Barometric Pressure Sensor Orientation Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for determining a device's orientation are prone to errors due to environmental noise and complexity, with magnetic compasses being interfered by ferromagnetic materials and electromagnetic waves, accelerometers being error-prone due to vehicle acceleration, and gyroscopes suffering from integration drift.
Innovation Solution
The use of two or three barometric pressure sensors mounted in a non-collinear manner to determine the altitude differences and calculate Euler angles, allowing the processor to determine the device's orientation by comparing altitude differences to threshold values or calculating Euler angles based on these differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a magnetic compass is used to determine orientation, then the device can obtain directional information, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to interference from ferromagnetic materials and electromagnetic waves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the magnetic compass from the orientation determination system entirely, extracting only the necessary function (orientation measurement) and implementing it through alternative sensors (accelerometer and gyroscope) that are not susceptible to magnetic interference
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the magnetic field-based compass system with a mechanical/inertial-based system using accelerometers and gyroscopes, substituting one physical principle for another that is not affected by the same environmental interference
2Measurement precision
If an accelerometer is used to determine orientation, then the device can obtain tilt information, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to forces exerted during acceleration or deceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the accelerometer and gyroscope into a complementary sensor system where the gyroscope's angular velocity measurements are used to correct the accelerometer's orientation calculations, compensating for the accelerometer's sensitivity to linear acceleration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously using gyroscope measurements to correct and update the orientation state derived from accelerometer data, creating a closed-loop system that compensates for accelerometer errors during dynamic motion
3Productivity
If a gyroscope is used to continuously compute updated orientation, then the device can maintain constant orientation tracking, but the reliability deteriorates due to integration drift that accumulates errors over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses accelerometer measurements as feedback to periodically correct the gyroscope's integrated orientation values, preventing error accumulation by resetting the integration baseline when reliable accelerometer data is available
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic correction where the system alternates between using gyroscope integration for continuous tracking and accelerometer-based orientation determination for error correction, creating a rhythmic pattern of measurement and recalibration
4Measurement precision
If multiple sensors (compass, accelerometer, gyroscope) are used together to determine orientation, then the measurement precision may improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the magnetic compass from the sensor system, reducing complexity by eliminating one sensor type while maintaining orientation determination capability through the remaining accelerometer and gyroscope combination
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 method provides a precise and accurate determination of device orientation, reducing errors and noise, and is applicable to various environments, including vehicles and mobile devices.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure sensors may be barometric pressure sensors
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed here are methods and systems that relate to determining an orientation of an object. The orientation of the object may be represented by an Euler angle which identifies a rotation of the object from a reference frame. The methods and systems may rely on readings collected from two or more barometric pressure sensors to estimate an altitude difference between the pressure sensors. The methods and systems may calculate the Euler angle based on the altitude difference.