Sensing device and corresponding apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensing device comprising:
- a barometric sensor; and
a processing unit coupled to the barometric sensor and configured to receive a barometric signal from the barometric sensor, the processing unit configured as a state machine having a plurality of states, the plurality of states comprising a sitting state, a walking state, a climbing a staircase in process state, and an altitude change state, wherein the state machine is configured to transition from a first state of the plurality of states to a second state of the plurality of states based on events, and wherein the state machine reaching the second state is indicative of a change in altitude of the sensing device between the first state and the second state.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensing device includes a barometric sensor, e.g., MEMS-based, and a processing unit coupled to the barometric sensor to receive therefrom a barometric signal. The processing unit is configured as a state machine having a plurality of states including an initial state and a final state with a set of transitions from the initial state to the final state. The transitions are triggered by the barometric signal reaching one or more triggering thresholds. The processing unit may include an expert system sensitive to state data and altitude data from the state machine for recognizing the final state being reached.
9 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A sensing device comprising:
-
a barometric sensor; and a processing unit coupled to the barometric sensor and configured to receive a barometric signal from the barometric sensor, the processing unit configured as a state machine having a plurality of states, the plurality of states comprising a sitting state, a walking state, a climbing a staircase in process state, and an altitude change state, wherein the state machine is configured to transition from a first state of the plurality of states to a second state of the plurality of states based on events, and wherein the state machine reaching the second state is indicative of a change in altitude of the sensing device between the first state and the second state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A mobile apparatus comprising:
-
a barometric sensor; an environment sensor configured to sense displacement or location; a logic unit coupled to the barometric sensor and configured to receive a barometric signal from the barometric sensor, the logic unit further coupled to the environment sensor and configured to receive a displacement signal or a location signal from the environment sensor, the logic unit configured as a state machine having a plurality of states, the plurality of states comprising a sitting state, a walking state, a climbing a staircase in process state, and an altitude change state, wherein the state machine is configured to transition from a first state of the plurality of states to a second state of the plurality of states based on the barometric signal;
wherein transitions triggered by the barometric signal are triggered by the barometric signal reaching a triggering threshold; anda processor coupled to the logic unit and configured to determine a change in altitude based upon the state machine reaching the second state. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
-
16. A method comprising:
-
providing a barometric signal via a barometric sensor; processing the barometric signal with a state machine having a plurality of states, the plurality of states comprising a sitting state, a walking state, a climbing a staircase in process state, and an altitude change state; triggering transitions from a first state of the plurality of states of the state machine to a second state of the plurality of states of the state machine as a function of the barometric signal reaching a triggering threshold; and detecting a change in altitude between the first state and the second state in response to the state machine reaching the second state. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification