WO2008012990A1

WO2008012990A1 - Portable electronic device and method of controlling the same

Info

Publication number: WO2008012990A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/061312
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hideki Kashiyama; Kazuto Ito
Original assignee: Kyocera Corporation
Priority date: 2006-07-26
Filing date: 2007-06-04
Publication date: 2008-01-31
Also published as: JP2009229062A

Abstract

A portable electronic device (100) having an earth magnetism sensor (110) for detecting earth magnetism used to calculate a direction, a calibration data acquisition section (121) for acquiring calibration data for correction in the direction calculation, a direction calculation section (125) for calculating a direction by using earth magnetism and the calibration data, and a control section (124, 120) for preventing, when calibration data is acquired by the calibration data acquisition section when at least one function among plural functions is being executed, this calibration data from being used for direction calculation by the direction calculation section.

Description

Specification

Portable electronic device and control method thereof

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a portable electronic device equipped with a geomagnetic sensor and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a portable electronic device equipped with a geomagnetic sensor that can perform calibration processing accurately and a control method thereof.

Background art

[0002] In recent years, geomagnetic sensors have been miniaturized and reduced in price, and geomagnetic sensors are often mounted on portable electronic devices. However, since portable electronic devices include various magnetic materials such as speakers, batteries, and metal parts, these magnetic materials generate magnetic flux and affect the accuracy of the geomagnetic sensor. In other words, a geomagnetic sensor mounted on a portable electronic device detects a magnetism in which “in-device magnetism” and “geomagnetism” generated by a magnetic material in the device are combined. Therefore, in order to properly maintain the accuracy of the geomagnetic sensor, a calibration for correcting the error due to “magnetism” generated by the magnetic material in the device is necessary.

[0003] Here, "calibration" is to correct the influence of magnetism inside the portable electronic device. For example, the calibration is performed by a magnetic generating member in the portable electronic device by, for example, rotating the portable electronic device horizontally. This operation reduces the influence. Magnetism generated by a magnetic generating member in a portable electronic device can change due to the influence of temperature. In addition, when a portable electronic device is placed near a speaker or motor that emits more magnetism, or when an external storage element such as a flash memory is inserted, the magnetization state of the portable electronic device as a whole changes. It will affect the measurement.

[0004] A user observes an external force portable electronic device to determine whether or not the geomagnetic sensor in the portable electronic device is affected by the magnetic substance in the device and cannot accurately indicate the position. I can't figure it out. Therefore, the user needs to perform a periodic calibration process on the geomagnetic sensor. Conventionally, in the operation of rotating the device horizontally in the calibration process, if the rotation speed is too high, the calibration data is acquired. There is a problem that the calibration accuracy deteriorates or becomes impossible when the rotational speed deviates from a certain range force, such as overflowing memory for acquisition. Therefore, a technique has been proposed that can accurately perform a calibration operation at low speed or high speed without depending on the rotation speed (see Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-12416 (paragraphs 0005-0007, FIG. 1)

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0005] In general, portable electronic devices are equipped with various functions other than geomagnetic sensors, such as communication functions, more specifically, wireless telephone functions, mail transmission / reception functions, alarm functions, or digital functions. 'Analog broadcast (for example, one segment broadcast) reception function is installed. However, incoming calls and emails with the wireless phone function and email transmission / reception function occur at an unexpected timing, so incoming calls and emails may occur even during the calibration process. Then, the magnetic status in the portable electronic device changes, and accurate calibration data cannot be acquired. In this way, depending on the function, the magnetic status of the portable electronic device is often changed during execution.In such a case, even though the user intends to finish the calibration process correctly, it is actually not. Incorrect calibration processing may be performed and the correct orientation may not be displayed.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device that can accurately perform calibration processing and calculate an accurate azimuth and a control method thereof. .

Means for solving the problem

[0007] A portable electronic device according to the present invention that solves the above-described problems is as follows.

A mobile electronic device (cell phone terminal device, PDA, etc.) equipped with a plurality of functions, a geomagnetic sensor for detecting geomagnetism used for azimuth calculation,

A calibration data acquisition unit for acquiring calibration data for correcting the azimuth calculation;

An azimuth calculating unit for calculating an azimuth using the geomagnetism and the calibration data; When the calibration data acquired by the calibration data acquisition unit is acquired when at least one of the plurality of functions is being executed, the calibration data is obtained by the direction calculation unit. A control unit that is prohibited from being used for bearing calculation,

It is characterized by providing.

