Portable electronic apparatus and geomagnetism sensor calibration method

• US 8,266,808 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Ito, Kazuto, Ueno, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, R. A.
• Application Number:
  US12/295,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20090320305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,000 Days
• Field of Search: 333/03, 333/56, 702/92, 701/224, 701/530
• US Class Current: 33/356
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 25/00 Nanomagnetism, e.g. magnetoimpedance, anisotropic magnetoresistance, giant magnetoresistance or tunneling magnetoresistance
• 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: G01R 33/02 Measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux G01R33/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/093 using multilayer structures, e.g. giant magnetoresistance sensors thin magnetic films H01F10/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/005 Calibrating; Standards or reference devices, e.g. voltage or resistance standards, "golden" references G01R33/0035, G01R35/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A portable electronic apparatus calibrates a geomagnetism sensor at a suitable timing. When a key is operated in a power-saving mode, the power-saving mode ends, and a detection value of a geomagnetism sensor is calibrated. The calibration is executed in a state where a user tries to view a screen of a display part, therefore the calibration is executed in a state where an angle of housings with respect to the horizontal plane is suitable, and a calculation precision of a bearing is improved. By executing calibration during activation of the navigation application useless calibration is not carried out, and an increase of power consumed is suppressed.

Claims

1. A portable electronic apparatus provided with a geomagnetism sensor detecting geomagnetism, a display part, an operation part, and a control part configured to calculate a bearing based on a detection value of the geomagnetism sensor and to display information of the bearing on the display part, wherein

the control part can execute power-saving processing shifting to a power-saving mode reducing power consumed by the display part when no operation is performed by the operation part for a predetermined time or more, and

the control part executes calibration-related processing concerning calibration of the geomagnetism sensor after ending the power-saving mode in accordance with an operation of the operation part in the power-saving mode.

2. A portable electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control part executes the calibration-related processing after a predetermined waiting time passes after operation of the operation part occurs in the power-saving mode.

3. A portable electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the control part executes the calibration-related processing after a predetermined waiting time further passes from the next operation when the next operation of the operation part occurs before the elapse of the predetermined waiting time.

4. A portable electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control part executes processing in response to an operation of the operation part before executing the calibration-related processing when the operation of the operation part occurs in the power-saving mode.

5. A portable electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the apparatus is provided with housings composed to be able to cover a screen of the display part, and

the control part does not execute the calibration-related processing when the housings are in a state where the screen of the display part is covered.

6. A portable electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control part executes the calibration-related processing when the power-saving mode ends in response to an operation of the operation part after a shift to the power-saving mode occurs in a state where processing concerning calculation and display of the bearing is executed.

7. A portable electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control part executes calibration-related processing when the power-saving mode ends by operation, of the operation part, of an operation different from an operation controlling progress of processing concerning the calculation and display of the bearing after a shift to the power-saving mode occurs in a state where the processing concerning the calculation and display of the bearing is executed.

8. A portable electronic apparatus provided with a geomagnetism sensor detecting geomagnetism, a display part, a housing composed so that the screen of the display part can be covered, an operation part, and a control part configured to calculate a bearing based on a detection value of the geomagnetism sensor and to display information of the bearing on the display part, wherein

the control part can execute power-saving processing shifting to a power-saving mode reducing power consumed by the display part when the screen of the display part is covered with the housing, and

the control part executes calibration-related processing concerning calibration of the geomagnetism sensor, after ending the power-saving mode in accordance with cancellation of the state where the screen of the display part is covered with the housing.

9. A portable electronic apparatus provided with a geomagnetism sensor detecting geomagnetism, a display part, an operation part, a housing composed so that at least a part of the operation part can be covered, and a control part configured to calculate a bearing based on a detection value of the geomagnetism sensor and to display information of the bearing on the display part, wherein

the control part can execute power-saving processing shifting to a power-saving mode reducing power consumed by the display part when at least a part of the operation part is covered with the housing, and

the control part executes calibration-related processing concerning calibration of the geomagnetism sensor, after ending the power-saving mode in accordance with cancellation of the state where at least a part of the operation part is covered with the housing.

10. A portable electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the control part executes the calibration-related processing when the covered operation part is operated after the covered state of at least a part of the operation part is cancelled.

11. A portable electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the control part executes the calibration-related processing when the covered operation part is operated after the cancellation of the covered state of at least a part of the operation part, and the operation is different from an operation controlling progress of the processing.

12. A method of calibration of a geomagnetism sensor in a portable electronic apparatus provided with a geomagnetism sensor detecting geomagnetism, a display part, and an operation part, this method of calibration of a geomagnetism sensor executing

a bearing identifying step calculating a bearing based on a detection value of the geomagnetism sensor and displaying information of the bearing on the display part,

a power-saving step shifting to a power-saving mode reducing the power consumed by the display part when an operation is not performed for a predetermined time or more by the operation part, and

a calibration step calibrating the geomagnetism sensor after ending the power-saving mode in accordance with an operation of the operation part in the power-saving mode.