Self-calibrating barometer
Methods and systems for adjusting a pressure value to account for an altitude-induced pressure effect. One method includes determining an average pressure value experienced at a first altitude, determining a ratio based on the average pressure value and a reference pressure value, determining a current pressure value experienced at the first altitude, and adjusting the current pressure value based on the ratio to obtain an altitude-adjusted pressure value.
1. A method of adjusting a pressure value of a pressure sensing device to account for an altitude-induced pressure effect, the pressure sensing device including a pressure sensing module and a processor, the method comprising:
determining, by the processor, an average pressure value experienced at an altitude, the altitude being unknown to the pressure sensing device, the pressure sensing module, and the processor;
determining, by the processor, a ratio based on the average pressure value and a fixed reference pressure value;
determining, by the pressure sensing module, a current pressure value experienced at the altitude; and
adjusting, by the processor, the current pressure value based on the ratio and independent of the altitude to obtain an altitude-adjusted pressure value.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the average pressure value is a rolling average pressure value.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the average pressure value is determined over a period of time including at least a plurality of days.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixed reference pressure value is a theoretical average pressure value experienced at sea level.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the current pressure value includes multiplying the current pressure value by the ratio.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the altitude-adjusted pressure value is a barometric pressure value.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising estimating the altitude based on the ratio.
8. A system for adjusting a pressure value to account for an altitude-induced pressure effect, the system comprising:
a pressure sensing module for determining a plurality of past pressure values experienced at an altitude and a current pressure value experienced at the altitude; and
a processor for determining an average pressure value based on the plurality of past pressure values, determining a ratio based on the average pressure value and a fixed reference pressure value, and adjusting the current pressure value based on the ratio and independent of the altitude to obtain an altitude-adjusted pressure value,
wherein the altitude is unknown to the system, the pressure sensing module, and the processor.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the pressure sensing module includes at least one of a water-based pressure sensing device, a mercury-based pressure sensing device, an aneroid pressure sensing device, and an electronic sensing device.
10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a housing, wherein the pressure sensing module and the processor are positioned within the housing.
11. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a memory module for storing the plurality of past pressure values.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the memory module stores the ratio.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the memory module stores the altitude-adjusted pressure value.
14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the average pressure value is a rolling average of the plurality of past pressure values.
15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the average pressure value is determined over a period of time including at least a plurality of days.
16. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fixed reference pressure value is a theoretical average pressure value experienced at sea level.
17. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor adjusts the current pressure value by multiplying the current pressure value by the ratio.
18. The system of claim 8 , further comprising at least one display for displaying the altitude-adjusted pressure value.
19. The system of claim 8 , wherein the altitude-adjusted pressure value is a barometric pressure value.
20. A computer-readable medium in a pressure sensing device including a pressure sensing module and a processor, the computer-readable medium encoded with a plurality of processor-executable instructions for adjusting a pressure value to account for an altitude-induced pressure effect, the instructions comprising:
determining, by the processor, an average pressure value experienced at an altitude, the altitude being unknown to the pressure sensing device, the pressure sensing module, and the processor;
determining, by the processor, a ratio based on the average pressure value and a fixed reference pressure value;
determining, by the pressure sensing module, a current pressure value experienced at the altitude; and
adjusting, by the processor, the current pressure value based on the ratio and independent of the altitude to obtain an altitude-adjusted pressure value.
21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the average pressure value is a rolling average pressure value.