Always-On Barometer Floor Detection With Low-Power Sensor Core
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utilizing pressure sensor readings, such as barometer data, in devices like mobile devices is power-intensive due to the need for continuous sampling, which can lead to high energy consumption and reduced battery life.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dual-core processor architecture where a low-power 'sensor core' continuously monitors pressure data and a more powerful 'application core' performs applications, allowing for efficient energy use by separating the tasks and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous sampling of barometer data is performed using a generalized application processor, then positioning accuracy and floor detection capability are improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the processing system into two segments: a low-power sensor core that continuously samples barometer data and a higher-power application processor that performs complex positioning calculations. This segmentation allows continuous monitoring without keeping the entire application processor active, thereby maintaining positioning accuracy while reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor core acts as an intermediary between the barometer hardware and the application processor. It pre-processes raw barometer readings, filtering and preparing data before passing it to the application processor, which reduces the computational burden on the main processor and enables it to remain in low-power states longer.
2Speed
If the application processor continuously monitors pressure data, then real-time floor change detection is achieved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous processing by the application processor, the system uses periodic action where the sensor core continuously samples data but only triggers the application processor when significant pressure changes indicate potential floor transitions. This periodic activation maintains real-time detection capability while extending battery life by minimizing high-power processor usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor core performs self-service by autonomously monitoring pressure data and making initial assessments of whether floor changes have occurred. It only engages the application processor when its own analysis indicates a need for further processing, thereby maintaining responsive detection while conserving battery power through intelligent task delegation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory processor-readable media of the present disclosure are presented for efficiently executing applications based on pressure sensor data. In some embodiments, a method includes monitoring pressure, and determining a rate of change in the pressure over time exceeds a predetermined rate-of-pressure-change threshold. The method further includes subsequently determining that the rate of change in the pressure over time no longer exceeds the predetermined rate-of-pressure-change threshold. The method further includes determining a change in pressure has exceeded a predetermined pressure-change threshold, and performing floor disambiguation.