Portable Device Sensor Context Re-initialization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Environmental sensors in portable devices face challenges in rapidly changing operating conditions, such as being placed in a pocket, where dynamic compensation may become unstable or too slow, leading to inaccurate measurements.

Innovation Solution

A portable electronic device with integrated environmental sensors uses a compensator and context evaluator to adjust sensor input based on the device's context, employing a re-initialization process that adapts the compensator's input to reflect changing conditions, such as being in a pocket, to provide faster and more accurate readings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If dynamic compensation is used to accelerate sensor response, then response time is improved, but stability deteriorates when operating conditions change rapidly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor response timeVSAvoidcompensation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting context changes (pocket insertion, device orientation changes) before the sensor fully responds, and proactively re-initializing the compensator to reset its internal state. This prevents the compensator from becoming unstable or too slow during rapid operating condition changes, as the system prepares for the upcoming measurement challenge in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring operating conditions through context detection (accelerometer data, proximity sensors, device state) and using this information to control the compensator re-initialization. When context changes are detected, the system feeds this information back to reset the compensator, ensuring it remains stable and accurate throughout the measurement process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the device is used for general purposes with frequent handling changes, then versatility is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to changing operational conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice usage flexibilityVSAvoidenvironmental parameter accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamics by making the compensator configuration adaptive rather than static. The compensator is re-initial化的 based on real-time context detection, allowing it to dynamically adjust to different operating conditions (pocket, hand-held, on table). This enables the system to maintain measurement precision across diverse usage scenarios while preserving general-purpose versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If the compensator waits for steady state to achieve accurate measurements, then measurement precision is improved, but response time worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor measurement accuracyVSAvoidtime to reach steady state
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary re-initialization of the compensator when context changes are detected, before the sensor has fully reached its new steady state. This resets the compensator's internal model to account for the upcoming measurement conditions, allowing accurate measurements to be taken sooner rather than waiting for the complete steady state transition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2846135B1Portable Electronic Device with Environmental Sensor
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 SENSIRION AG
  • EP2846135B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2846135B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2846135B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

There is provided a portable electronic device with one or more environmental sensors (12, 13, 21, 24, 31) for measuring an environmental or ambient parameter, a compensator (25,26,35) for reducing the difference between a sensor output (Ts) and the ambient parameter (T(out), T(in)), the compensator (25,26, 35) being connected to receive a first input based on the sensor output (Ts) and a second input (x(k)) based on an output (x(k+1)) of compensator calculated during a previous time step of calculation, and a context evaluator (36) for replacing the second input (x(k)) by an input selected based on conditions as determined by the context evaluator (36).