Magnetometer unit for electronic devices

• US 9,816,814 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Daniel, Kevin J., Brist, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tung X
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODAK, LEE E
• Application Number:
  US14/314,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20150377602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 3242072, 32420721, 324244, 324251, 324260
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/38 Testing, calibrating, or compensating of compasses
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/00 Gyroscopes; Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses; Turn-sensitive devices without moving masses; Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

In one example a magnetometer unit comprises logic, to receive first magnetic response data from a first magnetic sensor and second magnetic response data from a second magnetic sensor displaced from the first magnetic sensor, generate a composite response surface representation from the first magnetic response data and the second magnetic response data, and store the composite response surface representation in a non-transitory memory. Other examples may be described.

Claims

1. A magnetometer unit to execute on a processor to:

implement a calibration process to;

receive first magnetic response data from a first magnetic sensor and second magnetic response data from a second magnetic sensor displaced from the first magnetic sensor;

generate a composite response surface representation from the first magnetic response data and the second magnetic response data; and

store the composite response surface in a non-transitory memory; and

in a subsequent use of the magnetometer unit, to;

receive first magnetic response data from the first magnetic sensor and second magnetic response data from the second magnetic sensor;

generate a first response surface from the first magnetic response data and a second response surface from the second magnetic response data;

subtract data points associated with the first response surface from corresponding data points associated with the composite response surface;

subtract data points associated with the second response surface from corresponding data points associated with the composite response surface; and

select one of the first magnetic response data or the second magnetic response data as an output of the magnetometer unit.

2. The magnetometer unit of claim 1, wherein the magnetometer unit is to use bounding values of the first magnetic response data and the second magnetic response data to generate the composite response surface.

3. The magnetometer unit of claim 1, wherein the magnetometer unit is to:

compare the first response surface and the second response surface to the composite response surface.

4. The magnetometer unit of claim 3, wherein the magnetometer unit is to:

output one of the first magnetic response data or the second magnetic response data.

5. An electronic device, comprising:

at least one electronic component; and

a magnetometer unit to execute on a processor to;

implement a calibration process to;

receive first magnetic response data from a first magnetic sensor and second magnetic response data from a second magnetic sensor displaced from the first magnetic sensor;

generate a composite response surface from the first magnetic response data and the second magnetic response data; and

store the composite response surface in a non-transitory memory; and

in a subsequent use of the magnetometer unit, to;

receive first magnetic response data from the first magnetic sensor and second magnetic response data from the second magnetic sensor;

generate a first response surface from the first magnetic response data and a second response surface from the second magnetic response data;

subtract data points associated with the first response surface from corresponding data points associated with the composite response surface;

subtract data points associated with the second response surface from corresponding data points associated with the composite response surface; and

select one of the first magnetic response data or the second magnetic response data as an output of the magnetometer unit.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the magnetometer unit is to use bounding values of the first magnetic response data and the second magnetic response data to generate the composite response surface.

7. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the magnetometer unit is to:

compare the first response surface and the second response surface to the composite response surface.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the magnetometer unit is to:

output one of the first magnetic response data or the second magnetic response data.

9. A computer program product comprising logic instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium which, when executed by a controller, configure the controller to:

implement a calibration process to;

receive first magnetic response data from a first magnetic sensor and second magnetic response data from a second magnetic sensor displaced from the first magnetic sensor;

generate a composite response surface from the first magnetic response data and the second magnetic response data; and

store the composite response surface in a non-transitory memory; and

in a subsequent use of the magnetometer unit, to;

receive first magnetic response data from the first magnetic sensor and second magnetic response data from the second magnetic sensor;

generate a first response surface from the first magnetic response data and a second response surface from the second magnetic response data;

subtract data points associated with the first response surface from corresponding data points associated with the composite response surface;

subtract data points associated with the second response surface from corresponding data points associated with the composite response surface; and

select one of the first magnetic response data or the second magnetic response data as an output of the magnetometer unit.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the logic instructions configure the controller to use bounding values of the first magnetic response data and the second magnetic response data to generate the composite response surface.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the logic instructions configure the controller to:

compare the first response surface and the second response surface to the composite response surface.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the logic instructions configure the controller to:

output one of the first magnetic response data or the second magnetic response data.