[0008] Preferably, when the calibration data is acquired by an input unit that receives a calibration processing start operation by a user and the calibration data acquisition unit, the calibration unit is mounted on the portable electronic device. A calibration unit (for example, an interrupt handler) that determines whether or not at least one of a plurality of functions is being executed (including activation), and calibration data acquired by the calibration data acquisition unit And a calibration processing execution unit that performs calibration processing based on the above and sets correction values (sensitivity values, offsets, etc.) for each axis of the geomagnetic sensor.

[0009] Further, a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:

The control unit prohibits the calibration data from being used for azimuth calculation in the azimuth calculation unit by discarding the calibration data.

[0010] Further, a portable electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes:

The at least one function is an incoming function for a telephone (voice call, videophone, etc.), an incoming mail function, and an activation function based on time information (system clock and activation set time) in the portable electronic device ( (Typically, alarm, timer recording 'recording, etc.)

It is characterized by that.

[0011] Further, a portable electronic device according to a further embodiment of the present invention includes:

When the control unit prohibits the use of the acquired calibration data for the direction calculation in the azimuth calculation unit, the calibration data acquisition unit is controlled to re-execute calibration data acquisition. It is characterized by.

[0012] Further, a portable electronic device according to a further embodiment of the present invention includes:

The portable electronic device further includes a display unit, The control unit controls the display unit to display a message to that effect on the display unit when the acquisition of calibration data is being re-executed.

[0013] Further, a portable electronic device according to a further embodiment of the present invention provides:

The portable electronic device further includes a display unit,

When the control unit prohibits the use of the calibration data for azimuth calculation in the azimuth calculation unit, a display prompting selection of whether to re-execute acquisition of the calibration data (for example, The display unit is controlled to display “Calibration data has been discarded. Do you want to re-execute?”) On the display unit.

As described above, the solution of the present invention has been described as a device (apparatus). However, the present invention can also be realized as a method, a program, and a storage medium that records the program substantially corresponding to these. It should be understood that these are included in the scope of the present invention.

[0015] For example, a method for controlling a portable electronic device according to another aspect of the present invention, in which the present invention is implemented as a method,

An execution step for executing at least one of the plurality of functions;

Using a geomagnetic sensor, a detection step for detecting geomagnetism for use in azimuth calculation, a data acquisition step for obtaining calibration data for correction of azimuth calculation,

An azimuth calculating step of calculating an azimuth using the geomagnetism and the calibration data using a calculation unit (processor such as CPU, DSP, MPU);

Calibration data force acquired in the data acquisition step When the execution step is acquired when at least one of the plurality of functions is being executed, the calibration data is calculated as the direction. A control step that prohibits it from being used to calculate the direction in a step;

It is characterized by having.

The invention's effect

[0016] When an event that activates various functions included in the portable electronic device (such as incoming voice call) occurs during the calibration process, the magnetic state in the portable electronic device may change. However, according to the present invention, when such an event occurs, it is prohibited to use the unreliable calibration data for azimuth calculation. It is possible to calculate.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a portable electronic device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an azimuth calculation process using a two-axis magnetic sensor.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a calibration operation executed by the portable electronic device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a display example at the time of a calibration operation executed by the portable electronic device according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a portable electronic device according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, a portable electronic device 100 according to the present invention includes a two-axis geomagnetic sensor (electronic connos) 110, a control unit 120, a storage unit 130, a wireless communication unit 140, a GPS signal receiving unit 150, and a memory card unit 160. , A key input unit 170, a display unit 180, and an audio processing unit 190. A typical example of a portable electronic device provided with a wireless communication unit is a mobile phone terminal device.

[0019] The biaxial geomagnetic sensor 110 outputs geomagnetic information in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, respectively, and based on these, the orientation of the portable electronic device 100 on a plane parallel to the X-axis / Υ-axis is calculated. Is done. For example, the biaxial geomagnetic sensor 110 measures the geomagnetism in each axial direction with reference to a predetermined coordinate system (two axes) set on a circuit board (not shown) in the casing of the portable electronic device 100. To detect. For detection of geomagnetism, various methods such as a method using excitation of a coil, a method using a Hall effect, and a method using a magnetoresistive element can be used.

