Calibrated hardware sensors for estimating real-world distances

• US 9,341,471 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2014
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Vaddadi, Sundeep, Hong, John H., Lee, Chong U.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US14/537,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20150066427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 701/300, 701/532, 382/106, 382/141, 382/291, 382/294, 382/276, 382/128, 382/154, 348/94, 702/151
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/02 for measuring length, width or thickness G01B11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/026 by measuring distance between sensor and object G01B11/0608 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/028 by measuring lateral position of a boundary of the object G01B11/022, G01B11/024, G01B11/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/02 for measuring length, width, or thickness G01B21/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/22 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S15/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4004 of parts of a radar system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52004 Means for monitoring or calibrating short-range imaging G01S7/5205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00

Abstract

In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided for assisting a user in determining a real-world distance. Hardware-based sensors (e.g., present in a mobile electronic device) may allow for a fast low-power determination of distances. In one embodiment, one or more telemetry-related sensors may be incorporated into a device. For example, data detected by a frequently-calibrated integrated accelerometer may be used to determine a tilt of the device. A device height may be estimated based on empirical data or based on a time difference between a signal (e.g., a sonar signal) emitted towards the ground and a corresponding detected signal. A triangulation technique may use the estimated tilt and height to estimate other real-world distances (e.g., from the device to an endpoint or between endpoints).

Claims

1. A method for estimating a real-world dimension of an object, the method comprising:

calibrating a tilt-sensitive sensor of a mobile device;

orienting the mobile device toward a first endpoint of the object;

estimating a height of the mobile device;

receiving first tilt-related data from the tilt-sensitive sensor;

estimating a first tilt of the mobile device based at least in part on the received first tilt-related data;

emitting, from the mobile device, a first signal;

detecting a first reflected signal;

estimating, via the mobile device, a first multi-dimensional distance between the mobile device and the first endpoint, wherein the estimated first multi-dimensional distance is based on the first reflected signal, estimated first tilt, and estimated height;

orienting the mobile device toward a second endpoint of the object;

receiving second tilt-related data from the tilt-sensitive sensor;

estimating a second tilt of the mobile device based at least in part on the received second tilt-related data;

emitting, from the mobile device, a second signal,

detecting a second reflected signal;

estimating, via the mobile device, a second multi-dimensional distance between the mobile device and the second endpoint, wherein the estimated second multi-dimensional distance is based on the second reflected signal, estimated second tilt, and estimated height; and

estimating, via the mobile device, the real-world dimension of the object based on the estimated first multi-dimensional distance and the estimated second multi-dimensional distance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating the real-world dimension of the object comprises identifying a difference between horizontal components of the estimated first distance and the estimated second distance.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising re-calibrating the tilt-sensitive sensor prior to each subsequent estimation of other multi-dimensional distances.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first or second endpoint comprises a ground-level endpoint.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

emitting a third signal towards a second endpoint, the second endpoint predicted to be directly below a signal-emitting component of the mobile device; and

detecting a fourth signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the first signal and the second signal each comprise a sonar signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein calibrating the tilt-sensitive sensor comprises:

receiving first calibration data, the first calibration data being different from the first tilt-related data;

associating the first calibration data with a horizontal orientation of the mobile device;

receiving second calibration data, the second calibration data being different from the first tilt-related data and from the first calibration data; and

associating the second calibration data with a vertical orientation of the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the tilt-sensitive sensor comprises an accelerometer.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising illuminating the first or second endpoint with a laser beam prior to estimating the first or second distance.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed in its entirety on the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular phone.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a furniture item.

13. A system for estimating a real-world dimension of an object, the system comprising:

a height estimator for estimating a height of a mobile device, the estimated height being relative to a ground level;

a tilt estimator for estimating a tilt of the mobile device and orientating the mobile device toward a first endpoint and a second endpoint of the object;

a calibrator for calibrating the tilt estimator;

a signal emitter and detector for emitting a first signal and a second signal, and for detecting a first reflected signal and a second reflected signal;

a mobile device-to-endpoint distance estimator for estimating a first multi-dimensional distance between the mobile device to the first endpoint, for estimating a second multi-dimensional distance between the mobile device to the second endpoint, and for estimating the real-world dimension of the object based on the first estimated multi-dimensional distance and the estimated second multi-dimensional distance; and

a display for presenting one or more distances,

wherein at least one of the height estimator and the mobile device-to-endpoint distance estimator is coupled to the signal emitter and detector.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the tilt estimator comprises an accelerometer.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the height estimator is coupled to the signal emitter and detector.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the object comprises a furniture item.

17. A system for estimating a real-world dimension of an object, the system comprising:

means for calibrating a tilt-sensitive sensor of a mobile device;

means for orienting the mobile device toward a first endpoint of the object;

means for estimating a height of the mobile device;

means for receiving first tilt-related data from the tilt-sensitive sensor;

means for estimating a first tilt of the mobile device based at least in part on the received first tilt-related data;

means for emitting, from the mobile device, a first signal;

means for detecting a first reflected signal;

means for estimating, via the mobile device, a first multi-dimensional distance between the mobile device and the first endpoint, wherein the estimated first multi-dimensional distance is based on the first reflected signal, estimated first tilt, and estimated height;

means for orienting the mobile device toward a second endpoint of the object;

means for receiving second tilt-related data from the tilt-sensitive sensor;

means for estimating a second tilt of the mobile device based at least in part on the received second tilt-related data;

means for emitting, from the mobile device, a second signal,

means for detecting a second reflected signal;

means for estimating, via the mobile device, a second multi-dimensional distance between the mobile device and the second endpoint, wherein the estimated second multi-dimensional distance is based on the second reflected signal, estimated second tilt, and estimated height; and

means for estimating, via the mobile device, the real-world dimension of the object based on the estimated first multi-dimensional distance and the estimated second multi-dimensional distance.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for estimating the height of the mobile device comprise a height estimator accessing an empirical height database.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for receiving the first and second tilt-related data comprise the tilt-sensitive sensor, and wherein the tilt-sensitive sensor comprises an accelerometer.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for emitting the first signal comprise a sonar projector.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for detecting the second signal comprise an acoustic transducer.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the object comprises a furniture item.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program which executes the steps of:

calibrating a tilt-sensitive sensor of a mobile device;

orienting the mobile device toward a first endpoint of an object;

estimating a height of the mobile device;

receiving first tilt-related data from the tilt-sensitive sensor;

estimating a first tilt of the mobile device based at least in part on the received first tilt-related data;

causing a first signal to be emitted;

detecting a first reflected signal;

estimating a first multi-dimensional distance between the mobile device and the first endpoint, wherein the estimated first multi-dimensional distance is based on the first reflected signal, estimated first tilt, and estimated height;

orienting the mobile device toward a second endpoint of the object;

receiving second tilt-related data from the tilt-sensitive sensor;

estimating a second tilt of the mobile device based at least in part on the received second tilt-related data;

causing a second signal to be emitted;

detecting a second reflected signal;

estimating, via the mobile device, a second multi-dimensional distance between the mobile device and the second endpoint, wherein the estimated second multi-dimensional distance is based on the second reflected signal, estimated second tilt, and estimated height; and

estimating, via the mobile device, the real-world dimension of the object based on the estimated first multi-dimensional distance and the estimated second multi-dimensional distance.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein estimating the real-world dimension of the object comprises applying a triangulation technique.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the program further executes a step of:

presenting instructions to orient the mobile device such that a signal-emitting component of the mobile device is oriented towards the first or second endpoint.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the object comprises a furniture item.