Method and apparatus for calibrating an accelerometer-based navigation system
First Claim
1. A method for calibrating a navigation device, wherein the navigation device includes a plurality of sensors, the method comprising:
- receiving sensor signals from the plurality of sensors as the navigation device traverses a plane of source signals, wherein the sensors receive the source signals and generate the sensor signals in response to the plurality of sensors traversing the plane of source signals; and
determining, based on the sensor signals, location information and orientation information for the sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors are three or more sensors.
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Abstract
A navigation device includes accelerometers for measuring movement. Given a beginning location and orientation, the device determines current location and orientation based on the information from the accelerometers. A user enters a list of items, such as a shopping list, into the device and the device determines a path to the items. The device then generates and presents directions for navigation. The path may be calculated to avoid hazards; such as shelves being stocked, congested checkout lines, and spilled items. The item list may be loaded into the device, using the bar code reader, optical character recognition, or through a store computer or the Internet. Planes of infrared beams are arranged within the environment such that a navigation device is likely to or must pass through a plane. A path may be computed to ensure that the navigation device passes through an IR plane. The navigation device has a plurality of IR sensors arranged in a tetrahedron. As the device passes through an IR plane, the device receives signals from the sensors. Given the order and timing of the signals and a location of the IR plane, the device performs a calibration. The device is calibrated without requiring the user to place the device in a cradle.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for calibrating a navigation device, wherein the navigation device includes a plurality of sensors, the method comprising:
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receiving sensor signals from the plurality of sensors as the navigation device traverses a plane of source signals, wherein the sensors receive the source signals and generate the sensor signals in response to the plurality of sensors traversing the plane of source signals; and
determining, based on the sensor signals, location information and orientation information for the sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors are three or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 22)
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11. A navigation device comprising:
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a plurality of sensors that provide sensor signals as the navigation device traverses a plane of source signals, wherein the sensors receive the source signals and generate the sensor signals in response to the plurality of sensors traversing the plane of source signals; and
a processor, coupled to the plurality of sensors, wherein the processor determines, based on the sensor signals, location information and orientation information for the sensors, to calibrate the navigation device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23)
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20. A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for calibrating a navigation device, wherein the navigation device includes a plurality of sensors, the computer program product comprising:
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instructions for receiving sensor signals from the plurality of sensors as the navigation device traverses a plane of source signals, wherein the sensors receive the source signals and generate the sensor signals in response to the plurality of sensors traversing the plane of source signals; and
instructions for determining, based on the sensor signals, location information and orientation information for the sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors are three or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (21, 24)
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Specification