The control unit 120 controls the entire apparatus, and includes a calibration data acquisition unit 121, a calibration processing execution unit 122, a monitoring unit 123, a calibration data acquisition control unit 124, and an orientation calculation unit 125. Is provided. The storage unit 130 stores various data used for processing in the control unit 120. The storage unit 130 stores, for example, calibration data acquired by the calibration data acquisition unit 121 and other various information. Furthermore, the computer program provided in the control unit 120, the address book for managing personal information such as the telephone number and email address of the communication partner, the sound source file for playing ringtones and alarm sounds, and the standby screen Image files, various setting data, and temporary data used in the program processing. The storage unit 130 includes, for example, a non-volatile storage device (nonvolatile semiconductor memory, hard disk device, optical disk device, etc.), a random accessible storage device (eg, SRAM, DRAM), or the like.

[0022] Radio communication section 140 performs radio communication with a base station (not shown) connected to the communication network. For example, the radio communication unit 140 performs a predetermined modulation process on the transmission data supplied from the control unit 120 to convert it into a radio signal, and also transmits the antenna force. In addition, a predetermined demodulation process is performed on the radio signal having the base station power received by the antenna to convert the radio signal into reception data, which is output to the control unit 120.

[0023] The GPS signal receiving unit 150 receives GPS signals transmitted from three or more GPS satellites orbiting a known orbit, and performs signal processing such as amplification, noise removal, and modulation on the GPS signals. The information necessary for calculating the geographical position of the portable electronic device 100 is acquired.

The memory card unit 160 functions as an interface for storing various information and data by inserting an external storage element such as a flash memory and using it as an external storage unit.

[0025] The key input unit 170 includes keys to which various functions such as a power key, a call key, a numeric key, a character key, a direction key, and a determination key are assigned, for example. When operated, a signal corresponding to the operation content is generated and input to the control unit 120 as a user instruction.

The display unit 180 is configured by using a display device such as a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL panel, for example, and displays an image corresponding to the video signal supplied from the control unit 120. For example, the phone number of the callee at the time of outgoing call, the phone number of the callee at the time of incoming call, the contents of received or sent mail, date, time, remaining battery level, standby screen, etc. Displays various information. The display unit 180 also displays azimuth information based on the detection result of the biaxial geomagnetic sensor 110 when performing navigation using the GPS function or displaying a standby screen.

[0027] The audio processing unit 190 processes an audio signal output from the speaker SP and an audio signal input from the microphone M1C. In other words, the microphone MIC power is also subjected to signal processing such as amplification, analog-digital conversion, encoding, etc., and converted into digital voice data and output to the control unit 120. In addition, the audio data supplied from the control unit 120 is subjected to signal processing such as decoding, digital-analog conversion, amplification, etc., and converted into an analog audio signal and output to the speaker SP.

[0028] <Direction calculation processing of biaxial magnetic sensor>

As described above, there are some two-axis geomagnetic sensors that use various principles. The details of the azimuth calculation processing of the two-axis geomagnetic sensor will be described by exemplifying a Hall element using the force-hole effect. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of an azimuth calculation process using a two-axis magnetic sensor. As shown in the figure, a 2-axis magnetic sensor 200, element drive unit 210, sensor power supply 220, differential input amplifier 230, A / D converter 240, bearing calculation unit 250, and control unit 260 are provided. The magnetic sensor 200 is provided with an X-axis Hall element 200X and a Y-axis Hall element 200Y!

[0029] Here, the X-axis Hall element 200X and the Y-axis Hall element 200Y are, for example, on a main circuit board (not shown) mounted in parallel to the main surface (not shown) of the casing of the portable electronic device. The X-axis Hall element 200X and the Y-axis Hall element 200Y are arranged so as to detect the rotation angle in the horizontal plane. Note that the X-axis Hall element 200X and the Y-axis Hall element 200Y are for detecting geomagnetism.

[0030] The element driving unit 210 is for switching terminals for driving the X-axis Hall element 200X and the Y-axis Hall element 200Y, that is, for selecting the Hall element to be driven. Is applied to the X-axis Hall element 200X and Y-axis Hall element 200Y, respectively. Here, the element driving unit 210 can be configured as, for example, chitsubaba driving.

[0031] The signals output from X-axis Hall element 200X and Y-axis Hall element 200Y are differentially input. The output amplification value of the analog signal amplified by the force amplifier 230 is converted into a digital signal by the AZD converter 240 and then input to the bearing calculation unit 250.

Based on the correction instruction obtained from control unit 260, direction calculation unit 250 performs correction processing on the output amplification values of the X-axis and Y-axis digital signals and calculates the direction.

During the calibration process, the azimuth calculation unit 250 does not calculate the azimuth and continues to store the output amplification values of the X-axis and Y-axis digital signals as calibration data, and obtains a predetermined amount of data. After is completed, use the calibration data properly acquired as correction data to calculate the bearing.

