Power mode control for sensors
First Claim
1. A system to provide accurate positioning of a device while conserving power, comprising:
- a receiver configured to receive a positioning signal that is selectively used to determine a position of the device;
an auxiliary sensor, including a gyro configured to provide a heading of the device, the auxiliary sensor configured to provide data to supplement the positioning signal so that the position of the device is determined more accurately than with using solely the positioning signal;
a filter coupled to the gyro, the filter configured to determine the position of the device and to selectively exclude the positioning signal in determining the position of the device based on the heading provided by the gyro; and
an auxiliary controller coupled to the auxiliary sensor and configured to;
generate a first signal to power-up the auxiliary sensor as the device is proximate to entering an area that reduces accuracy of the positioning signal;
calibrate the auxiliary sensor prior to the device entering the area; and
generate a second signal to power-down the auxiliary sensor as the device is proximate to exiting the area,wherein the auxiliary controller is configured to determine that the device is proximate to entering the area when a speed of the device is decreased below a threshold speed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system, and computer program product to provide accurate positioning of a vehicle while conserving power is provided. The system includes a receiver configured to receive a positioning signal that determines a position of the vehicle and an auxiliary sensor configured to provide data to supplement the positioning signal so as to provide the position of the vehicle more accurately than with using solely the positioning signal. The system also includes an auxiliary controller coupled to the auxiliary sensor. The auxiliary controller is configured to generate a first signal to power-up the auxiliary sensor if the vehicle is proximate to entering an area that reduces accuracy of the positioning signal, and calibrate the auxiliary sensor prior to the vehicle entering the area; and generate a second signal to power-down the auxiliary sensor if the vehicle is proximate to exiting the area.
44 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system to provide accurate positioning of a device while conserving power, comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive a positioning signal that is selectively used to determine a position of the device; an auxiliary sensor, including a gyro configured to provide a heading of the device, the auxiliary sensor configured to provide data to supplement the positioning signal so that the position of the device is determined more accurately than with using solely the positioning signal; a filter coupled to the gyro, the filter configured to determine the position of the device and to selectively exclude the positioning signal in determining the position of the device based on the heading provided by the gyro; and an auxiliary controller coupled to the auxiliary sensor and configured to; generate a first signal to power-up the auxiliary sensor as the device is proximate to entering an area that reduces accuracy of the positioning signal; calibrate the auxiliary sensor prior to the device entering the area; and generate a second signal to power-down the auxiliary sensor as the device is proximate to exiting the area, wherein the auxiliary controller is configured to determine that the device is proximate to entering the area when a speed of the device is decreased below a threshold speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 19)
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12. A method in a positioning system, comprising:
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determining whether a device is proximate to an area that reduces accuracy of a positioning signal based on whether the device has slowed down below a threshold speed, wherein the positioning signal is selectively used to determine a position of the device; generating, using a controller, a control signal when the controller has determined that the device is proximate to the area that reduces the accuracy of the positioning signal; powering up a sensor that provides data to supplement the positioning signal so that the position of the device is determined more accurately than with using solely the positioning signal, in response to the control signal; receiving a heading of the device from a gyro in the sensor; selectively excluding the positioning signal in determining the position of the device based on the heading received from the gyro; and calibrating the sensor prior to the device entering the area. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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21. A device to provide positioning, comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive a positioning signal that is selectively used to determine a position of the device; an auxiliary sensor, including a gyro configured to provide a heading of the device, the auxiliary sensor configured to provide data to supplement the positioning signal so that the position of the device is determined more accurately than with using solely the positioning signal; a filter coupled to the gyro, the filter configured to determine the position of the device and to selectively exclude the positioning signal in determining the position of the device based on the heading provided by the gyro; and an auxiliary controller coupled to the auxiliary sensor and configured to; generate a first signal to power-up the auxiliary sensor as the device is proximate to entering an area that reduces accuracy of the positioning signal; calibrate the auxiliary sensor prior to the device entering the area; and generate a second signal to power-down the auxiliary sensor as the device is proximate to exiting the area, wherein the auxiliary controller is configured to determine that the device is proximate to entering the area when a speed of the device is decreased below a threshold speed.
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Specification