Acceleration Sensor Speed Measurement Without Inclination Compensation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for measuring the progress of a moving person, such as inertia navigation, face challenges in accuracy and complexity, particularly in detecting foot contact and compensating for gravitational influences, leading to errors and high power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method and device using a single acceleration sensor to measure vertical acceleration during step cycles, filtering and processing the data to define characteristic maximum and minimum acceleration values, allowing for precise speed calculation without inclination compensation, and incorporating digital or analog filtering techniques to improve accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple sensors (acceleration sensor and angular motion sensor) are used to compensate for gravitational errors, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the angular motion sensor from the measurement system, relying solely on the acceleration sensor. By removing the complex inclination compensation algorithm and angular motion sensor, the system achieves comparable measurement precision through a simplified architecture that processes acceleration data directly without requiring gravitational compensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/inertial sensor combination (acceleration sensor + angular motion sensor) with a purely acceleration-based electronic measurement system. The complex mechanical inclination compensation is substituted with electronic signal processing of acceleration data, eliminating the need for additional sensors and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If multiple sensors and complex algorithms are used for inclination compensation, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the power-intensive angular motion sensor and complex inclination compensation algorithms from the system. By extracting only the essential acceleration measurement function and eliminating redundant computational processes, the system achieves comparable precision with significantly reduced power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by using only the necessary acceleration data for speed calculation without performing excessive computational processing for inclination compensation. The system processes only the essential portion of the measurement data needed for the primary function, avoiding unnecessary power consumption from redundant calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of information

If acceleration sensor data is integrated over extended periods, then measurement completeness is improved, but position error increases due to sensor measuring errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement completenessVSAvoidposition error
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by calculating speed at regular intervals based on acceleration data rather than continuously integrating over extended periods. This periodic measurement approach resets the integration cycle frequently, preventing error accumulation while maintaining measurement completeness through systematic sampling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent rushes through the integration process by calculating speed directly from acceleration data over short intervals and then resetting, rather than performing long continuous integration. This skipping of extended integration periods prevents error accumulation while still capturing essential motion information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution achieves precision comparable to advanced systems with reduced complexity, low power consumption, and small size, effectively distinguishing between types of locomotion like walking and running, while minimizing errors from gravitational influences.

Implementation Method 1

measuring values of vertical acceleration of the body of the moving person during step cycles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2165203B1Method and device for measuring the progress of a moving person
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 MURATA ELECTRONICS OY
  • EP2165203B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2165203B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2165203B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to measuring devices to be used in physical measuring, and more particularly, to a method and a device for measuring the progress of a moving person. In the solution according to the invention the quantities describing the progress of the moving person can be calculated based on vertical acceleration values of the body measured by means of an acceleration sensor, and on the measured time. The invention aims at providing a solution, better and simpler than prior solutions, for measuring the progress of a moving person, which solution is applicable for use in a multitude of measuring solutions for ways of locomotion of various types.