Acceleration Sensor Vector Processing for Virtual Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing apparatuses face challenges in accurately determining movement direction using acceleration sensors due to cost constraints and accuracy issues, particularly when gravitational acceleration is included in data output, leading to erroneous determinations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an information processing program that utilizes acceleration data from sensors to calculate accumulation, following, and differential vectors, which are then used to accurately designate positions in a virtual world, while also accounting for attenuation and measurable ranges to enhance accuracy and responsiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a vibrating gyroscope (angular velocity sensor) is mounted in the input device to determine movement direction, then the accuracy of movement detection is improved, but the cost of the input device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the expensive vibrating gyroscope with a cheaper acceleration sensor. While acceleration sensors have limitations (including gravitational acceleration in measurements), the patent compensates through signal processing techniques (differentiation to remove gravitational components, integration to obtain position information) rather than relying on expensive hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes a mechanical/physical sensing approach (vibrating gyroscope using Coriolis effect) with an electrical sensing approach (acceleration sensor using piezoelectric or capacitive elements). The distinction is then made through signal processing in the electrical domain rather than mechanical domain
2Ease of manufacture
If an acceleration sensor is used to detect movement, then the cost of the input device is reduced, but the accuracy of movement determination deteriorates due to inclusion of gravitational acceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the gravitational acceleration component from the total acceleration signal through differentiation. By taking the time derivative of the acceleration signal, the constant gravitational component becomes zero, leaving only the dynamic movement components for accurate position calculation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback through continuous signal processing where the acceleration sensor output is continuously differentiated to remove gravitational effects, integrated to obtain position, and this processed information feeds back into the system to accurately determine cursor position and movement direction
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
This approach allows for accurate and cost-effective operation by filtering out gravitational components and adjusting for sensor errors, enabling precise movement tracking and object positioning in virtual environments.
Implementation Method 1
the gravitational acceleration applied to the input device may be included in the value
Data Source
AI summary
Acceleration data is repeatedly acquired, and an acceleration vector having a magnitude and a direction of an acceleration represented by the acceleration data is sequentially accumulated so as to calculate an accumulation vector. A following vector which follows, at a predetermined rate, the accumulation vector calculated by the accumulation vector calculation means is calculated by using the acquired acceleration data, and a difference between the accumulation vector and the following vector is calculated as a differential vector. A position in a virtual world displayed by a display device is designated using a value determined in accordance with the differential vector so as to perform a predetermined processing by using the position.