Sensor output configuration

• US 10,458,812 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invensense Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Invensense Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Inventors: Keal, William Kerry, Kelliher, Timothy Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rastovski, Catherine T.
• Application Number:
  US14/929,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20170122771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/005 initial alignment, calibration or starting-up of inertial devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

In a method of sensor output configuration, sensor output specifications for a plurality of sensor clients of a sensor are acquired. A first sensor output specification for a first of the sensor clients defines a first value for a sensor parameter. A second sensor output specification for a second of the sensor clients defines a second value for the sensor parameter. The first value and the second value are different. A sensor processing unit, which includes the sensor, is configured based on the sensor output specifications to: simultaneously provide an output of the sensor to the sensor clients according to the first value while a first operational condition is met; and simultaneously provide the output of the sensor to the sensor clients according to the second value while a second operational condition is met, wherein the first operational condition and the second operational condition are different.

Claims

1. A method of sensor output configuration comprising:

acquiring, for a sensor, sensor output specifications for a plurality of sensor clients, wherein a first sensor output specification for a first of said plurality of sensor clients defines a first value for a sensor parameter, wherein a second sensor output specification for a second of said plurality of sensor clients defines a second value for said sensor parameter, and wherein said first value and said second value are different;

based on said sensor output specifications for said plurality of sensor clients, configuring a sensor processing unit which includes said sensor to;

simultaneously provide an output of said sensor to said plurality of sensor clients according to said first value while a first operational condition is met; and

cease providing said output of said sensor according to said first value and switch to simultaneously providing said output of said sensor to said plurality of sensor clients according to said second value while a second operational condition is met, wherein said first operational condition and said second operational condition are different, and wherein as part of said switch said sensor processor unit adjusts sensor operation by changing said sensor parameter from said first value to said second value.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said acquiring, for a sensor, sensor output specifications for a plurality of sensor clients, wherein a first sensor output specification for a first of said plurality of sensor clients defines a first value for a sensor parameter, wherein a second sensor output specification for a second of said plurality of sensor clients defines a second value for said sensor parameter, and wherein said first value and said second value are different further comprises:

acquiring, along with said first value, any information about a deviation and condition for such deviation allowed from said first value; and

acquiring, along with said second value, any information about a deviation and condition for such deviation allowed from said second value.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

utilizing said information about said deviation allowed from said first value to set said first operational condition; and

utilizing said information about said deviation allowed from said second value to set said second operational condition.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said acquiring, for a sensor, sensor output specifications for a plurality of sensor clients, wherein a first sensor output specification for a first of said plurality of sensor clients defines a first value for a sensor parameter, wherein a second sensor output specification for a second of said plurality of sensor clients defines a second value for said sensor parameter, and wherein said first value and said second value are different comprises:

acquiring said first sensor output specification, wherein said first sensor output specification defines first values which include said first value for a set of sensor parameters, and wherein said set of sensor parameters comprises at least one of a full scale range parameter and an output data rate parameter; and

acquiring said second sensor output specification, wherein said second sensor output specification defines second values which include said second value for said set of sensor parameters.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

configuring said sensor processing unit which includes said sensor to utilize filtering to simultaneously provide said output of said sensor to said plurality of sensor clients according to the sensor output specifications.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said configuring a sensor processing unit which includes said sensor to simultaneously provide an output of said sensor to said plurality of sensor clients according to said first value while a first operational condition is met comprises:

configuring said sensor processing unit which includes said sensor to simultaneously provide said output of said sensor to said plurality of sensor clients according to said first value while said first operational condition is met, wherein said first operational condition is a first motion condition.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said first motion condition is at least one of:

a linear velocity condition, a linear acceleration condition, an angular velocity condition, and an angular acceleration condition.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said configuring a sensor processing unit which includes said sensor to simultaneously provide said output of said sensor to said plurality of sensor clients according to said second value while a second operational condition is met comprises:

configuring said sensor processing unit which includes said sensor to simultaneously provide said output of said sensor to said plurality of sensor clients according to said second value while said second operational condition is met, wherein said second operational condition is a second motion condition, and wherein said first motion condition is different from said second motion condition.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

configuring said sensor processing unit which includes said sensor to delay said switch from configuring said output according to said first value to configuring said output according to said second value until after completion of an ongoing operation associated with said first of said plurality of sensor clients.

