Aligning Mobile Device Coordinate System to Vehicle Heading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile device sensors, such as accelerometers and gyroscopes, are often oriented under the device's local coordinate system, which may not align with the vehicle's coordinate system, leading to inaccurate detection of road conditions like potholes when the device is not properly oriented relative to the vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A software methodology that uses gyroscope and accelerometer readings to determine the vehicle's heading and re-orient the mobile device's coordinate system to align with the vehicle's coordinate system, generating a transformation/rotation matrix for accurate sensor readings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the mobile device is used with sensors oriented under the device's local coordinate system, then the device structure remains simple, but the measurement precision of road conditions deteriorates when the device is not aligned with the vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoidroad condition detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a coordinate transformation matrix as an intermediary mathematical tool that bridges the device's local coordinate system and the vehicle's coordinate system. This matrix acts as a mediator to convert sensor readings from the device's orientation to the vehicle's orientation, enabling accurate road condition detection without physically altering the device structure or sensor mounting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of coordinate system orientation by dynamically calculating and applying transformation matrices that adjust the sensor data coordinates. Instead of physically reorienting the sensors or device, the system transforms the measurement parameters through mathematical operations to align with the vehicle's coordinate system, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the mobile device coordinate system is re-oriented to align with the vehicle coordinate system, then the measurement precision of road conditions improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional software processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad condition detection accuracyVSAvoidsoftware processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces any potential mechanical reorientation system with a software-based mathematical transformation system. Instead of physically adjusting the device or sensors to align with the vehicle coordinates, the system uses computational methods to transform the coordinate systems through matrix operations, achieving the same result with software rather than mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The coordinate transformation matrix serves multiple functions: it aligns the device coordinate system with the vehicle coordinate system, enables accurate road condition detection, and can be applied to various sensor types (accelerometers, gyroscopes). This universal transformation approach handles different measurement scenarios through a single mathematical framework, reducing overall system complexity despite the added software processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enhances the accuracy of pothole detection by aligning the mobile device's coordinate system with the vehicle's, improving the reliability of alerts sent to a centralized server, even when the device is not aligned with the vehicle's orientation.

Implementation Method 1

uses gyroscope and accelerometer readings to determine the vehicle's heading

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGyroscope: Gyroscope

Implementation Method 2

uses gyroscope and accelerometer readings to determine the vehicle's heading

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAccelerometer: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS10168156B2Orient a mobile device coordinate system to a vehicular coordinate system

Publication Date: 2019.01.01 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

An approach is provided by a mobile information handling system that includes a processor, and a gyroscope, a gravity sensor, and a memory each accessible by the processor. The approach identifies, at the mobile device that is moving with a vehicle, when a rotation of the gyroscope is at a near-zero moment, and an acceleration, wherein the acceleration is detected as being on a plane that is near-perpendicular with a gravity sensed by the gravity sensor. Then the detection is made, the approach determines a direction of the vehicle as being parallel to a direction of the detected acceleration. The approach then aligns a coordinate system used in the mobile device based on the determined direction of the vehicle.