Electronic device and method for calibrating gyro sensor thereof

• US 10,151,602 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2016
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Chan Hyoung, Suh, Jung Won, Park, Jeong Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers, David A
• Application Number:
  US15/041,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20160252366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/005 initial alignment, calibration or starting-up of inertial devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups

Abstract

An electronic device and method for calibrating a gyro sensor thereof is disclosed. The electronic device includes an acceleration sensor configured to measure an acceleration of the electronic device, a gyro sensor configured to measure an angular velocity of the electronic device, and a sensor control module configured to set a calibration period of the gyro sensor based on a state of the electronic device, to determine a stop state of the electronic device using the acceleration sensor if the set calibration period arrives, and to calibrate the gyro sensor if the electronic device is determined to be at a stop state.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

an acceleration sensor configured to measure an acceleration of the electronic device;

a gyro sensor configured to measure an angular velocity of the electronic device; and

a sensor control module configured to;

set a calibration period of the gyro sensor based on a state of the electronic device,

determine a stop state of the electronic device using the acceleration sensor in response to the set calibration period arrival, and

calibrate the gyro sensor if the electronic device is determined to be at a stop state.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensor control module determines whether the gyro sensor is activated and sets the calibration period of the gyro sensor to a specific time interval depending on whether the gyro sensor is activated or not.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the sensor control module sets the calibration period to a first time interval if the gyro sensor is at an inactive state and sets the calibration period to a second time interval, shorter than the first time interval, if the gyro sensor is at an active state.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery,

wherein the sensor control module determines whether the battery is being charged and sets the calibration period of the gyro sensor to a specific time interval depending on whether the battery is being charged or not.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the sensor control module sets the calibration period to a first time interval if the battery is not being charged and sets the calibration period to a third time interval, shorter than the first time interval, if the battery is being charged.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

an input/output interface connected with an external device to transmit and receive data,

wherein the sensor control module determines whether a specific external device is connected to the input/output interface and sets the calibration period of the gyro sensor to a specific time interval depending on whether the specific external device is connected to the input/output interface or not.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the sensor control module sets the calibration period to a first time interval if the a specific external device is not connected to the input/output interface and sets the calibration period to a fourth time interval, shorter than the first time interval, if the a specific external device is connected to the input/output interface.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a plurality of states, each of which is given a priority, and

wherein the sensor control module sets the calibration period of the gyro sensor based on the priorities of the states.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein if the electronic device is determined to be at a stop state with the gyro sensor inactivated, the sensor control module is configured to activate the gyro sensor and to calibrate the gyro sensor.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensor control module sets the calibration period to a fifth time interval, longer than a current calibration period, if calibration of the gyro sensor is completed and sets the calibration period to a sixth time interval, shorter than the fifth time interval, if a specific time elapses without performing the calibration of the gyro sensor.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor; and

a memory electrically connected with the processor,

wherein the sensor control module is configured to store a calibration result of the gyro sensor in the memory and to transmit the stored calibration result to the sensor control module if the electronic device is rebooted.

12. A method for calibrating a gyro sensor in an electronic device, the method comprising:

setting a calibration period of the gyro sensor based on a state of the electronic device;

determining a stop state of the electronic device using an acceleration sensor in response to the set calibration period arrival; and

calibrating the gyro sensor if the electronic device is determined to be at a stop state.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the setting of the calibration period comprises:

determining whether the gyro sensor is activated; and

setting the calibration period of the gyro sensor to a specific time interval depending on whether the gyro sensor is activated or not.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the setting of the calibration period comprises:

setting the calibration period to a first time interval if the gyro sensor is at an inactive state; and

setting the calibration period to a second time interval, shorter than the first time interval, if the gyro sensor is at an active state.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the setting of the calibration period comprises:

determining whether a battery is being charged; and

setting the calibration period of the gyro sensor to a specific time interval depending on whether the battery is being charged or not.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the setting of the calibration period comprises:

setting the calibration period to a first time interval if the battery is not being charged; and

setting the calibration period to a third time interval, shorter than the first time interval, if the battery is being charged.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the setting of the calibration period comprises:

determining whether a specific external device is connected to an input/output interface; and

setting the calibration period of the gyro sensor to a specific time interval depending on whether the specific external device is connected to the input/output interface or not.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the setting of the calibration period comprises:

setting the calibration period to a first time interval if the specific external device is not connected to the input/output interface; and

setting the calibration period to a fourth time interval, shorter than the first time interval, if the a specific external device is connected to an input/output interface.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic device comprises a plurality of states, each of which is given a priority, and

wherein the setting of the calibration period comprises:

setting the calibration period of the gyro sensor based on the priorities of the states, if at least a part of the plurality of states is duplicated.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

activating the gyro sensor if the electronic device is determined to be at a stop state with the gyro sensor inactivated.