Orientation sensing in a multi part device
View Patent ↗A device comprises a first part ( 1 ) which has user input means ( 10 ) and comprising a three-degrees-of-freedom orientation sensing system ( 11 ) for determining a three-degrees-of-freedom orientation ( 01 ) of the first part ( 1 ) with respect to a reference coordinate frame (XYZ) defined by the earths gravity field (Fg) and magnetic field (Fm). A second part ( 2 ) comprises a display ( 20 ) for displaying orientation information (OI) on a three-degrees-of-freedom orientation ( 02 ) of the second part ( 2 ), and sensing means ( 21 ) for sensing an one-degree-of-freedom or a two-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part ( 2 ). Further, are provided means ( 5 ) for calculating the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation ( 02 ) of the second part ( 2 ) from the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation ( 01 ) of the first part ( 1 ) and the one-degree-of-freedom or the two-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part ( 2 ), and means ( 6 ) for generating the orientation information ( 01 ) in response to the calculated three-degrees-of-freedom orientation ( 02 ) of the second part ( 2 ) to obtain correct display of the orientation information ( 01 ) independent on an orientation of the second part ( 2 ) with respect to the first part ( 1 ).
1. A device comprising:
a first part having user input means and comprising a three-degrees-of-freedom orientation sensing system for determining a three-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the first part with respect to a reference coordinate frame (XYZ) defined by the earths gravity field (Fg) and magnetic field (Fm),
a second part comprising a display for displaying orientation information on a three-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part, and sensing means for sensing an one-degree-of-freedom or a two-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part, and
means for calculating the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part from the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the first part and the one-degree-of-freedom or the two-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part, and
means for generating the orientation information in response to the calculated three-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part to obtain correct display of the orientation information independent on an orientation of the second part with respect to the first part.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensing means comprises an accelerometer or magnetometer sensor.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first part and the second part are rotatably connected for rotating with respect to each other in a clamshell movement and/or a swivel movement.
4. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the means for generating the orientation information is constructed for displaying the orientation information comprising an indication of a direction or of a text.
5. A device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an open-closed detector for detecting whether the device is in an open state or in a closed state from the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the first part and the one-degree-of-freedom or the two-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part.
6. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation sensing system comprises an electronic compass.
7. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation sensing system comprises a three-dimensional accelerometer and a two-dimensional magnetometer.
8. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensing means for sensing an one-degree-of-freedom or a two-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part comprises:
an one-dimensional or two-dimensional sensor, producing sensor signals S i =f i (β,ξ).
9. A device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the sensing means for sensing an one-degree-of-freedom orientation of the second part comprises:
an one-dimensional accelerometer, producing an accelerometer signal A =u·cos β+v·sin β, and
wherein the means for calculating the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part from the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the first part and the one-degree-of-freedom orientation of the second part are constructed for determining the scalars u and v from the orientation of the first part.
10. A device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the sensing means for sensing an one-degree-of-freedom orientation of the second part comprises:
an one-dimensional magnetometer, producing an magnetometer signal M =u·cos β+v·sin β, and
wherein the means for calculating the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part from the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the first part and the one-degree-of-freedom orientation of the second part, are constructed for determining the scalars u and v from the orientation of the first part and the inclination angle of the second part with respect to the earth's magnetic field.
11. A device as claimed in claim 1 , the device being a mobile phone.