Sensor Calibration for Wearable Devices Using Body-Centered Reference Points

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable electronic devices face inaccuracies in sensor data due to discrepancies between the center of the device and the user's actual motion, leading to errors in motion sensing and calibration.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device calibrates its sensing reference point based on the user's body location, adjusting the sensor data processing to align with the user's center point rather than the device's center, ensuring accurate motion sensing and reduced errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sensor data is collected with reference to the center of the electronic device, then the device structure remains simple and straightforward, but measurement precision deteriorates due to discrepancies between device center and user's actual motion center

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor data accuracyVSAvoidcalibration system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs calibration before normal operation to establish the relationship between the device center and user's motion center. The calibration module pre-determines reference points and transformation parameters, so that during actual use, the processor can directly apply these pre-calculated values to accurately reflect user motion without real-time complex calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a calibration module as an intermediary component that bridges the device coordinate system and the user's body coordinate system. This module contains the reference points, transformation matrices, and calibration data that mediate between the simple device center reference and the complex user-specific motion characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the sensing reference point is fixed at the device center, then the system operation remains simple and consistent, but adaptability deteriorates because it cannot accommodate different user wearing positions and body characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser-specific calibrationVSAvoidcalibration module complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by determining different reference points and transformation parameters based on specific wearing locations. Instead of using a universal device center for all users, the system identifies local reference points (first reference point, second reference point) that are specific to each user's wearing position and body characteristics, allowing customized coordinate transformations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the reference point dynamic rather than fixed. The calibration module can determine different reference points and transformation matrices based on detected wearing conditions, user input, or calibration routines. This allows the system to adapt dynamically to different users, wearing positions, and even different body postures while maintaining a relatively simple overall architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3001148B1Method for acquiring sensor data and electronic device thereof
Publication Date: 2020.09.02 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3001148B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3001148B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3001148B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An example electronic device calibrates a center of a sensor for acquiring sensing data differently according whether the electronic device is worn on a part of a user body or not, and provides data sensed based on a result of the calibrating to the user, so that more exact and/or accurate data and a better sense of use can be provided to the user.