Tilt Sensor Signal Filtering for Portable Device Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices often inaccurately detect tilts due to confusion between acceleration from movement and gravity, leading to premature disabling or re-enabling of functions, causing accidental input and inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a tilt sensor to detect changes in device orientation, filters signals to distinguish between tilts, and introduces delays in enabling or disabling input and output devices to prevent premature changes, ensuring accurate function adjustments based on sustained tilts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If tilt sensors are used to detect device orientation, then device function can be adjusted based on tilt, but the sensor cannot distinguish between acceleration from movement and gravity, leading to inaccurate tilt detection
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies a delay period before changing device functions in response to tilt sensor signals. This preliminary waiting period allows transient acceleration signals from movement to subside before the tilt detection is acted upon, effectively filtering out false positives caused by motion artifacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the response time based on the duration of the tilt condition. By requiring the tilt to persist for a predetermined time period before triggering a function change, the system adapts its sensitivity to distinguish between brief movement artifacts and sustained intentional tilting.
2Speed
If tilt sensors immediately respond to detected tilt, then device function changes quickly, but premature disabling or re-enabling of functions occurs causing accidental input
Solution Approach 1:
A delay mechanism is implemented that waits for a predetermined time period after tilt detection before executing function changes. This preliminary action prevents immediate response to transient tilt signals, thereby avoiding accidental input while maintaining eventual responsiveness to sustained tilt conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system cushions against premature function changes by introducing a time delay buffer. This beforehand cushioning protects the system from acting on false tilt signals during movement, ensuring that only sustained, intentional tilts trigger function 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 effectively reduces accidental input and maintains device functionality by accurately determining the device's orientation, minimizing nuisance state changes and user inconvenience.
Implementation Method 1
the force due to the earth's gravity
Data Source
AI summary
In various embodiments, changing the function involves disabling an input device, disabling an output device, changing a display mode of the output device from portrait to landscape, or increasing volume of the output device. In an embodiment, the change of the function is delayed by a time period, and the delay for changing the output device is longer than the delay for changing the input device. If the electronic device is upright, the input device and the output device are enabled. The tilt is sensed by a sensing device, signals from the sensing device are filtered, and a delay is introduced. In this way, premature disabling or enabling of the electronic device is avoided.