US 2003/0191582 A1 · Moving direction detection method, moving direction detection apparatus, and program code

Abstract

A walking direction detection apparatus has an azimuth detection unit and acceleration detection unit. After a vertical direction with respect to the ground of an apparatus is corrected based on the detection direction of a gravitational acceleration component, a periodic up/down pattern of the absolute value of acceleration is detected. A value where the acceleration component in the horizontal direction becomes maximal or minimal is detected at a predetermined timing at which the acceleration component in the vertical direction transits from a maximal value to minimal value. The direction of the apparatus is corrected based on the direction of the acceleration component in the horizontal direction of that value. Based on these correction results, the walking direction of the movable body is detected.

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Claims15

Dependent claims

A moving direction detection method for detecting a moving direction of a movable body, comprising:

an acceleration component acquisition step of acquiring information of an acceleration component in a vertical direction, and an acceleration component in a horizontal direction in association with an acceleration of the movable body, which is produced upon motion of the movable body;
a vertical acceleration extreme detection step of detecting a maximal value where a change over time in absolute value of the acceleration component in the vertical direction, acquired in the acceleration component acquisition step, turns from up to down, and a minimal value where a change over time in absolute value of the acceleration component in the vertical direction turns from down to up;
a horizontal acceleration extreme detection step of detecting a maximal value where a change in absolute value of the acceleration component in the horizontal direction turns from up to down within a time period between detection times of the maximal and minimal values of the absolute value of the acceleration component in the vertical direction in the vertical direction extreme detection step;
a horizontal acceleration direction detection step of detecting a direction of the acceleration component in the horizontal direction at a detection time of the maximal value of the absolute value of the acceleration component detected in the horizontal direction in the horizontal acceleration extreme detection step;
and
a moving direction detection step of detecting a moving direction of the movable body based on the direction of the acceleration component in the horizontal direction detected in the horizontal acceleration direction detection step.

3 more elements

A moving direction detection apparatus which can be carried by a movable body, and comprises:

an acceleration detection unit which detects a acceleration component of the moving direction detection apparatus;
a first correction unit which corrects a carrying direction of the moving direction detection apparatus with respect to the vertical direction based on the direction of the acceleration component detected by the acceleration detection unit;
a second correction unit which corrects the carrying direction of the moving direction detection apparatus with respect to the horizontal direction based on a periodic up/down pattern of an acceleration component of the moving direction detection apparatus which is detected by the acceleration detection unit;
and
a moving direction detection unit which detects a moving direction of the movable body in accordance with correction results of the first and second correction units.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description13,797 words

Summary721 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for detecting the moving direction of a movable body such as a person or the like, and a program.

#2. Description of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings23 figures

#FIG. 1A is a view showing the structure of the outer appearance of a navigation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 1B is a schematic view showing the internal structure of the navigation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit arrangement of the navigation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

Detailed description12,538 words

#Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that this embodiment will explain a case wherein the present invention is applied to a navigation apparatus that a movable body such as a person or the like can carry.

#Note that “azimuth” in this embodiment means a direction with reference to the meridian of the Earth.

#FIG. 1A is a view showing the structure of the outer appearance of a navigation apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Moving direction detection method, moving direction detection apparatus, and program code

Life of this patent

Moving direction detection method, moving direction detection apparatus, and program code

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims15

Description13,797 words

Drawings

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent

Description13,797 words