Barometric Sensor Calibration Triggering for Reliable Altitude Data

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Consumer-grade barometric pressure sensors in mobile devices are often not well-calibrated and prone to drift, making it difficult to determine when calibration data is reliable for accurate altitude determination.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a client on the user device that triggers calibration data collection and processing based on specific events such as Wi-Fi connectivity, charging, motion, and geolocation, ensuring data collection only when conditions are conducive to reliable calibration, thereby reducing power consumption and processor usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If continuous calibration data collection is performed, then calibration reliability is improved, but power consumption and processor usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalibration reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs calibration data collection periodically based on trigger events (Wi-Fi connections, charging events, significant location changes) rather than continuously. This periodic action maintains calibration reliability by collecting data at meaningful intervals while significantly reducing power consumption and processor usage compared to continuous collection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects trigger events and initiates calibration data collection without user intervention. The mobile device monitors its own state (charging status, Wi-Fi connectivity, location changes) and self-triggers calibration when appropriate conditions are met, eliminating the need for manual user action while maintaining reliable calibration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If calibration data collection is triggered by multiple events, then calibration reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalibration reliabilityVSAvoidtrigger event complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the calibration trigger mechanism into distinct, independent event types (Wi-Fi connect/disconnect, charging events, significant location changes, activity transitions). Each trigger event is monitored and handled separately by the client application, making the overall system more manageable and maintainable despite multiple triggers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A single client application handles multiple different trigger events and coordinates calibration data collection for all of them. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into one component rather than requiring separate systems for each trigger type, thereby improving reliability while managing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12618737B2Triggering the collecting and/or using of calibration data

Publication Date: 2026.05.05 NEXTNAV LLC

AI summary

An alert indicates that a situation conducive to calibrating a barometric pressure sensor of the user device might have occurred. In response, calibration data is collected for calibrating the barometric pressure sensor. The calibration data is used to perform a calibration process and generate a calibration value for the barometric pressure sensor.