[0034] Calibration operation>

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a calibration operation executed by the portable electronic device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view showing a display example at the time of the calibration operation executed by the portable electronic device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, in step S10, the key input unit 170 accepts a calibration process start operation by the user, and in response to this, the control unit 120 starts the calibration operation. From this time, the user performs an operation “calibration operation” that rotates the portable electronic device horizontally. In step S11, the control unit 120 clears (discards) the calibration data buffer. After that, it is determined whether or not the “re-execution” flag of the calibration process is set (step S12). If the re-execution flag is not set, the process proceeds to step S15. Based on the geomagnetism detected by the 121-force two-axis geomagnetic sensor 110, calibration data acquisition for azimuth measurement (correction) is executed.

[0035] During the execution of calibration data acquisition, a monitoring unit (for example, an interrupt handler) 123 provided in the control unit (for example, a CPU) 120 causes a force (ie, an interrupt handler) 123 to detect the power (ie, power) Whether the function related to the interrupt is started or is being executed is monitored (step S16). If it is determined in step S16 that an interrupt has occurred, the process proceeds to step S17, where the monitoring unit 123 temporarily saves various data such as the register at the time of the interrupt and the task being executed in the storage unit 130, and Corresponding to interrupt In addition to performing interrupt processing, it instructs the calibration data acquisition control unit 123 provided in the control unit 120 to re-execute calibration data acquisition and set a flag (not shown) during re-execution. In response to the re-execution instruction, the process returns to step S11, and the calibration data acquisition unit 121 that received the instruction from the calibration data acquisition control unit 124 provided in the control unit 120 clears (discards) the calibration data buffer. ) This clearing prohibits the use of data stored in the buffer. To do. In this case, it is determined in step S12 that the “re-execution” flag of the calibration process is set, and the process proceeds to step S13, where whether or not the force to start re-execution is determined as shown in FIG. A display prompting the user to make a selection is displayed on display unit 180. If it is selected to start re-execution, as shown in Fig. 4 (b), the display unit 180 displays that re-execution is in progress (step S14), and the actual data acquisition process in step S15 is performed. Transition. If it is determined in step S13 that re-execution is not to be started in accordance with a user instruction via the key input unit 170, the calibration operation is terminated.

[0036] If it is determined in step S16 that no interrupt has occurred, the process proceeds to step S18, where it is determined whether or not the calibration data has been acquired up to the required number, and until the required number is satisfied. Return to step S15 and repeat data acquisition. If it is determined in step S18 that the necessary number has been acquired, the calibration data acquisition process is terminated, and the subsequent process, for example, the calibration process execution unit 122 provided in the control unit 120 acquires Calibration processing is performed based on the calibration data, and correction values (offset, etc.) are set for each axis of the geomagnetic sensor.

[0037] As described above, the portable electronic device 100 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of functions and the calibration data obtained by the calibration data obtaining unit 121, for example, an interrupt such as an incoming call. It is configured to discard (clear) the calibration data if it was acquired when at least one of these functions was being executed. Therefore, the calibration data is forbidden from being used for the direction calculation by the direction calculation unit 250, and the possibility that an incorrect direction is calculated using the calibration data is reduced. . Note that the calibration data prohibition method is Other methods of prohibition are not limited to discarding, for example, a flag that prohibits the use of calibration data is added to the calibration data, thereby prohibiting the use of the calibration data for azimuth calculation. It may be.

[0038] Further, as described above, the portable electronic device 100 according to the present embodiment is configured to discard the calibration data acquired when at least one of the plurality of functions is being executed. ing. Therefore, there is no possibility that calibration data unnecessary for calculating the azimuth is stored in a storage area such as the storage unit 130, and useless use of the storage area is avoided. In this embodiment, if at least one of a plurality of functions is performed during calibration data acquisition, all the calibration data acquired up to that point is discarded. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the calibration data until the function is executed may be protected, and only the calibration data after the function is executed may be discarded. As a result, calibration data that is unnecessary for calculating the azimuth is efficiently discarded.

[0039] Also, in the mobile electronic device 100 according to the present embodiment, any one of an incoming call function, an incoming mail function, and an activation function based on time information in the mobile electronic device is executed during acquisition of the calibration data. If configured, the calibration data is configured to be discarded. Therefore, calibration data that is not necessary for azimuth calculation by executing functions that are difficult for the user to predict when to execute such functions as an incoming call function, an incoming mail function, and a start function based on time information in a portable electronic device. May be stored in a storage area such as the storage unit 130.

