Adjustable Position Accelerometer Calibration for Vehicle Direction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle direction determination systems using accelerometers face errors due to non-coaxial mounting configurations, leading to inaccurate acceleration measurements.

Innovation Solution

A method for determining vehicle direction using adjustable position accelerometers, which collects and processes acceleration values from X(a), Y(a), and Z(a) components to calculate a direction-tuned vector, ensuring reliable acceleration data by averaging sample vectors and applying thresholds to identify the forward direction, even when the accelerometer axes are not coaxial with the vehicle axes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the accelerometer is arbitrarily mounted or made movable in the vehicle, then the ease of installation and adaptability are improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to non-coaxial mounting causing errors in acceleration values

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of installationVSAvoidacceleration measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calibration by collecting acceleration data during vehicle maneuvers (acceleration, deceleration, turning) to establish the relationship between accelerometer axes and vehicle axes before normal operation. This preliminary action stores calibration parameters that are later used to correct measurements, allowing flexible mounting while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter representation by transforming acceleration values from the accelerometer's arbitrary coordinate system to the vehicle's reference coordinate system using calibration-derived transformation parameters. This parameter transformation resolves the mismatch caused by non-coaxial mounting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the accelerometer is arbitrarily mounted or made movable in the vehicle, then the adaptability is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to changing relationship between accelerometer axes and vehicle axes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting flexibilityVSAvoidacceleration measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from multiple acceleration samples and statistical analysis (standard deviation calculations) to continuously refine the calibration parameters and detect when recalibration is needed. This feedback mechanism maintains precision despite changes in accelerometer positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If multiple samples are collected and averaged to calculate the direction-tuned vector, then the measurement precision is improved, but the loss of time increases due to the collection period requirement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirection determination precisionVSAvoidcalibration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs calibration using normal vehicle operation data without requiring separate calibration procedures or additional hardware. The accelerometer uses the vehicle's regular acceleration, deceleration, and turning maneuvers to automatically determine its orientation relative to the vehicle, making the calibration process self-service and time-efficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system collects acceleration samples periodically during vehicle operation and uses statistical methods to identify valid calibration samples based on threshold criteria. This periodic sampling during normal operation allows calibration to occur naturally without dedicated calibration time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9547022B2Method and system for vehicle direction determination using adjustable position accelerometer

Publication Date: 2017.01.17 TRAPEZE SOFTWARE

AI summary

Systems and methods for determining, for a vehicle using an adjustable position accelerometer, at least one direction tuned direction vector indicating a direction for the vehicle, the direction tuned direction vector made up of an X(a) axis component, a Y(a) axis component, and a Z(a) axis component, the adjustable position accelerometer providing acceleration values, the values made up of an X(a) axis component, a Y(a) axis component, and a Z(a) axis component, where the accelerometer is arbitrarily mounted, and optionally movable, in the vehicle such that each of the X(a) axis component, a Y(a) axis component, and a Z(a) axis component may be partially in X,Y, and Z directions of the vehicle.