Electromagnetic Relative Pose Sensing for Scalable Device Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for determining the pose of electronic devices, particularly in interactive toys, face challenges related to complexity, computational load, memory requirements, responsiveness, power consumption, and scalability, often requiring additional devices like cameras or base stations that complicate user interaction and increase manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A system of cooperating electronic devices with a sensing arrangement that includes transmitters, receivers, and processors for generating and measuring electromagnetic fields, allowing wireless communication and coordinated sensing actions to determine relative poses without direct line of sight, using electromagnetic coils for efficient and modular operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electromagnetic pose detection is used to provide a large working range without line of sight, then measurement capability is improved, but computational load and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the computational tasks by designating specific devices as coordinate system owners and others as users. Each device only needs to perform pose detection relative to its assigned owner, dividing the overall computational burden into manageable portions that scale with the number of devices.
Solution Approach 2:
Devices perform pose detection selectively rather than continuously tracking all other devices. Each device only detects pose relative to its assigned coordinate system owner, performing partial measurements that are sufficient for the application while reducing overall computational requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of interacting electronic devices is increased to improve system versatility, then adaptability is improved, but computational load and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the network into coordinate system owners and users, where each device only maintains pose information relative to its owner. This segmentation prevents the exponential growth of computational resources that would occur if every device tracked every other device directly.
Solution Approach 2:
Each device can serve multiple roles - acting as a coordinate system owner to some devices and a user to others. This multi-functionality allows the system to scale versatily without proportionally increasing computational resources, as the same hardware performs different functions based on its role in various device pairs.
3Speed
If responsive pose estimation is implemented to provide immediate user feedback, then user experience is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic pose detection at controlled intervals rather than continuous real-time tracking. This periodic operation provides sufficiently responsive feedback for interactive applications while allowing the system to enter low-power states between measurements, significantly reducing overall power consumption.
4Measurement precision
If additional devices like cameras or base stations are added to improve pose detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic devices themselves perform the pose detection functions using their own sensors and processors. Each device acts as both the object being measured and the measuring instrument, eliminating the need for separate cameras or base stations and making the system self-sufficient.
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 system provides reliable, responsive, and scalable pose determination with low power consumption and minimal communication overhead, supporting flexible addition and removal of devices, and integration of multiple functionalities in a small form factor, enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
Electromagnetic pose detection may be based on inductive coupling between generator and sensor coils
Data Source
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AI summary
A system comprising a plurality of cooperating electronic devices is disclosed, wherein each of the electronic devices comprises: a sensing component of a spatial sensing arrangement; a transceiver adapted for wireless communication with the other electronic devices; and a processor operationally coupled to the transceiver and to the sensing component. The electronic devices are configured to share one or more requests for pose information of a position and/or orientation of one or more a request for a pose of a first electronic devices relative to one or more other a second electronic devices; and to cooperate to operate the sensing components of one or more of the electronic devices to obtain measurement data and to process the measurement data to determine the requested pose.