Short-range position tracking using stationary magnetic field gradient

    公开(公告)号:US11860246B1

    公开(公告)日:2024-01-02

    申请号:US16782012

    申请日:2020-02-04

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses and non-transitory, computer-readable mediums are disclosed for short-range position tracking using a stationary magnetic field gradient. In an embodiment, a method comprises: obtaining, by a sensing array of a device worn or held by a user in an environment, a measurement of a stationary magnetic field generated by a magnetic source in the environment, the stationary magnetic field being independent of an ambient magnetic field in the environment; determining based on the measurement, a change in the magnetic field over time; determining based on the measurement, a change in the magnetic field over distance; obtaining, by the processor, a rotation angle of the device; determining a velocity of the device based on the change in the magnetic field over time, the change in the magnetic field over distance and the rotation angle of the device; and integrating the velocity to obtain a position of the device.

    Compact, Multi-User, Multi-Level, Multi-Target Magnetic Tracking System

    公开(公告)号:US20220065958A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-03-03

    申请号:US17410980

    申请日:2021-08-24

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: Disclosed is a compact, multi-user magnetic tracking system. In an embodiment, a compactness is achieved by using a single coil and inertial sensors at the transmitter and magnetometers and inertial sensors at the receiver for sensing the magnetic field generated by the single coil and for determining a position and attitude of the receiver relative to the transmitter. The transmitter and receiver each include a wireless transceiver for exchanging clock synchronization data and sending transmitter attitude data to the receiver. In another embodiment, frequency or time division multiplexing is used to differentiate between multiple users of the multi-user magnetic tracking system.

    High dynamic range magnetometer architecture

    公开(公告)号:US10353019B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-07-16

    申请号:US15213314

    申请日:2016-07-18

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Inventor: Jian Guo

    Abstract: A high dynamic range magnetometer architecture and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a magnetometer sensor comprises: a variable magnetic gain stage including a plurality of selectable signal gain paths, each signal gain path including a magnetic sensor and a magnetic flux concentrator, and for each signal gain path the magnetic flux concentrator being positioned a different distance from the magnetic flux concentrator to provide a different magnetic gain for the signal gain path; a variable magnetic sensing stage coupled to the variable magnetic gain stage, the variable magnetic sensing stage operable to provide variable magnetic sensing to each signal gain path; and a gain control stage coupled to the variable magnetic sensing stage, the gain control stage operable to select one of the signal gain paths and to provide signal conditioning to the selected signal gain path.

    Self-Calibrating System Architecture for Magnetic Distortion Compensation

    公开(公告)号:US20190086480A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-03-21

    申请号:US15711787

    申请日:2017-09-21

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Inventor: Jian Guo

    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable mediums are disclosed for a self-calibrating system architecture for magnetic distortion compensation. In an embodiment, an electronic system comprises: a magnetometer; a plurality of spaced-apart calibration coils proximate to the magnetometer; first circuitry configured to excite the calibration coils during a calibration phase of the electronic system; second circuitry configured to measure a first magnetic field vector in a vicinity of the magnetometer that is generated by the excited calibration coils; third circuitry configured to: generate sensitivity values based on the first magnetic field vector measurement and a baseline magnetic field vector; and a storage device configured for storing the sensitivity values.

    Compensation of magnetic interference

    公开(公告)号:US10058016B2

    公开(公告)日:2018-08-21

    申请号:US15273613

    申请日:2016-09-22

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: A compensation coil placed at least partially underneath a magnetic field sensor package in an electronic system provides attenuation of electromagnetic interference (EMI). In an embodiment, the compensation coil attenuates EMI in a frequency band which overlaps with an operating frequency band of the magnetic field sensor. This allows the magnetic field sensor to make accurate magnetic field measurements in the presence of system level alternating current (AC) EMI. In an embodiment, a system comprises: a magnetic field sensor; a compensation coil placed at least partially underneath the magnetic field sensor; and a reverse current generator coupled to the compensation coil and to a power supply that is coupled to an electromagnetic interference (EMI) source, the reverse current generator operable to generate a reverse current in the compensation coil to generate a counter magnetic field for compensating the EMI.

    Electronic Device With Resistive Sensor Array

    公开(公告)号:US20170285082A1

    公开(公告)日:2017-10-05

    申请号:US15332119

    申请日:2016-10-24

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Inventor: Jian Guo

    Abstract: An array of resistive sensor circuits may be used to gather sensor data. Each resistive sensor circuit may have a resistive sensor and an associated switch. Row decoder circuitry may supply rows of the sensor circuits with control signals on row lines. Capacitors associated with respective columns of the array may be provided with an initialization voltage. The control signals on the row lines may be used to turn on the switches in a selected row of the resistive sensor circuits and thereby discharge the capacitors through the resistive sensors of that row. Comparators may have first inputs coupled to the capacitors and second inputs that receive a reference voltage. A column readout circuit may have memory and processing circuitry that receives count values from a counter and that stores the count values in response to toggling output signals from the comparators.

    LOW-POWER MAGNETOMETER ASSEMBLIES WITH HIGH OFFSET STABILITY
    19.
    发明申请
    LOW-POWER MAGNETOMETER ASSEMBLIES WITH HIGH OFFSET STABILITY 审中-公开
    具有高偏移稳定性的低功率磁控计组件

    公开(公告)号:US20160146903A1

    公开(公告)日:2016-05-26

    申请号:US14947968

    申请日:2015-11-20

    Applicant: APPLE INC.

    CPC classification number: G01R33/0035 G01R33/022 G01R33/028

    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for calibrating the offset of a magnetometer assembly with reduced power are provided. In one embodiment, a method for operating an assembly may include determining a difference between a current signal measurement output component of a first magnetometer sensor and a previous signal measurement output component of the first magnetometer sensor, comparing the determined difference with a current threshold value, and generating an assembly output based on the comparing, where, when the determined difference is greater than the current threshold value, the generating may include providing a first assembly output using a current offset output component of a second magnetometer sensor, and, when the determined difference is less than the current threshold value, the generating may include providing a second assembly output using a previous offset output component of the second magnetometer sensor.

    Abstract translation: 提供了用于校正具有降低功率的磁力计组件的偏移的系统,方法和计算机可读介质。 在一个实施例中,用于操作组件的方法可以包括确定第一磁力计传感器的当前信号测量输出分量与第一磁力计传感器的先前信号测量输出分量之间的差,将所确定的差与当前阈值进行比较, 以及基于所述比较生成组合输出,其中,当确定的差值大于当前阈值时,所述生成可以包括使用第二磁力计传感器的当前偏移输出分量来提供第一组合输出,并且当确定 差值小于当前阈值,生成可以包括使用第二磁力计传感器的先前偏移输出分量来提供第二组合输出。

    HYBRID HALL-EFFECT/MAGNETORESISTANCE (MR) MAGNETOMETER WITH SELF-CALIBRATION

    公开(公告)号:US20230184865A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-06-15

    申请号:US17950748

    申请日:2022-09-22

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    CPC classification number: G01R35/005 G01R33/07 G01R33/09

    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for various configurations of a hybrid Hall/MR magnetometer with self-calibration. In an embodiment, a method comprises: a circuit coupled to a magnetometer and configured to determine whether the magnetometer is to operate in a sensing operation mode or a self-calibration operation mode. The magnetometer comprises a Hall sensor and MR sensor coupled to the circuit. In accordance with determining a sensing operation mode, the Hall sensor is turned and the MR sensor is turned on; and an external magnetic field is measured using the MR sensor. The magnetic field measurement is calibrated using a MR sensor bias error determined in a self-calibration operation mode of the sensor.

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