Abstract: A mechanical barometer set up for detecting air pressure and direction of change and/or value of change thereof by means of a mechanical barometric measuring device, the barometer including a mechanical means which interacts with the measuring device and by means of which an acoustic code correlating with the value of the air pressure and/or the direction of change and/or the value of change thereof can be output, including a mechanical clockwork, characterized in that measuring signals provided by the measuring device can be amplified by means of the mechanical energy of a clockwork, wherein the mechanical means can be activated at regular time intervals by means of the clockwork.

Abstract: Determining which reference-level pressures, from among a plurality of available reference-level pressures, are used when estimating an altitude of a mobile device. Different systems and methods determine isobars based on reference-level pressures of weather stations, and then use the isobars in different ways to identify particular reference-level pressures for use in estimated an altitude of a mobile device. One approach determines the smallest distance between an initial estimated position of a mobile device and a neighboring isobar, and then uses that distance to identify reference-level pressures. Another approach identifies reference-level pressures between an isobar on which an initial estimated position of a mobile device is location and a neighboring isobar. Yet another approach compares the number of identified reference-level pressures and/or locations of the identified reference-level pressures against threshold conditions before determining which reference-level pressures to use.

Abstract: A respiratory apparatus evaluates accuracy of a pressure sensor, such as when only a single pressure sensor is provided. The accuracy of the pressure sensor may be assessed based on pressure measurement obtained from the pressure sensor and a subordinate or secondary characteristic of the respiratory device such as altitude or atmospheric pressure. A controller or processor may calculate the altitude of the respiratory device based in part on the pressure measurement. In some embodiments, the assessment of the pressure sensor may involve an evaluation of the calculated altitude. In some cases, the assessment of the pressure sensor may involve determining an estimated pressure based on a calculated altitude, and comparing the pressure measurement obtained from the pressure sensor with the estimated pressure.

Abstract: Methods and machines involve detecting when a mobile device is in a first area and a second area at different times, collecting pressure data from the mobile device and reference sensor(s) to estimate altitudes of the mobile device within the first area and the second area, collecting terrain altitudes associated with the first area and the second area, and using a difference between the estimated altitudes and a difference between the terrain altitudes to determine a height of a floor. The estimated floor height may be used to calibrate a pressure sensor of a mobile device.

Abstract: Determining contexts of mobile devices. Particular embodiments described herein include machines that determine two estimated positions of a mobile device that respectively correspond to first and second locations at first and second times, acquire sets of terrain or structural information for first and second areas that respectively include the first and second estimated positions, use the acquired sets of information and the estimated positions to determine if the mobile device was near or within a structure at the first and second times, determine one or more values that are indicative of vertical movement by the mobile device during a period of time between the first time and the second time, compare the one or more values to one or more threshold conditions, and determine a context of the mobile device based on the comparison.

Abstract: A bad weather judgment apparatus and a bad weather judgment method thereof are disclosed. The apparatus includes a target recognizer configured to recognize targets in detection areas of a plurality of heterogeneous sensors based on sensor recognition information received from the heterogeneous sensors, a counter configured to count the number of cases based on detection states of the heterogeneous sensors about a same target among the targets, and a bad weather judger configured to determine whether the same target is present in bad weather judgment zones of the detection areas of the heterogeneous sensors, control the counter to increment or decrement the number of the cases based on detection states of the heterogeneous sensors about whether the same target is present in the bad weather judgment zones, and judge current weather to be bad weather when the number of the cases is greater than a threshold value.

Abstract: An injection molding machine device includes at least two guide rods. One end of each guide rod is fixed to a rack, and the other end of each guide rod is fixed to a fixed base body. A movable base body is provided opposite to the fixed base body. The movable base body slides along the guide rods relative to the fixed base body. At least one correction mechanism is located between the movable base body and the guide rail to adjust a movement of the movable base body in a vertical direction. A predetermined clearance value and/or a predetermined contact force value exist between the components. At least one sensor is electrically connected to a controller. The controller correspondingly controls the correction mechanism by determining whether corresponding detecting values of the sensor match with the predetermined clearance values and/or the predetermined contact force values.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes: a measurement result obtaining section configured to obtain a measurement result of a display target item which is any measurement item among a plurality of measurement items; a display configured to display the measurement result of the display target item; and a display controller configured to cause the display to display the measurement result of the display target item during a display period that corresponds to the display target item, in which the display period is set in accordance with each of the plurality of measurement items.

