Abstract: The present invention relates to a motion input device for portable terminal and an operation method using the same. A motion input device of a portable terminal of the present invention includes a sensor unit configured to collect a sensor signal from at least one sensor; an operation recognition unit configured to generate a motion signal corresponding to an operation of portable terminal based on the sensor signal; a scenario preparation unit configured to generate an input scenario based on at least one motion signal; and a scenario mapping unit configured to detect, in a scenario database, a standards scenario corresponding to the input scenario, and to generate an input signal corresponding to the standards scenario.

Abstract: A portable terminal includes an apparatus for improving motion detection capability. More particularly, the apparatus improves motion detection capability by changing a motion in a normal state according to a motion state or by changing a motion detection process in the portable terminal in order to avoid motion detection capability deterioration in the portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a terminal state determiner that determines a motion state of the terminal by receiving sensing information for determining the motion state, and a controller that changes a motion detection process according to the portable terminal's motion state determined by the terminal state determiner.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for taking a panoramic photograph are provided. While a lens of the apparatus is rotated, an angular velocity sensor such as a gyroscope outputs an angular velocity and calculates therefrom a rotation angle of the lens. Accordingly, a user can capture sequential image segments for the panoramic photograph at suitable rotation angles. Since unintended rotations due to a user's hand trembling as well as user's intended rotations can be detected, it may be easy to align overlapped portions of adjacent images and thereby to obtain suitable images for panoramic photograph combination. Also, a user can be informed of a capturable section and a rotating direction by using the calculated angular velocity, so the apparatus may promote a user's convenience and without the need for a burdensome tripod.

Abstract: A method for reducing power consumption based on a motion sensor and a portable terminal adapted to the method are disclosed. The method includes terminating driving of a motion recognition program according to whether an input is detected by at least one sensor unit disposed in the portable terminal, and switching a mode of a controller included in the portable terminal into a motion recognition deactivation mode. The motion sensor-based portable terminal can reduce the power consumption, thereby lengthening the life span of the battery. The user can use the motion sensor-based portable terminal for a long period of time without frequently recharging its battery.

Abstract: A step detecting apparatus and method in a personal navigator where acceleration signals in at least two directions are acquired from an accelerometer sensor, as a pedestrian moves. Variances of the acceleration signals are calculated and summed. The variance sum is compared with a threshold. If the variance sum is greater than the threshold, it is determined that a detected step is a walking step. If the variance sum is less than the threshold, it is determined that the detected step is a mark-time step.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining a location of a movement distance measuring apparatus are provided. The apparatus and method determine whether the movement distance measuring apparatus is mounted at the waist of a pedestrian or is located in a pocket and uses a different step length estimation algorithm, e.g. a different step length estimation parameter coefficient, corresponding to the determined mounting position. The determination of whether the movement distance measuring apparatus is mounted to the waist of a pedestrian or is located in a pocket is performed on the basis of a gyro sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a route guidance apparatus of a personal navigation terminal, which includes a road structure information storage unit for storing information related to road structures, a user preference information storage unit for storing at least one road structure preference representing a preference of a user for the road structures, and a controller for determining a current location of the personal navigation terminal, computing routes to a destination from the current location, and selecting a user-preferred route preferred by a user from among the routes based on the at least one road structure preference. In the route guidance apparatus, a personal navigation terminal displays routes based on user preferences reflecting user characteristics instead of simply displaying the shortest route, thereby causing a user to take a proper route according to one's own characteristics and degree of fatigue.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a velocity of a moving object in a navigation system are provided, which can increase an accuracy of velocity measurement and position estimation of die moving object are provided. The apparatus includes a sensor part including an acceleration sensor for measuring acceleration of the moving object and outputting a corresponding acceleration measurement value, and includes an altimeter for measuring an altitude of the moving object and outputting a corresponding altitude measurement value; and a calculation part for calculating the velocity of the moving object by using the acceleration measurement value output from the acceleration sensor and the altitude measurement value output from the altimeter.

Abstract: A device and method for estimating an adaptive pace depending on a user with a different pace. An adaptive pace estimation device includes a GPS receiver for receiving position information from a GPS satellite; an acceleration sensor for measuring vibrations due to walking to output an acceleration value; a memory for storing an instruction data set with a walking pattern representative value updated in accordance with an instruction corresponding to at least one walking pattern group; and an instruction data generator for calculating a mean value of input walking pattern data and updating a value approximate to the mean value of the input walking pattern data and the walking pattern representative value as a walking pattern representative value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating a step length of a user are provided. The apparatus and method use a step length estimation algorithm, e.g. a step length estimation parameter coefficient, according to a movement state of a user, i.e. whether the movement state is a walking state or a running state. The movement state of the user is determined on the basis of an acceleration variance value of an acceleration signal output from an accelerometer. Accordingly, the apparatus and method prevent errors in step length determinations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining a location of a movement distance measuring apparatus are provided. The apparatus and method determine whether the movement distance measuring apparatus is mounted at the waist of a pedestrian or is located in a pocket and uses a different step length estimation algorithm, e.g. a different step length estimation parameter coefficient, corresponding to the determined mounting position. The determination of whether the movement distance measuring apparatus is mounted to the waist of a pedestrian or is located in a pocket is performed on the basis of a gyro sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the speed of a moving object is provided. A first acceleration along the moving direction of the moving object and a second acceleration along the lateral direction of the moving object are measured. A first angular speed along the lateral direction of the moving object and a second angular speed along the lower direction of the moving object are measured. The roll angle of the moving object using the second acceleration, the second angular speed, and a previous speed of the moving object in the moving direction of the moving object, and a previous road inclination angle with respect to the moving direction of the moving object are calculated. A road inclination angle is calculated using the calculated roll angle, the first angular speed, and the second angular speed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for preventing separation of accompanying persons by using a first apparatus and a second apparatus connected through a short-range wireless communication network. The method includes: calculating self-locations of the first and second apparatuses; exchanging the self-locations with each other; calculating a distance between the first and second apparatuses using the self-locations; outputting, if the distance between the first and second apparatuses exceeds a pre-set distance, an alarm for warning a separation state and designating current locations of the first and second apparatuses as absolute locations; detecting self-travel routes from the absolute locations of the first and second apparatuses; exchanging the detected self-travel routes with each other; and displaying the travel routes of counterparts.

Abstract: A device and method for estimating an adaptive pace depending on a user with a different pace. An adaptive pace estimation device includes a GPS receiver for receiving position information from a GPS satellite; an acceleration sensor for measuring vibrations due to walking to output an acceleration value; a memory for storing an instruction data set with a walking pattern representative value updated in accordance with an instruction corresponding to at least one walking pattern group; and an instruction data generator for calculating a mean value of input walking pattern data and updating a value approximate to the mean value of the input walking pattern data and the walking pattern representative value as a walking pattern representative value.

Abstract: A step detecting apparatus and method in a personal navigator where acceleration signals in at least two directions are acquired from an accelerometer sensor, as a pedestrian moves. Variances of the acceleration signals are calculated and summed. The variance sum is compared with a threshold. If the variance sum is greater than the threshold, it is determined that a detected step is a walking step. If the variance sum is less than the threshold, it is determined that the detected step is a mark-time step.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for step detection in a personal navigation system is disclosed. In the apparatus acceleration signals are obtained from an acceleration sensor in a movement direction and a gravity direction relative to a user. Sliding window summing data for the acceleration signals output from the acceleration sensor in the movement direction and the gravity direction are calculated so as to obtain a sum of the sliding window summing data. Then, a zero crossing point is detected based on differential sliding window summing data. A difference of a detection time between a present zero crossing point and a previous zero crossing point is compared with a threshold value, thereby detecting steps of the user based on the distinct signal pattern for walk. The step detection apparatus distinguishes zero crossing detection caused by chattering (e.g.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device supporting vehicle navigation and personal navigation. Switching between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode is performed according to whether the navigation device is mounted in a navigation device holder, whether a GPS speed provided by a GPS receiver is higher than a predetermined speed, and whether a step is detected using an output of an accelerometer. Since mode switching between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode is automatically performed, a user does not need to manually perform mode switching.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the speed of a moving object is provided. A first acceleration along the moving direction of the moving object and a second acceleration along the lateral direction of the moving object are measured. A first angular speed along the lateral direction of the moving object and a second angular speed along the lower direction of the moving object are measured. The roll angle of the moving object using the first acceleration, the second angular speed, and a previous speed of the moving object in the moving direction of the moving object, and a previous road inclination angle with respect to the moving direction of the moving object are calculated. A road inclination angle is calculated using the calculated roll angle, the first angular speed, and the second angular speed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a route guidance apparatus of a personal navigation terminal, which includes a road structure information storage unit for storing information related to road structures, a user preference information storage unit for storing at least one road structure preference representing a preference of a user for the road structures, and a controller for determining a current location of the personal navigation terminal, computing routes to a destination from the current location, and selecting a user-preferred route preferred by a user from among the routes based on the at least one road structure preference. In the route guidance apparatus, a personal navigation terminal displays routes based on user preferences reflecting user characteristics instead of simply displaying the shortest route, thereby causing a user to take a proper route according to one's own characteristics and degree of fatigue.