Magnetometer accuracy and use

• US 8,061,049 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2011
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mayor, Robert, Piemonte, Patrick, Huang, Ronald Keryuan, Patel, Parin
• Primary Examiner(s): FULTON, CHRISTOPHER W
• Application Number:
  US13/030,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20110131825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 333/56
• US Class Current: 33/356
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/38 Testing, calibrating, or compensating of compasses
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/10 Plotting field distribution ; Measuring field distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/087 the earth magnetic field being modified by the objects or geological structures
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

A parameter related to the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field can be used to determine accuracy of a magnetometer of a mobile device. In one aspect, a first instance of a parameter related to Earth'"'"'s magnetic field is determined using data generated by the magnetometer. The magnetometer data can be based in part on a position of the mobile device with respect to the Earth. A second instance of the parameter can be determined using data generated by a model of Earth'"'"'s magnetic field. The model data can also be based in part on the position of the mobile device with respect to the Earth. The first instance of the parameter can be compared with the second instance of the parameter. An accuracy metric for the magnetometer can be determined based on a result of the comparison. An indication of the accuracy metric can be presented by the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method performed by a processor of a mobile telephone having a magnetometer, the method comprising:

determining an accuracy metric based on magnetometer measurements output by the magnetometer during a calibration or recalibration procedure; and

presenting an indication of the accuracy metric on the mobile telephone.

2. The method of claim 1, where presenting an indication of the accuracy metric on the mobile telephone includes displaying a visual representation of the accuracy metric on the mobile telephone.

3. The method of claim 2, where the visual representation includes a portion of a map that is marked to indicate an error associated with an orientation of the mobile telephone relative to the map.

4. The method of claim 2, where the error is heading error.

5. The method of claim 2, where presenting an indication of the accuracy metric on the mobile telephone includes presenting an audio output to a user of the mobile telephone.

6. A mobile telephone, comprising:

a touch sensitive display;

a magnetometer; and

a processor coupled to the magnetometer, the processor configured for;

determining an accuracy metric based on magnetometer measurements output by the magnetometer during a calibration or recalibration procedure; and

presenting an indication of the accuracy metric on the touch sensitive display.

7. The mobile telephone of claim 6, where presenting an indication of the accuracy metric on the mobile telephone includes displaying a visual representation of the accuracy metric on the touch sensitive display.

8. The mobile telephone of claim 7, where the visual representation includes a portion of a map that is marked to indicate an error associated with an orientation of the mobile telephone relative to the map.

9. The mobile telephone of claim 7, where the error is heading error.

10. The mobile telephone of claim 6, where presenting an indication of the accuracy metric on the mobile telephone includes presenting an audio output to a user of the mobile telephone.

11. The mobile telephone of claim 6, where the magnetometer includes one or more magnetic sensors that are mounted in an integrated circuit package with an accelerometer.

12. A method performed by a processor of a mobile telephone having a magnetometer, the method comprising:

determining an accuracy metric based on magnetometer measurements output by the magnetometer;

determining an estimated position of the mobile telephone;

causing a marker to be displayed on a map display of the mobile telephone to indicate the estimated position of the mobile telephone;

causing a first visual representation indicating position error to be displayed on the map display, the first visual representation at least partially surrounding the marker; and

causing a second visual representation indicating the accuracy metric to be displayed on the map display, the second visual representation at least partially overlapping a region on the map display defined by the first visual representation.