Deactivation of field-emitting electronic device upon detection of a transportation vessel

Abstract

An electronic device that includes a field-emitting device that emits electric, magnetic and/or electromagnetic signals. The electronic device is associated with includes one or more sensors that are capable of detecting the proximity of a transportation vessel. Upon detection of the proximity of a transportation vessel, the electronic device deactivates and/or decouples power to the field-emitting device and/or other systems of the electronic device so that the components of the electronic device can no longer emit signals that may interfere with the transportation vessel systems. The electronic device may reactivate and/or re-couple power to the field-emitting device if the sensor(s) no longer detects the proximity of a transportation vessel. The electronic device may also perform the reactivation and deactivation procedure if the electronic device detects a hazardous area.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electronic device that detects a transportation vessel, comprising: 
 a control system;    a field-emitting device coupled to said control system; and    a sensor coupled to said control system wherein said control system deactivates said field-emitting device when said sensor detects the proximity of the transportation vessel.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a power system coupled to said control system and said field-emitting device wherein said control system decouples said power system from said field-emitting device when said sensor detects the proximity of the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said control system generates an alarm when said sensor detects the proximity of the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises an environmental sensor.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said environmental sensor comprises a pressure sensor that senses pressure exerted on said electronic device.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said control system deactivates said field-emitting device if said pressure signals exerted on said electronic device exceeds a threshold value.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said environmental sensor comprises an altimeter whereby said control system determines the three-dimensional location of the electronic device by using altitude information from said altimeter and positioning information received by a tracking device coupled to said control system to determine if said field-emitting device should be deactivated.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said environmental sensor comprises an acoustic sensor that detects acoustic signals surrounding the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said acoustic signals represent engine noise of the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said acoustics signals comprise an acoustic signature of the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said acoustic signals represent movement of the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said acoustic sensor includes a first microphone that picks up acoustic signals from the air and a second microphone that picks up vibrations from the structure of the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said environmental sensor comprises a frequency detector wherein said control system detects frequency signals surrounding the electronic device.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said frequency detector picks up said frequency signals independent of orientation of said electronic device and/or said frequency detector.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said control system uses said frequency signals to determine if the transportation vessel is powered.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said control system deactivates said field-emitting device if the frequency signals indicate that the transportation vessel is powered.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said environmental sensor comprises a motion sensor that detects movement and/or acceleration of said electronic device and/or the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said control system deactivates said field-emitting device if signals from said motion sensor indicate that the electronic device is in proximity to the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises a cooperative marker sensor that detects marker information in proximity to the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said cooperative marker sensor comprises an optical marker sensor and wherein said marker information comprises a code.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said cooperative marker sensor comprises an infrared beacon sensor and said marker information comprises an infrared signal.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said cooperative marker sensor comprises a frequency beacon detector and said marker information comprises a frequency signal.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said frequency beacon detector detects frequency signals independent of orientation.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said frequency beacon detector is adapted to detect frequency signals of substantially the same frequency as naturally emitted by the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein said frequency signals is comprised of an AC 400 Hz signal.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said environmental sensor is comprised from the group consisting of a tracking device, a capacitance sensor, and an imaging sensor.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said cooperative marker sensor is comprised from the group consisting of an ultrasonic marker sensor, a capacitance sensor, and a magnetic marker sensor.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said control system shuts down in response to said sensor detecting the proximity of the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said control system reactivates said field-emitting device in response to said sensor no longer detecting the proximity of the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         30 . A system for automatically deactivating an electronic device in proximity to a transportation vessel, comprising: 
 a transportation vessel;    an electronic device, comprising: 
 a control system; and  
 a field-emitting device coupled to said control system; and  
   a sensor coupled to said control system wherein said control system deactivates said field-emitting device when said sensor detects the proximity of said transportation vessel.    
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said control system shuts down in response to said sensor detecting the proximity of the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said control system reactivates said field-emitting device in response to said sensor no longer detecting the proximity of said transportation vessel.  
     
     
         33 . A method of deactivating a field-emitting device upon detection of the proximity of a transportation vessel, comprising the steps of: 
 sensing the proximity of the transportation vessel; and    deactivating a field-emitting device in response to the sensing of the proximity of the transportation vessel.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 sensing when the transportation vessel is no longer in proximity to said field-emitting device; and    reactivating the field-emitting device in response to no longer detecting the proximity of the transportation vessel.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said sensing comprises detecting a frequency signal emitted by the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said sensing comprises sensing pressure signals.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said sensing comprises determining the altitude of said field-emitting device.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said sensing comprises detecting acoustic signals surrounding the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said sensing comprises detecting the movement and/or acceleration of the field-emitting device and/or the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said sensing comprises detecting a frequency signal emitted by a frequency beacon associated with the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said sensing comprises detecting marker information associated with the transportation vessel using an optical marker sensor.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said marker information is comprised from the group consisting of positioning information, capacitance, infrared signals, acoustic signals, magnetic information associated with the transportation vessel using an optical marker sensor.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said sensing comprises detecting an infrared signal emitted by an infrared beacon associated with the transportation vessel.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said disabling comprises control shutting down said field-emitting device.  
     
     
         45 . A method of deactivating a field-emitting device upon detection of a hazardous area, comprising the steps of: 
 sensing a hazardous area; and    deactivating a field-emitting device in response to the sensing of the hazardous area.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said hazardous area is comprised of an intrinsically-safe area.