Barometric Sensor Altitude Detection Noise Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing altitude sensing devices in mobile and wearable devices are prone to noise errors, particularly from environmental and user-related movements, which affect the accuracy of floor/altitude change detection.
Innovation Solution
A sensing device incorporating a MEMS-based barometric pressure sensor, logic circuitry, and a supervisor module trained to reconstruct context parameters, combined with real-time clock and interface units for smart GPS applications, to reduce noise sensitivity and improve accuracy in altitude change detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a barometric pressure sensor is used for altitude change detection, then location and context-aware information can be provided, but the device becomes sensitive to noise from environmental factors and user movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines barometric pressure sensor data with accelerometer data and pedometer data to detect altitude changes. By merging multiple sensor inputs, the system can distinguish between pressure changes caused by altitude changes versus those caused by noise from user movements or environmental factors, thereby improving measurement precision while reducing noise sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that analyzes patterns from multiple sensors before making altitude change determinations. This intermediary system filters out noise by cross-validating barometric data with motion data from accelerometers and step counters, allowing accurate altitude detection while mitigating the harmful effects of noise.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are combined for robust altitude detection, then noise sensitivity is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing sensors serve multiple functions: the barometric sensor detects both altitude changes and environmental pressure variations, the accelerometer detects both motion patterns and orientation changes, and the pedometer detects both step counts and activity levels. This multi-functionality allows robust altitude detection through sensor fusion without requiring additional dedicated sensors, thereby maintaining reliability while controlling device complexity.
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 enhances the robustness of altitude change detection, reducing mis-classification risks and providing reliable floor/altitude change information for improved user scenario understanding and position tracking in indoor navigation systems.
Implementation Method 1
a barometric pressure sensor for sensing a pressure signal P representative of a height h of the apparatus from a reference level
Data Source
AI summary
A sensing device includes a barometric sensor, e.g., MEMS-based, and a processing unit coupled to the barometric sensor to receive therefrom a barometric signal. The processing unit is configured as a state machine having a plurality of states including an initial state and a final state with a set of transitions from the initial state to the final state. The transitions are triggered by the barometric signal reaching one or more triggering thresholds. The processing unit may include an expert system sensitive to state data and altitude data from the state machine for recognizing the final state being reached.