Pedestrian navigation device and method using heading information of terminal

• US 20100305856A1
• Filed: 05/21/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hong, Hyun-Su, Park, Sung-Min, Park, Kyong-Ha
• Application Number:
  US12/800,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20100305856A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/220
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/16 by integrating acceleration or speed, i.e. inertial navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

A pedestrian navigation device and method uses heading information of a terminal to measure a location. Moving direction information and x, y, and z-axis acceleration values of the terminal are detected. Heading information is calculated using the moving direction information of the terminal. Validity of the heading information is determined using the detected x, y, and z-axis acceleration values, making it possible to more accurately estimate the location of the pedestrian.

Claims

1. A pedestrian navigation device using heading information of a terminal, comprising:

an earth magnetic field sensor configured to detect a heading direction of the terminal;

an acceleration sensor configured to measure x, y, and z-axis acceleration values and a moving direction of the terminal;

a heading information calculator configured to calculate a calculated heading information based on the detected heading direction of the terminal;

an accuracy determiner configured to determine a validity of the calculated heading information based on the measured x, y, and z-axis acceleration values; and

a location estimation filter configured to estimate a location of a pedestrian based on the validity of the calculated heading information.

2. The pedestrian navigation device of claim 1, wherein the accuracy determiner is further configured to determine whether the detected heading direction of the terminal is coincident with the moving direction of the terminal, based on the measured x, y, and z-axis acceleration values.

3. The pedestrian navigation device of claim 2, wherein the accuracy determiner is further configured to provide to the heading information calculator a control signal for outputting the calculated heading information of the terminal to the location estimation filter when the detected heading direction of the terminal is coincident with the moving direction of the terminal.

4. The pedestrian navigation device of claim 3, wherein the accuracy determiner is further configured to prevent output of the control signal when the detected heading direction of the terminal is not coincident with the moving direction of the terminal.

5. The pedestrian navigation device of claim 4, wherein the heading information calculator is further configured to provide the calculated heading information of the terminal to the location estimation filter upon receiving the control signal for estimating the location of the pedestrian.

6. The pedestrian navigation device of claim 5, wherein the location estimation filter is further configured to estimate the location of the pedestrian based on the measured x, y, and z-axis acceleration values and the calculated heading information of the terminal.

7. The pedestrian navigation device of claim 2, wherein the detected heading direction of the terminal is coincident with the moving direction of the terminal when a calculated y-axis location cosine value is not greater than a first predetermined threshold and a calculated y-axis acceleration variance value is not greater than a second predetermined variance threshold.

8. A pedestrian navigation method using heading information of a terminal, the method comprising:

detecting a heading direction of the terminal;

measuring x, y, and z-axis acceleration values and a moving direction of the terminal;

calculating a calculated heading information based on the detected heading direction of the terminal;

determining a validity of the calculated heading information based on the measured x, y, and z-axis acceleration values; and

estimating a location of a pedestrian based on the validity of the calculated heading information.

9. The pedestrian navigation method of claim 8, wherein determining the validity of the heading information comprises determining whether the detected heading direction of the terminal is coincident with the moving direction of the terminal, based on the measured x, y, and z-axis acceleration values.

10. The pedestrian navigation method of claim 9, wherein determining the validity of the heading information further comprises:

sending a control signal to output the calculated heading information of the terminal for estimating the location of the pedestrian when the detected heading direction of the terminal is coincident with the moving direction of the terminal.

11. The pedestrian navigation method of claim 10, wherein determining the validity of the heading information further comprises:

preventing output of the control signal when the detected heading direction of the terminal is not coincident with the moving direction of the terminal.

12. The pedestrian navigation method of claim 11, wherein estimating the location of the pedestrian comprises estimating the location of the pedestrian based on the measured x, y, and z-axis acceleration values and the calculated heading information of the terminal when the calculated heading information is valid.

13. The pedestrian navigation method of claim 9, wherein determining the validity of the heading information further comprises:

calculating a y-axis location cosine value based on the measured x, y, and z-axis acceleration values; and

calculating a y-axis acceleration variance value based on the measured y-axis acceleration value.

14. The pedestrian navigation method of claim 13, wherein the detected heading direction of the terminal is coincident with the moving direction of the terminal when the calculated y-axis location cosine value is not greater than a first predetermined threshold and the calculated y-axis acceleration variance value is not greater than a second predetermined variance threshold.

15. A navigation device comprising:

a positioning system configured to provide x, y, and z-axis acceleration values, and provide a calculated heading information when the calculated heading information is valid; and

a location estimation filter configured to estimate a location when the heading information is provided.

16. The navigation device of claim 15, wherein the second positioning system further comprises:

an earth magnetic field sensor configured to detect a heading direction of the navigation device;

an acceleration sensor configured to measure the x, y, and z-axis acceleration values and a moving direction of the terminal;

a heading information calculator configured to calculate the calculated heading information based on the detected heading direction of the terminal; and

an accuracy determiner configured to determine whether the calculated heading information is valid based on the x, y, and z-axis acceleration values.

17. The navigation device of claim 16, wherein the accuracy determiner, when determining the validity of the calculated heading information, is further configured to:

determine whether the moving direction is coincident with the heading direction; and

send a control signal to cause the second positioning system to provide the calculated heading information to the location estimation filter when the moving direction is coincident with the heading direction.

18. The navigation device of claim 17, wherein the accuracy determiner is further configured to:

calculate a y-axis location cosine value based on the x, y, and z-axis acceleration values; and

calculate a y-axis acceleration variance value based on the y-axis acceleration value.

19. The navigation device of claim 18, wherein the heading direction of the terminal is coincident with the moving direction of the terminal when the calculated y-axis location cosine value is not greater than a first predetermined threshold and the calculated y-axis acceleration variance value is not greater than a second predetermined variance threshold.

20. The navigation device of claim 15, wherein the location is estimated based on the x, y, and z-axis acceleration values and the calculated heading information.