
(the gadget that knows when the case is vert. or horiz.)
Think it's a pendulum-switch on a flexure?
Or, an electrolytic vial like a mercury switch.
Or,... ?
Thanks,
Bob
| |
| phil-news-nospam@ipal.net 2007-07-04, 5:25 pm |
| On Wed, 4 Jul 2007 17:01:00 -0400 Robert11 <rgsros@notme.com> wrote:
| Anyone know, or have any ideason on, how the iPhone tilt sensor works ?
| (the gadget that knows when the case is vert. or horiz.)
If you lay it flat on the desk, how does it know which way you are
looking at it?
--
|---------------------------------------/----------------------------------|
| Phil Howard KA9WGN (ka9wgn.ham.org) / Do not send to the address below |
| first name lower case at ipal.net / spamtrap-2007-07-04-1700@ipal.net |
|------------------------------------/-------------------------------------|
| |
| Anthony Fremont 2007-07-05, 9:25 am |
| Robert11 wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Just curious -
>
> Anyone know, or have any ideason on, how the iPhone tilt sensor works
> ? (the gadget that knows when the case is vert. or horiz.)
>
> Think it's a pendulum-switch on a flexure?
> Or, an electrolytic vial like a mercury switch.
>
> Or,... ?
My guess is that it has a 2 or 3 axis accelerometer in it that can measure
static acceleration (gravity).
| |
|
| On Jul 4, 1:01 pm, "Robert11" <rgs...@notme.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Just curious -
>
> Anyone know, or have any ideason on, how the iPhone tilt sensor works ?
> (the gadget that knows when the case is vert. or horiz.)
>
> Think it's a pendulum-switch on a flexure?
> Or, an electrolytic vial like a mercury switch.
>
> Or,... ?
>
> Thanks,
> Bob
Don't know about the tilt switch and don't intend to find out. The
iPhone only handles 16 megabytes of JavaScript and the battery is
soldered in so you have to send it back to Apple to get a new battery
at cost ot $70. Apple can take their marketing scam and gadget and
put it where the sun does not shine!
| |
| John Gilmer 2007-07-08, 8:25 pm |
|
> Don't know about the tilt switch and don't intend to find out. The
> iPhone only handles 16 megabytes of JavaScript and the battery is
> soldered in so you have to send it back to Apple to get a new battery
> at cost ot $70. Apple can take their marketing scam and gadget and
> put it where the sun does not shine!
Well, considering the first IBM PC cost around $2k, I can see some folks
would be interested in the I-phone as the "next small step."
If you buy one and don't like it you can likely sell it for about what you
paid.
I don't know much about how long these new batteries last in service. Our
cell phones have replacable batteries as does my wife's work laptop. But
in practice these Li-Ion cells haven't given us any problem in 6 months
usage. Soldering the cell in place might save a little space and space is
at a premium in that gadget.
I didn't buy the first generation of the IBM PC but I did run through 2
Kaypro's with the CPM operating system. If you either have lots of money
OR you can use new technology in your business (if only to take the edge off
the trip home) then $500 plus a monthly fee isn't all that out of line.
>
| |
|
| In article <K86dnWt4o_0v8wzbnZ2dnUVZ_jidnZ2d@nni.com>, gilmer@nni.com
says...
>
>
>
> Well, considering the first IBM PC cost around $2k, I can see some folks
> would be interested in the I-phone as the "next small step."
You would have to have stripped an IBM PC to get it down to $2K. I
bought a fairly stripped one (48K, monochrome monitor/card, color
card, DOS) on the "first day order" and paid $2500 as an employee.
I don't see the iPhone as anything but the latest "Tickle me Elmo",
for bigger kids. Blackberrys and other PDA/phones already perform
all the "important" function of the iPhone, with no need to be tied
to AT&T.
>
> If you buy one and don't like it you can likely sell it for about what you
> paid.
Likely more.
> I don't know much about how long these new batteries last in service. Our
> cell phones have replacable batteries as does my wife's work laptop. But
> in practice these Li-Ion cells haven't given us any problem in 6 months
> usage. Soldering the cell in place might save a little space and space is
> at a premium in that gadget.
Your sample size is too small. We've had four cell phones, two have
had to have new batteries within a year (one six months, the other
replaced before the battery was completely dead). My XM My-FI radio
has had a battery recall/replacement (fire hazard, evidently). Our
laptops are doing well because the batteries are rarely used/cycled.
My work laptops usually got about two to three years before I had
severe battery degradation.
I wouldn't be happy with irreplaceable batteries in *any* of these
devices. I'm glad I found someone to rebuild my cordless drill
batteries (they're *EXPEN$IVE*), though they're NiCds.
> I didn't buy the first generation of the IBM PC but I did run through 2
> Kaypro's with the CPM operating system. If you either have lots of money
> OR you can use new technology in your business (if only to take the edge off
> the trip home) then $500 plus a monthly fee isn't all that out of line.
What is so unique about a iPhone that a businessman would give a crap
about? Blackberrys and Palms have been around since the year of the
flood and aren't limited to one network provider.
--
Keith
| |
| John Gilmer 2007-07-09, 3:25 am |
|
money[color=darkred]
off[color=darkred]
>
> What is so unique about a iPhone that a businessman would give a crap
> about? Blackberrys and Palms have been around since the year of the
> flood and aren't limited to one network provider.
Well, I haven't been "in business" for about 20 years (I quit when I was
ahead) but there are a few contractors/developers who go to our church. Of
course they have a lot more cars (and trucks) than by my standards they
"need." The prices of marginal "do-dads" on a new vehicles are typically
about $500. But I bet an "I-phone" gets you more in "bragging rights" at
the Rotary Club than, say, "On-Star" or whatever.
| |
|
| In article <j6ednZ-TsemyMQzbnZ2dnUVZ_jWdnZ2d@nni.com>, gilmer@nni.com
says...
>
>
> money
> off
>
> Well, I haven't been "in business" for about 20 years (I quit when I was
> ahead) but there are a few contractors/developers who go to our church. Of
> course they have a lot more cars (and trucks) than by my standards they
> "need." The prices of marginal "do-dads" on a new vehicles are typically
> about $500. But I bet an "I-phone" gets you more in "bragging rights" at
> the Rotary Club than, say, "On-Star" or whatever.
>
So you agree that it has nothing to offer the businessman than it
does a pimply-faced kid. Two years of $60+ a month, tied to a single
provider (be they the best solution or not), seems excessive for some
*fleeting* wow-factor; next month's yawn.
--
Keith
| |
| John Gilmer 2007-07-10, 8:25 pm |
|
> So you agree that it has nothing to offer the businessman than it
> does a pimply-faced kid. Two years of $60+ a month, tied to a single
> provider (be they the best solution or not), seems excessive for some
> *fleeting* wow-factor; next month's yawn.
>
Sport, that's ENUF.
I remember back in the 80s when the CEO of a small company we worked with
got a DeLorian. It was THE topic of most meetings for weeks.
The "wow-factor" sells and it impresses folks.
> --
> Keith
| |
|
| In article <3YCdnTVPHdRLkAnbnZ2dnUVZ_tunnZ2d@nni.com>, gilmer@nni.com
says...
>
>
>
> Sport, that's ENUF.
For pimply-faced kids, sure.
> I remember back in the 80s when the CEO of a small company we worked with
> got a DeLorian. It was THE topic of most meetings for weeks.
A tad different. Were there a million DeLorians sold the first week?
> The "wow-factor" sells and it impresses folks.
Of course it sells, to pimply-faced kids.
--
Keith
| |
| phil-news-nospam@ipal.net 2007-07-13, 9:25 am |
| On Sat, 7 Jul 2007 23:29:39 -0300 John Gilmer <gilmer@nni.com> wrote:
|> Don't know about the tilt switch and don't intend to find out. The
|> iPhone only handles 16 megabytes of JavaScript and the battery is
|> soldered in so you have to send it back to Apple to get a new battery
|> at cost ot $70. Apple can take their marketing scam and gadget and
|> put it where the sun does not shine!
|
| Well, considering the first IBM PC cost around $2k, I can see some folks
| would be interested in the I-phone as the "next small step."
|
| If you buy one and don't like it you can likely sell it for about what you
| paid.
|
| I don't know much about how long these new batteries last in service. Our
| cell phones have replacable batteries as does my wife's work laptop. But
| in practice these Li-Ion cells haven't given us any problem in 6 months
| usage. Soldering the cell in place might save a little space and space is
| at a premium in that gadget.
|
| I didn't buy the first generation of the IBM PC but I did run through 2
| Kaypro's with the CPM operating system. If you either have lots of money
| OR you can use new technology in your business (if only to take the edge off
| the trip home) then $500 plus a monthly fee isn't all that out of line.
It's not the phone that bothers me. The soldered in battery is an annoyance
but it would not stop me from buying one. What does stop me from buying one
is a lack of a competitive field of communications providers.
It's bad enough when the service providers try to push a phone on you. But
when the manufacturer pushes a provider on you, that's worse. At least I
CAN buy unlocked phones from most manufacturers (at full price up front)
and use them with any compatible service provider, even without plans in
most cases. This arrangement between Apple and the worst service provider
out there just stinks.
--
|---------------------------------------/----------------------------------|
| Phil Howard KA9WGN (ka9wgn.ham.org) / Do not send to the address below |
| first name lower case at ipal.net / spamtrap-2007-07-13-0727@ipal.net |
|------------------------------------/-------------------------------------|
| |
| John Gilmer 2007-07-13, 1:25 pm |
|
> It's not the phone that bothers me. The soldered in battery is an
annoyance
> but it would not stop me from buying one. What does stop me from buying
one
> is a lack of a competitive field of communications providers.
Most folks who buy any kind of cell phone are effectively locked into a
particular service for a year. You don't really think "they" can make the
phones for $20, do you?
>
> It's bad enough when the service providers try to push a phone on you.
But
> when the manufacturer pushes a provider on you, that's worse. At least I
> CAN buy unlocked phones from most manufacturers (at full price up front)
> and use them with any compatible service provider, even without plans in
> most cases. This arrangement between Apple and the worst service provider
> out there just stinks.
Since the I-phone is truly unique, you have to take the good with the bad.
With other services, you can usually get essentially the same features using
the "free" (or very cheap) phones from different services.
Were I "in business" today, I would likely be seriously considering an
I-phone for purchase, say, in September. I like to have others find the
problems.
| |
|
| In article <bcGdnd8P8u02AgrbnZ2dnUVZ_hCdnZ2d@nni.com>, gilmer@nni.com
says...
>
>
> annoyance
> one
>
> Most folks who buy any kind of cell phone are effectively locked into a
> particular service for a year. You don't really think "they" can make the
> phones for $20, do you?
Perhaps, but the point was that the iPhone locks you into the WORST
provider. There is a choice, the iPhone locks you out of a choice.
It's also not $20.
> But
>
> Since the I-phone is truly unique, you have to take the good with the bad.
> With other services, you can usually get essentially the same features using
> the "free" (or very cheap) phones from different services.
Exactly. Now why do I want an iPhone again?
> Were I "in business" today, I would likely be seriously considering an
> I-phone for purchase, say, in September. I like to have others find the
> problems.
>
I wouldn't, particularly since AT&T doesn't even serve the state. If
I needed such a phone for "business", it would likely be a Blackberry
or maybe a Trio.
--
Keith
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