10. A sensor processing unit comprising:

a sensor; and

a sensor processor configured to;

acquire, for said sensor, sensor output specifications for a plurality of sensor clients, wherein a first sensor output specification for a first of said plurality of sensor clients defines a first value for a sensor parameter, wherein a second sensor output specification for a second of said plurality of sensor clients defines a second value for said sensor parameter, and

wherein said first value and said second value are different;

based on said sensor output specifications for said plurality of sensor clients,

simultaneously provide an output of said sensor to said plurality of sensor clients according to said first value while a first operational condition is met; and

cease providing said output of said sensor according to said first value and switch to simultaneously providing said output of said sensor to said plurality of sensor clients according to said second value while a second operational condition is met, wherein said first operational condition and said second operational condition are different, and wherein as part of said switch said sensor processor unit adjusts sensor operation by changing said sensor parameter from said first value to said second value.

11. The sensor processing unit of claim 10, wherein said sensor processor is further configured to:

utilize filtering to simultaneously provide said output of said sensor at a plurality of output data rates.

12. The sensor processing unit of claim 10, wherein said sensor is:

a gyroscope, and wherein said first operational condition comprises a first angular motion condition, and wherein said second operational condition comprises a second angular motion condition that is different from said first angular motion condition.

13. The sensor processing unit of claim 12, wherein said sensor processor is further configured to:

delay said switch from providing said output according to said first value to providing said output according to said second value until after completion of an ongoing image capture operation associated with said first of said plurality of sensor clients.

14. The sensor processing unit of claim 10, wherein said sensor is:

an accelerometer, and wherein said first operational condition comprises a first linear motion condition, and said second operational condition comprises a second linear motion condition that is different from said first linear motion condition.

15. A mobile electronic device comprising:

an image stabilization system configured to stabilize an image captured by said mobile electronic device;

a user experience system which reacts to motion of said mobile electronic device; and

a sensor processing unit configured to;

acquire, for a sensor of said sensor processing unit, sensor output specifications for a plurality of sensor clients, wherein a first sensor output specification for a first of said plurality of sensor clients defines a first value for a sensor parameter, wherein a second sensor output specification for a second of said plurality of sensor clients defines a second value for said sensor parameter, and wherein said first value and said second value are different, wherein said plurality of sensor clients comprises said image stabilization system and said user experience system; and

based on said sensor output specifications for said plurality of sensor clients,

simultaneously provide an output of said sensor to said plurality of sensor clients according to said first value while a first operational condition is met; and

cease providing said output of said sensor according to said first value and switch to simultaneously providing said output of said sensor to said plurality of sensor clients according to said second value while a second operational condition is met, wherein said first operational condition and said second operational condition are different, and wherein as part of said switch said sensor processor unit adjusts sensor operation by changing said sensor parameter from said first value to said second value.

16. The mobile electronic device of claim 15, wherein said sensor processing unit is further configured to:

utilize filtering to simultaneously provide said output of said sensor at a plurality of output data rates.

17. The mobile electronic device of claim 15, wherein said sensor is:

a gyroscope, and wherein said first operational condition comprises a first angular motion condition, and wherein said second operational condition comprises a second angular motion condition that is different from said first angular motion condition.

18. The mobile electronic device of claim 15, wherein said sensor processing unit is further configured to:

delay said switch from providing said output according to said first value to providing said output according to said second value until after completion of an ongoing image capture operation associated with said image stabilization system.

19. The mobile electronic device of claim 15, wherein said sensor is

an accelerometer, and wherein said first operational condition comprises a first linear motion condition, and said second operational condition comprises a second linear motion condition that is different from said first linear motion condition.

20. The mobile electronic device of claim 15, wherein said sensor processing unit is configured to acquire said sensor output specifications via an operating system of said mobile electronic device.

21. The mobile electronic device of claim 15, wherein said sensor processing unit is configured to acquire said first sensor output specification via said image stabilization system and said second sensor output specification via an operating system of said mobile electronic device.

22. The mobile electronic device of claim 15, wherein said sensor processing unit is configured to acquire said first sensor output specification from a memory of sensor processing unit in response to an interrupt which indicates said image stabilization system is active.