Mobile Device Movement Detection Using Acceleration and Pressure Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for determining movement in mobile devices, such as smartphones, are not sufficiently accurate and do not effectively differentiate between various types of movement, like walking, using vehicles, or vertical transportation.

Innovation Solution

A mobile device equipped with a control program that utilizes a combination of acceleration and atmospheric pressure sensors to determine the moving state and type of movement, where changes in atmospheric pressure are evaluated against threshold values to distinguish between different types of movement, including walking, powered vehicles, and vertical transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If only acceleration sensor is used to determine movement, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision of movement type is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement type detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor combination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines acceleration sensor and atmospheric pressure sensor to detect movement. The controller integrates data from both sensors to determine movement type, merging multiple detection mechanisms to achieve higher precision in distinguishing between walking, vehicle transport, and vertical transport scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The atmospheric pressure sensor serves multiple functions: it detects vertical movement (elevator, escalator, stairs) and contributes to overall movement type classification. This multi-functional approach enables a single sensor to address multiple detection scenarios, improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If acceleration sensor alone is used, then the device structure is simple, but the reliability of movement detection is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement detection reliabilityVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges acceleration-based detection with atmospheric pressure-based detection to create a more reliable movement detection system. By cross-validating data from both sensors, the system achieves higher reliability in determining whether the device is being carried during walking, vehicle transport, or vertical movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller continuously processes data from both sensors and adjusts movement type determination based on combined feedback. This feedback mechanism allows the system to reliably distinguish between different movement types by analyzing patterns from multiple sources, thereby improving overall detection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If multiple sensors are combined to improve detection accuracy, then the measurement precision increases, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement type classification accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The controller automatically processes and integrates data from both sensors without requiring user intervention. The system self-manages the complex processing of combined sensor data, performing automatic movement type classification based on pre-programmed algorithms that analyze acceleration and pressure patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-establishes detection algorithms and threshold values for different movement types before actual use. This preliminary configuration allows the controller to quickly and accurately classify movement types during operation without requiring complex real-time decision-making, thereby maintaining ease of operation despite using multiple sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Improves the accuracy of movement detection by considering both acceleration and atmospheric pressure changes, enabling the device to differentiate between various types of movement with higher precision, even in cases of small vibrations, and enhances the processing of user activities like boarding vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

a detection result of an acceleration sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcceleration detection: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

a detection result of an atmospheric pressure sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAtmospheric pressure detection: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3147628B1Mobile device, control method, and non-transitory storage medium
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 KYOCERA CORP
  • EP3147628B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3147628B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3147628B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile device (1) comprises an atmospheric pressure sensor (19) configured to acquire a value of atmospheric pressure acting on the mobile device (1), an acceleration sensor (15) configured to acquire a value of acceleration acting on the mobile device (1), and at least one controller (10) configured to determine a moving state of the mobile device (1) based on the value of atmospheric pressure and the value of acceleration, wherein the at least one controller (10) is configured to determine the moving state of the mobile device (1) based on the value of atmospheric pressure when the value of atmospheric pressure changed per an unit interval is equal to or greater than a threshold value, under the determination result which has been acquired based on the value of acceleration and indicates that the mobile device (1) is not in movement.