Abstract: A heart rate detection method and an apparatus, where the method is applied to an electronic device, and the electronic device includes a heart rate sensor. The method includes detecting, by the electronic device, a current motion status of a user carrying the electronic device, determining, based on a prestored correspondence between a motion status, a startup period, and a sampling rate, a startup period and a sampling rate corresponding to the current motion status, where the startup period is a period in which the heart rate sensor is started to detect a heart rate of the user carrying the electronic device, and the sampling rate is a sampling rate of collecting heart rate data by the heart rate sensor, and starting the heart rate sensor at regular intervals based on the startup period to collect heart rate data at the sampling rate.

Abstract: In a method for calibrating at least one sensor having at least one signal-conducting connection to at least one signal converter, a sensor characteristic is recorded by the determination of at least one measurand at at least two different temperatures, the extent of the influence of a further value influencing the sensor is determined from the sensor characteristic by means of a functional relation, the extent of the influence of the further influencing value is considered in the calibration and the influence of the further influencing value is balanced in the calibration. As a result, the influence of a further influencing value acting on the sensor is corrected. The sensor can be a structure borne sound sensor which may have a membrane with a sensor element arranged on the membrane. Vibrations on the membrane can be captured by the sensor element, such as a piezoresistive element.

Abstract: Using atmospheric data from one or more reference nodes to estimate an altitude of a receiver. Assistance data associated with a set of reference nodes within a region is identified, and the assistance data is used to identify atmospheric reference data associated with a subset of selected reference nodes. An estimate of the receiver's altitude is generated using the atmospheric reference data from the subset of reference nodes.

Abstract: Pressure measurement system has inside a main body to be mounted on an object to be measured: a sensor section; a control section processing an input from the sensor section and outputting a predetermined signal; a vacuum gauge provided with power supply circuit sections for providing the control section and the sensor section with power; and a terminal device being connectable to the control section, through a communication line, in a manner to be freely communicated with each other and being capable of supplying the power circuit section with power. The vacuum gauge is arranged to be able to judge the power supply from the terminal device to the control section. When power is supplied from the terminal device to the control section, the control section and the terminal device are connected together through the communication line so as to be freely communicated with each other.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to techniques that use a data communication system such as ADS-B to provide an output to alert an aircraft operator of an incorrect barometric pressure setting for a pressure altimeter, and provide the correct altimeter setting. For example, the system may compile the ADS-B Out data from other aircraft operating near a first aircraft to provide the barometric pressure setting in use by the other aircraft. A system of this disclosure may identify the altimeter setting used by majority of the other aircraft in a region of airspace. If a first aircraft's current barometric altimeter setting is different from the setting of the majority of the nearby aircraft, then the system may generate an output to alert the operator of the first aircraft of a potential incorrect altimeter setting as well as provide a suggested barometric altimeter setting.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating temperature compensated acceleration data in both analog and digital format from a torque balance accelerometer (TBA). During manufacture of the TBA, a calibration process is used consisting of cooling and heating the TBA to discrete temperatures within a range and at each discrete temperature measuring the TBA scale factor and offset. After collecting scale and offset data, said data is loaded into the memory of the TBA. During field operation, sensing a current temperature, retrieving the closest scale and offset correction factors from memory of the TBA, and performing linear interpolation to generate a temperature-compensated output for the TBA.

