Abstract: An accurate position sensor that operates over a long range is provided. The position sensor can include a first sensor coil having a first number of periods over a range of motion of a target; and a second sensor coil having a second number of periods over the range, wherein the first number of periods is different from the second number of periods, and wherein the first sensor coil and the second sensor coil are arranged with respect to one another such that the target engages both of them simultaneously. In some embodiments, the first number of periods is one and the second number of periods is greater than one. In some embodiments, the first number of periods is greater than one and the second number of periods is greater than the first number of periods.

Abstract: An accurate position sensor that operates over a long range is provided. The position sensor can include a first sensor coil having a first number of periods over a range of motion of a target; and a second sensor coil having a second number of periods over the range, wherein the first number of periods is different from the second number of periods, and wherein the first sensor coil and the second sensor coil are arranged with respect to one another such that the target engages both of them simultaneously. In some embodiments, the first number of periods is one and the second number of periods is greater than one. In some embodiments, the first number of periods is greater than one and the second number of periods is greater than the first number of periods.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide for automatic, real-time bias detection and error compensation in inertial MEMS sensors often used in handheld devices. Real-time bias correction provides for computational advantages that lead to optimized gyroscope performance without negatively affecting user experience. In various embodiments, bias non-idealities are compensated by utilizing raw output data from the gyroscope itself without relying on additional external sensors.

Abstract: A barometric-pressure-sensor device for a portable electronic device, having a pressure sensor of a MEMS type designed to supply a barometric-pressure measurement, and with a processing circuit coupled to the pressure sensor that is designed to supply an altitude measurement as a function of the barometric-pressure measurement. The pressure sensor and the processing circuit are integrated in a single chip, and the processing circuit is a dedicated circuit of a purely hardware type. The processing circuit executes altimeter-setting operations through a plurality of reference registers containing respective pressure references.

Abstract: A device for detecting orientation includes: an inertial device, having a plurality of independent detection axes and configured to supply inertial signals indicating effects of the force of gravity according to respective detection axes; and a processing unit for configured to process the inertial signals. The processing unit includes an interrupt-generator module having a threshold-comparison stage, for configured to compare the inertial signals with respective thresholds, and a logic module, coupled to the threshold-comparison stage and configured to generate an interrupt signal on an interrupt terminal accessible from outside in response to the permanence of at least one of the inertial signals below the respective threshold for a time interval.

Abstract: A method for controlling a pedometer includes the steps of: generating a signal correlated to movements of a user of the pedometer; and detecting steps of the user on the basis of the signal. The method moreover envisages the steps of checking whether sequences of detected steps satisfy pre-determined conditions of regularity; updating a total number of valid steps if the conditions of regularity are satisfied; and preventing the updating of the total number of valid steps if the conditions of regularity are not satisfied.

Abstract: A barometric-pressure-sensor device for a portable electronic device, having a pressure sensor of a MEMS type designed to supply a barometric-pressure measurement, and with a processing circuit coupled to the pressure sensor that is designed to supply an altitude measurement as a function of the barometric-pressure measurement. The pressure sensor and the processing circuit are integrated in a single chip, and the processing circuit is a dedicated circuit of a purely hardware type. The processing circuit executes altimeter-setting operations through a plurality of reference registers containing respective pressure references.

Abstract: In a pedometer device for detecting and counting steps of a user on foot, an accelerometer sensor detects a vertical acceleration generated during the step. A processing unit, connected to the accelerometer sensor, processes an acceleration signal relating to the acceleration in order to detect the occurrence of a step, and in particular compares the acceleration signal with a first reference threshold. The processing unit automatically adapts the first reference threshold as a function of the acceleration signal. In particular, the processing unit modifies the first reference threshold as a function of an envelope of the amplitude of the acceleration signal.

Abstract: In a pedometer device for detecting and counting steps of a user on foot, an accelerometer sensor detects a vertical acceleration generated during the step. A processing unit, connected to the accelerometer sensor, processes an acceleration signal relating to the acceleration in order to detect the occurrence of a step, and in particular compares the acceleration signal with a first reference threshold. The processing unit automatically adapts the first reference threshold as a function of the acceleration signal. In particular, the processing unit modifies the first reference threshold as a function of an envelope of the amplitude of the acceleration signal.

Abstract: A method for controlling a pedometer includes the steps of: generating a signal correlated to movements of a user of the pedometer; and detecting steps of the user on the basis of the signal. The method moreover envisages the steps of checking whether sequences of detected steps satisfy pre-determined conditions of regularity; updating a total number of valid steps if the conditions of regularity are satisfied; and preventing the updating of the total number of valid steps if the conditions of regularity are not satisfied.