Mobile electronic three-dimensional compass

• US 20060052132A1
• Filed: 11/05/2002
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IoT Innovations LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sulvanuss Capital LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hjelt, Kari, Inha, Kai, Ryhanen, Tapani, Naukkarinen, Santtu
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/28 Electromagnetic compasses with north seeking magnetic elements and having electric pick-offs G01C17/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/38 Testing, calibrating, or compensating of compasses
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/1654 with electromagnetic compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile electronic system. In order to expand and enhance the usability of the mobile electronic system, it is proposed that it comprises a 3D magnetometer 51 performing magnetic measurements in three dimensions and providing data indicative of the current posture of the mobile electronic system based on these measurements. Further, it is proposed that the mobile electronic system comprises processing means 52, 54 processing the data provided by the 3D magnetometer 51 for enabling a posture related presentation of information via output means 12, 42 of the mobile electronic system. The invention relates equally to components of such a system and to a corresponding method.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic system comprising

output means (12,42) enabling a presentation of information to a user of said mobile electronic system;

a 3D magnetometer (51) performing magnetic measurements in three dimensions and providing data indicative of the current posture of said mobile electronic system based on said measurements; and

processing means (52,54) processing said data provided by said 3D magnetometer (51) for enabling a posture related presentation of information via said output means (12,42), including selecting one of at least two different modes of presentation based on said data provided by said 3D magnetometer.

2. The mobile electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said processing means present compass information (13,14,15,43-46) via said output means (12,42) based on said data provided by said 3D magnetometer.

3. The mobile electronic system according to claim 2, wherein said output means comprise a 3D display (42) on which said compass information (43-46) is presented.

4. The mobile electronic system according to claim 3, wherein said processing means present a floating compass (43-46) on said 3D display (42) based on said data provided by said 3D magnetometer.

5. The mobile electronic system according to claim 1, further comprising additional sensor means (50) providing additional measurement data, wherein said processing means use said additional measurement data in addition for enabling a posture related presentation of information (43-46) via said output means (42).

6. The mobile electronic system according to claim 5, wherein said processing means use said additional measurement data provided by said additional sensor means at least for one of the following:

adjusting a presentation of information via said output means and filtering signals provided by said 3D magnetometer.

7. The mobile electronic system according to claim 5, wherein said sensor means comprise a 2D or 3D linear accelerometer measuring the acceleration of said mobile electronic system in three dimensions.

8. The mobile electronic system according to claim 5, wherein said sensor means comprise a 3D angular accelerometer (50) measuring the angular acceleration of said mobile electronic system in three dimensions.

9. The mobile electronic system according to claim 8, wherein said 3D magnetometer (51) provides first data indicating a current heading of said mobile electronic system, wherein said 3D angular accelerometer (50) provides second data indicating a current heading of said mobile electronic system, and wherein said processing means comprise a complementary filter (52-54) combining said first and said second data indicating a current heading of said mobile electronic system.

10. The mobile electronic system according to claim 1, realizing an inertial navigation system.

11. The mobile electronic system according to claim 1, wherein at least said output means are comprised in a user equipment, wherein at least said 3D magnetometer is comprised in a complementary unit external to said user equipment, wherein said user equipment and said complementary unit comprise respective connection means rigidly and electrically connecting said complementary unit and said user equipment for providing signals which are based on magnetic measurements of said 3D magnetometer to said user equipment.

12. A complementary unit for a mobile electronic system according to claim 11.

13. A user equipment for a mobile electronic system according to claim 11.

14. A user equipment comprising a mobile electronic system according to claim 1.

15. A method for use in a mobile electronic system, said method comprising:

performing magnetic measurements in three dimensions in said mobile electronic system;

determining data indicative of the current posture of said mobile electronic system based on said performed magnetic measurements; and

processing said data for enabling a posture related presentation of information to a user of said mobile electronic system, said processing comprising selecting one of at least two different modes of presentation based on said data indicative of the current posture of said mobile electronic system.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising presenting compass information (13,14,15,43-46) obtained in said processing.

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising presenting said compass information (43-46) on a display (42).

18. The method according to claim 17, comprising presenting a floating compass (43-46) on a 3D display (42).

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising performing additional measurements in said mobile electronic system, wherein said processing is based in addition on measurement data resulting in said additional measurements.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said processing comprises using said additional measurement data at least for one of the following:

adjusting a presentation of information and filtering signals resulting in said performed magnetic measurements.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein performing said additional measurements comprises measuring the acceleration of said mobile electronic system in three dimensions.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein performing said additional measurements comprises measuring the angular acceleration of said mobile electronic system in three dimensions.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said processing comprises combining first data indicating a current heading of said mobile electronic system and second data indicating a current heading of said mobile electronic system by a complementary filtering, which first data is based on said magnetic measurements and which second data is based on said angular acceleration measurement.