Abstract: Using atmospheric data from one or more reference nodes to estimate an altitude of a receiver. Assistance data associated with a set of reference nodes within a region is identified, and the assistance data is used to identify atmospheric reference data associated with a subset of selected reference nodes. An estimate of the receiver's altitude is generated using the atmospheric reference data from the subset of reference nodes.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a sensor, comprising: —determining a position of the sensor; —providing sensor data comprising identification data and the position of the sensor to a calibration data provider; —obtaining calibration data from the calibration data provider; and —calibrating the sensor in accordance with the calibration data.

Abstract: Altitude measurement device including an atmospheric pressure sensor arranged to be compressed or to expand in a rectilinear direction as a function of the atmospheric pressure to be measured which increases or decreases, wherein the movements of deformation of the atmospheric pressure sensor are transformed, via a transmission system, into a pivoting motion, in a plane perpendicular to the rectilinear direction of deformation of the atmospheric pressure sensor, of an activation system which drives the pivoting of an indicator hand, wherein the indicator hand moves over a graduated circular scale, wherein the atmospheric pressure sensor is arranged to be able to be moved in one direction or in the opposite direction depending on the rectilinear direction of deformation thereof relative to the other components of the altitude measurement device, wherein the atmospheric pressure sensor is mounted on a seat which is fixed in a support, which forms a case with a cover.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device (e.g., a smartphone) includes an atmospheric pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a controller. The atmospheric pressure sensor detects atmospheric pressure acting on the mobile electronic device. The acceleration sensor detects acceleration acting on the mobile electronic device. The controller detects traveling of the device on the basis of the acceleration. The controller calculates a change in an altitude of the device by correcting a change in the atmospheric pressure observed while the device is traveling, on the basis of a change in the atmospheric pressure observed while the device is not traveling.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is equipped with a body including a fluid passage in the interior thereof, a holder connected to one end of the body, and a ceramic sensor accommodated in the interior of the holder. Plural protrusions are disposed on an outer edge portion of an end surface of the sensor, which is pressed by the holder. In addition, when the holder is fastened with respect to the body, in a state in which a pressing portion of the holder abuts against the protrusions, a fastening force is applied in an axial direction, and the sensor is fixed.

Abstract: A device updates a value representing its current height above ground when it detects a height change. The device uses the slope calculated from collected barometric pressure data samples to calculate height change during a period when the value of the slope exceeds a predetermined value. The device also analyzes a predetermined number of barometric pressure sensor data samples preceding and succeeding a height change indicated by the slope change. The device performs an evaluation, i.e., determining the difference between an average of the preceding and succeeding samples, to determine a height change. The device may select either the slope-of-the-curve-during-the-height-change-period method or the difference-between-the-averages method based on meeting a criterion. The processor de-energizes a GPS circuit, height determination method, and sets the height above ground to zero if it detects movement. Placing the device on a charger resets the device's height value to the charger height above ground.

Abstract: A navigation aid information display device of an aircraft and primary flight display for an aircraft are disclosed. In one aspect, the navigation aid information display system includes a display screen including at least one first display area configured to display a first altitude scale including graduations, the current altitude of the aircraft on the first scale, and set altitude value. The graduations of the first scale are distributed on an arc of a first disc including a first needle centered in the disc and the first needle is configured to indicate the current altitude on the first scale. The distribution of the graduations on the arc is nonlinear and symmetrical relative to a graduation corresponding to the set altitude value and defines extension graduations decreasing from the set altitude value.

Abstract: Disclosed here are methods and systems that relate to determining an orientation of an object. The orientation of the object may be represented by an Euler angle which identifies a rotation of the object from a reference frame. The methods and systems may rely on readings collected from two or more barometric pressure sensors to estimate an altitude difference between the pressure sensors. The methods and systems may calculate the Euler angle based on the altitude difference.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a moving state determining unit for obtaining first sensor data from a first sensor for detecting a moving state of a user who possesses an electrical terminal so that the moving state determining unit performs a determination process of the moving state of the electrical terminal; a reliability information determining unit for determining reliability information indicating reliability of a determination result of the determination process; and a transmission processing unit for transmitting the determination result and the reliability information to a main control unit that controls the electrical terminal.

Abstract: An atmospheric pressure tendency informing apparatus and atmospheric pressure tendency informing method inform atmospheric pressure tendency. In one implementation, the atmospheric pressure tendency informing apparatus includes: an informing section, an atmospheric pressure measuring section, an atmospheric pressure inflection point judging section and an informing control section. The atmospheric pressure inflection point judging section judges whether there is an inflection point of atmospheric pressure, based on atmospheric pressure values of at least three points of time including an atmospheric pressure value measured at present. The informing control section controls the informing section to inform the inflection point of atmospheric pressure as the atmospheric pressure tendency based on a judgment result when the atmospheric pressure inflection point judging section judges there is an inflection point of atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A device for determining a fill level of liquid within a suds tub of a washing machine, having a fill level sensor by means of which a pressure value generated by the liquid can be determined, the fill level sensor having at least one detection part disposed in a lower area of the suds tub that is covered by the liquid during the washing process.

Abstract: Biometric monitoring devices, including various technologies that may be implemented in such devices, are discussed herein. Additionally, techniques for utilizing altimeters in biometric monitoring devices are provided. Such techniques may, in some implementations, involve recalibrating a biometric monitoring device altimeter based on location data; using altimeter data as an aid to gesture recognition; and/or using altimeter data to manage an airplane mode of a biometric monitoring device.

Abstract: A display apparatus characterized by having a scale mark display section which is provided in a predetermined display area; a pointer which moves on the scale mark display section and indicates a scale mark in the scale mark display section; a stepping motor which drives the pointer; a stopper section which is positioned in an end section of the scale mark display section and which restricts movement range of the pointer; and a movable supporting section which movably supports the stopper section.

Abstract: Portable object provided with a mechanism for measuring atmospheric pressure, the atmospheric pressure measuring mechanism including an atmospheric pressure sensor whose geometric dimensions vary with atmospheric pressure fluctuations, the variations in the geometric dimensions of the atmospheric pressure sensor being applied to a device displaying a barometric tendency connected to the atmospheric pressure sensor via a coupling mechanism actuated by a user, the coupling mechanism being capable of being switched between a first position, in which the kinematic connection between the atmospheric pressure sensor and the barometric tendency display device is interrupted, and a second position in which the barometric tendency display device is kinematically coupled to the atmospheric pressure sensor.

Abstract: A barometer which is rotatable and a method of using a barometer which is rotatable is presented comprising a barometer tube retaining barometric fluid that is shorter than that required by non-rotatable barometers. The provision of a rotatable barometer allows the use of a barometric fluid of a density lower than that of mercury to be used, thereby enabling the use of mercury to be avoided.

Abstract: A MEMS pressure sensor includes a diaphragm portion that becomes displaced according to a pressure, and a resonator arranged on a main surface of the diaphragm portion. The resonator includes: a first fixed electrode provided on the main surface; and a drive electrode having a second fixed electrode provided on the main surface, a movable electrode spaced apart from the first fixed electrode, overlapping with the first fixed electrode, as viewed in a plan view seen from a normal direction to the main surface, and driven in a direction that intersects the main surface, and a supporting electrode supporting the movable electrode and connected to the second fixed electrode.

Abstract: An improved system for the recording and display of barometric pressure information, comprising a timekeeper, barometric sensor, memory system, and display, integrated to form an instrument or horological complication for the display of the current barometric pressure and past pressure history by use of an animated display.

Abstract: A biometric monitoring device and multiple carrying cases for same are provided. In some implementations, the case may be made from a flexible viscoelastic material and the biometric monitoring device may be slipped into a receptacle in the case through an opening in the case; the opening may become distended during the insertion of the biometric monitoring device. In some implementations, the case may feature a display window that, in combination with materials of the biometric monitoring device, may mask a display of the biometric monitoring device from view when the display is off and may allow the display to be seen when the display is displaying content.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for measuring an altitude of a terminal which can correct an altitude error according to temporal and spatial changes are provided. The apparatus includes an atmospheric pressure measuring unit for measuring an atmospheric pressure from a barometer included in the terminal, a position determiner for measuring position information of the terminal, and a controller for, when a reference atmospheric pressure reception period is not generated, predicting a current reference atmospheric pressure by using previously received reference atmospheric pressures and measuring a current altitude by using the predicted reference atmospheric pressure and the measured atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A MEMS element includes a substrate which includes a flexible portion, a fixation electrode which is provided on a principal surface of the substrate, and a movable electrode which includes a movable portion which is separated from the fixation electrode, overlaps with at least a portion of the fixation electrode in a plan view of the principal surface, and is driven in a direction intersecting the principal surface, and a fixation end connected to the principal surface. The fixation electrode and the movable electrode is disposed to correspond to the flexible portion.

Abstract: A MEMS element includes a substrate and a plurality of resonators which are formed above a first surface of the substrate, the substrate includes at least one flexible portion and at least one non-flexible portion, and resonators corresponding to the flexible portion and the non-flexible portion are disposed.

Abstract: A heat conduction type barometric sensor has high sensitivity and high accuracy that has simple structure and circuit configuration and can measure a barometric pressure in the range of a very low barometric pressure to ?1 atm using one sensor chip. The sensor includes a cantilever-shaped thin film provided with a thin-film temperature sensor, a heating element, and an excitation element. The excitation element utilizes warpage and bending based on a difference in thermal expansion between two main layers constituting the thin film during intermittent heating by a thin-film heater as the heating element. The two main layers are a silicon layer and a thermally oxidized film of silicon which are significantly different from each other in the coefficient of thermal expansion. A circuit in which the sensitivity is enhanced by the integration of a seebeck current for a predetermined period of time can be also provided.

Abstract: Altitude measuring devices such as barometers typically provide good differential reading yet poor absolute reading, mainly depending on dynamic weather conditions. Placed at the same altitude but on different days, a barometer based altimeter might show different altitude reading. Thus, such altimeters, when used for navigation by pilots and mountaineers, for example, require manual and timely calibration. The present invention discloses a method for automatic calibration of altitude measurement devices, such as barometers, in order to achieve good absolute readings yet avoid the present manual calibration. This method is particularly useful for indoors navigation.

Abstract: An atmospheric pressure tendency informing apparatus and atmospheric pressure tendency informing method inform atmospheric pressure tendency. In one implementation, the atmospheric pressure tendency informing apparatus includes: an informing section, an atmospheric pressure measuring section, an atmospheric pressure inflection point judging section and an informing control section. The atmospheric pressure inflection point judging section judges whether there is an inflection point of atmospheric pressure, based on atmospheric pressure values of at least three points of time including an atmospheric pressure value measured at present. The informing control section controls the informing section to inform the inflection point of atmospheric pressure as the atmospheric pressure tendency based on a judgment result when the atmospheric pressure inflection point judging section judges there is an inflection point of atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: System and method for geo-location of a device (such as a tag) using barometric pressure readings taken in the vicinity of the device and correlated to datasets of barometric pressure that have pressure gradients over time and space. The readings taken in the vicinity of the device may be correlated to the datasets using an iterative Bayesian approach to determine a geo-location of the device with a high degree of confidence.

Abstract: An altitude sensor includes a support frame and a sensor unit mounted in the support frame. The support frame has an upper shield and a lower shield. The sensor unit includes a beam and a damper. The damper is configured to move up and down in response to the air flow, which drives the beam to move up and down accordingly. Distances from the damper to the upper shield and the lower shield are less than those from the beam to upper shield and the lower shield. The altitude sensor possesses super specific properties such as unlimited sensitivity to flying height because of no size constraints and unchanged sensitivity under a changing environment, a selfprotective mechanism to resist deformation in case of an accident, easy manufacture process as well as low production cost. The present invention also discloses an altitude sensor for use in a disk drive device and a disk drive device with the altitude sensor.

Abstract: An atmospheric pressure estimation method is disclosed. The method includes: controlling an oscillation frequency of a predetermined oscillator to match an oscillation frequency of an atmospheric pressure measurement oscillator; detecting a phase difference between an oscillation signal of the predetermined oscillator and an oscillation signal of the atmospheric pressure measurement oscillator; and estimating atmospheric pressure using the oscillation frequency of the predetermined oscillator and the phase difference.

Abstract: A compliance system for monitoring vapor pressures in storage tanks. Embodiments of the system include data collection systems associated with different storage tanks. Each data collection system collects atmospheric pressure, differential pressure of the tank over the atmosphere, and atmospheric temperature data on a continuous or near-continuous basis. Periodically, the data is transmitted to a host computer, which collects data from multiple data collection systems. The host computer may transmit the data to a web server that makes the data available to any computer via a world wide web interface.

Abstract: A heat conduction type barometric sensor has high sensitivity and high accuracy that has simple structure and circuit configuration and can measure a barometric pressure in the range of a very low barometric pressure to ?1 atm using one sensor chip. The sensor includes a cantilever-shaped thin film provided with a thin-film temperature sensor, a heating element, and an excitation element. The excitation element utilizes warpage and bending based on a difference in thermal expansion between two main layers constituting the thin film during intermittent heating by a thin-film heater as the heating element. The two main layers are a silicon layer and a thermally oxidized film of silicon which are significantly different from each other in the coefficient of thermal expansion. A circuit in which the sensitivity is enhanced by the integration of a seebeck current for a predetermined period of time can be also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for measuring atmospheric pressure and processing atmospheric-pressure information. The invention is based on the idea that the atmospheric pressure is measured at several moments in time, the atmospheric-pressure data is stored in a memory and, and the measured atmospheric-pressure data is displayed on a display unit with the aid of special atmospheric-pressure indicators (12) using a graph, one axis of which corresponds to time and the other axis to atmospheric pressure. In addition, a reference indicator (14), which comprises at least one sloping line, is arranged on the display unit. According to the invention, the atmospheric-pressure indicators are scaled in such a way that a temporal change in atmospheric pressure of the magnitude of a specific predefined constant causes the consecutive atmospheric-pressure indicators (12) to be set in the graph parallel to the said sloping line.

Abstract: Inertial navigation systems for wheeled vehicles with constrained motion degrees of freedom are described. Various parts of the navigation systems may be implemented in a smart-phone.

Abstract: The invention consists of a barometric pressure sensor, coupled to a processor for recording changes in the pressure over time, this is coupled to a GPS device providing an accurate measurement of the altitude which allows for the barometric pressure measurements to be normalized, typically to mean sea level. Once the measurements have been normalized the effects of the vertical motion of the sensor are effectively removed and the resulting trend shows the absolute atmospheric pressure which can then be used for weather prediction.

Abstract: A barometer which is rotatable and a method of using a barometer which is rotatable is presented comprising a barometer tube retaining barometric fluid that is shorter than that required by non-rotatable barometers. The provision of a rotatable barometer allows the use of a barometric fluid of a density lower than that of mercury to be used, thereby enabling the use of mercury to be avoided.

Abstract: An apparatus, a method, and a computer program are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a processor. The processor is configured to obtain exercise data of a user from a measurement sensor, to identify a present exercise phase of an exercise from among a plurality of exercise phases on the basis of the exercise data, and to select a relevant display mode from among a plurality of display modes on the basis of the present exercise phase and a mapping between the display modes and the exercise phases, wherein the relevant display mode defines a set of display elements associated with the present exercise phase to be displayed to the user.

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 method of altitude correction of an inertial navigational device, the method comprising the steps of: receiving (205) a relative altitude of the inertial navigational device; obtaining (210) a rate of change of the relative altitude of a reference device; and calculating (215) an absolute altitude of the inertial navigational device based on the relative altitude of the inertial navigational device and the rate of change of the relative altitude of the reference device. The invention also provides for a device (505) such as base station, computer or a laptop to enable altitude correction of an inertial navigational device.