Magnetic Sensor Attitude Calculation via Center Position Updating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional techniques for calculating the attitude of a device using a magnetic sensor are not precise, as they rely on detecting magnetic vectors and estimating the center position without ensuring accuracy, leading to potential inaccuracies in attitude calculation.

Innovation Solution

An information processing program and system that repeatedly updates the center position of a spherical body based on detected magnetic vectors, ensuring that the lengths from the center to the end points are averaged, allowing for precise attitude calculation of an input unit with a magnetic sensor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the center position is estimated based on detected magnetic vectors without continuous updating, then the calculation process is simpler and faster, but the accuracy of attitude calculation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattitude calculation accuracyVSAvoidcenter position estimation process
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous updating of the center position estimation using detected magnetic vectors. The center position is repeatedly estimated and updated based on new magnetic vector data, ensuring that the estimation process continues without interruption. This continuous action allows the system to adapt to changing magnetic field conditions and maintain high accuracy in attitude calculation throughout the operation period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the estimated center position is used to calculate attitude, and the calculated attitude information feeds back to refine subsequent center position estimations. This feedback loop ensures that the center position estimation continuously improves based on actual performance data, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the center position is updated frequently based on new magnetic vectors, then the attitude calculation accuracy improves, but the computational time and processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecenter position estimation accuracyVSAvoidcalculation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic updating of the center position based on intervals or triggers rather than continuous real-time updates. The system updates the center position at predetermined intervals or when specific conditions are met, balancing the need for accuracy with computational efficiency. This periodic action reduces processing load while maintaining sufficient accuracy for practical applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary estimation of the center position using initial magnetic vector data before full attitude calculation begins. This preliminary action establishes a baseline center position that can be refined subsequently, allowing the system to start calculations earlier and reduce overall processing time while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the center position is estimated using a limited number of magnetic vectors, then the calculation speed increases, but the reliability of the estimated center position deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalculation speedVSAvoidcenter position estimation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the center position estimation dynamic by adjusting the number and selection of magnetic vectors used in the estimation process. The system can adaptively determine how many vectors to use based on current conditions, switching between using fewer vectors for speed and more vectors for reliability as needed. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between calculation speed and estimation reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters of the center position estimation process, such as the number of magnetic vectors used, the weighting factors, and the estimation algorithm parameters, to optimize the balance between calculation speed and reliability. By adjusting these parameters based on operational requirements, the system can achieve high reliability when needed while maintaining acceptable speed during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach enables more accurate and early calculation of the attitude of the input unit by continuously updating the center position, reducing the risk of inaccurate center position estimation and improving the precision of the attitude calculation.

Implementation Method 1

by detecting the direction of a magnetic field using a magnetic sensor, it is possible to calculate the attitude of a device with respect to the direction of the magnetic field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP2687957B1Information processing program, information processing system and information processing method for calculating an attitude of an input unit
Publication Date: 2018.08.22 NINTENDO CO LTD
  • EP2687957B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2687957B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2687957B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing device calculates an attitude of an input unit having a magnetic sensor. The information processing device repeatedly obtains detected magnetic vectors detected by the magnetic sensor. The information processing device repeatedly estimates a center position of a spherical body having a curved surface which is estimated based on end point positions of the detected magnetic vectors. The attitude of the input unit is calculated based on a direction vector representing a direction from the center position to the end point position of the detected magnetic vector. Each time a detected magnetic vector is obtained, the information processing device updates the center position so that at least some of lengths from the center position to end points of the detected magnetic vectors used for the estimation of the center position are brought closer to an average between the lengths.