[0040] In addition, the portable electronic device 100 according to the present embodiment discards the calibration data acquired when at least one of the plurality of functions is being executed, and re-acquires the acquisition of the calibration data. Since this is a configuration to be executed, the calibration data necessary for azimuth calculation can be reliably acquired, and the optimum azimuth can be calculated. In the present embodiment, the power that is configured to re-execute the acquisition of calibration data after the calibration data is discarded. The present invention is not limited to this, and after re-executing the acquisition of calibration data. , At least of several functions The configuration may be such that the calibration data acquired when one function is being executed is discarded.

[0041] In addition, the portable electronic device 100 according to the present embodiment discards the calibration data acquired when at least one of a plurality of functions is being executed, and again acquires the calibration data. When executed, the display unit 180 displays that fact, so the user of the portable electronic device 100 can easily know that the acquisition of calibration data has been re-executed.

[0042] In addition, the portable electronic device 100 according to the present embodiment discards the calibration data acquired when at least one of the plurality of functions is being executed, and again acquires the calibration data. Since the display unit 180 displays a message prompting the user to select whether or not to execute the force, the user of the portable electronic device 100 determines whether or not the user has the power to re-execute the acquisition of calibration data. be able to. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and calibration data acquired when at least one of a plurality of functions is being executed is automatically acquired. May be configured to be re-executed.

[0043] Although the present invention has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and corrections based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these variations and modifications are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, the functions included in each member, each means, each step, etc. can be rearranged so that there is no logical contradiction, and multiple means and steps can be combined or divided into one. It is possible to In this embodiment, the “interrupt handler” serving as a monitoring unit has been described on the assumption that a call or other incoming call is monitored. However, a monitoring unit (hardware module or CPU) other than the interrupt handler is executed. It may be configured to monitor the contents of the interrupt queue or the contents of a specific field indicating the interrupt contents in the task following the interrupt handler. Further, in the present embodiment, the force showing an example of the azimuth calculation process using the biaxial magnetic sensor is not limited to this. For example, another magnetic sensor such as a triaxial magnetic sensor is used. May have been. In this embodiment, However, when an interruption such as an incoming call occurs during calibration data acquisition, the calibration data is discarded. The present invention is not limited to this, and the calibration buffer is used for azimuth calculation. This is applicable to any configuration that performs some processing that prohibits this. For example, as described above, by setting a flag indicating invalidity in the calibration buffer data, it is prohibited to use it for azimuth calculation.

Cross-reference to related applications

This application claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-203276 (filed on July 26, 2006), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A portable electronic device with multiple functions,

A geomagnetic sensor for detecting the geomagnetism used for calculating the bearing;

An azimuth calculating unit for calculating an azimuth using the geomagnetism and the calibration data;

When the calibration data acquired by the calibration data acquisition unit is acquired when at least one of the plurality of functions is being executed, the calibration data is obtained by the direction calculation unit. A control unit that is prohibited from being used for bearing calculation,

A portable electronic device comprising:

[2] The portable electronic device according to claim 1,

The portable electronic device, wherein the control unit prohibits the calibration data from being used for azimuth calculation in the azimuth calculation unit by discarding the calibration data.

[3] The portable electronic device according to claim 1,

The portable electronic device, wherein the at least one function is any one of an incoming call function, an incoming mail function, and an activation function based on time information in the portable electronic device.

[4] The portable electronic device according to claim 1,

When the control unit prohibits the use of the acquired calibration data for the direction calculation in the direction calculation unit, the calibration data acquisition unit is configured to re-execute the acquisition of the calibration data. Control,

A portable electronic device characterized by that.

[5] In the portable electronic device according to claim 4,

The portable electronic device further includes a display unit,

The control unit notifies that when the calibration data acquisition is being re-executed. Controlling the display unit to display on the display unit,

A portable electronic device characterized by that.

[6] The portable electronic device according to claim 1,

The portable electronic device further includes a display unit,

When the control unit prohibits the calibration data from being used for the azimuth calculation by the azimuth calculation unit, the control unit displays a display prompting the user to select whether or not to re-execute calibration data acquisition. The portable electronic device characterized by controlling the said display part to display.

[7] an execution step that executes at least one of the functions;

A detection step for detecting geomagnetism used for azimuth calculation;

A data acquisition step for acquiring calibration data for correcting the azimuth calculation;

An azimuth calculating step of calculating an azimuth using the geomagnetism and the calibration data;

A method for controlling a portable electronic device, comprising: