MEMS Motion Tracking Tilt Error Compensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motion-based input devices, such as those using accelerometers, fail to accurately account for variations in three-dimensional orientation, leading to tracking errors due to tilt in the plane of motion, which can significantly affect the intended motion of the device.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for correcting acceleration measurements by calculating the angle of tilt and estimating the error caused by gravitational components, allowing for the correction of acceleration values to provide more accurate motion tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If accelerometer-based motion tracking is used, then motion detection capability is improved, but tracking precision deteriorates due to tilt-induced gravitational errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational process that mediates between the raw accelerometer measurements and the final tracking output. By calculating tilt angles from accelerometer data and using these angles to compute gravitational components, the system creates an intermediate representation that allows for error correction. This intermediary step transforms the raw motion data into a form that accounts for device orientation, thereby resolving the contradiction between motion detection capability and tracking precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the measured acceleration data is used to calculate tilt angles, which then feed back into the correction process. The calculated gravitational components based on tilt angles are subtracted from the raw acceleration measurements to produce corrected motion data. This feedback loop continuously adjusts the tracking output based on the device's actual orientation, maintaining precision despite tilts during motion.
2Measurement precision
If tilt correction calculations are performed, then tracking precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or hardware-based tilt sensing mechanisms with computational methods using standard accelerometer data. Instead of adding separate gyroscopes or complex mechanical tilt sensors, the invention uses software algorithms to calculate tilt angles from the existing accelerometer measurements and applies gravitational correction mathematically. This substitution of mechanical complexity with computational simplicity resolves the contradiction between improving precision and avoiding increased 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
This approach reduces tracking errors by compensating for gravitational acceleration components, resulting in more precise motion tracking and reflection of the user's intended motion, even when the input device is tilted.
Implementation Method 1
an orientation change of only about 0.5 degrees from the horizontal plane can contribute up to 10 mG acceleration in a plane of motion
Implementation Method 2
one or more accelerometers for sensing acceleration forces exerted on the input device
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic motion-based input device and method for correcting errors in acceleration due to a deviation from a horizontal plane of motion by correcting for gravitational acceleration components due to the deviation in the plane of motion.