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Samsung patents method to find travel direction using magnetic sensors

This patent describes a way for an electronic device to figure out which way it is moving by combining data from a compass and a motion sensor. The device adjusts its magnetic readings to account for its tilt, then calculates a specific angle where the data lines up to determine the direction of travel.

Why it mattersThis improves how devices like phones or trackers can accurately determine direction even when they are tilted or moving, which is useful for navigation features.

In the filing’s own words

An electronic device according to various embodiments comprises: a geomagnetic sensor; a posture sensor configured to measure a posture of the electronic device; and a processor operatively connected to the geomagnetic sensor and the posture sensor, wherein the processor may be configured to: obtain a plurality of magnetic field vectors from the geomagnetic sensor; obtain posture information about the electronic device from the posture sensor; correct, on the basis of the posture information about the electronic device, the plurality of magnetic field vectors so that the posture of the electronic device reaches a designated posture; identify a plurality of interference vectors on the basis of the plurality of corrected magnetic field vectors and a magnetic north vector; rotate a straight line connecting a plurality of magnetic field measurement points measured by the geomagnetic sensor to identify a rotation angle in which extending lines of the plurality of interference vectors converge at one point; and identify a traveling direction of the electronic device on the basis of the identified rotation angle. A corresponding method may also be provided.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An electronic device, comprising: a geomagnetic sensor; a posture sensor configured to measure a posture of the electronic device; and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, in operative connection with the geomagnetic sensor and the posture sensor, wherein the at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to: acquire a plurality of magnetic field vectors from the geomagnetic sensor, acquire posture information of the electronic device from the posture sensor, correct the plurality of magnetic field vectors based on the posture information, compare the plurality of corrected magnetic field vectors and a magnetic north vector to determine a plurality of interference vectors, determine a rotation angle by rotating a straight line formed by connecting a plurality of magnetic field measurement points corresponding to the plurality of magnetic field vectors until extension lines of the plurality of interference vectors converge at one point using a predefined convergence threshold, identify a moving direction of the electronic device based on the determined rotation angle; and control an operation of the electronic device based on the identified moving direction.

Facts

Company
Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Official title
Electronic device for identifying moving direction of electronic device, and operating method for electronic device
Patent number
US12729961B2
Application number
18463599
Filed
Sep 8, 2023
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
18

Classified under

G01C 17/28 Physics & computingG01P 15/00 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.