Apparatus and methods for ultrasonic sensor navigation
First Claim
1. A method for navigating with a device comprising:
- processing a sequence of samples from an ultrasonic sensor of the device, wherein the processing comprises performing an ultrasonic flow analysis, wherein performing the ultrasonic flow analysis comprises determining change in relative location to an external object;
determining a navigational constraint for the device based at least in part on the processed sequence of samples, the determined navigational constraint consisting of at least one of;
a) a device angle;
b) a misalignment angle of the device with respect to a direction of motion;
c) relative heading changes obtained with respect to the external object;
d) a speed of the device, wherein processing the sequence of samples from the ultrasonic sensor further comprises determining a distance to the external object by ranging, wherein ranging is an ultrasonic ranging that measures the distance to the external object, and wherein the speed of the device is estimated based at least in part on the ultrasonic flow analysis and the determined distance to the external object; and
e) a context for the device, wherein the context is determined as consisting of at least one of;
i) being static;
ii) fidgeting motion; and
iii) device usage; and
providing a navigation solution for the device based at least in part on the determined navigational constraint.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and methods are disclosed for determining a navigational constraint for a portable device using an ultrasonic sensor. The navigational constraint may be used to supplement other navigational solutions or may be used independently. The ultrasonic sensor may provide a plurality of samples to be processed to determine the constraint. Processing the ultrasonic samples may include performing a flow analysis regarding detected external objects. Determining the constraint may include any or all of determining a context for usage, distinguishing usage modes, estimating relative heading changes, and estimating misalignment angle between device and platform needed to determine direction of motion of the platform and determining a speed of the portable device from the samples.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method for navigating with a device comprising:
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processing a sequence of samples from an ultrasonic sensor of the device, wherein the processing comprises performing an ultrasonic flow analysis, wherein performing the ultrasonic flow analysis comprises determining change in relative location to an external object; determining a navigational constraint for the device based at least in part on the processed sequence of samples, the determined navigational constraint consisting of at least one of; a) a device angle; b) a misalignment angle of the device with respect to a direction of motion; c) relative heading changes obtained with respect to the external object; d) a speed of the device, wherein processing the sequence of samples from the ultrasonic sensor further comprises determining a distance to the external object by ranging, wherein ranging is an ultrasonic ranging that measures the distance to the external object, and wherein the speed of the device is estimated based at least in part on the ultrasonic flow analysis and the determined distance to the external object; and e) a context for the device, wherein the context is determined as consisting of at least one of; i) being static; ii) fidgeting motion; and iii) device usage; and providing a navigation solution for the device based at least in part on the determined navigational constraint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A device comprising:
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an ultrasonic sensor; and an ultrasonic navigation module implemented at least in part with a processor, wherein the ultrasonic navigation module is configured to; process a sequence of samples from the ultrasonic sensor of the device, wherein the processing comprises performing an ultrasonic flow analysis and wherein performing the ultrasonic flow analysis comprises determining change in relative location to an external object; determine a navigational constraint for the device based at least in part on the processed sequence of samples, the determined navigational constraint consisting of at least one of; a) a device angle; b) a misalignment angle of the device with respect to a direction of motion; c) relative heading changes obtained with respect to the external object; d) a speed of the device, wherein processing the sequence of samples from the ultrasonic sensor further comprises determining a distance to the external object by ranging, wherein ranging is an ultrasonic ranging that measures the distance to the external object, and wherein the speed of the device is estimated based at least in part on the ultrasonic flow analysis and the determined distance to the external object; and e) a context for the device, wherein the context is determined as consisting of at least one of; i) being static; ii) fidgeting motion; and iii) device usage; and provide a navigation solution for the device based at least in part on the determined navigational constraint. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification